How to Summer Like a Kid

It’s time to let loose and enjoy a summer like the ones we had as kids! A summer filled with carefree exploration and fiercely intentional enjoyment of the little things that make this season magical. It’s all about soaking up Vitamin D on a bike ride, breathing in fresh air on a hike, and the simple pleasure of enjoying an ice cream cone in the sunshine. So keep this issue as your guide, and carry it with you instead of your briefcase when you need a respite from adult pressures—because there’s nothing more carefree than doing summertime like a kid.

Go Ride a Bike

Feeling wind in your hair as you zoom around on a bike is a great way to get your heart pumping. It’s okay if you haven’t done it since you were a kid. You know what they say...

Frisco Highline Trail

This trail runs 35 miles from Springfield to Bolivar, but you don’t have to do it all at once. Try a partial trip from the Wishart to Bolivar trailheads to see wildflowers in La Petite Gemme Prairie and cross a 317-foot bridge.

Sac River Mountain Bike Trails

There are 14 miles of single-track trails here that wind through woods and prairies. It’s great for more advanced cyclists, but beginners can tackle it too.

Dogwood Canyon Nature Park

The trail is paved, and the scenery is unbeatable, including numerous waterfalls and streams. Bonus: There’s an on-site restaurant for post-ride snacks.

Two Rivers Bike Park

There are 14 miles of professionally designed single-track mountain biking trails spanning this 400-acre park.

Also read: The Best Trails in Southwest Missouri.

Eat Some Ice-Cold Treats

Andy’s Frozen Custard

There’s no better reward for standing in line in the heat than that first bite of Andy’s. Grab a seat outside one of the locations and tuck into a summer seasonal, like a blackberry concrete in June or a key lime pie concrete in July.

Swirly's Ice Cream & Waffles

“The difference between our ice cream and others is it’s a good bite from start to finish, so you get every ingredient and topping put into our ice cream from the very beginning to the very end,” says Jack Powderly, co-owner of Swirly's Ice Cream & Waffles. Jack, along with co-owner, Kenzie opened Swirly's in 2022 to provide an ice-cream that stays good to the last lick by blending the ice cream with toppings to create a unique, flavored soft-serve. Find out more about Swirly's here and keep an eye on their social media for opening times.

Gaze at the Stars

Remember what it felt like to marvel at the night sky when you were a kid? This summer, let yourself feel small in this great big universe by doing a little stargazing.

Lay on Your Back in Your Backyard

Toss a blanket down in your backyard, and lie back to admire the stars. Apps like Night Sky and SkyView let you point your phone at the sky to see what constellations are up above. Be sure to look up during the peak of the annual Perseids Meteor Shower (August 11–13).

Visit River of Life Farm

Above the 9-acre observation field at River of Life Farm, there’s a big sky and minimal light pollution, which makes it a great spot to see a lot of celestial bodies. If you are staying in one of the treehouse cabins there, there’s no fee to use the observation fields.

Check Out Missouri State University's Baker Observatory

Missouri State University’s Baker Observatory houses powerful telescopes, primarily for lab work and research. But it also opens up to the public for free stargazing events.

Also read: More of best stargazing opportunities in southwest MO.

Get Lost in the Woods

Take the time to explore—really explore—the Ozarks by embarking on a trek through the woods on one of the region’s countless hiking trails.

Have you ever been on a hike with a kid? They don’t care how long the trail is, what the pre-planned payoffs and sweeping vistas are supposed to be, or what timeline their accompanying adults had in mind for the trip. All they care about is being in the moment. They look at the ground and the trees and the world around them, and they just take it all in. 

This summer, try to get lost in the woods the way a kid would, observing the flora and fauna around you—picking up bugs, running your hand down the bark of a tree, marveling at the sound of unseen squirrels skittering through fallen leaves, dipping your toes into the water. Then share your wonder with whomever you’re with as you make Mary Oliver’s “instructions for living a life” from her poem Sometimes your motto: “Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.”

If you’re new to the wilderness and need tips for where to go, start with Little Sac Woods, or check out our very favorite places in the Ozarks to set aside the chaos of life for a day and just explore this beautiful place where we live.

Nibble on Nostalgic Foods All Day

Plan a whole day of munching on the summertime tastes that remind you of childhood.

8 a.m.

Grab a donut, the “school is out and sugar is fine” breakfast of champs. St. George's or Hurts would be great places to start.

Noon

Slap a legit farmers’ market tomato on some white bread with mayo and call it lunch. Check out the best farmer's markets in the Ozarks to purchase your perfect tomato.

3 p.m.

Sorry, but if you’re not snacking on watermelon, you’re failing summer. Again, see our list of the best farmer's markets in the area.

7 p.m.

Eat a juicy burger with a little history at Red’s Giant Hamburg along Historic Route 66. Or stop off at Millsap Farms for one of the ever-popular pizza nights. You can throw down a blanket in the shade, pop open a bottle of wine (it’s BYO, by the way) and relax under the trees to the sound of live music and kids playing in the distance. It’s a dreamy experience.

Serves 4

Ingredients
2 cups frozen berries*
1 cup ice cubes
2 cups lemonade
6 ounces Meadowview 
Botanical Gin 
Mint to garnish

*We recommend blueberries and blackberries. Wash and freeze them at home for this recipe.

