Missouri Camping in a Pandemic

Missouri Camping

Our Missouri camping experience was such a pleasant surprise.  We camped in three cities, each different, but delightful.  All three campgrounds were private and had full hookups.   One also had a nice, big pool.

We stayed two nights in each city, which meant a full day in each area to explore the sights.  The cities offered lots of fun, yet safe, things to do.  Also, the people we met were friendly and accommodating.

Missouri Camping in Kansas City

World of Fun Village

World of Fun includes the largest amusement park in  Missouri, a water park, and a campground to accommodate visitors.  Due to Covid, the park is only open Thursday through Sunday and we were there Tuesday and Wednesday nights.  So, we missed checking out the park, but we did spend an afternoon in the really nice pool.  We also utilized the laundry.

National World War I Museum & Memorial

Kansas City is home to the impressive World War I Museum and Memorial.  We have absorbed so much information through the years about WWII, but there was a lot about the First World War that I did not understand.  There was a very good film, which laid out the world political and cultural climate that existed when the war began.  Timelines and graphs throughout the museum also helped me to better understand the war.

The museum also included lots of artifacts from the war, including guns, uniforms, and personal effects.

Best Barbecue Ever

We had our best barbecue ever at Jack Stack Barbecue .  It was raining during lunch, but the restaurant had a nice covered area.   The meal was astounding and the service was excellent!   There was so much food, we had leftovers for the next day.  You can’t see in the photo below, but we also shared a decadent piece of carrot cake.

Union Station

Union Station is near Jack Stack Restaurant, so we stopped to see it.  It is a beautiful old (established 1914)  building with a few restaurants and shops.  It is also still an active train station.

While there, we bought a few truffles at a candy store.  They were a little expensive, but so good!

Missouri Camping in Hannibal

Mark Twain Cave Campground

Mark Twain Cave Campground was nice.  We had a shady site and the temperatures were quite pleasant while we were there.  There were a couple of sisters in the next site and we enjoyed interacting with them.  They lived close to the campground and were helpful in identifying the local sights.

All things Mark Twain

Everywhere we looked, there is a reference to Mark Twain, Hannibal’s most famous son.   We stopped at all the obligatory places:  the statue, the lighthouse, and his childhood home.

I climbed the 240 steps to the top of the lighthouse and was rewarded with a great view of the town on one side and the mighty Mississippi on the other.   So, it was worth the climb!

There are several buildings preserved in the town related to Twain, including his childhood home, Tom Blankenship’s home (aka Huck Finn), and Becky (Twain’s girlfriend’s) home.  Inside,  the two boys homes are furnished as they were during the time the boys lived in them.

Hannibal was a fun town and it was nice connecting with Mark Twain, an iconic and amazing writer.

Missouri Camping in Springfield

Cooks RV Motor Park

Cooks RV Motor Park was one of our favorite campgrounds.  It was well- maintained and the owner was so friendly.   We will stop at this campground again if we have the opportunity.  (It is on an anticipated future path to the northwest.)

Another Great Missouri Meal

We actually had two excellent meals in Springfield, Cafe Cusco, pictured below and Bambino’s Cafe.  Both offered shaded outdoor seating, a necessity for us.  I had blackened cobia fish at Cafe Cusco and it was some of the best fish I have ever tasted.

Bambino’s pasta and bread were incredible and inexpensive for the portions served.  I would love to go back sometime.

Cafe Cusco is a Peruvian restaurant and drinks were a little different.  My husband had sangria and I had a margarita.  Both had a generous sprinkle of cinnamon.  Different, but we liked them.

Nathan Greene/Close Memorial Park

This park was so beautiful and peaceful.  There were many shaded benches and we had a nice, slow-paced morning.  A little exercise and fresh air was just what we needed.

Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden

The Mizumoto Garden was inside the park.   It was nice too with lovely plants along a generous path.  Benches were plentiful at the garden as well.

The geese were also fun to watch.

Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield

I did not expect much from this Battlefield but was pleasantly surprised to learn the story behind the people who lived in this house.  A Park Ranger was at the house and she told an interesting story about the people who lived there.  So, her details made the history come alive for me.

Many soldiers from both sides lost their lives on this battlefield.  Therefore, it is a beautiful, yet haunting place today.

In Conclusion

To sum up, Missouri was a fabulous state in our trip.  We saw so many cool things!  We were careful because of Covid-19, but it felt more like our previous trips because we were able to see and do so much.    If you would like to read more about our experiences, check out Retirement and teardrop camping!