Ken and I have lived in our adopted state of Missouri for more than three years now, but we are still in awe of all this incredible state has to offer. We’ve been traveling through the state this past week, exploring some of the wonderful state parks in Missouri. Here is just a sampling of what we’ve discovered so far.
We’ve been to Branson many times, but this was our first time to discover beautiful Top of the Rock. We took the golf cart trail around the grounds for views of rock formations and waterfalls, visited the world-class museum there, and ate at the Buffalo Bar with stunning views of the Chapel of the Ozarks and the infinity pool at sunset. We rode our bikes on the trail through the campground and caught a view of the Branson Belle steamboat, and walked through Branson Landing before settling in for the night at Table Rock State Park with a gorgeous view of the lake right behind us.
The next day we drove to Finley Farms in Ozark, Missouri. We’d had coffee at The Workshop once before but wanted to eat at the Ozark Mill there. It was delicious! Ken had Chicken and Dumplings and I ordered the catfish and we were both very happy with our choices. We walked around the grounds for a while before heading for our next campsite in Roaring River State Park. We really loved this park with seven hiking trails, a fishery, lots of fishermen to watch, and one of the deepest natural blue springs in the country.
The next night, we camped at Pomme de Terre State Park on the Pomme de Terre River, a tributary of the Osage River. Ken saw an amazing misty sunrise while I slept blissfully. I don’t mind missing a sunrise here and there if it means I’m sleeping well. And the sunsets we’ve seen certainly make up for the sunrises I’ve missed. 😊
The next morning we headed for Harry S. Truman State Park but stopped first to ride our bikes on three up-and-back trails in Warsaw, Missouri. We really enjoyed these trails along the Osage River with plenty of bridges and other sights to keep the trail interesting.
Harry S. Truman State Park has majestic bluffs over the water and our campground was quiet and pretty with fall coming on strong! Today we begin circling around toward home. Just a few more nights of camping and our travels will come to an end for a while, but we certainly are enjoying getting to know our new state!
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What a great mini-vacation (working vacation) you’re having. Thanks for sharing the adventure. Always makes me want to get a motorhome and have a few adventures of my own.
It took a while, but I’m fully embracing the RV life now, Robin. And I have some fun work to do while we travel that doesn’t feel like work at all. 😉
Thanks for taking us along on your beautiful trips, Deb. I enjoy them so much.
I’m so glad, Lynn! Half the fun of traveling is sharing our adventures!
Beautiful pictures! So glad you’re having a great time.
Thanks, Betty! Glad you’re enjoying the photos. I really enjoy trying to capture the beauty we see with a camera!
Sounds like you had a lovely time & you got some beautiful pics! As a fellow Missourian, I agree that there are some very pretty sights to see all around us. We live in Neosho, down in the very SW corner of Missouri, only two hours from Branson. We’ve spent many a family vacation there & Silver Dollar City is one of my happy places. 🙂
My husband & I went to Top of the Rock for the first time this past April & loved it soooo much that, Lord willing, we are planning another trip this coming Saturday. We caught the beauty of spring earlier in the year & are hoping to catch the beginnings of a beautiful fall this time… & skip the heat & humidity of summer! 😉 The golf cart trail is perfect for us… a way to enjoy being in the outdoors & seeing the beauty of nature without the rigors of hiking. My health is such that we can’t do that, so Top of the Rock is a great alternative!
Enjoy the rest of your journey!
We just loved Top of the Rock and couldn’t believe it took us so long to finally get there. You’re going to see some gorgeous fall color if you go this weekend! It was just starting when we were there last week.
Love that you had such wonderful adventures with your hubby, Deb.
Thank you, Beth. He’s a pretty awesome travel companion. And he does such a great job planning our trips with things we both enjoy. I’m very blessed to have him!
I really enjoyed seeing your pictures. Roaring River is one of my favorite places. I’m originally from Fayetteville, Arkansas but my family moved to Texas when I was three. I spent lots of time in Arkansas with my grandparents, though, and day trips to Roaring River were always a favorite activity. I have wonderful memories of playing in the cold, clear water and picnics and exploring the hatchery. I keep hoping to take my husband and kids there sometime but we haven’t made it yet.
I hope you get to take your family to Roaring River soon, Christy! We just loved it and hope to go back someday—maybe with our family!
What a lovely trip! We have not been to Missouri in several years. Guess we will have to make a point to change that.
If you do, I hope you’ll come down our way, Jen!
Wow!! Thanks for sharing all those pics. My dad’s side of the family is from Missouri, but it’s been a long time since I have been there. Just beautiful pictures!!
We are new to Missouri, but I’m blown away by its beauty! I hope you come visit our beautiful state soon!
Sounds like a wonderful trip – thank you for sharing! I lived in Warsaw, Missouri for 10 years (several years ago) and still have many friends there. The pictures brought back many lovely memories.
You are my favorite person/author to follow here and FB. Ken included. You have a way of making everyone feel like there are traveling along regardless of what you are doing. Time with family, yard sale finds, Raney Day RVing, Deb Club, writing adventures or rearranging furniture. Thank you for sharing your life. Because of you I’ve tried electric bikes, been encouraged in my writing, enticed to travel more and have Ken’s artwork on my wall. Bless you Both!