A few shots from my recent "Girls Trip" to Hannibal, Missouri - beautiful little small-town America destination; most tours and locations are suitable for children of all ages.
You know those handy little map brochures that you pick one up at the nature center, carry around for a day, and then shove them in your glove box of your car, and it is ripped to shreds before you can use it again? Imagine all that compacted in a small book that you can carry around - only add another 81 trails with it.
So I love this little book, yes for real, it is a compact book that is easy store. The maps are well detailed and Schrenk takes extra time to add in family hiking tips - rather to use strollers, if the trail is easy for toddlers, bathroom availability, and which season is best to visit the hiking trails.
Have you ever heard of Howell Island Conservation Area? Did you know that Howell Island Conservation Area has a 3.9 mile loop that is jogging stroller accessible? Me either! That is this entire book - full of hiking trails that are rarely known and very close to the St. Louis, Missouri area.
"Aww Mom, did you really say that we had to go to the Bass Pro Shop on our girls weekend?" My sweet, but sassy little gal was not sure about crashing the "hunting store" on her girls weekend. Until we walked inside the massive Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri - the next comment I got was "Mom this place is not like I thought it would be" - maybe Mom was right again.
We started our adventure at the Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium inside the Wildlife Galleries. This was more than just a few painting on the wall, it was a history lesson mixed with lavish displays that look so life like that you thought you were really in the animals natural habitat and the animals were real.
A walk on the artic side to meet few polar friends?
Mixed with this life like exhibit of artic animals was a touch of history and lesson of how the Inuit people native to the Arctic regions of North America lived.
While this piece of clothing was sure to be warm, I am not sure it was my style.
After our hour tour of the wildlife gallery we entered the aquarium portion of the tour - our first steps into the aquarium we weren't sure if we had left Springfield, Missouri and entered the runways of LasVegas - we may have had to stand and pose on the steps a few times.
Like the art gallery section of the tour, the aquarium is absolutely gorgeous, yet acceptable for all ages.
The aquarium leaves nothing to imagine, except maybe how did they build an aquarium this big?
AND make it see through?
Like the wildlife galleries, each area of the aquarium has a theme, you visit fresh water areas, swamps, and sea life. The entire area, minus the area dedicated to the fishing awards, which my girls zoomed through quickly, is very interactive - it will mesmerize kids of all ages!
The Jellyfish might have been our favorite.
In fact, I am not even sure we knew these color of Jellyfish even existed!
The swamp area was also a favorite, but the girls were not huge fans of the swinging bridge over the alligator pit - I did not know they could move as fast as they did across the bridge!
Even though the alligators looked semi-friendly.
The touch-table gives visitors a chance to touch sea life they may never have been able to get close to before.
At the very end of our tour we got a nice surprise and met this guy!
He was much cuter through the glass than he would have been meeting face to face in the wild!
The Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium does have an entrance fee, you can choose to visit either the museum, the aquarium, or buy a combo ticket and visit both at once.
You need to wear walking shoes, while it is indoor the facility is also 350,000 square feet with 1.4 miles of trails - that is just a tad bit of walking!
There is a snack area, gift shop, and plenty of restrooms throughout the facility.
The Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium is wheelchair and stroller friendly - where needing to move from floor to floor, elevators are available.
Plan to spend several hours, you could zip through in 2 hours, but you would miss so much! To truly enjoy the Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium plan to spend 4 hours or more especially if visiting with kids.
More Pictures of The Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium.
(Disclosure: Parts of this vacation were sponsored, however all thoughts and opinions are my own or my family's, I cannot be bought)
Where can you master stand-up paddle boarding, watch the sunset over a lake, have dinner surrounded by nature, make s'more's over an open fire, and then finish the night off with a family movie?
Our family just returned from our last summer break getaway, that we nicknamed Vacation BoCoMo at the Semo Paradise, because it is a true paradise hidden out in rural Bollinger Cunty, Missouri.
Just a short drive outside of the City of Marble Hill, Missouri sits this.....
