I stayed one night, two nights ago, at Van Meter State Park, which interprets a nearby Indian…read morevillage of the Missouri Indians who died out in the early 19th century. They were like the Indians of New England, decimated early on by disease brought by French explorers and traders, the War of 1812, and English speaking colonizers. Before "Americans" even really settled in the area from the 1820s, Lewis and Clark reported in 1804 that many of the Missouri Indians had died off from disease and predations from other tribes. The visitor's center is small but excellent, and interprets many Indian tribes in the Midwest, including the Sauk and Fox, who lived in Dubuque, IA, where I grew up. I learned more about Black Hawk, who figures large in the early 19th century history of Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, and Wisconsin. By the time whites came to the park area (the Van Meters), the Indians were entirely gone. The campgrounds are alive with woodpeckers and tall trees, but the place is truly eerie. The trees groan in the wind at night and the area is very damp. One campsite across the way was 5 degrees colder. I imagine there was a spring, or seep, there. It is really dark at night, at a little scary. There is a campground host there, friendly but not intrusive. There are some trails to walk on, although muddy. One leads up to the Van Meter family cemetery, which is laid out next to an Indian Mound. I wanted to visit the lake with some more Indian mounds on the park property the next morning but the campground hosts had not unlocked the gate. Apparently they have had instances of thievery and vandalism. Hard to believe how. The area is beautiful farmland, but very remote.

What a lovely spot to enjoy the outdoors! The view of the river along with 3 different counties is…read morebreathtaking! Have a little one? There's a playground for them! Have a toddler? Also, they have a playground for them! Like to watch baseball? Sit in the stands or bring a chair. Want to picnic? There's a place for that as well. You can't go wrong when you visit the parks here in Boonville Missouri!

We had some extra time waiting to meet up with family and a park seemed like a much better place…read morefor that than a fast-food joint. A local's recommendation led us here, and once we found our way off the main roads back here, it was exactly what we wanted. (Finding it's not that hard; follow the casino and historical marker signs and be patient. It's only about a mile off the main drag.) I only got to see part of this 31 acre park, but what I saw was great--several picnic shelters, BBQ pits, kids' play structures (including one with a mini rock-climbing wall! photo pending), and baseball diamonds. A great place to relax, watch a game, or meet friends. TRIVIA: This park is on the National Registry of Historic Places, and from its high point, you can see the start of the Santa Fe Trail.

Quiet, clean, and friendly camping area. Very nice shower and washroom facilities! Found this…read moreplace in the middle of the night. Woke up to a gorgeous morning with the birds singing, small rabbits hopping around, etc. One of my kids wandered a little far for my liking while he took photos. Some locals said you really had to watch out for the ability to sink down and get stuck in the mud, so they helped look for him when he didn't come back to the campsite on-time. Turns out he was fine -- just lost track of time having fun exploring. :)

Great place to boat. Nice big lake, had it pretty much all to ourselves when we were there…read more Beautiful. Don't expect a lot of action, such as at Lake of the Ozarks. This is a quiet lake with no business or houses on it. There is a campground that looks nice. We drove through but didn't camp, so can't rate that part. Would like to take our boat back again sometime!

This is a multi-use community park that also hosts a variety of regional sports and special events…read more The community benefits include playgrounds, picnic pavilions, a basketball court, baseball/softball fields, a paved walking track, skate park, beach volleyball courts, seasonal aquatic center, tennis courts, soccer fields...and more! There's a lot here for local residents and groups. Fairground also hosts a country fair and rodeo. It offers RV camping, Key to its position as a regional destination it's well maintained, clean, and convenient. Picnic facilities, playgrounds, and restrooms are spread throughout the park.

This was a great stop to make on our road trip. Park, pavilion and picnic tables were clean…read more Perfect for our kids ages 1-7. The walking path was great for stretching our legs.

Rock Bridge State Park is one of my favorite Missouri trials because of the views and…read moreaccessibility. This park is wonderful for people of all ages; especially for families! We love exploring the Devil's Icebox Cave and the Sinkhole short trail. There are parts on the trail that are easily accessible by following the wood-planked walkway, but there are also "off the beaten path" trails and spots to ride your bike. Rock Bridge State Park is absolutely beautiful and is a "Must Visit" outdoor spot in Columbia, MO!

I take my granddaughters here every chance I get. Love playing in the water in the caves. And they…read morelove the pathways and steps. I usually end up carrying one or both back out as they are exhausted. Afterwards a nice nap had by all!

As a family of 6 we like to get active a play outside as much as possible, Hubbard park is…read moredefinitely one of Sedalia's hidden gems. The multiple play structures keep all our kiddos busy despite their wide age range. The zip line is very popular and even fun for brave adults willing to try. There are several pavilions available so bring the family for any occasion; basketball, soccer and disk golf also on site. Over all GREAT PLACE to catch so fresh air and let the kiddos blow off some steam!!

This park is part of the ongoing Chillicothe beautification projects. This is one of the most…read morepicturesque downtown areas that you will find. They have done a fantastic job with it.

This is a great park for walking, jogging, and leisurely fishing. The park is a large loop with…read moremultiple views around the trails. I loved that you could walk across the lake via bridge or walk around it completely. The playground is more for kids 4-10 but with a watchful eye littles 1-3 can have a blast too. There looked like construction for the littles playground coming in the spring. Dogs are allowed on leash so let the dogs out and be sure to clean up after them. This park is very accessible but I did not check the restroom to see if they were accessibly friendly.

Oh wow came here on vacation what a beautiful spot. The area is just peaceful and quiet. We had a…read morepicnic It was well maintained. A must to visit

Pinnacles Youth Park is a wonderful outdoor area that is enjoyed by people of all ages! There are…read moreclimbable rock structures, several trails, and an abundance of beautiful nature to take in! I went to this park a ton of times with family and college friends back in the day. It is always a delight to stop back in and explore the area!

The pinnacles are a jagged-pointy rock formation that stands about 75 feet high and stretches about…read more1000 feet long. Bordered on one side by Kelley Creek and on another by Silver Fork Creek, the two streams have been slowly pinching the mass of Burlington limestone separating them, a highly reactive stone that's dissolved by moving water. Some parts of the stone were even carved out entirely, creating little tunnel-like windows dotting the vertical rock face. From the parking area, it is a short walk past picnic shelters and some benches down to the water's edge where you can wade across or just look up at the amazing rock structures. There are hiking trails throughout the park and I saw a number of folks walking, some with dogs. I read that there's a good amount of poison ivy along the trails, so I didn't take a chance. Also, some of the walking looked uneven and following the usual rule of "Never hike alone" I decided not to risk a twisted ankle with no help. At the creek's edge, I was able to find enough stones to make a pretty rock stack. I wonder if it's still there today. [Review 19735 overall - 212 in Missouri - 707 of 2023.]