Clinton and Warrensburg: Two small towns, one perfect day trip.
About an hour and a half southeast of KC is Clinton, Mo., where you will find the charming and eclectic Primitive Olde Crow. What began as a small winery has grown into a full-blown destination.
At the winery, where it all started, you can enjoy delicious brick-oven pizza — or another food item like salads, sandwiches, wings or soup — paired with Olde Crow wines or guest wines from Adam Puchta Winery in Hermann, Mo. If beer’s more your style, their beer bus offers nearly 30 beers on tap. Inside the winery’s little shop, you’ll find antiques, homemade fudge, ice cream, clothes, home décor and so on. (Plans are in the works to expand the winery’s seating into this space.)
Primitive Olde Crow also has a separate, newer mercantile just down the road that houses a deli and women’s boutique. The mercantile also carries quirky home décor, fun shirts, soap, kitchen supplies, snacks, hand-dipped ice cream and cheese. It’s a perfect place to browse and pick up a treat for yourself or a unique gift for someone else.
Primitive Olde Crow has continued to expand — it now offers RV hookups, a small dog park and one of the nicest, cleanest antique stores you’ll ever visit. Even if you’re not into antiques, this one is a joy to explore. It seems like every time we go to Primitive Olde Crow, there’s something new to see. It’s definitely a must-visit in central Missouri.
Just 30 minutes north of Clinton is Warrensburg, Mo., which is a great place to stop on your way home. There, you will find Magnolia Mercantile and Magnolia Market. (No relation to the Magnolia brand in Waco, Texas, but these establishments are every bit as inviting.)
Magnolia Market is part eatery and part general store, offering all-day breakfast, coffee, sandwiches, smoothies, flatbreads and more. It also offers home décor, pet supplies, clothing, kitchenware and a variety of unique gifts and knick-knacks.
Around the corner, Magnolia Mercantile expands on the experience with a whiskey and wine bar, cigar lounge, live music, boutique items and plenty of rustic charm. Unlike many mercantiles that lean heavily toward the ladies, this one strikes a great balance, with plenty of “manly stuff” to keep everyone interested.
Whether you’re sipping wine in Clinton, relaxing with live music in Warrensburg or just enjoying some retail therapy in both towns, this stretch of Missouri makes for a fun, relaxed getaway packed with small-town appeal and great finds.