Missouri State Parks offer Wifi

Texting & Hiking...Yep that's me!

Okay call me a goof, or addict to my phone, computer, and electrical devices, but I am so excited to find out Missouri State Parks now offer Wifi! 

I know camping or visiting a state park is supposed to be getting away from your chaotic life, but I am the first to admit I cannot be completely disconnected.  Mostly for work purposes, but I also love to share fun photos of our vacations, stay connected to our family, and often I am traveling during the school year and need to turn in my college homework. 

Currently eleven state parks offer wireless access either throughout the campground or there are hotspots where you can go to log on.  Campgrounds with wireless access are located in the following state parks: Bennett Spring State Park near Lebanon; Montauk State Park near Salem; Roaring River State Park near Cassville; Table Rock State Park near Branson; Meramec State Park near Sullivan; Sam. A. Baker State Park near Patterson; Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park in Wildwood; Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park near Middlebrook; Onondaga Cave State Park near Leasburg; Long Branch State Park near Macon; and Finger Lakes State Park near Columbia.

Thank you Missouri State Parks for making vacation easier! 

~Becky

Memories at Dillard Mill in Davisville, MO

I often get questioned on why I am so passionate about not only travel, but about traveling in Missouri. While I love to travel for the excitement, the chaos that comes along from traveling with the kids, and of course the adventure of seeing something new, my passion for travel is driven by making memories. I have found family travel not only brings us together at that very moment, but also brings us together in our memories.

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Vacation on a Dime in Missouri State Parks

Recently I was reading a post by a fellow Mommy Blogger about State Parks in Illinois and bringing fun back to nature. I applaud her for being uniquely different, and speaking out that fun can be focused around real things.

Many of us forget about visiting our State Parks, and even more of us don’t realize how affordable it is to visit or stay at a state park. I know when I first started “adventuring” with kids; it was hotels or no go! I know I am pathetic! A few years back for my birthday, Ryan surprised me with a weekend at Sam A. Baker State Park. While I still had to cook, clean up after my kids, and spent a majority of my time outside in the woods, I felt like I was worth a million bucks.

Here is the scoop, several of Missouri’s state parks have various types of lodging; I personally prefer the cabins. Why you ask, probably not a huge shocker to my readers, but I am not a very good camper. In fact, Ryan now refuses to take me camping! However, you can still get close to nature without throwing out a tent and sleeping on the ground…for all that do tent camp; I applaud you and please keep camping! Other than not being a good tent camper, I have found a family staying at State Parks can be more affordable than hotels. Continue to read more here

Ha Ha Tonka State Park and My Great Rescue



The view of the Castle from across the park

I had originally planned to save this story for a later date, but today while flipping through photos the memory of our day at Ha Ha Tonka came flooding back. 

I am not going to share the facts of Ha Ha Tonka State Parks in this post I will save that until a later date; I am only going to share our emotionally fantastic day at Ha Ha Tonka State Park. 

Our Family at Ha Ha Tonka State Park

I had always wanted to visit Ha Ha Tonka State Park, but it has been one of those places that we had always said when we visit here, or when we are headed there, and seemed to always put it off.  When we were offered, the opportunity to stop here during our road trip to the Missouri State Fair it more than excited me.  As a want-to-be photographer, Ha Ha Tonka is more than a dream place to visit.  The remains of the onetime castle is spectacular, the view from the overlook is more than breathtaking, and surrounding greenness just tops it off.  However, my great photos are shadowed by my little man’s great adventure at Ha Ha Tonka.   

My Prince Charming & The Great Rescuer

After “adventuring” all around the castle remains we were off to the trails to see the fire tower and the rock bridge.  As we headed down the path my little prince charming Dillard (3) grabbed my hand, looked up to me, and said “Mommy a long time ago when you were small and I was big you had long long hair my horse John Deere and I rescued your from that castle.”  Tears came to eyes for more than one reason.  Every little girl, no matter your age, wants to be somebody’s princess and my little man reminded me that in his eyes I am a princess…yes that makes a momma’s day!  My second thought we didn't have to entertained by theme parks, we have our imagination and that makes this momma proud.  My final thought was YES he gets its, he understands how beautiful this place is, he sees why we love these places, and he LOVES them just as much as I do….that more than makes my day that makes my heart swell. 

What a View!

While I want you to visit Ha Ha Tonka State Park, I want you see its beauty, and want you to see how great Missouri State Parks are….I really want your kids to have the chance to explore, imagine, and create an adventure of their own.  I know one day Dillard will realize that his horse John Deere and him really didn’t rescue Mommy from that great big castle, but for today he can vividly describe the massive structure, the beauty that surrounds it, and his GREAT CASTLE RESCUE. 

~B~ 

to see more photos of our trip please Our Photos of Ha Ha Tonka State Park

****Our visit to Ha Ha Tonka State Park was part of our road trip to the Missouri State Fair sponsored by Missouri Division of Tourism....and Thank You for giving Dillard the chance to see where he rescued me from a long long time ago!