Visit Missouri

Farmington, Missouri is a community that is friendly towards cyclists. It is one of several places that offer hospitality towards touring cyclists and is a popular stop for cyclists on the TransAmerica Bicycle trail. The community in Farmington organized an advisory board called the Pedestrian/Bicycle Advisory Board. The board’s main focus was to cater to the needs of cyclists passing through town on the TransAmerica Bicycle route. They have converted an old county jail into a nice hostel that offers beds, a bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room to accommodate touring cyclists that pass through Farmington. The newly opened hostel is known as Al’s Place but is more commonly known as the TransAmerica Trail Cycler’s Inn.

There is another cycling club that caters to the community of Farmington. The cycling club is called the Parkland Cyclists Bicycle Club. The Parkland Cyclists club promotes all aspects of bicycling and the members range from experienced riders to pleasure riders. Some of the areas that the Parkland Cyclists club focus on are bicycling safety and a bicyclist’s responsibilities and rights. Bicycling is promoted as a safe, enjoyable and environmentally friendly activity, to try and encourage more people to participate in cycling.

For cyclists in Farmington, there are several popular cycling routes that take riders across beautiful, rolling hills and parks. Possum Hollow Ride and Cow Girl Cafe Ride are on the list of popular cycling routes in Farmington. Kaintuck Trail is another popular trail open to cyclists with mountain bicycles. Kaintuck Trail takes cyclists off the road for 14 miles, through the beautiful scenery of Mark Twain National Forest. There are some longer routes for serious cyclists who enjoy going for long bicycle rides. The Libertyville route is one of the longer routes. 35 miles long, the ride is pleasurable with rolling hills, tree canopies, and views of beautiful country homes. The Pickle Springs Route is a longer ride, approximately 55 to 62 miles on Route 32.

There are many bicycle routes cyclists can choose from in Farmington, Missouri. Farmington is known for its accessibility to cyclists and pedestrians. There also are many beautiful routes for the pleasure rider, some through town and others through National Forests or around Cedar Falls Lake. Farmington is a place for all kinds of cyclists ranging from the pleasure rider to the more serious and competitive cyclist.

Irishman William Murphy, arrived near the Mississippi river in 1798, looking for a place to settle and relocate his family. This part of the country was under Spanish rule at the time, part of the Louisiana Territory. Legend has it that he located a spring near the St. Francois County Courthouse, which still exists, with the help of a local Native American. After this he got rights to settle from the Spanish, and he and his family set up camp along what is now the St. Francois River.

Murphy soon died during his trips from their new settlement to Kentucky and back. His wife and sons were left to take care of setting up their new home and community. They started the process in 1800, calling it Murphy’s Settlement. Sarah Barton Murphy soon established a Sunday School that gained some notoriety. Since her school was Protestant, and the Spanish did not allow any religious organizations that were not Catholic, classes had to be very discreet.

The town’s history proceeded rapidly after this, especially after the United States acquired the land through the Louisiana Purchase. The settlement was now part of the state of Missouri, and after a Post Office was established in 1817, David Murphy donated land that would become St. Francois County in 1822. The settlement was renamed Farmington in 1825, and was soon granted township in 1836.

For the next 50 or so years, Farmington prospered. This was partly due to the construction of Plank Road, which helped transport goods from mines to the river and back. The road went from Ste. Genevieve to Pilot Knob, and was eventually controlled by the St. Louis and Iron Mountain Railroad.

Farmington continued to grow throughout the late 19th-century, establishing a public school in 1970, and then becoming accredited as a fourth-class city in 1879.

Farmington is by all accounts a very successful city, with deep roots. Since its beginnings in 1798, it has grown from a population consisting of the Murphy family to a city of over 19,000 persons. It is an economically sound city, with a very high level of available educational opportunities. The hospitals and medical services are also very top quality. Called “The City of Progress and Tradition”, the residents take great pride in living in such a rich and storied place.

Farmington, Missouri is a quaint town located in Southeastern Missouri. It has a great blend of old America intertwined with all the modern conveniences of technology. A visit to Farmington, Missouri in December and January should bring you closer to some of the best live music Farmington, MO has to offer. There are many Farmington events that will feature holiday and festival style music during the winter months. Here are some of the places and things that you and your family will thoroughly enjoy.

