Please note, this review is ONLY for the Watkins Mill State Park Lake and the loop bike trail…read morearound the lake. This lake is great for beginner kayakers! 5 Stars! We took an inflatable, tandem kayak, and we felt very comfortable despite our lack of experience. Our tracking fin only caught on the very edges of the lake where we expected the fin to touch the bottom. There didn't seem to be any issues with boat wakes. The boat ramp was easy to use, and you don't need a permit for your kayak if you go. We enjoyed seeing some wildlife, including a small snake, a raccoon, birds, and several types of fish. The bike trail was a good beginner trail. Parts of it were paved, parts of it were gravel, and parts of it were over wooden plank bridges. The trail was wide enough for walkers and bikers to pass each other safely. There were small inclines and declines, but they were very manageable. For reference, I am not someone that exercises often, and I'm also currently in physical therapy for a hurt knee. If I can do it, you can too! The only reason I didn't give this trail 5 stars was because it was poorly marked. It seemed like some of it was being repaired because there were signs to mark the detour route. However, my friend and I did have to guess at one point which way to go, and we thankfully guessed correctly. If you're nervous, make sure to study the trail map, take a picture of it, or ask for help at the Visitor Center. I do not recommend this trail for individuals in wheelchairs, as the inclines and declines may be too tough. Finally, I want to comment on the restrooms. There are several spots around the lake that have restrooms, but they are primitive. It's the kind where you don't flush (just a deep hole), though there is a physical enclosure (not just a port-a-pottie). You may have to "shop around" because the restrooms at the boat ramp were so HORRID, I couldn't even walk in after opening the door. The second restrooms I went to at a different spot around the lake were cleaner, but there were WASPS flying in and around the restroom. Thankfully, there were no issues with lack of toilet paper. If you're like me, plan accordingly and just use the restrooms at the Visitor Center. They're MUCH nicer. If you want to risk the ones near the lake, bring some wasp spray!

I had friends from out of town camping at Watkins Mill, State Park, and the camping experience is…read morevery nice. All camping sites allow for one vehicle. The swimming beach is very clean and large. The only setback is the awful signage. I recommend if you do stay at Watkins Mill State Park for camping to disregard your map apps, and take 69 highway to 92 to the state park entrance. Otherwise you'll be driving around for 45 minutes without a clue of where you're going.

Our visit was quiet and fun as our littles completed their scavenger hunt. The exhibits were…read moreinformative and entertaining with recorded audios and soundscapes. A few sections could use some attention and cleaning, but overall well-kept. We had a good time and enjoyed the riverwalk afterwards.

This place is truly one of the best gems in Saint Joseph. We have been bringing my daughter here…read moreonce a month for nearly three years and it never gets old. The location is right next to the Missouri River and has a gorgeous view. There is a lovely little porch with chairs and picnic tables. The center provides binoculars and books to help identify local birds. My daughter loves the huge fish tank display of native fish. She also enjoys the tortoises and the snakes in the Snake Room. They are almost always having a scavenger hunt for the kids with prizes. Personally, I enjoy browsing the reading material in the little store and have bought several books. There is a very detailed exhibit on the history of Saint Joseph which is really interesting. It includes details that I have not read about anywhere else. So if you enjoy history, you should definitely pay this place a visit.

My husband and I Roeland Park, this nature sanctuary the day before Mother's Day. We had a heck of…read morea time finding it because the address was listed incorrectly. The nature sanctuary is on 12th St. and the connecting street is East St. Once we figured out where it was, we took our time on one of the trails I believe there are four trail options and the longest is 1.6 mile loop and the second is a 1 mile loop and the other ones are less than that. But it is a beautiful nature sanctuary with lots of greenery, woods, streams, water falls, and benches to enjoy the scenery. No pets are allowed since it is a nature sanctuary. There is a covered area off of one of the hikes that we went to that leads to some picnic tables. There's also several picnic tables by the parking lot. There are also bathrooms near the parking lot. The parking lot is next to the track and field belonging to the college. We really enjoyed our slow, meandering walk/hike and will definitely go back.

Hidden right by the bustle of downtown parkville, the parkville nature sanctuary has become one of…read moremy favorite places to do an easy hike. The trails are well maintained, and while there are some inclines at certain points, the trail is easy to follow and not strenuous. I love the various view points where you can stop and really appreciate natural beauty, like the waterfall or the butterfly pass. It feels like this is in its own little world despite being so close to the city. Be aware that the parking lot is pretty small so at peak times it may be hard to park.

Saint Joseph's only privately owned public park! The owner/caretaker was there maintaining some…read morecement steps so we got to learn a little about the area. There used to be a school (no longer there). Two of the four picnic tables are new (but they all look brand new to me). He has maintained the open pavilions above the tables too. The grounds and structures are well maintained and everything is clean. This is a great place for a little picnic! Be aware that you need to walk up a few stairs to get to the nice, flat, level area.

Great people that run the place! Be prepared to get nice and muddy as the trails can get super…read moredeep. It's a good idea to have a buddy with you because if you go through any mud holes your probably going to get stuck!!! Camping and showers are available. There is also a nice place to wash off the toys too. Food truck is there on most weekends.

