ATTRACTIONS:
It’s no wonder we’re called the ‘Parkland’ By Kevin R. Jenkins
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ne of the best things about living in the Parkland is the infinite number of attractions available within a quick drive from one’s front door. Along with the breathtaking beauty of its mountains, trees, rivers, trails, lakes and streams, the Parkland is also home to a wide variety of wildlife, providing all of the ingredients necessary for folks who are into hunting, camping, fishing, hiking, biking and off-roading, as well as those who prefer to enjoy the natural splendor of the region by taking a leisurely drive. This is undoubtedly the reason why the Parkland — much of which is located within or on the outskirts of the expansive 3,068,800-acre Mark Twain National Forest — is also home to a number of state parks that draw visitors from literally around the world. Conservation areas in the Parkland are plentiful and include Madison County’s Silver Mines Recreation Area, Millstream Gardens Conservation 2 | ParklandLiving | June 2021
Area, Amidon Memorial Conservation Area, Marquand Access, Thompson Ford Access and Roselle Access; the 1,188-acre Bismarck Conservation Area, located southwest of Bismarck; the Buford Mountain Conservation Area in Iron and Washington counties; the Ketcherside Mountain Conservation Area, Riverside Conservation Area, Funk Memorial State Forest and Graves Mountain Conservation Area in Iron County; the Gruner Ford Access, Leadwood Access, Mineral Area College Range, Syenite Access and Knob Lick Towersite in St. Francois County; the Hickory Canyons Natural Area, Pickle
Springs Natural Area, Magnolia Hollow Conservation Area and St. Mary Access in Ste. Genevieve County. The Parkland is also home to Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park, which became the 422nd unit of the National Park Service in October 2020. Established by 1750, Ste. Genevieve was the first permanent European settlement in Missouri. The Ste. Genevieve Welcome Center, 66 S. Main St., provides a good starting point where visitors can learn about the park and programs, reserve a free house tour time slot, watch a 10-minute introductory video or obtain other general information.
Missouri Mines State Historic Site is the place to go to learn about our mining history and minerals.
