Adventures Among Us: Travel

Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts

Happy Independence Day Southeast Missouri

You asked and I answered again! My inbox has been buzzing wanting to know where all the fireworks shows are…here is a short list of the ones I am aware of!

Cape Girardeau, MO

InsideArena Park Thursday 7/4/2013 at 9 pm, FREE to the public. The City of Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department and the USA Veterans will provide a firework show.

Marble Hill, MO

On July 4, 2013 at sundown or around 9 pm there will be a fireworks display at the Baseball Park in Marble Hill, MO. The event is FREE and all is invited to come out!

Jackson, MO

Fredericktown, MO

Wappapello Lake

I pray everyone has a safe and Happy Independence Day!

~Becky

Fishing at Duck Creek Conservation Area

They let me in the boat...SERIOUSLY! Saturday afternoon, The Man and The Big Little Man let me gofishing with them at Duck Creek Conservation Area. I am still stunned that I knew this place existed, but had never been fishing there, okay forget fishing, I had never been there to shoot photos.

We arrived at Duck Creek Conservation Area just a few minutes after 4pm, I was a bit relieved we had let the sun settle as I discovered we would be renting a boat and paddling out on the lake to do some fishing. By the way folks you can rent boats and paddles for $5 there from the Missouri Department of Conservation.

The minute we hit the lake I was extremely bummed I had packed my book, but left my big camera at home. I don't know how many fish are in the lake, but I can tell you there are tons of lillypad and dollar pads all over this lake.

Elephant Rocks State Park and Johnson Shut-Ins for Summer Fun?

You ask and I answered! Elephant Rocks State Park and Johnson Shut-ins for Summer Fun? I absolutely LOVE outdoor adventure, but there are times that I have to use logic over adventure!

D-man testing the ground at
Elephant Rocks State Park

Elephant Rocks State Park is awesome, great for burning off extra energy, climbing, and a very clean state park. However, rocks hold heat….SERIOUSLY! Therefore, when my gal pal, mother of a preschooler asked me what my thoughts were on taking her little princess to Elephant Rocks State Park this weekend I threw on the brakes! I warned her that the rocks at the park tend to get hot, there is very little shade, and it has been extremely hot outside this past week. While I didn’t tell her not to go, I did tell her if you are planning a trip there, I would plan it early in the morning, late in the evening, or just wait until it was cooler outside.

D-man at Cape Splash in Cape Girardeau, MO

A few days after I posted this article on TravelingMom.com about waterpark safety I received an email from a follower asking about waterparks in southeast Missouri and toddlers.

I am familiar with two waterparks in southeast Missouri; The Farmington Waterpark in Farmington, MO and Cape Splash in Cape Girardeau, MO. The reader was more looking for a “splash park” for toddlers; unfortunately, I am not familiar with any splash parks in the area. However, both Farmington Waterpark and Cape Splash offer areas for those little swimmers.

Cape Splash has a nice splash area for the little ones, the area is separated from the rest of the pool area, and there are lawn chairs surrounding it. The down side is this area is open to all ages and can get crowded if a group of bigger kids decides it is their turn to use the splash area. They also have a small wading pool are that is open for smaller children that is divided from the deeper area, however, they have the bucket that spills out and little ones can get knocked over by big kids.

I absolutely love it when I get to talk about some place in my hometown; today I am overjoyed to tell you about my experience at The Mustard Seed Boutique in Uptown Marble Hill, MO (yes that is my hometown).

I would like to call The Mustard Seed Boutique a Mom & Pop diner, because really that is what it is, however, it don’t fit the description of a greasy hamburger joint. The Mom & Pop comes in because it is completely family (or close friend) owned and operated which gives this place the total small town atmosphere. With that said I must go back and bite my tongue, The Mustard Seed Boutique may have the small town atmosphere, but has the big city flare. While dining out on their front porch I felt as if I was sitting somewhere much different, you could literally pick this place up and drop it in Chicago and it would fit right in. To sum up what I am saying this place is a big city kind of joint with a small town atmosphere…..Seriously!

Jessie & I at the Missouri Capitol Building

What is a gal pal road trip without a trip to the spa? In my book that is nearly impossible! My gal pal Jessie and I have made it an annual tradition to go have a gal pal road trip each summer! This year we road tripped to Jefferson City, Missouri. I have so much to share, but today as I glanced down at my still perfectly manicured feet I had to share my experience at Riversong Spa….

I am probably the world worst person about taking care of my feet; I am constantly wearing flip flops, mud boots, and messing around in my garden in sandals….needless to say my feet are GROSS. Not to mention I was traveling and walking the streets of Jefferson City, to be frank about it I felt bad for the girl giving me a pedicure!

Blackwater Band at the Canterbury Hill Winery

Do you ever just fall in love with a boy band? Last night I rocked out at Canterbury Hill Winery and Restaurant to this adorable band of teenage boys,…the lead singer was at least half my age! These guys made me feel like I was 15 again an singing along to Hanson’s MmmBop, What a great way to feel when you are out for the night with your oldest gal pal friend.

While I have much more to say about Centerbury Hill Winery, but I just had to share this video of the band.

Blackwater Band in Jefferson City, Missouri

Happy Adventures,

Becky

Disclosure: My trip to Canterbury Hill Winery was sponsored by TBWG, however, all thoughts, opinions, and photos are my own.

