Missouri Weekend

I normally would not consider Missouri my idea of a fun-filled weekend but man was I wrong. This weekend we explored some of the most beautiful scenery and I have the pictures to prove it. The whole premise of our trip was to attend a friend's wedding in Roach Missouri of all places. Along the way we got a kick out of sights like this one.

Guess this bank would be a busy place in this little town.

Once we got to Roach we had reservations at a cabin along the bank of the Little Niangua River. The cabin and the campground was very nice and clean however the cabins did not have running water and we did all our cooking over a campfire.. which turned out to be really fun! I know we ate better there than we would have at any restaurant; gouda stuffed chicken breasts, stuffed jalapenos, grilled veggies and then scrambled eggs and even grilled apples in the morning.

Saturday morning after a big breakfast we headed into Camdenton to Ha Ha Tonka State Park to do a little hiking. Turns out we did a LOT of hiking but the scenery was absolutely breathtaking. Ha Ha Tonka is known for its complex geological features and is filled with caves, underground streams, springs, sinkholes, and a large natural bridge.

 On the way back to our campground we just happened to come across a sign for Casa de Loco Winery so we thought we would check it out. What a nice surprise it turned out to be! Supposedly the winery was formerly the location of an insane asylum. I have no idea if that is accurate or an excuse but we enjoyed a bottle of "Bella Dolce" on the deck overlooking a natural spring. We also met two sisters there who were on a weekend trip that we recognized from the hiking trail earlier.

 We were enjoying the wine and the company so much that we had to make a mad dash back to the campground to get ready for the wedding. We considered 'punting' it.. but knew we would regret doing that.. eventually.

The wedding was a beautiful display of black and white held in Stoner Green... in Roach Missouri. (No, I'm not making that up). The black and white theme was apparently so popular that later that evening a skunk decided to make an appearance and left the wedding party a not-so-nice, pungent present.

Sunday our trip home included yet another winery off the beaten path just outside Knob Noster. Who knew Missouri grew such yummy grapes? This time we enjoyed a bottle of a red wine called "Damnifino." I had to bring home another bottle just for the name.

After two good experiences we quickly decided that we will make a concerted effort to test drive more Missouri wineries and one by one cross them off our list, seeking out the best wines the area has to offer.