The Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Gardens is a hidden gem in the middle of Springfield, Missouri. A few years ago, I heard about a Cherry Blossom and Japanese Kite Festival at the gardens and was astounded that I never knew of the place before. The gardens, part of the Springfield Botanical Gardens and the Springfield-Greene County Park Board, is a 7 1/2 acre stroll garden that is open from April 1 through October 31 every year. The grounds include a large koi lake, a meditation garden, a traditional tea house, Japanese landscaping, a moon bridge, and beautiful cherry trees. The Cherry Blossom and Japanese Kite Festival, held in April of each year, is amazing! They also have a festival in September of each year. The festivals typically include traditional Japanese food, Kabuki dancing and drama, activities for children including making their own kites, and much more. We spent the day learning about Japanese culture while strolling through the gardens. If you are looking for a relaxing and beautiful location to visit, this is one of the best. The grounds are very well maintained.
A few years ago, we were exploring around Eureka Springs and wanted to find a hiking trail that was not touristy. We heard about Lake Leatherwood from a local and thought we would give it a chance. We have been back a few times since and have never been disappointed.
While our main goal of our trip was hiking, we were pleased to find out they have great options for canoeing, kayaking, fishing, bird watching, biking, camping, picnicking and much more on the nearly 1600 acre park. The first time we went was in the fall and the leaves were gorgeous. Our subsequent trips have been in the spring and summer when it is hot, but there is enough shade from the trees to still have a great time. The highlight of hiking at Lake Leatherwood is always the handcut limestone dam built in the early 1940s that has a beautiful waterfall flowing from it.
While we have explored about five miles of trails so far, the park boasts over 21 miles of hiking and biking trails--much more for us to explore. We hope to stay in one of the cabins or camp next spring. There are great locations for enjoying a picnic or letting kids play.
A good friend recently told us we should check out Natural Falls State Park in Siloam Springs, Oklahoma. Somehow, we had never heard of this hidden gem and were ecstatic for the chance to explore. We ventured out on a Saturday morning and headed toward Siloam Springs. We drove through Grove, Oklahoma, where my grandparents used to own a motel on the lake and where I have fond childhood memories. The rest of the drive to Siloam Springs was very picturesque and provided a lot of opportunities for playing Eye Spy. The drive from Joplin only took about an hour and 20 minutes and it was well worth the trip. When we arrived at the park, we found a nice visitor's center and got a map of the trails. The park itself boasts several trails, over 40 designated camping sites, multiple areas for fishing, picnic areas, frisbee golf, and boating areas. There are no swimming areas as it is also a wildlife protection site. Considering that, you will get to see a variety of wildlife during your visit. If the area looks familiar, you may recognize it as the setting for the movie version of Where the Red Fern Grows. We took a picnic lunch and enjoyed our lunch on one of the many picnic tables along the water and near a garden walk.
After lunch, we decided to start our hike on the Dripping Springs Trail to venture to the base of the largest of the falls (over 77 feet tall). For the most part, the hiking trails were well marked and easy to maneuver. The initial descent to the base of the falls is fairly steep and was a little difficult in some areas. The falls were gorgeous and the water from the falls and spring cooled us off on the hike. We then continued our hike on the Dripping Springs Trail and connected with the Ghost Coon Trail where we found more waterfalls including an area where we were able to dip our feet in the water. The next part of the hike took us through a wildflower meadow of lupines, purple cone flowers, and black-eyed Susans. It was a near perfect day at a beautiful location.
Our go-to location for a quick family outing no matter what time of year is Wildcat Glades Conservation and Audubon Center in Joplin, Missouri. Wildcat Glades boasts an indoor nature center with a 1300 gallon aquarium, amazing gift shop, and a children's exploration center. Along the nearly five miles of hiking trails, you will find one of the world's largest chert glades (27 acres), five outdoor learning environments, native plants and wildlife, as well as caves and ridges. Shoal Creek meanders through Wildcat Glades and provides opportunities for fishing, swimming, or boating. Classes and Events The Center provides exceptional classes and events for nature lovers of all ages. Examples of classes available for minimal fees include: ~ Yoga in Nature ~ Kayaking and Canoeing ~ Preschool Nature Connections--these are amazing and we have participated in several! ~ Nature's Artwork Day Camps ~Shoal Creek Water Festival There are great places throughout the center to picnic, including several covered pavilions. There are even cliffs and a few small caves that you can check out.
Dogwood Canyon in Lampe, Missouri is one of our favorite places to visit. This 10,000 acre nature preserve is nestled in the Ozark Mountains between Eureka Springs and Branson. The property was acquired by Johnny Morris, founder of Bass Pro, and was developed by the Dogwood Canyon Foundation to promote natural conservation and preservation. The majority of the park has been kept in its natural state with pathways and recreational sites setup throughout. The water is crystal clear and it flows along the walkways and trails.