16 things to do this summer in Southeast Missouri

D-man Bird Watching at the
Cape Girardeau Nature Center

Welcome to Summer Friends, I know our summer is fully running with softball games, fishing, and summer school. Yes, I am one of those mean moms that make my kids go to summer school, with good reason of course!

If you are like me summer means you are trying to entertain a gang on a budget, so I have created a list of a few great places that will keep you and your kiddos intrigued and busy!

Cape Girardeau Nature Center- Rather it is a quick break for the afternoon or check out all the awesome programs they are having the Cape Girardeau Nature Center is often our sanctuary from the heat. We can stop in and check out the animals, entertain ourselves with interactive exhibits, and if I am lucky, my wild ones might actually learn something. The nature center is good for all ages REALLY, even I find myself gazing at the latest artwork displayed.

Cape River Heritage Museum -- Learn the Cape Girardeau River Heritage, the history of what Cape Girardeau use to be, and just check out some awesome artifacts from the Cape Girardeau's past. This museum is good for all curious ages, but it is a museum of history, so your visit is what you make it. My kids loved the Pilot House and Fire Truck, of course who wouldn't be.

Rosemary Berkel and Harry L. Crisp II Museum -- Discovery stories of the Native Americans, the Mississippi River, the boats, the railroad, and much more. Crisp museum is a great for a short afternoon outing kids are always intrigued by the talking exhibits and you never know they may learn a bit of history.

Discovery Playhouse -- Need I say more than Discovery Playhouse, well of course I do! Discovery Playhouse is full of interactive displays, bright colors, and ways to keep those little imaginations turning. Discovery Playhouse also host weekly programs like music morning, check their website for more information. I am going to throw my Momma opinion here, Discovery Playhouse is PERFECT for my little man that is four, but my little woman who is almost 9 does tend to get bored about thirty minutes after we get there. Now do not get discouraged by that keep in mind that every child is different and if you have never visited your older kids may love it.

LeBounce -- The giant indoor bounce house also now offers Bazooka Ball. Hours of fun, leads to hours of peace and quiet....I speak from experience! Follow their facebook page as they often offer special prices and daily deals!

Southeast Missouri State Aquatics Center -- I know it is summer and we are suppose to be laying beside the pool working on our tan, well let's just face it when it is 106 outside the last thing I want to do is lay on a hot pool deck. Catch your waves inside; they even have an indoor zip line!

This is BoCo in the Spring

Yes this is home, these are the views that I see every day! Amazing that I am blessed this much in Rural Missouri!

Sea Life Aquarium Kansas City, MO

As I flipped through pictures tonight D-man yelled “Mom, there is that favorite place we went on bacation!”…love the words that come out of my 5 year old's mouth. I also often wonder how many favorite places he happens to have, but tonight his favorite place was Sea Life in Kansas City, MO.

I can always tell how big of an impact a place had on my kids by how long they continue to talk about the place. It has been 9 months since we visited SeaLife Aquarium in Kansas City, Mo and with just one image, D-man could tell me all the details of our visit. To word it exact he loved watching the jellyfish, seahorses, touching the slimey things, and the stingrays were cool too….I would say Sea Life also educated my little man.

With over 5,000 sea creatures and 260,000 gallons of water we had the opportunity to get up close and personal to sharks, hold crabs, touch starfish, make our imaginations explode while watching seahorses, and stand in awe as we watched the beautiful yet poisonous jellyfish.

Sea Life Aquarium in Kansas City is not an all day adventure, the aquarium is perfect for a rainy afternoon adventure, cool when it is too hot to play outside, and a great place to kill a few hours.

The aquarium is located next to LEGOLAND and in the Kansas City Crown Center.

With smiles and giggles, Sea Life Aquarium in Kansas City, Mo earns this Traveling Mom’s seal of approval!

Have an Adventurous Day!

~Becky

Disclosure: Our visit to the Sea Life Aquarium in Kansas City was sponsored by the Kansas City Tourism office. A big thank you to them for giving us the opportunity to visit, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own (or my children's)!

Pinecrest Azalea Gardens, Oak Ridge MO

Pinecrest Azalea Gardens have been blooming up beauty since 1963, and as Mr. Smith, one of the ground’s caregivers explained there is three different seasons at Pinecrest. Spring begins with the blooming of more than 300,000 Jonquils and Daffodils. Followed by numerous Azaleas, and Rhododendrons spread throughout the grounds, the colors truly leave you in awe

Pinecrest is open daily daylight hours only; the flowers begin blooming in late March through June, howver, the grounds remain open and beautiful through summer. The gardens are located on Torre Lane off County Road 472, for complete direction visit Pinecrest Azalea Garden’s website or call (573) 979-1112.

St Louis Science Center

These days as a single mom struggling on a small income I have realized how fun life can be without all the glitz and glam. In December, for the little man's big number 5 birthday my gal pal and I loaded up the car and headed to St Louis to celebrate in a BIG, but affordable way!

The little man could tell no difference if I spent $5 on his day or $500 all he knew is he had fun and was loved.

The St Louis Science Center is open daily, many of the exhibits are FREE, but some do cost a small fee! On our adventure scale of 1 to 10, D-man gives the St Louis Science Center a 12! He LOVED his birthday surprise!

Happy Adventures!