Autumn is just around the corner... so my wheels are spinning as I anticipate all the great fall traditions our family enjoys. We love apple picking, we love pumpkin patches, we love fall festivals, but I especially LOVE LOVE LOVE taking my family on Day Trips!
Every year we embark on new adventures and make new discoveries. I especially love day trips that lead us on adventures we don't find "in the city limits." I asked my girls to help me remember 10 of our Favorite Day Trip memories as we reminisce about past trips and anticipate new journeys this year!
- Milking Dairy Cows at Shatto Dairy Farm.
- Watching Cider Making and eating warm cider donuts at the Louisburg Cider Mill and spotting the rings on Saturn at the Powell Observatory.
- Apple Picking at Weston's Red Barn Farm and attending Weston's annual Apple Fest.
- Riding the carousels at the C.W. Parker Carousel Museum, trolley rides, and eating ice cream at the Corner Pharmacy in Leavenworth.
- Eating horse-churned ice cream and enjoying a fall festival in Jamesport, Missouri's Amish community.
- Loading a wagon bound for Oregon at the National Frontier Trails Museum and riding wagons with Pioneer Trails Adventures in Independence.
- Enjoying a Tea Party at Shabby Hattie's Tea Room and boutique shopping in Parkville.
- Riding the trolley and learning about Atchison's many mysteries including the first lady of flight, Amelia Earhart.
- Shoal Creek, Missouri Town, Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and more wonderful historic sites on our Little House Project Day Trip journeys!
- Watching as master artisans make world-class stringed instruments at K.C. Strings on a Watch it Made in KC tour.
BONUS: More MoKan Day Trips & Vacations!
Fall is our favorite season for Day Trips! Many of our favorite destinations are under 2 hours away and feature apple picking, pumpkin patches, historic sites, and hiking trails!- Missouri
- 20-30 Min. East: Independence: Log Cabins & Trails West
- 20-30 Min. East: Downtown Lee's Summit: The Great American Main Street
- 45 Min. Northeast: Sibley: Lewis & Clark Country
- 45-60 Min. Northwest: Parkville: Tea Parties & Shopping
- 45-60 Min. North: Liberty: Jesse James & the Historic Square
- 45-60 Min. North: Weston: Autumn Splendor
- 1 Hour North: St. Joseph: Wild West in our Backyard
- 1 Hour Northeast: Lexington: Civil War in Missouri
- 1-2 Hours North: Jamesport: Amish Country
- 2- 3 Hours South: Carthage: Classic Rt. 66 Road Trip
- 2 1/2 - 3 Hours Southeast: Springfield: Ozark Country
- 4-5 Hours South: Branson: Vacation Capital of the Midwest
- 4-5 Hours East: St. Louis: Gateway to the West Kansas
- 10-20 Min. West: Overland Park: Historic Downtown Overland Park
- 20-30 Min. West: Bonner Springs: Be a Kid for a Day
- 30-60 Min. South: Louisburg: Apple Cider, Star Gazing, and Pumpkins
- 30-45 Min. West: Lawrence: Eclectic College Town & Family Fun
- 30-45 Min. Northwest: Leavenworth: First City of Kansas.... Carousels, Trolleys, and History!
- 45-60 Min. Northwest: Atchison: History & Mystery
- 60-90 Min. West: Topeka: More than a Capital City
- 60-90 Min. South: Fort Scott: National Historic Site
- 3 1/2-4 Hours Southwest: Hutchinson: Soar to Outer Space
Bonus: The Little House Project: MoKan Day Trips for Little House on the Prairie Fans