In January 2012, you should stop by Twin Oaks Wineries and be a part of the Souper Wine Weekend. This weekend in mid-January features some of the best wine in the Midwest as well as music and live entertainment. This event is a must do for your winter fun. Also, at the Chaumette Winery and Vineyards, you can experience some of the best Christmas and New Years music that the area has to offer with their annual New Year’s Eve party. There are many wineries in the Farmington, MO area so make sure to check with the Chamber of Commerce in Farmington to see what live music events are taking place in December and January.

In downtown Farmington you will find a unique coffee shop called Bauhaus Kaffee. In December, they have two live music events. The first will be the all-cousin band Big Smith performing live on December 2nd. On December 7th, Jeremy Arndt will be performing his unique music live. Over at The Vault, there will be two live January shows. The first, on January 21st, will feature folk music group Violet Vonder Haar. On January 27th, the Bluegrass band The Whistle Pigs will be performing.

Farmington, Missouri takes pride in being a small town with big events. We have some of the very best live music and entertainment that you will find in Southeast Missouri.

If you are looking for the best in mountain biking trails, when you take a trip to Missouri, you will want to visit the Council Bluff State Park, or the St. Joe State Park, both offering great trail rides, both for novice and beginner riders, as well as for advanced bikers, who are looking for the ultimate downhill thrill, and the fastest speds you can imagine. When planning your trip, you will want to use DiscoverFarmingtonMo.com, in order to find the most scenic routes, the most dangerous routes, for those looking for a thrill, and the beginner trails, for those who just want to have the downhill experience, but are yet not advanced enough to tackle the toughest downhill trails.

One great trail to check out is the Lewis & Clark Trail, which is located in the Council Bluffs park. Here you will find one of the more traveling trails. It features a quick dip downhill, as the steep hill does not offer much time for recovery, and you will start heading downhill immediately upon your departure. So, if you are looking for fast speeds, and the most thrills, this is definately a trail for the expert rider, looking for that fast paced downhill ride.

For a bit more of a scenic trail, and one which beginner riders will find much easier to tackle, the Wabash Trace Nature Trail, which extends through a couple sites, and starts in the Council Bluff State Park, offers a few decline hills, but is more of a flat trail ride. This is great for mountain bikers who are just starting out, yet want to catch a few of those peaks, in order to improve their trail riding skills, and to catch a few downhill thrills along the trail ride.

There are several other trails to consider including: Hitchcock Nature, Wilson Island trail, and several others, all which you can find on DiscoverFarmingtonMo.com, in order to plan the perfect trails, and to get the ultimate thrills, while you are taking a great vacation in Missouri.

Whitewater rafting and kayaking are two of the most exciting activities that you could do when you’re on vacation for the summer. And where else could you enjoy these two white water activities than when you’re in southeastern Missouri? Missouri is famous for its large and scenic rivers, which make up the ideal spots for whitewater rafting and kayaking for anyone brave enough to try.

Let us look at some of the trails that you could go through if you plan to go on rafting and kayaking in the southeast Missouri.

The Big River

Despite its name, the Big River is actually a very slow ride through urban areas in Missouri. The trail starts at Turkey Creek or at Mineral Fork (a tributary) and, traveling along the river, you are going to pass through several sites which you could stop by. If you started at Turkey creek, you could try and put in at Cole’s Landing, for instance, which has a swimming hole and a bar where you could rest and have a few drinks. You could also set up a campsite there for the night, before you resume your rafting and kayaking the next day. Mineral Fork, the alternate start point, also has a sizable population of cottonmouth water moccasins.

The trail is over 83 miles long and terminates at the Meramec river.

North Fork of the White River

If you’re up for some challenge, you could try the North Fork of the White River. Its most well known features is The Falls, a picturesque site of shallow water but strong currents that make it an instant favorite for both the scenic lover and the adventurous. The North Fork is good for scenery photography as well: the waters are very clear thanks to the natural springs that are tributaries of the White River. The North Fork is in Mark Twain National Forest, which is also a good place to experience the wilderness of southern Missouri.

There are plenty of other activities that you could do as a tourist in Farmington, Missouri. Be sure to visit DiscoverFarmingtonMo.com to find out what are the things that you could do and enjoy while on vacation in Missouri.

