Rock City

This past weekend we packed up the car and headed to Nebraska for my husband's 20 year high school reunion.  Going to Nebraska is nothing new to this family, we do it many times every year to see family and for holidays, etc.  However, this time I wanted to make the drive a little more interesting.  So we road tripped to central Kansas instead of our usual get there as fast as you can route.  We headed out to Salina, Kansas and from there drove north to a little known park called Rock City.  Call me crazy, but I love Kansas scenery.  I love the rolling hills and the openness of the plains.  It was also a perfect cloud day, you know the kind that are scattered throughout the sky like puffy marshmallows.  Rock City, just southwest of Minneapolis, KS, is home to the largest collection of giant rock concretions in the world.  What is a concretion you may ask, check here, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concretion  The best way to explain it is in the photographs, because of course I took lots of photographs.  Would I recommend this pit stop on a road trip, absolutely!  It isn't too far off of I-70 in Kansas, the kids loved to climb around on the rocks, a good place to stretch an play for a bit, the little gift shop is run by a very sweet lady who gave the kids popsicles and all of the gifts are very reasonable (kids gifts from $.25).  Here are some images from our trip through Rock City.

Time to run after a long car ride!

King of the mountain

Pets are allowed too!

My little rock climber.

Odd luck to catch the bird flying overhead.

A pensive moment.

Beautiful land, very well kept.

Run more!

There was also a nice prairie trail that lead to some more concretions.

"Lips" as named by the locals.

We called this one "lounge chair"

"Doughnut"

The nice lady handing out popsicles.

Meramec State Park and Conservation Area Hikes

Swampy Missouri weather has arrived, but, that didn't stop us from logging a few miles today.  We finally had a free day today, so we loaded up the car and headed to Sullivan, MO, where Meramec State Park is located, only about 45 min. from our home.

The state park has numerous trails, one of which we hiked today, but Colby had found a trail on Google Maps just south of the park that he wanted to try.  So, before going to the park, we ventured out to find this supposed trail.  We ran into the Meramec Conservation Area, which seemed like the right spot, so we hiked there.  Colby isn't sure if it was the trail that he spotted from the maps, but we tried it anyway.  The Conservation Area had some long distance trails, including one that was around 12 miles for equestrian, one that was 5.5 miles and the one we did that was 1.3.  It was a handicap access trail, so it was all paved, and an easy hike for us.  It did have some nice bridges, a cave, and some views of the Meramec River.

Then we headed into nearby Meramec State Park and checked out the Visitor Center and hiked the Natural Wonders Trail.  That trail is 1.25 miles long and very rugged, just how we like it.  This trail gave us numerous caves, an open meadow, and a spring-fed creek.  The State Park has 6 trails to explore, the longest of which is 8.5 miles.  We'll definitely go again sometime, there is also a nice campground near the Meramec River.  We are glad we didn't bring the dogs today, because be aware that ticks are numerous right now.  We didn't use deet, I don't like using that on  the kids, we tried Rose Geranium Oil, which is a trick that I read online.  I guess it didn't work, or I just didn't do it right.

Overall, great day, even through the humid Missouri air.  The kids had a great time, and Leah hiked all day on her own!  She has been upgraded to a trooper.  (Blake is a super-trooper)  It did help that both kids were hiking for a juice drink at the end.

Woodland Trail - Meramec Conservation Area
Difficulty rating = 1
1.3 miles
Time - 40 min.
Blake - Aah
Leah - Fun

Natural Wonders Trail
Difficulty rating = 2
1.25 miles
Time - 45 min.
Cool caves and stream.  Rugged, but easy hike.

Total miles for the day - 2.55
Total miles for 2014 - 6.05

Leah at the entrance to the first cave of the day.

All caves were closed to the public due to the possible spread of White Nose Syndrome to the bats.  Although I personally would not want to venture into a dark, cramped cave anyway.

Colby and the kids at a Meramec River view on the Woodland Trail hike.

The beginning of the Natural Wonders Trail at Meramec State Park.

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The first cave on the Natural Wonders Trail.

The air coming out of the cave was wonderfully cool compared to the 87 degree plus 70% humidity air outside.

Cave number 3.

My super trooper, now 7 year old hiker.

Cave number 4 for the day.

The spring-fed creek.

Hot, thirsty kids!