Missouri Outdoors

Missouri Outdoors has no shortage of things to do on an vacation. As the gateway to the west, five trails run through the state. You can travel along these, still seeing the wagon ruts made so long ago, even today. You can follow Lewis and Clark's water trail that runs for over 500 miles. Stops along the way are state parks, like the Katy Trail State Park but also bed and breakfasts, shops, restaurants, campgrounds, boat clubs, marinas and bait-shops. If water is your thing, you can also check out Ozarks National Scenic Riverway. It is Missouri's largest park and the first national park area to protect waterways. The Riverway includes 134 miles of the Current and Jack River. Activities include canoeing, hiking, fishing and camping.

Missouri is also known as the Cave State. It has more the 6,200 caves that tunnel under the ground of the state. Some of the famous caves are the cave from Tom Sawyer and the cave that Jesse James hid out in or the Onondaga Cave that is known for being one of the most impressive caves of the United States due to the quality of it's formations. A unique cave experience can be found at Fantastic Caverns, they offer 50-minute guided tours in cars following an ancient underground riverbed filled with massive formations. Since you ride the whole way through is especially convenient for parents with small children, seniors and physically challenged visitors. Another rock related activity is found at Elephant Rocks State Park so named for an awesome rock formation where huge boulders stand end-to-end like a train of circus elephants with the largest one being a huge 680 tons.

If bird watching is your passion, there are two interesting sites for you. The first is Audubon Great River Birding Trail which is one of the nation's great flyways for waterfowl, shorebirds and neotropic migrants. This winds from through Missouri along the Mississippi River from Iowa to Arkansas for 408 miles. Eagles can be spotted wintering in Missouri at hot spots including Lake of the Ozarks, Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, Clarksville, Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Table Rock Lake and Truman Reservoir.http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/destination-hunter/north-america/united-states/midwest/missouri/missouri-nature-scientific-wonders.html

National Parks, Areas and Sites

California National Historic Trail - Covers 10 states. Trail used to by farmers and gold seekers to get to California.
George Washington Carver National Monument - Activities related to interest of George Washington Carver including painting, wood carving and a rock garden.
Harry S Truman National Historic Site - Early home of the President.
Jefferson National Expansion Memorial - The Gateway Arch is located here.
Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail - Covers 11 states.
Oregon National Historic Trail - Covers 6 states. The pathway to the Pacific.
Ozark National Scenic Riverways - 1st National Park to protect rivers.
Pony Express National Historic Trail - Covers 8 states follows the path of the Pony Express.
Santa Fe National Historic Trail - Covers 5 states. Trailway to Santa Fe.
Trail Of Tears National Historic Trail - Covers 9 states. Trail used for forced removal of the Cherokee people from their homelands.
Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site - Home of the President.
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield - Scene of the 1st Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi.http://www.nps.gov/state/MO/index.htm