The history of Missouri and the Lead Belt is both interesting and rich. The Missouri area was once owned by France. This area was sold to the US in 1803, which later became a State in 1820.

Long before 1803, what is known as the Old Lead Belt, was also known as the “Southeastern Missouri Mississippi Valley-type Mineral District,” back in the 1700’s. Lead mining was started by a Frenchman named Philip Renault in the villages of Old Mines and Mine La Motte, MO, …in 1719. The Town of Sainte Genevieve was founded soon after and became the port city for exporting lead from these villages. Later, Moses Austin expanded the mining operation by smelting lead and other minerals being discovered in Missouri, and this began the mining process as we know it.

For over 60 years the Old Lead Belt produced most of America‘s lead that had the highest strength of lead metal in the world. The Old Lead Belt was also recognized for producing substantial quantities of zinc, silver, and copper, during it’s time. As the demand for lead and other ores grew, the St. Joseph Lead Company purchased the operation and controlled lead mining in Missouri until 1972. In 1975, the abandoned mill complex was donated to the State Department of Natural Resources and is currently an Historic Site and park in St. Joe State Park.

Mining has changed significantly over the years. The new Lead Belt, which is now called Viburnum Trend, is located in Iron and and Reynolds Counties. It is a deeper mineralization operation than the former lead belt and it produces the world’s largest galena (ore of lead) deposits. The New Lead Belt are also manufacturer major qualities of crystals, chalcopyrite, and pyrite.

Today, this area still generates the largest sources of zinc and lead in America.
Situated now in south central Missouri, the New Lead Belt is owned by The Doe Run Company. Together The Doe Run Company and the St. Joseph Lead Company have ruled the mining industry for over 145 years.

For more information on The Lead Belt, please visit: www.DiscoverFarmingtonMo.com

The Johnson Shut Ins State Park is located southwest of Farmington, Missouri, which is located in the Southeast corner of the state of Missouri. The area could be considered a nature lover’s dream. The area which is now known as the Johnson Shut Ins State Park was created hundreds of millions of years ago. This area has a large number of geological points of interest.

One of these geological wonders includes an 18-acre Dolomite Glade, known as the Dolomite Glade Natural area. Another geological feature is recently discovered Rhyolite rock. This discovery was made after a breach at the Taum Sauk Reservoir, which occurred in December 2005, caused over a billion gallons of water to go rushing through the park. This large violent flood scoured away trees, buildings and earth. This event in turn revealed Rhyolite rock which was created over a billion years ago when the St. Francois Mountains were formed.

The Johnson Shut Ins were created when the land rose causing wind, water and dirt to take its toll. As the dirt laden water traveled downhill, it began to erode layers of sedimentary rock. This in turn exposed the Rhyolite underneath. In the lower areas, the river became trapped by harder rocks. This caused the water to swirl and form large holes. This in turn caused the weaker rock to erode resulting in rock features resembling water slides.

The area is also home to a large number of plants and animals, some of which are rare in Missouri. You will also find plenty of trails and sightseeing opportunities. As with any other time of the year in the Ozarks, fall is a very nice time of the year to capture the natural beauty of the area. As you explore the area in and around the Johnson Shut Ins State Park, you will find many attractions. You can find out more about the Johnson Shut Ins State Park and the Farmington area at DiscoverFarmingtonMo.com.

The Crown Pointe Golf Club was earlier known as the Eagle Lake Golf Club. It was designed in 1993 and is located an hour from St. Louis. The golf course is drawn up on a 208 acre tract and is surrounded by scenic farmland.
The club has been rated 4 stars by Golf Digest Magazine and consists of a variety of rolling terrain and water hazards and high bluff areas. The golf turn is laid out in such a manner that every club in your bag is likely to be used when you play golf here. The club amenities are 4 stars rated and the golf course features four par 3, ten par 4 and four par 5 holes.
There is a shopping facility at Crown Pointe called Pro Shop which offers a wide variety of golfing equipment, shoes, lady’s fashion and apparel. Staffed with a very friendly and courteous staff, the shop also has a shoe department which caters exclusively caters to the lady golfer. This shop is a very attractive place to visit even if you don’t play golf as it is packed with gift ideas and cards.
You can practice on the driving range before you hit your first tee. The driving range is turfed just like the course. There is also the 19th Hole Bar and Grill which is right next to the Pro Shop where you can eat sumptuous breakfast in the form of a buffet as well as a lunch buffet. The buffet is open to the public in addition to the club members. Plenty of space, great food and cold beverages are the specialty of the 19th Hole.
Luxurious lodging at the Crown Pointe Lodge offers facilities like an indoor swimming pool, tennis courts and business center as well as the joy of simply walking from your room to your first tee in the morning. For further information, please visit www.discoverfarmingtonmo.com.

