Spring 2023
Spring is always a beautiful season, and a Missouri spring often defines the ideal spring. After winter’s snow and cold nights, we want to spend time outside with the scent of flowers and the sweet breezes of soft winds. We may find the opportunity to travel to enjoy our state and enjoy all that Missouri has to offer.
Speaking of sweet smells, you will find them at the Long Row Lavender Farm (LongRowLavender.com) in Wright City, just a few miles west of St. Louis. This 15-acre family farm has rows and rows of lavender plants and other flowers. The lavender plants begin to bloom in June, but the farm opens in March. A gift shop and various workshops are available. The webpage has many photos of flowers from the farm.
While lavender smells good, strawberries taste good. Boz’s Berry Farm in Republic will let you pick your own berries, or you can purchase them already in the container. Which ever way you select, you will also want to try one of their “famous strawberry slush” drinks. Of course, you will have to actually go there to fully enjoy the slush, but you can see the drink and more at OnlyInYourState.com/missouri/bozs-berry-farm-mo/.
Bending and picking berries may make you want to ease a sore back with a relaxing soak in some good Missouri water. I have picked a few berries myself, and I will attest to that. While a soak in a whirlpool bath or a hot tub may provide some physical relief, a visit to a Missouri waterfall with a chance to soak in the pools associated with them can sooth the soul and mind, as well. I was surprised to learn that Missouri has quite a number of waterfalls. Some offer public swimming, and some are in caves. This website describes a rod trip to seven Missouri waterfalls: OnlyInYourState.com/missouri/waterfalls-road-trip-mo/. The site offers a glimpse at each. Put those photos and videos on full screen, and it is almost like being there.
Waterfalls can be found at Forest Park in St. Louis, Hickory Canyons Natural Area in New Offenburg, Taum Sauk Mountain State Park and Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park in Middle Brook, Stegall Mountain near Pike Township, Marvel Cave near Branson and Grand Falls in Joplin.
Grand Falls in Joplin is the largest continuously flowing waterfall in Missouri. Plunging 12 feet, what it lacks in height, it makes up in beauty, swimming opportunities and the fact that it flows all the time.
If you visit the falls in Joplin, you will be close to another interesting site. There is only one place in the U.S. where you can stand in four states at once. That is not in Missouri, but we do have a place where three states touch. The states are Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma. It is near Joplin at the end of a dead-end road. There is a nice marker there which you can see at OnlyInYourState.com/missouri/three-states-at-once-mo/. If you insist on seeing it in person, here are the coordinates to put into your GPS: 36° 59.916′ N, 94° 37.077′ W.
So, if your version of spring fever demands that you get out and about, Missouri offers some great tours. If we should cross paths while picking strawberries and trying to stand in three states at once (my size 16 feet should make that easy), be sure to say hello. Meeting friends always makes any trip just that much nicer.
J.Y. Miller lives in Glasgow and is a regular contributor to Show-Me Missouri. His e-mail address is jymiller@ShowMeMissouri.net.
Speaking of sweet smells, you will find them at the Long Row Lavender Farm (LongRowLavender.com) in Wright City, just a few miles west of St. Louis. This 15-acre family farm has rows and rows of lavender plants and other flowers. The lavender plants begin to bloom in June, but the farm opens in March. A gift shop and various workshops are available. The webpage has many photos of flowers from the farm.
While lavender smells good, strawberries taste good. Boz’s Berry Farm in Republic will let you pick your own berries, or you can purchase them already in the container. Which ever way you select, you will also want to try one of their “famous strawberry slush” drinks. Of course, you will have to actually go there to fully enjoy the slush, but you can see the drink and more at OnlyInYourState.com/missouri/bozs-berry-farm-mo/.
Bending and picking berries may make you want to ease a sore back with a relaxing soak in some good Missouri water. I have picked a few berries myself, and I will attest to that. While a soak in a whirlpool bath or a hot tub may provide some physical relief, a visit to a Missouri waterfall with a chance to soak in the pools associated with them can sooth the soul and mind, as well. I was surprised to learn that Missouri has quite a number of waterfalls. Some offer public swimming, and some are in caves. This website describes a rod trip to seven Missouri waterfalls: OnlyInYourState.com/missouri/waterfalls-road-trip-mo/. The site offers a glimpse at each. Put those photos and videos on full screen, and it is almost like being there.
Waterfalls can be found at Forest Park in St. Louis, Hickory Canyons Natural Area in New Offenburg, Taum Sauk Mountain State Park and Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park in Middle Brook, Stegall Mountain near Pike Township, Marvel Cave near Branson and Grand Falls in Joplin.
Grand Falls in Joplin is the largest continuously flowing waterfall in Missouri. Plunging 12 feet, what it lacks in height, it makes up in beauty, swimming opportunities and the fact that it flows all the time.
If you visit the falls in Joplin, you will be close to another interesting site. There is only one place in the U.S. where you can stand in four states at once. That is not in Missouri, but we do have a place where three states touch. The states are Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma. It is near Joplin at the end of a dead-end road. There is a nice marker there which you can see at OnlyInYourState.com/missouri/three-states-at-once-mo/. If you insist on seeing it in person, here are the coordinates to put into your GPS: 36° 59.916′ N, 94° 37.077′ W.
So, if your version of spring fever demands that you get out and about, Missouri offers some great tours. If we should cross paths while picking strawberries and trying to stand in three states at once (my size 16 feet should make that easy), be sure to say hello. Meeting friends always makes any trip just that much nicer.
J.Y. Miller lives in Glasgow and is a regular contributor to Show-Me Missouri. His e-mail address is jymiller@ShowMeMissouri.net.