This 4 bedroom, 3 bath home could easily be a large family getaway, a multi-family getaway, or a quiet place to escape from the city!
The home faces a large lake and is surrounded by 30 private acres! By private I mean, you see NO OTHER HOUSES from the front or back deck! You have limited (very limited) cell service, Wi-Fi is available inside the home, and you can hear the frogs croaking and crickets chirping.
I have become a huge fan of vacation homes, especially vacation homes set up like this home! The home is fully furnished, minus food and your clothes, making packing so much easier and vacation a lot less stressful!
Our Getaway went a little like this..
We started with an afternoon boat ride.
We upgraded to the kayak.
While the husband manned the grill.
The kids enjoyed some relaxing time in the hot tub (you know because the kids need to relax).
We enjoyed dinner off the grill out on the deck.
Then watched the sunset at the lake from a stand-up paddle board.
Followed S'more's at the fire pit.
Then movie night and a friendly game of air hockey.
All to make us sleep just like we were at home.
If all this does not wear you out, here is a list of nearby things to do.....
Bollinger County Natural History Museum - perfect for an afternoon of exploring the home of the Missouri Dinosaur, the kid friendly area is perfect for the little ones, and you may even learn a bit of Civil War History while you are there.
The Mayfield Cultural Center - Next door to the Bollinger County Natural History Museum sits beautiful The Mayfield Cultural Center. Visit their Facebook page for their menu, hours, and events happening at The Mayfield.
Duck Creek Conservation Area - Duck Creek Conservation Areas is just a short drive from the home - where you will find more great fishing, a flat area to ride bikes, and a lot of unique animals. From Duck Creek if you want to drive a little farther, you will find Mingo National Wildlife Refugee, another must stop for outdoor lovers.
Patton Lawnmower Races - again a bit of a drive, maybe 45 minutes, but while you are in the area worth catching a show. The Patton Lawnmower Races is great for little boys and girls of all ages - okay big boys really love it! Great Show and very Family Friendly! If you go, you must try the Cheese Fries - they are a Patton Lion Club specialty!
Probably one of the most exciting things to happen to Marble Hill, Missouri this past year is the opening of The Mayfield Cultural Center - the former Will Mayfield College. As long as I can remember this beautiful historic building sat empty overlooking the town of Marble Hill - sad, but true!
The Will Mayfield Cultural Center
Well after months/years of labor work and efforts of locals and enthusiast - the Mayfield Cultural Center is now open - not as a college, but as something for everyone in the community.
The Beautiful Dining Area.
The center recently hosted a quilt show of local quilters, it is available to rent for weddings and such, and.....they opened their cafe this week! Well today, with my 7 year old in tow, I ventured up to The Mayfield Cultural Center to have lunch - and my excitement for this place to be open has now doubled. Talk about class, fine dining, but still a hometown atmosphere - they have it. I felt comfortable eating their with D-man (my messy little boy), but I also felt like I had removed myself from one atmosphere and stepped into the finer way of life.
D-man enjoying his BBQ Chicken Sandwich and Chips!
The cafe is perfect for all occasions - noon lunch with friends, family dinner, and for you romancers - this could even take an afternoon date!
My lunch! Tuna and Chips.
If you ask me - you must try the tomato salad - I could have made that my entire lunch! Yum!
The Mayfield Cultural Center is located at 209 Mayfield Drive, Marble Hill, Missouri - right beside the Bollinger County Natural History Museum, visit their Facebook page for current business hours and events. If you are coming to Marble Hill to visit The Mayfield Cultural Center - here a few more places you might like to visit: Bollinger County Natural History Museum - next door to The Mayfield Cultural Center - full of history and dinosaur facts! Whippoorwill Lake - Family camping, swimming, and much more! Great atmosphere! We highly suggesting stopping by. The Mustard Seed Boutique - located just down the street from the Bollinger County Natural History Museum - they are loaded gifts and they serve a pretty good lunch for a really good price. Holly's - Where to Find your Wear - shop until you drop at Holly's upscale consignment shop - one of our favorite stops in town!