The WORST experience we've ever received at a business establishment. We were being targeted by the…read moreowner since the moment we paid. He kept coming back to us (total of 4 different times) YELLING IN OUR FACES on how you aren't supposed to ride on the grass or gravel (which we respected). But as you can see in pictures it's clear that was not his issue. He would stand there and stare us down trying to intimidate us, threatening to kick us out. My family and I are very respectful humans, so I can only assume it was our ethnicity he was bothered by. What can you expect from trump supporter.

Weston Bend State Park is a peaceful and beautiful spot located near the town of Weston, MO. The…read morepark is famous for its picturesque beauty, walking trails that winds through forests overlooking the Missouri River. I visited the park in winter last yr and fell in love with it. Primarily I just hiked around but I saw many people bird watching, and enjoying the quiet nature as well. The best part is the scenic overlook that gives a beautiful view of the river valley, especially at sunset. When I visited the park, it felt calm and less crowded. That definitely makes it a nice place for families or anyone who wants a break from busy life. My suggestion to everyone one is to hike at this park and then head to the town of Weston to enjoy some hot wine at Pritle Wineries followed by amazing food at the O'malleys pub.

Small park that nestles along the Missouri River…read more Trails for hiking and biking exist on the eastern side. You can also camp and picnic. If you hike along the West Ridge you will climb up to the ridge and come up to some overlooks that look into Kansas. The park was unmanned on Indigenous Peoples Day, but folks were able to access the park. If you have pets, the park has a small dog park at the front end. Plenty of benches can be found along the lower trails to take a load off. Right now the leaves are turning into their fall shades and the birds that come in the fall are arriving for the birders that are on the hunt. Plenty of information can be found at the trail head. There are clean bathrooms. The water fountains don't work, but the taps do. The weather today was awesome. I will return.

I stopped by this quiet park on the way home so my grandson could try out the playground. This park…read moreis inside a residential area so there is no actual parking lot. But parking can be done on the street near the curb of the park. It's a quiet park with a small playground with newer equipment. There is a variety of regular swings, and also the larger swings for several kids. There is a walking trail that appears to be a loop. It's a small park, but it's nice and peaceful.

Catch us at a park all year long! Quail Creek Park has been in our rotation of parks and it is such…read morea great, little park! This park is tucked away in a neighborhood. There's no dedicated parking lot, but plenty of street parking. They have swings (2 baby ones, 2 normal ones, and two round tire type swings). The playground equipment is kind of advanced, but there are definitely things for younger littles. The ground is rubber material, so great for crawlers/ kiddos who are starting to walk! They also have a little creek and walking paths behind the park!

Fun family time looking at the lights! Enjoyed the new displays this year!!!…read moreFamily tradition to go to Holiday Park every year, honk in the tunnels, and get our cherry mash at the end! Santa is there on Friday and Saturdays, with drive through concessions.

I have lived here for my entire life and the Christmas Lights are always a treat. Just a shame its…read morealways such a nightmare to go through there though.

Dockery Park holds the distinction as our family's very first night turning our SUV into an RV and…read morecamping in it. We didn't realize at the time how rare it was for a free campsite to offer free water and electricity. The water was turned off for winter when we stayed there, but the free electricity saved us. The park has what they call a Livestock Barn that is really just a large metal roof with a dirt drive lane down the middle and livestock pens on the sides. It was drizzling and getting cold when we drove into the campground at around eleven o'clock at night. It occurred to me that our Tahoe might barely fit under the roof of the livestock barn, even with a cargo box and two giant duffles on top, so we pulled under the barn roof and parked next to a concrete pad that was perfect for unloading and organizing our stuff. Being first timers, we weren't nearly as organized as we should have been. Just for sleeping overnight, we needed a few items from the cargo box, some things from each of the giant duffles, and we had things all over the Tahoe that would have to go elsewhere to make room for us to set up our sleeping arrangements the way we had planned. It was merciful to have that shelter from the rain to get organized. The next day, we had a good time in the park. In daylight, it looked very charming, up on a hill, and you could see most of the town from that vantage point. There was a bench swing hanging from a tree next to our campsite, overlooking a nice little pond with a gazebo on its banks. Our little boy and puppy had a great time running up and down the gazebo's stairs and treating it as their clubhouse. There was plenty of space for the puppy to run and play. There was a playground with good play equipment for our little boy. Some locals came to use the park, but they were friendly and didn't bother us at all. We accidentally drained our Tahoe's battery overnight and then intentionally drained our jump starter/battery pack with our electric blankets. When we figured out our predicament, we found that the free electrical outlet at the campsite we chose was designed for RVs, which have a completely different plug than regular household electrical outlets. Thankfully, there was a working outlet inside the livestock barn. We plugged in the battery pack and played for another hour. That was all it took to charge the battery pack enough for it to jump start the Tahoe, and we were on our way. That little bit of electricity we used saved us from a AAA service call. To hear more about our family's adventures out on the road, please see our blog at https://illtaketheroadbuddy.tumblr.com/post/168772836415/the-first-time-we-turned-our-suv-into-an-rv

I came here for a hike with the dog and fell in love with the trails. Easy to park and find the…read moretrails. once on the trails they are well marked and there are qr codes where you can download maps. Hiking, ATV, horse, and bike trails are all available. you can get in several miles of hiking here easily.

Was lost for two hours. Had to ditch the trail and just walk through the unbeaten path to get back…read more Lost my. Jordan 4 patch works out there tryna to get over the two lil river creeks. Smh no I'm not going back for the trail.