The first time we visited, we took the tram ride through the huge park. The ride has several stops along the way and takes you through areas that attendees with day-passes cannot access like the buffalo hills. We took three toddlers on this visit and they loved feeding the animals and seeing the huge bison and elk. On our last visit, we took a picnic lunch and rented bicycles to bike throughout the park. We explored for hours and relaxed under a waterfall. They even had tandem bikes for my husband and son to ride together. Since we did not have to stay with a tour group on this trip, we got to explore a lot more. We hiked along ridges, we went through small caves, and we fed huge bass in the pool. There are many options for family visits including horseback riding, fishing, hiking, biking, and even segways. There is a beautiful wooden chapel, a large teepee, a canteen area, and much more. There is even a fly-fishing school with cabins that supposedly Johnny Cash visited.
Recently, we were in Fayetteville on a cold, rainy day. On our previous trip, we had visited Crystal Bridges so we were looking for something else that would be an indoor adventure. We noticed a sign for the Arkansas Air and Military Museum and thought we would give it a try. The museum is run primarily by volunteers and is on a limited budget, but it has great displays of airplanes and military memorabilia from the the early 1900s to today.
Two air hangers house the large collection of aircraft, vintage cars,
massive engines, gliders, army vehicles and more. Several of the
aircraft can still fly and are often used in air shows. The hangers and
the airstrip around them was Drake Field during World War II. At first,
we thought that there was only one hanger and we would have been
disappointed in the size, even though the airplanes in the hanger were
awesome. We then realized that the museum spills over in to another
large hanger and an out building. Our son was amazed by the pieces on
display and has told everyone how he got to be up close and personal
with so many awesome planes.
Don't expect anything fancy, but if you love planes and aircraft history, you will enjoy this hidden treasure.
One of the most amazing cultural venues in the Midwest is Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. We are lucky that this gem is located less than an hour from our home so we get to visit often. Admission to the museum is free, which is an added bonus! When visiting, make sure to check out the beauty of the building itself which was designed by renowned architect Moshe Safdie.
The museum has a large, permanent collection of American art spanning five centuries. One of my favorite pieces in the permanent collection is Norman Rockwell's Rosie the Riveter. The museum also has a nice permanent collection of sculptures in an outdoor sculpture garden, including this giant stainless steel tree.
This week, we had the pleasure of visiting the State of the Art Exhibit which I highly recommend to anyone--even my six year old loved it. But hurry, the exhibit ends on January 19, 2015.
The exhibit represents new artists that are innovative and creative and who use a variety of mediums from paperback books to tapestries. Several pieces are interactive and allow you to become part of the artwork. My husband was very excited that there was an interactive piece that let him select records from the 1960s to play on an old hi-fi while my son loved the piece that allowed him to climb inside a kaleidoscope and the crocheted hallway.
The museum is situated on 120 acres that has beautiful trails and nature areas. The trail system meanders along a natural spring that runs on the property and that feeds the pools and streams.
Recommendations: 1) Take a picnic lunch to enjoy after a hike/walk on the beautiful trails. 2) Family photos taken on the trails are gorgeous during just about any season so make sure to take your camera. 3) Check the museum website or Facebook page to check their calendar of events. They often have concerts, art classes, and activities for kids. 4) Visit the museum shop where you can find amazing presents for yourself or a loved one. 5) There is a nice park nearby if you have kids that want to play on actual park equipment. There is even a skate/bmx bike park. 6) In August, 2015, a new science center called Amazeum will open next to the museum!
The next big exhibit (starting in February) will be Van Gogh to Rothko: Masterworks from the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. Trail map
We wanted to travel to the Pittsburg, Kansas area and were in search of good hiking trails near there. We were excited to find the Wilderness Park trails just outside of Pittsburg. We enjoy trail systems that have diverse terrain and nice scenery. We were pleasantly surprised by just how nice the trails in the park were. The land was donated to the city by the Casaletto family in 2000 to preserve the ecosystem and to provide the community with recreational opportunities. Much of the trail spans along a ridge that follows what was once open pit mines. The ridge provides a very picturesque landscape where we saw a variety of birds and other wildlife.
There are over four miles of trails that loop through the area, part of which follows the Cow Creek Tributary. There are also four good areas for fishing. Some of the trails have significant hills, but most are easily accessible. We were there on a cold, rainy day and several of the water pits were frozen over.
We hiked the Casaletto Loop, the Millennium Trail, the Miner's Trail, and the Cross Creek Trail. We walked along the Cow Creek Tributary, the Deep Ell Pit and the White Snake Pit. In one area, the pits flow in the tributary creating a nice flowing brook. If it had not been so cold, we would definitely explored more! We look forward to going back in the spring!
The Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Gardens is a hidden gem in the middle of Springfield, Missouri. A few years ago, I heard about a Cherry Blossom and Japanese Kite Festival at the gardens and was astounded that I never knew of the place before. The gardens, part of the Springfield Botanical Gardens and the Springfield-Greene County Park Board, is a 7 1/2 acre stroll garden that is open from April 1 through October 31 every year. The grounds include a large koi lake, a meditation garden, a traditional tea house, Japanese landscaping, a moon bridge, and beautiful cherry trees. 
The Cherry Blossom and Japanese Kite Festival, held in April of each year, is amazing! They also have a festival in September of each year. The festivals typically include traditional Japanese food, Kabuki dancing and drama, activities for children including making their own kites, and much more. We spent the day learning about Japanese culture while strolling through the gardens. If you are looking for a relaxing and beautiful location to visit, this is one of the best. The grounds are very well maintained. 
