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.

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.

North Esplanade Park is a beautiful and peaceful park on the bluffs of the muddy Missouri River…read morefeaturing a grassy overlook and 14 historic residences as part of the North Esplanade Historic District. It is also the very first park in the entire state of Kansas (established in 1854). The park stretches four blocks along North Esplanade Street (between Ottawa St. and Seneca St). On the west side, you'll find a row of large (especially for the time) homes built prior to 1900. This is the street where the upper class of Leavenworth used to live back when it was called Main Street. The homes, yards, and park are remarkably well-maintained making this a favorite photo spot in Leavenworth. In the distance, you'll have a fantastic view Centennial Bridget connecting Leavenworth, KS with Platte County, MO. Whether you come for some memorable photos, a picnic, or to marvel at history, North Esplanade Park is a free and relaxing tourist excursion open 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

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.

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!

Good for the kiddos from about 2-8 yrs old. Never really busy unless the ball fields have sports…read moregoing on. Only 4 swings but also includes a walking trail around the park.

Yes I do recommend going to this park. They have a great park and they have a great place that you…read morecan have lunch and play, but if it's too cold, you can't go, but if it's just the right temperature you can go so umm there's a bunch of swings there and a bunch of fun stuff that you do and it has a slide and you can go there anytime it's great for your kids. It's great for your family and friends. You can hang out and so much other things that you could do at a park I recommend everyone going to this park thanks!!!!!! :)

The KC smart runners meet here typically on Saturday mornings. They have a large following so get…read morehere early to park. If the lot is full there is a lot across the street. There are few options to run from this park to find running routes. There also seems to be a big tennis following here. When we get back from the long runs there are several people at the tennis courts.

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.

The park is clean and attractive. Also, you can reserve a shelter for your party. Dogs are also…read moreallowed.

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.