The city of Farmington, Missouri, offers a one-of-a-kind tourist attraction at the Crown Ridge Tiger Sanctuary. Established in 2004, the sanctuary encompasses a total of 55 acres and is home to big cats that were rescued from a variety of unfortunate situations. Crown Ridge Tiger Sanctuary is a place where these beloved animals can live, roam and interact in a safe, yet natural environment. The spacious enclosures provided for the exotic cats feature a natural landscape of platforms, swimming pools and foliage, allowing them to play, pounce, lounge and forage for hidden toys, treats and food.

Crown Ridge Tiger Sanctuary‘s residents include six big cats: 6-year-old Bengal tiger sisters Thor and Gracie, their mother Raja, and father Mohan, a white tiger. 2-year-old Izzy is a Siberian-Bengal tiger mix and Alexis is a 3-year-old, black-maned lioness. Each of these gorgeous creatures is fully rehabilitated thanks to the hard work of the sanctuary staff. Tours of the sanctuary are given from April to December, Thursday through Sunday. Crown Ridge Tiger Sanctuary is closed annually from January to March except for special events, Valentine’s Day and group tiger tours. The sanctuary also educates the public through presentations, youth programs and tours, about the importance of saving these endangered creatures.

Crown Ridge Tiger Sanctuary offers a Big Cat Membership to frequent visitors. It is a yearly membership that provides the purchaser and one guest visitation up to four times per year, private invitations to the annual Appreciation Day and Fall Festival Birthday Bash events, a stuffed tiger commemorative gift and a 15-percent discount in the sanctuary’s gift shop. Lodging and dining are available at the sanctuary as well through the Tiger Ridge Restaurant and Tiger View Lodge. The restaurant serves farm-fresh produce that is locally grown, in addition to entrees of bison and Black Angus beef. Overnight guests of the lodge receive complimentary breakfast and can use the on-site tennis courts, outdoor swimming pool and hike along the property’s nature trails.

As one of the most scenic parks in Missouri, Hawn State Park certainly deserves the spotlight and a visit. Campers, hikers, and bikers alike can enjoy clear streams, exposed rocks, a wide variety of birds, and breathtaking views.

Hawn State Park houses the Lamotte Sandstone Barrens, a dry sandstone forest which has been designated as a Missouri Natural Area. As a protected area, this forest is regarded as one of the least disturbed sites in the state.

The orienteering course offers a fun way to combine hiking while finding one’s way through various terrains with only basic navigation tools. It’s a great way to challenge the mind and body without requiring extensive training or skills.

Throughout most of the year, Hawn State Park offers interpretive programs on the weekends. These interactive features include nature hikes, slide shows, and nature bingo.

Picnic sites and a large, 100-person shelter are available within the shade of fragrant pine trees. Barbecue grills, picnic tables, and an outdoor playground can be enjoyed as well.

For those who enjoy camping, Hawn State Park’s campground is open year-round with both basic and electric campsites. During the busy season (April through October), reservations may be made for a minimum two-night stay on weekends. Organized youth groups may reserve the special-use camping area.

Backpackers can choose from several trails, ranging from the paved Overlook Trail for beginners to the nearly ten mile Whispering Pines Trail. This latter trail is regarded as one of the best in Missouri and offers the versatility of a day hike or a longer backpacking trip. It takes hikers through a beautiful hardwood and pine forest which houses animals such as wild turkeys. Pickle Creek offers a refreshing dip in the summer.

Hawn State Park is part of Missouri’s state park system, which has consistently been ranked as one of the best park systems in the nation.