Weston, Missouri Day Trip!
Weston, Missouri, was at one time the westernmost town in the United States. It was the second largest port on the Mighty Missouri River, second only to St. Louis, with over 300 steamboats a year docking at her port in the 1850s. After fires, floods, and the Civil War, the bustling town dwindled and was soon surpassed by Kansas City. A trip to Weston now is like an architectural journey back in time with many of the original buildings and homes still serving as local shops, restaurants and businesses. Your family can enjoy a fun summer day trip of berry or peach picking, biking, shopping, and dining at an authentic Irish Pub!
Weston Red Barn Farm:
16300 Wilkerson Drive, 816.386.5437. www.westonredbarnfarm.com
Visiting the Red Barn Farm is one tradition we enjoy every year. Walking up to the Barn, you feel like you’ve stepped into a painting. The Barn sits atop a picturesque hill overlooking farmland and forest where your family can experience a real working farm.
In the summer, you can enjoy picking fresh strawberries and blackberries. In September, pick apples. And October is pumpkin season! The barn also serves as a country store where they sell farm fresh produce year-round so you can enjoy the best of "what's in season," as well as vintage toys, delicious jams, jellies, and preserves, and collectibles. TIP: If you plan to purchase produce, it would be wise to bring a cooler on your trip. Also, be certain to call ahead for picking schedules as it varies with the seasons and weather.
Children love to visit the animals at the Red Barn Farm. You will enjoy ponies, goats, turkeys, chickens, pigs, cows, ducks, geese, and sheep. Admission to the farm is free, but there are fees for additional activities. Tip: Apple picking is offered at the Red Barn farm from mid-August thru September. Read our Apple Picking Guide for more.
Green Dirt Farm
www.GreenDirtFarm.com 816.386.2156
Green Dirt Farm is a working sheep farm on the bluffs of the Missouri River Valley. The farm is open for tours Wednesday-Sunday. Tours are $8/ea. (for those 2 and up). Sturdy closed-toe shoes are important for the pasture walk. Call 816.386.2156 or email tours@GreenDirtFarm.com to make a reservation.
The Green Dirt Farm offers an educational tour unlike any other. Guests learn why grass is the best food for the 150 ewes on the farm, how important healthy soil is to the environment and what makes the cheese so good. Visitors also learn about pasture rotation while watching the dairy sheep graze on the hills. The highlights of the tour though, are the final steps: watching as the sheep are milked, the cheese is made in the kitchen and tasting samples! “During the tour, we talk about what grasses the sheep eat and how those grasses can be detected in the flavor of our cheeses,” Jacqueline Smith says. “It’s great to see kids tasting our cheese with such attentiveness to the flavor.”
Green Dirt Farm makes high quality cheese while paying close attention to the environment and welfare of animals. Children learn the important links between soil, health and the environment. Smith says, “I think what surprises people most about Green Dirt Farm is how special the farm is since there is no other farm like ours in the U.S. Ours is one of two sheep dairies in Missouri.”
Weston Bend State Park:
16600 Hwy 45 N, 816.640.5443. www.mostateparks.com
We’re always pleased with Missouri’s State Parks… they are well maintained and clean and the Weston Bend State Park is no exception. The park is great for hiking, biking, picnicking, or camping. Weston Bend State Park features miles of trails (paved, chipped, and wood trails), picnic areas, playgrounds, and campgrounds. Many of the trails include exhibit information about Lewis and Clark’s Expedition. For more area history, you can also visit an old Tobacco Barn (the native crop for the area) that is currently being renovated. The Barn includes an exhibit on the history of tobacco farming in the area.
The highlight though, is the Scenic Overlook. Follow the signs, park your car, grab the camera, then take a short walk on a paved trail to the overlook for a magnificent view over the Missouri River. The view is exquisite and you don’t want to miss it!
Weston Historical Museum:
601 Main Street, 816.386.2977. www.westonhistoricalmuseum.org. Hours: Tues-Sat 1-4pm, Sun 1:30-5pm. FREE Admission.
The Weston Historical Museum tells the story of Weston through exhibits including Native American artifacts, local memorabilia from citizens during the Civil War all the way through World War II, and more. Visit the old newspaper office to see how the media operated without the aid of computers. End your trip with a stop at the “Nostalgia Store” for souvenirs, games, books, and old-fashioned candy.
