GossSquatch Outdoor Adventures

The drive from St. Louis to the Badlands takes about two days and marks the point where you’ll notice the landscape shifting from Midwest forests and farmland to the open, rolling plains. I’ve always been fascinated by how nature transforms as you travel — from the dense woods to endless cornfields to the sweeping grasslands of the Great Plains . Along the way, we made a few memorable stops, including a cave tour and a visit to the downtown park in Sioux Falls , South Dakota. Somewhere in South Dakota, the trees and farms faded away and the grassy, rolling hills took over. And yes… at some point, you’ll wonder if the trees packed up and left without saying goodbye. Rock Bridge Memorial State Park Our first stop was Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, home to the natural rock bridge, Connor’s Cave , and the Devil's Icebox. The park has several hiking trails, but we were there for one reason: caves. (Because who doesn’t love climbing into a dark hole in the ground and hoping it doesn...

Before we ever reached the giant slides and wild tunnels of St. Louis, the City Museum was actually Stop #1 on our big trip out west—a journey that started in Orlando, rolled through Nashville, and then catapulted us into Missouri. It was the first major adventure on a long, ambitious itinerary that would eventually take us through the Badlands, the Black Hills, Mesa Verde, and more. Think of it as our warm‑up hike… except instead of hiking, we crawled through steel tubes and slid down a ten‑story spiral. Honestly, nothing says “road trip has officially begun” like watching your kids vanish into a metal tunnel while you try to remember if your knees still work. The City Museum in St. Louis is a truly unique experience—definitely not for the faint of heart. Or the faint of knees. You’ll be crawling, crouching, climbing, and sliding your way through tunnels, caves, and sculptures that look like an architect’s fever dream. Think of it as an art exhibit that woke up one day and decided i...