A late April breeze carefully trembles white-flowering dogwoods along Lake of the Ozarks; nearby, a terrific blue heron climbs soundlessly to wing throughout the water. In a couple of weeks, pontoons and party boats will crowd the scene, however, for currently, we have it to ourselves.
And so it goes over the following week of our 400-mile journey through southern and central Missouri, a geologically abundant location with hills more than a billion years of ages and thousands of caves, in addition to waterfalls, sinkholes, lakes and springtimes. My hubby and I, avid walkers that have remained inside as well long over the winter season, are eager to experience this slice of the Ozarks and its promise of the transforming periods. The very first leg of our trip meanders from Lake of the Ozarks– with its magnificent bluff-top damages at Ha Ha Tonka State Park– to Springfield, then east across the Ozarks to state park gems like Mirror Bluff, Elephant Rocks and Johnson’s Shut-Ins, where only five cars and trucks sit in a whole lot developed for loads.
Throughout us, spring colors the landscape with fresh green leaves that seem to grow brighter as the week passes. Irises flower along country roads, and fragile blue phlox, yellow savanna buttercups, white larkspurs and lavender bergamots speckle the floors of oak-hickory woodlands. At Springfield’s botanical gardens, peonies, viburnums and redbuds prosper under a blue sky, while the feathery flowers of a white edge tree fragrance the air with a lilac-like aroma.
At Mirror Bluff, we do not also bother to trek or lease among the bikes from the lodge; we simply rest by the namesake bluff and enjoy the sunlight shimmer off Sinking Creek, listening to birds as they dart around the rock formations. We wonder if we may find the tiny herd of wild steeds that strolls this land, and later, we gaze right into a moonless night sky that opens up to the universe.
The following day, we head north to discover both Meramec State Park and Meramec Caverns, only 15 miles apart. It’s prematurely in the period to check out the park’s Fisher Cave, however we hike the 1.25-mile Bluff View loop by the Meramec River, stopping in a 1930s shelter to peer throughout the water. We’re the only ones on the path (not a surprise by this factor). The same goes with our tour at Meramec Caverns; the overview says that in summertime, groups of as much as 50 leave every 20 mins. We’re rewarded with unhampered sights of large sheet-wall formations, used to display an audio and light program, plus unusual natural developments like the Wine Table, sustained on 3 legs.
Our last stop is Hermann, a village founded by German immigrants in the 1800s. We have a look at vineyards, distilleries and breweries, and learn more about the location’s heritage with a directed trip of 2 homes at the Deutschheim State Historic Website. In late afternoon, it’s time to head to Hermann Hillside, our last over night. Grinding up a steep crushed rock roadway, I briefly wonder about our selection of holiday accommodation, but after that we identify the four-story shop resort perched high above the community, overlooking wineries, a valley and the Missouri River. After days of sunshine, rainfall has moved in, and we cozy up by the fire place in a top-floor room. We quickly think about remaining a 2nd night, yet it’s the weekend, and they’re totally booked. For the first time during our trip, our spring-fling good luck has actually run out.
How to Plan a Springtime Road Trip in Missouri
Lake of the Ozarks
Begin your trip at Willmore Lodge, built in 1930 as a workplace for Union Electric Firm’s Osage River Task and now home to a site visitors center and gallery. A brief walk next to the lodge leads via a garden to a lakeside gazebo. Keep up the pace at Ha Ha Tonka State Park, where the castlelike ruins of an early 20th-century estate neglect a sparkling blue natural springtime 250 feet listed below. Bridal Cave and (after mid-May) Ozark Caverns assure below ground experiences. Intrepid tourists must head to the two turning bridges near Brumley in Lake of the Ozarks State Park. You can drive (carefully!) over the much shorter one; the second one, developed circa 1930, can be checked out from secure ground and is slated for reconstruction. An over night at Old Kinderhook, a hotel in Camdenton, places you close to all these destinations; The Garden Residence B And B in Rocky Mount offers a cozy remain on the lake’s north end with just 4 visitor spaces.
Springfield
If you had not already heard about Fantastic Caverns, you ‘d definitely understand by the time you show up in Springfield, many thanks to lots of billboards along the drive. A 55-minute tour on a red tram covers the cave’s discovery in the 1860s and its lots of lives, including as a speakeasy. For a dash of springtime shade, head to the Springfield Botanical Gardens at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park. In the peaceful Japanese yard, we shared the boardwalks mainly with frogs and turtles. Another must-see: Askinosie Delicious chocolate, where the abundant cocoa scent floating out the front door attracts you right into a world of acclaimed bean-to-bar chocolate. Schedule ahead for factory scenic tours on Wednesdays. Experience the crepes at long time preferred Aviary Cafe or drive southern to Nixa and go to 14 Mill Market, the region’s first food hall. Store Hotel Vandivort, built in 1906 as a Masonic Temple, blends historical feel with modern-day design and services like a roof bar.
Central Missouri State Parks
East of Springfield, landscapes is plentiful at some of Missouri’s ideal state parks yet lodging is restricted. One choice? Stay at Echo Bluff; this newer state park uses hotel rooms at the Betty Lea Lodge, plus cabins, and you’ll be 50 to 85 miles from other parks. At Elephant Rocks, take the Braille Path to marvel at granite boulders formed 1.5 billion years back. At Johnson’s Shut-Ins, tough rhyolite rock channels the Black River into fast-swirling chutes and pools. Taum Sauk Hill is the acme in Missouri, at 1,772 feet– and yummy bbq waits for at no-frills Baylee Jo’s in nearby Ironton. Walking along the river at Meramec State Park or scenic tour Fisher Cavern beginning in mid-May; Meramec Caverns has scenic tours year-round.
Hermann
Established by German immigrants in 1837, this little Missouri River community preserves a solid European impact. Hermann was when one of the globe’s biggest wine-producing regions. Prohibition brought an end to that, yet wine manufacturing began once more in the 1960s. Explore this history at Rock Hillside Vineyard, with cost-free scenic tours of the 19th-century storages. Tin Mill Developing Firm makes terrific beers like Red Caboose, and provides self-guided scenic tours; Copper Mule Distillery caters to bourbon-lovers with samplings, trips and mixed drinks. Explore much more heritage at Deutschheim State Historic Site, Hermann Ranch Gallery and the Historic Hermann Museum. You’ll discover plenty of locations to remain, including romantic deluxe lodging at Hermann Hill and The Inn at Hermannhof.
