Nice and peaceful, just wondering if the mercury level is good to fish for?…read moreThere are lots of places to jog from. and plenty of shade and great people.

Beautiful walking trails. Many different routes to take. Definitely for beginners. Lake are…read moreextremely peaceful. Nice place for a picnic!

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.

Took an afternoon drive and found ourselves in Tipton Park; enjoyed our lunch while my 3yr old…read moreplayed her heart out. The park is beautiful with several play structures, very well kept equipment and benches/tables to relax and enjoy the view. Nearby hills look like they'd be a blast for sledding, will definitely be bringing the family to test them out this winter. (Delayed review, but still love the park)

A Beautiful Park it has a lake and a path to walk on my sister took me through a little bit of it…read more Will continue after I do the entire park

I will say that the fishing here is great but the playground is not. If you're a fisherman like…read moreme, you would love this place as I myself have caught tons of fish and even quite a few turtles. I will say, though the playground is almost nonexistent, so this is not the best place to go with kids. Obviously not a problem for me, but for the little kids, I would go to a different park. Other than that, the park is very crowded and very nice.

Grossest bathrooms. We are on a cross country driving trip. Stopped for a picnic driving break. No…read morewaterfalls, lots of goose poop, most unclean bathrooms ever. No way I'd let my kids play here.

This area was called "Monkey Mountains," because early settlers deemed the river bluffs too steep…read morefor even monkeys to climb. This place is as close to being out in the wild as you can get in the KC area. A little bit of a drive but worth it if you want a rugged terrain. It's perfect. Reaching the open meadow at the top is wonderful. Use bug spray and check for ticks.

Monkey Mountain is an 855 acre nature preserve in Eastern Jackson County, halfway in-between Grain…read moreValley and Oak Grove. The address I listed is the approximate address of the south entrance to the park, there is another entrance a little over a mile north off Old US 40 Hwy next to a softball field. The park is mostly undeveloped, which is what I love about it. You get to experience nature instead of a sanitized version of nature. There are two primary loop trails, one measuring 3.5 miles and one measuring between 2-3 miles depending on the route taken. Numerous smaller trails criss-cross between these main trails and branch out forming various side loops. You can spend hours hiking here and not see everything. The park caters to hikers and equestrians. I usually encounter a few other people at the park but only between long stretches of complete isolation. The elevation ranges from about 780 feet on the banks of Sni-a-Bar Creek to about 950 feet at the summit. There is a wide variety of terrain in the park: marshy lowlands in the north and northwest, thick woods and steep terrain covering most of the western half, limestone outcroppings along the ridge and at the south end of the park, a huge roiling meadow in the center, and farmed land along the eastern edges. Several ponds dot the landscape, and numerous tiny streams feed into Sni-a-Bar Creek along the western edge. There is even a waterfall in the park, but I will not reveal the location since it is both a fragile and a dangerous feature (especially in winter). Finding it can be part of your adventure. In the spring and early summer the park's meadows are filled with a wide variety of wildflowers, and wildlife can be spotted year-round. I've seen deer, foxes, turkeys, tortoises and turtles, all sorts of birds, and even evidence of some sort of wildcat. In the first half of the 20th century, much of what is now Monkey Mountain Park was part of a show farm called Sni-a-Bar Farms, owned by William Rockhill Nelson. The hillside and meadow were used for grazing sheep. Evidence of that can still be seen today in the form of farm remnants such as an old boundary fence running east-west through the middle of the park. If you hike the park, don't do it alone until you are familiar. Even though there are trails they are not always easy to see, and some portions of the trails can be treacherous. If your hike takes you through the northwest portion of the park you can expect to encounter mud pretty much year round so wear appropriate shoes. You will also need to carry your own water, there are no facilities at the park except at the softball field and an outhouse at the south entrance.

Harry S. Truman State Park. Clear waters, dramatic bluffs and vibrant summer and fall colors make…read moreHarry S Truman State Park an ideal place to vacation. Located on a peninsula, the park offers a marina, ample fishing and boating opportunities, and water that's perfect for every kind of swimmer. Hiking trails, picnic areasand campsites dot the park's open oak woodlands and provide a home for abundant wildlife. Info came from www.mostateparks.com

Recommend that you DO NOT RENT ANY BOATS from the ricks now running the Truman State Park Marina,…read morewho LIED to us about the terms of the renting agreement that they stated on telephone conversations. Notice no price information listed anywhere on website. Do not leave a deposit, do not use a credit card, but if you decide to anyways, GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING FIRST. Charged us for the max 8 hours when we requested 4 hours, and LIED about what boats were available (even LIED about how much gas we supposedly used.) The Truman State Park Marina management needs to be investigated by the State of Missouri in my opinion.

