A Missouri Scenic Trip

  1. Take I-55 South for about 3 hours to Sikeston. Exit from I-55 and have lunch at Lambert's Cafe (Home of the Throwed Rolls) - you will see many signs for this famous place.
  2. Get back onto I-55 and go one exit farther South to Route 60 West to Van Buren (about 90 minutes). At Van Buren, immediately after you cross the bridge over the Current River, turn left and go into the Rose Cliff Lodge (also known as the Landings, their www site is http://www.eatsleepfloat.com/). You can get a room with a balcony in front overlooking the Current River & just relax for a night or two. They also can set you up for canoe/raft/tube float trips on the Current River. They also have a restaurant.
  3. While you are at the Rose Cliff Lodge, drive 4 miles farther South to see Big Springs, which is Missouri's largest spring. It is a marvelous natural wonder! There is a lodge there where you can have breakfast or dinner.
  4. As you are driving South to Big Springs, you will see signs for Skyline Drive. There is an OK restaurant there that has the most fantastic view of the lower Ozark's! It is definitely worth the stop.
  5. When you leave Rose Cliff, you have a choice of a) returning quickly by the same route you came down, b) taking the scenic route through the town of Emminence and returning via I-44, or c) going into Van Buren and taking the very scenic Route N North to scenic Route 21 to the charming town of Caledonia which has an old (1902) general store with lot's of neat antiques that is not to be missed. As you go along Route 21 you can visit Johnson's Shut Ins Park where Ameren's dam burst this past December and see the destruction & natural beauty as well as the scenic Elephant Rock State Park. Then, continue North on to I-44.
  6. At I-44 (at Exit 226 I think), you can stay at the motel at Meramec Caverns and tour the Meramec Caverns the next day. This is another tremendous natural attraction. Don't ignore the gift shop - the prices are very reasonable. If you want a nicer place to stay, try the Baymont at Exit 226.
  7. At this point, you will be about an hour from home.

Tip: Don't forget to bring your camera!

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