This post is part of an ongoing series summarizing each State Park in Missouri that our family has attended. We hope to visit each of 54 State Parks before the kids graduate from high school.
It’s about time for another one of these posts, right?
Back in early June, 2015, we went on another camping trip with the Montgomerys and tried to find a place somewhat “halfway” between Marshall and the Memphis, TN area. We tried Trail of Tears State Park near Jackson, MO.
In general, we weren’t all that pleased with this park. Not that it was bad, per se, but the area wasn’t quite as well arrange for families as the last place. The sites we selected were near each other, but much more forested than St. Francois from the previous year. That also meant that Calvin, who wasn’t a great “walker” quite yet, found it much easier to trip on tree roots and rocks, and wander out into poison ivy with relative ease. Also, we effectively had two separate camp sites, as the map we’d looked at wasn’t exactly clear on the position of the two locations, ultimately putting our tents about as far from each other as possible.
There was a very limited playground, but it wasn’t within walking distance. There weren’t really other activities available either, aside from hiking, but again, when you’ve got small kids, that isn’t a great option. At Calvin’s and Meg’s age now, we’d probably have a better time, but back then, it wasn’t ideal.
I should note that we did have fun visiting! This state park just wasn’t our favorite, I suppose. Early June was a little on the warm side, but not unbearable. Being deeper in the woods meant that the breeze wasn’t exactly…er…breezy…but we got something.
Anyway, we’d probably go back someday, but it isn’t all that close to our house (Jackson is mostly off the highway, but we have to drive a very round-about way to get there from here), so it will probably be awhile before we’re back in that area of the state.