Nearby in Platte City: Alldredge Orchards
816.330.3448, 10455 Highway N Platte City, MO, (about 15 minutes from Weston) www.alldredgeorchards.com
Tucked in the foothills of the Missouri River you’ll find the picturesque Alldredge Orchards where you can pick peaches in the summer (unfortunately none in 2012), and fresh apples in the autumn (anticipated opening Labor Day Weekend). The century-old barn welcomes guests with delicious fresh fruit and rolling hills. Children enjoy riding pedal go-karts and feeding the chickens and ducks that roam the farm and welcome visitors. TIP: Be certain to call ahead for picking schedules as it varies with the seasons and weather.
Other Attractions in Weston:
World’s Largest Ball of String at O’Malley’s: 500 Welt Street, 816.640.5235. www.westonirish.com. Read about the Largest Ball of String and other local Oddities.
Bonnell Museum: 20755 Lamar Rd, 816.386.5587 Hours: May-Oct, Sat/Sun 1-5pm. The Bonnell Museum and farm is a step back in time. Witness life on an 1800s farm as you tour the historic house and outbuildings.
National Silk Art Museum: 500 Main Street, 816.640.9902. Call for availability. This is a free exhibit inside the St. George Hotel. View French silk tapestries from major artists of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Pirtle Winery: 502 Spring Street, 816.640.5728. www.PirtleWinery.com. Visitors sample wine, most notably Mead wine which is made from Honey and inspired the term “Honeymoon.”
Walking Tour of Weston: Visit the Weston Information Center to request a free pamphlet of the walking tour of Weston. The tour includes 91 historic and antebellum homes and buildings. Weston Information Center 526 Main Street, 816.640.2909.
Shopping in Weston:
Main Street Weston is an Antique and Boutique Shopper’s Dream! It is important to note that most area shops are closed on Mondays. Visit Weston's Shopping Directory for a current list. Two shops in particular are fun for a Family Day Trip:
5B&Co. Candlemakers: 408 Main Street, 816.640.5525. www.freesniffs.com Hours: Mon-Sat 11am-5pm, Sun noon-5pm. I think the entire town of Weston smells of autumn, but this shop wins the prize! With over 150 varieties of candles available for purchase, candles are poured at the store daily.
McCormick Country Store: 420 Main Street, 816.640.3149. www.mccormickdistillery.com. Hours: Tue-Sat, 11am-5pm, Sun. noon-5pm. Closed Monday. Purchase t-shirts and souvenirs. Samples from the McCormick Distillery, the oldest in the United States, are also available.
Family Friendly Dining in Weston:
One of the best things about dining in Weston is the ambiance of small locally owned restaurants each with a distinctive personality. Visit Weston's Dining Guide for a current list. There are several family friendly choices and these are a few we’ve enjoyed over the years:
O’Malley’s 1842 Irish Pub: 500 Welt Street, 816.640.5235. www.westonirish.com. Hours Monday-Sunday 11am-9pm. O’Malley’s serves authentic Irish fare in an authentic Irish-American Pub complete with Irish music. You can choose indoor or patio dining (where you see the famous Ball of String). The Menu includes salads, sandwiches, steaks, soups, and of course, fish and chips. I enjoy the signature sandwich, “The O’Malley,” which is corned beef, swiss cheese, and slaw on marble rye bread with spicy brown mustard. The girls like the Fish and Chips. Prices range from $8-21/entrée. Kids’ Meals are $5.99.
Main Street Galleria: 501 Main Street, 816.640.2825. Hours 10am-5pm Daily. The Main Street Galleria is a bit of everything… Antique Shop, Fudge Shop, Ice Cream Parlor, and Soda Fountain/Lunch Counter. You can order “Build Your Own Deli Sandwiches,” hot dogs, brats, Frito pie, or pizza and finish it off with an Ice Cream treat!
Weston Cafe: 407 Main Street, 816.640.2224. Hours Mon-Fri 7am-4pm, Sat 6am-8pm, Sun 6am-4pm. This is a family owned and operated café with daily lunch specials and home cooking. The treat is the made-from-scratch pie and homemade BBQ sauce.
Other Choices: Main Street Weston is home to many more cafés and bistros. You can also find franchise and chain restaurants off the highway.