See a Russian Orthodox Church and downtown murals on the walk from Benld to Gillespie north of Edwardsville, Ill. This easy hike uses a paved trail on a former trolley line between Benld and Gillespie in Illinois. I also walked along streets and sidewalks to explore each of their downtowns. Interurban Line History This bike trail is 1.4 miles or 2.8 out and back between…
Hike to rock shelters and small waterfalls at Devil’s Prop Nature Preserve north of Mount Vernon, Il., east of St. Louis on Interstate 64. Located nearby is Cedarhurst Center For The Arts with a large sculpture garden. Going to both these attractions allows for a fun-filled day trip for my family from the St. Louis area. DEVIL’S PROP OVERVIEW This nature preserve is located about…
Trailhead information sign
Watson Trail Park in Sunset Hills is a favorite stop for my son if we are in South County for the zip line and trails that go throughout the park. OUR TIME HERE We stopped at Watson Trail Park in Sunset Hills, Mo., for lunch, a short hike, and playground time. We parked in a lot near the aquatic center and headed down to a…
Here are the top ten hikes I liked the most in 2022. I chose them based on length, how much I enjoyed them, and what natural beauty I saw. Rock Bridge Memorial State Park Hike Rock Bridge Memorial State Park gives hikers a chance to scramble through caves and see a rock bridge and sinkholes. I went with David and my son. We only had…
Here are my 2022 Top 5 Summer Travel Guides that I turned to for summer travels in Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and Southern California. I will share our adventures on my blog at the start of the Summer 2023 Travel Season! Moon Nevada by Scott Smith This book provides an overall resource on traveling throughout the state of Nevada. Here you can figure out itineraries from…
These are the top five hiking books that helped me find the best trails in exploring the terrain of the Midwest in 2022. I return to them for details on finding waterfalls, canyons, mountaintops, springs, or shut-ins. One Hundred Nature Walks in the Missouri Ozarks by Alan McPherson It is a detailed book on the many trails that you can find throughout the Ozarks. This…
Take a short hike among sugar maple trees, by a pond, and through prairie grass at Claire Gempp Davidson Memorial Conservation Area. Come here with the kids they can learn about the natural world with the many information signs and tree identifiers. The walk is .6 mile with a 16-foot elevation gain along a wood chip path with a boardwalk. This area serves as an…
Take a walk around ponds in the woods and let your kids explore nature-themed playgrounds at Bicentennial Park in Belleville, Ill. This hike is .8 miles long with 56 feet of elevation gain. The 43-acre park is not far from the Belleville Crossing Shopping Center and Illinois Highway 15. BICENTENNIAL WALK At the Trailhead My son joined me on the walk and we started it…
Watching mountain bikers go down cliff-like steps and taking in the faraway views is part of the day at West Tyson County Park. My Hike Overview West Tyson County Park has the trailheads of both the Chubb and Flint Quarry Trails. I am starting at the Flint Quarry Trailhead. The Chubb Trailhead is further up the main road to the park. I am hiking the…
