A perfect place for families Onondaga, a great park in Missouri

By BILL COOPER

After Memorial Day weekend, the beginning of the summer outdoor season in the Ozarks, campgrounds bulge at the seams with thousands of people and families anxious to get into the outdoors and have a good time.

Onondaga State Park near Leasburg, MO, was no exception on our recent visit. The park was near capacity as people came from far and wide to enjoy the beauty of this outstanding state park.

Four of my grandkids and I chose to wait out the crowds. We arrived on late Tuesday afternoon, the day after the Monday holiday. What had been a park full of people was now virtually abandoned. Less than half a dozen campers dot- ted the beautiful campground, which stretches out hundreds of yards in a narrow valley bordered by a small creek and high oak-hickory studded ridges on each side.

RESERVED SHADE?

Towering oaks shaded most campsites as we pulled into our chosen campsite. I had reserved our campsite online a few days previously. Site descriptions included information about whether any given site was shaded. Ours was said to be shaded. However, when we arrived at 3 p.m. it was fully exposed to the sun. I could see, however, that as the sun continued to rotate we would soon be in the shade once again. With temperatures in the mid-80s, the concrete slab where we parked our camper radiated the warmth. I broke a sweat setting up camp, but it was a mild inconvenience to be able to enjoy the beauty and quietness of the outdoors.

The kids hopped on their bicycles and began riding around the well laid-out campground. They met other bicyclists along the way, often stopping to chat and visit. Meeting like-minded kids is always an important part of the camping experience in Missouri’s state parks. And it is a thrill for me to see children enjoying the outdoors, having fun and gaining some much-needed exercise.

Set The Gadgets Down

My grandchildren love their electronics just like most other kids in our society today. However, I’m pleased that they are not so wrapped up in electronic devices that they must have

July-August 2023