Parkville, Missouri

My birthday has always been close to the Easter holiday. One year I even celebrated Easter on my birthday (1978). I have to wait until 2062 for the next Easter birthday. At 90 years old, that might be a stretch. Despite it NOT being my birthday this Easter, I still celebrated the holiday with a little outdoor adventure with my friend Sarah.

Sarah and I have been friends for over 26 years. In that time together we’ve played soccer, traveled, watched our worlds grow and change, and walked down life’s unpredictable road in joy and in sadness. I cherish our friendship and recognize the gift I’ve been given with a friend like Sarah

It just so happened that on Easter Sunday part of Sarah’s family had to be out of town, which left her with alone time. Having a few hours to herself, she asked if I’d like to spend the afternoon with her. We hadn’t seen each other in a while, so I readily agreed.

I drove to Sarah’s house, and we headed to the great outdoors in Parkville, Missouri. Parkville has been rated as one of the most charming cities in Missouri. Many people love shopping the boutiques, but Sarah and I prefer hiking.

We started our leg strengthening walks at the Parkville Nature Sanctuary. Three miles of trails wind their way through the 115 acre wildlife area. We meandered through the woods, not concerned with any destination. Instead, we took the time to unpack our lives and support each other while we immersed ourselves in the beautiful Missouri landscape.

Here’s a map of the area where we hiked…

Originally part of Park University, the Nature Sanctuary provides scenic opportunities throughout its acreage. It contains the remains of an old root cellar that served as a frost proof storehouse for up to 2,000 bushels. We couldn’t explore the interior of the cellar, but we did take a peek from the outside . We also visited the small but charming waterfall. It seemed everyone enjoyed the waterfall as I had to work to keep people out of the picture.

As hikes go, this one felt pretty good. Other explorers met us along the way, the trails weren’t arduous, and nature had begun to transition to its vibrant summer look. We ascended some steeper inclines, which kept our heart rates up, and we found a few less trafficked trails that gave the far from civilization feel. Overall, Parkville Nature Sanctuary offers pleasant outdoor adventures for all activity levels.

While Sarah and I could have ended our hiking here, we decided to continue our adventure at the Riverfront Parks. For those training for a race, both a 5K and a 10K option exist. Sarah and I had time for a walking 5K.

While great shopping adventures also filled this space, we concentrated on our walking and talking. I loved watching the hundreds of people enjoying the beauty of the day. We walked alongside an active train track, and we enjoyed the peaceful stroll alongside the Missouri River.

People picnicked, flew kites, walked dogs, and found places to do whatever they liked to do. I loved the views of the university and soaked up the views along the Missouri. Honestly, if I wanted to share an incredible outdoor experience with plenty to see and do, I’d put Parkville’s Riverfront Parks at the top of the list.

Should you ever find yourself in the Kansas City area, check out Parkville. It not only offers great restaurants and shopping, but Parkville also creates fun and engaging outdoor experiences.