It’s the “last weekend” of summer – a time for a barbecues, rest and relaxation and possibly even a little travel.The number of U.S. travelers jumping into their cars this Labor Day holiday weekend is expected to be the highest in eight years, as more Americans favor driving over flying, a travel group said on Tuesday.
Some 28.2 million people plan to drive 50 miles or more this weekend, up 2.2 percent from last year to the highest level since 1995, according to a survey by the American Automobile Association (AAA).
The increase in driving comes amid shrinking airline capacity and security delays since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and a trend among travelers toward driving on shorter trips.
There are a number of destinations that could easily be in family travel plans in Southeast Missouri this weekend. With dozens of state and federal parks and facilities in the region, as well as a local festivals on the calendar, there is a wide variety of choices on the table for Labor Day travel fun.
Lake Wappapello
The third annual 25 Mile Yard Sale kicks off the Labor Day weekend for the Lake Wappapello area. Yard sale fans will want to check out the bargains on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The sale route will begin at the Lake Wappapello exit off Highway 60 and go north on Highway T; continue across the dam on Highway D to County Road 523, the Pisos Point Road.
On Saturday there will be an Antique Tractor Show sponsored by the Mingo Tractor Club. The show is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is being held on the parking lot of Fisherman’s Net Restaurant. There is no admission charge. Guest exhibitors are welcome.
Clifford Cozort will be the featured artist at an art showing in the Bill Emerson Visitors Center located adjacent to the Wappapello Lake Dam beginning Aug. 29 and continuing through Sept. 1.
Also, Lake Wappapello Outdoor Theatre will host a Friday night Bluegrass Music Jam session and Saturday night there will be performances by the Bluegrass Gospel groups Just Us and Crossroads. The entertainment begins at 6:30 each night.
Advance Labor
Day Picnic
A traditional old-fashioned Labor Day picnic will be held in Advance on Monday, Sept. 1.
The Labor Day Antique Car Show will begin with registration at 8 a.m. Judging will begin at noon; entry fee for the car show is $15.
The Labor Day Parade will begin at 10 a.m. with floats, bands, politicians and fun for all ages.
A series of pageants will highlight activities following the parade, beginning at 11 a.m. with the Little Miss and Little Mister Advance Contests.
The Labor Day Pageants will follow the little miss and mister contest. Entry fee is $15 and there are categories for girls (and little boys) of all ages.
All pageants will be held in Umfleet Park.
A little kids tractor pull will be held beginning at 4 p.m., followed by musical entertainment and activities for the entire family.
Big Spring
It’s cool, it’s unique, and it’s not far from home.
Big Spring near Van Buren is in Ozark National Scene Riverway and is the largest spring in Missouri and one of the largest in the world. On an average day, some 278 million gallons of water gush forth from the subterranean passages, swelling the Current River.
Big Spring is 4 miles south of Van Buren on State Route 103. There are campgrounds and picnic areas at the federal facility, as well as concessionaires who rent tubes and canoes for float trips down the river.
And why is the water so blue? Well, experts with the National Park Service say the spring water is actively dissolving away limestone as it moves through the earth. Springs are actually excavating new caves through this process. This dissolved limestone, along with the influence of the spring’s depth and the blue sky, impart the deep blue colors seen at the springs.
Sam A Baker State Park
With the ancient St. Francois Mountains, the unspoiled natural landscape and the cool waters of the St. Francois River and Big Creek, Sam A. Baker State Park has something for everyone. Whether getting away for a day of relaxation or spending considerably more time exploring the region, it's certainly worth the trip.
A boat launch offers access to the river, and anglers hook bluegill, bass, crappie, sunfish, goggle eye and catfish in the river and creek. Canoeists float the Big Creek in spring and early summer, while the river is a good float year-round. Several miles of hiking, backpacking and equestrian trails provide glimpses of the area as the early settlers found it. To explore the natural and cultural history of the park, visit the park's visitor/nature center
Visitors can spend the night in either the rustic cabins or one of two large campgrounds featuring modern restrooms, hot showers, dumping station and laundry facilities. For horse lovers, a separate equestrian camp is provided. The shaded picnic area is equipped with a playground, covered shelters and picnic tables. If guests prefer to eat indoors, the dining lodge overlooking Big Creek features excellent country cooking.
Due to heavy rains earlier this season, part of campground #2 is closed. All trails are open but storm and flood damage may be apparent in numerous locations. Trail users are advised to use caution. Expect downed trees and washed out areas in some locations.
Sam A. Baker is located in Wayne County, near Patterson, Mo. The state park is four miles north of Patterson on Highway 143. Take Highway 67 north from Poplar Bluff, and turn west on Highway 143.
Big Oak Tree State Park
California may have the sequoias, but the Bootheel has Big Oak.
Amid the farmland near East Prairie is a piece of the Bootheel that has been preserved and stands out from the rest.
Flood plains covered with giant trees that once greeted early explorers to the "Bootheel" region of the state have been preserved in Big Oak Tree State Park. Trees within the park are unsurpassed in the state for size, with six qualifying as state champions of their species and two registered as national champions. Beneath the trees lies a luxurious undergrowth of woody vines that flourish in the swampy land. Large baldcypress trees with their unique "knees" make their home in the park's cypress swamp, the only one of its kind in the state park system.
A boardwalk traverses through the park, providing access to the park's unique landscape. An interpretive center near the boardwalk provides educational displays explaining the natural history of the park. With more than 150 species of birds, several considered rare in the state, the park is a favorite with bird watchers. After a nature hike through the forest, visitors can enjoy a picnic lunch under the open shelter or at one of many picnic tables nestled beneath the lofty trees.
The park is 14 miles south of East Prairie on Highway 102 in Mississippi County.
Trail of Tears State Park
The tragic history that gives Trail of Tears State Park its name provides a sharp contrast to the peaceful, serene setting and the abundance of recreational opportunities enjoyed by visitors today. The 3,415-acre park is a memorial to the Cherokee Indians that lost their lives in a forced relocation, as well as a place for visitors to participate in a variety of outdoor adventures.
The park is located on the site where nine of 13 groups of Cherokee Indians crossed the Mississippi River in harsh winter conditions in 1838-39. Thousands lost their lives on the trail, including dozens on or near the park’s grounds. Legend says that Nancy Bushyhead Hildebrand died and was buried within the park’s boundaries. The Bushyhead Memorial is a tribute to all the Cherokee who died on the trail. The park’s visitor center features exhibits that interpret the forced relocation, as well as the park’s many natural features.
The scenic overlook located on Overlook Road at Trail of Tears State Park near Jackson will be closed temporarily for major renovations, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources announced today. The area will be closed May 1 for public safety, and work is expected to be completed by early fall.
The construction project will include the demolition of the existing walkout area to the overlook, which will be replaced with a new accessible pathway. An interpretive panel depicting Lewis and Clark’s journey on the Mississippi River will be placed at the walkout point. The trailhead for Peewah Trail also will be closed; however, access to the trail can be obtained near the entrance gates to that area of the park.
Trail of Tears State Park is located 14 miles east of Interstate 55 (Fruitland exit) on Highway 177 and 13 miles north of Cape Girardeau on Highway 177.