I had such a lovely time hiking here! Beautiful nature and great trails! Just know that summertime…read morebrings a plethora of ticks. Prepare dutifully, friends.

We reserved a 50 amp electric only camp site (the ones with water hookups were already reserved)…read morefor two nights at the Pittsburg campground. We initially ended up at the Hermitage campground (after dark pulling a 38' fifth wheel) and couldn't find out spot. There was a park ranger that was driving around and lead us to the Pittsburg site and we were thankful for his assistance. Filling the fifth wheel with water was easy as the water supply was located in a large area near the entry. Check in was a breeze as it was done with your mobile. I do wish the campsite itself was longer and had more parking. The site barely fit the fifth wheel and truck on the paved area and there's no parking in the grass, so we had to park our second vehicle near the entrance with available parking. Backing in a fifth wheel in a pitch-black campsite is always fun, but thankfully it only took 1 try. The site had a covered picnic table and lots of shade which was nice. Out site was a bit far from the bathhouse so it was a trek to shower/use facilities. We used the camper most of the time, but without water hookup, tried to use the water in the tank more sparingly for dishes and cooking. There was a nice little playground area with equipment for the kiddos. The beach was nice sized and some had trees so you didn't burn up in the sun. If you hit the beach, bring water shoes because it's very rocky and they are sharp. For $25 a night, I was satisfied with the campground and enjoyed the time with my family.

An architectural relic and scenic walkway over the Osage River; the Joe Dice Swinging Bridge is a…read morecool little pit-stop when visiting the Truman Lake area. Originally a vehicle toll bridge, it has been converted into a pedestrian walkway connecting downtown Warsaw to a park on the opposite side. Adjacent to 7 hi-way, it is easy to find.

Big nest is a bonus! Nice bridge and walkways/paths. Warsaw MO - go hit the dam as well.read more

Looking to get outside and enjoy the splendor of nature in the greater Kansas City area? Well, then…read morePowell Gardens may just be your thing. OK, so it's not exactly 'Kansas City' as it's a half-hour east of the stadium complex, but you get the point. Powell Gardens is a huge botanical preserve, nearly 1000 acres of lush meadows and gentle hills (that's bigger than NYC's Central Park!). There are more than 150 'gardens' or different habitats, so be prepared to have a plan of what you want to see. We came for the butterflies this time and they did not disappoint. Powell Gardens intentionally attracts several varieties of butterfly to Missouri's native pollinators and the colors of both are spectacular. It's much more than monarchs & cabbage butterflies. Walk the Butterfly Meadow or check out the mesh enclosures to get up close & personal with these delicate treasures. Be prepared to walk - a lot - but do know that there is a shuttle than runs on a continuous loop around the grounds. Every 15-20 minutes a small bus will ferry you to places such as the chapel or the other manicured gardens. But if you would rather get steps and weather allows, then by all means, hoof it. The chapel is designed by the same architect who built the Thorncrown Chapel in Arkansas and the structure is stunning. It's a don't miss. You can buy tickets online, and here's a tip: pay for parking upfront. You can have your tickets/passes scanned at the gate, and then make your way near the visitor center for the most parking. Picnics are encouraged as there are limited food options at the visitor center, but there are plenty of restroom areas and places for shade. It is probably best in late spring or early summer, and I am sure that the fall offers the kind of colors you just can't find anywhere else. It's a great spot to add to your Kansas City 'been there, done that' list.

I had only been out here before for a special event and not gotten a chance to walk the gardens. We…read morewent to see the Dragons, which was cool and they were spread all over the area. Having gone to Gardens in multiple states and other countries I expected much more in the terms of gardens and flower/plant displays!! If it weren't for the size I would have thought I was in someone's backyard. I am glad we went for a reason and not just the gardens, I feel like I would have been even more disappointed.