Throughtout the years we have had the opportunity to take a few out of state trips on vacations, and recently, due to the gasoline costs, we have been taking closer in trips. I always thought for some reason to get to the really neat places, you needed to travel 12 hours or more from here in southwest Missouri. Not true. Some of the most beautiful places we have seen, have been within a 3- 4 hour drive from here.
Within a half days drive we could be in places like Roaring River State park, Elephant Rock State park,what used to be Johnson Shut- inns before some big electric company from Saint Louis destroyed it, other places such as Bransons Lake Taneycomo,Table rock lake and Stockton Lake. There are some areas close by that offer some of the best cannoeing,kayaking, and hiking. Here in Missouri, The Missouri State Conservation Department has some of the best areas to hike, hunt, fish, or whatever suits you. As time goes by places to visit like these areas are getting harder to get permission to get into. You should take advantage of these lands if you haven't already.
I think alot of people think of these conservation areas as only a place to fish and hunt. That is far from being the only thing they have to offer.We will go to Robert Talbot Conservation area Northwest of Mount Vernon, Missouri a few times a year. Usually we are hiking with our three dogs and just looking around for something different. I used to do alot of hunting in the area years ago and normally seen deer, turkey,quail, ducks and geese. One evening, just before dark, I heard the dangest growell I had ever heard. After talking to friends it was decided it was a bobcat. I wished I could have seen it. A few years ago, a couple of idiots shot and killed two Trumpeter Swans in the Departments area. Thankfully they were caught and prosecuted.You just never know what you will see in these places.