To Prepare
1. Puree the frozen berries in a blender. Add ice cubes to the blender and crush them.
2. Place 1/2 cup of lemonade and 1.5 ounces of gin in a cocktail shaker with ice, and shake until cold.
3. Add half cup of berry slush and half cup of lemonade-gin mixture to a glass, gently stir to blend, garnish with a sprig of mint, and serve.

Cannonball Into the Lake

This summer, do your best cannonball into the waters of your favorite lake—because nothing is more carefree than a good swim that starts with a big leap.

Whether you’re boating or just hanging out on the dock, you can’t let summer pass you by without doing at least one fancy jump into the water. May we recommend our favorite jump, the one that requires you to hollar “Cannonball!” as you fly through the air?

Do you think that’s kids’ stuff? Do you think you’ll look silly to all your fellow adults, who are wearing swimsuits so cute they don’t even bother getting them wet and sipping on cocktails so strong they’re better off staying out of the water anyway? Don’t worry about them. They’re missing out. Take our word for it: Don a life jacket, count to three, race to the edge, tuck those knees, and take off out into the cool water. Bonus points if you splash the naysayers.

If you want to practice your cannonballs from the side of a boat while you cove out, consider renting a vessel from one of the Ozarks’s marinas. On Table Rock Lake, you can find some great options at Port of Kimberling, State Park Marina, Indian Point Marina and many more.

Also read: Your Guide to the Best Lake Getaways in Missouri.

Splash Around in a Local Wading Spot

Cool off this summer at an easy-to-access local spot wading spot.

Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area

Highlandville
Woods Fork—a stream located at Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area—is a great place for wading because of its calm, shallow water. From the Busiek parking lot, there is only a short walk to the stream. There you splash around a bit, skip rocks, spy crawdads and enjoy the scenery. And remember: The waterway can get pretty shallow during dry seasons.

Grand Falls

5685 Riverside Dr., Joplin
Spend a peaceful day at Grand Falls in Joplin, a 163-foot-wide continuously flowing waterfall located on Shoal Creek. Plenty of places are available to sit on the gravel banks and wade in the water. The waterfall provides a relaxing soundscape, and the flat chert areas beside the river are excellent spots for kids to play around outside the flowing water.

Crighton Beach

3100 S. Farm Rd. 193, Springfield
Go to the Crighton Beach access along the James River in Springfield for a beautiful view and a serene experience soaking up the sun. Sitting in a shady area or wading in the water is the perfect way to spend a hot summer day. Pack a picnic too; there are a few tables nearby where you can break for a snack.

Bull Creek

203 Ashland Dr., Branson
If you’re in the Branson area but don’t want to commit to a day on the lake, there’s an option there for you. A great spot for kids and families, Bull Creek offers shallow, clear water that is good for wading or peeping the critters in the river—like crawdads and small fish. You can also enjoy some beautiful scenery while you’re there.

Lower Flat Creek Access

25100-25166 SSR-EE, Cape Fair
This spot provides a peaceful view of Flat Creek with many surrounding trees. Multiple banks are available where you can sit and enjoy the water. You can relax and maybe bring a good book while you listen to the sounds of nature all around you.—Lauren Flynn

Play Backyard Baseball

America’s pastime is a summertime must. And if you can’t go to a game or play with a full team, you get creative. Springfield local, Cory Patton, tells how his family created their own take on baseball—and still play it to this day.

I grew up in a family that had three boys. We liked playing sports and were a tad competitive, but  our odd number did not divide well into teams, so we found creative ways to play variations of sports we enjoyed.

Thus we created the game Move Up, a spinoff of baseball. Each player was the sole representative of their own team and would take turns occupying each of three positions: pitcher, a fielder and a batter.

Each batter would keep hitting until they received three outs, then all players would “move up” to the next position. The fielder would go to pitch, the pitcher would go hit, and the batter would go to the field.

We first started playing Move Up in our grandparents’ yard, which was particularly narrow for a baseball diamond. The yard also came with one ground rule that we had to strictly adhere to: If you hit the house, you are out. On countless occasions one of our parents would come outside to sternly remind us of the rule.

We still play Move Up when our families get together. I enjoy playing the game with my nieces and nephews in my parents’ backyard. They are still a bit young to keep track of scoring, but I have no doubt that we will be counting soon enough.—Cory Patton

Ooh and Ahh at Fireworks

Keep an eye on this page to read about the best places in Springfield and the Ozarks to see the sky light up with fireworks shows this Fourth of July.

Cheer on the Cardinals at Hammons Field

Eat ice cream out of a tiny helmet, dunk tortilla chips into neon orange cheese, hop up for the wave—and enjoy every quintessential baseball moment at Hammons Field. Plus, Hammons Field annually celebrates the Fourth of July with a post-game fireworks show. Find the full schedules and tickets.

Go Camping in Your Backyard

This summer, sleep under the stars without the hassle of trekking to a campsite by pitching a tent in your own backyard.

Step 1: Break out that tent! If you don’t have one, Ozark Adventures and Bass Pro Shops in Springfield can both hook you up with the gear. Don’t forget to grab a lantern too!

Step 2: Prep your provisions. You’re going to need snacks. Grab something sweet, something crunchy and something with a bit of protein. Be sure to get marshmallows. You’ll need them for Step 3.

Step 3: Build a backyard bonfire. Now you need flames to create ambiance and—most importantly—roast s’mores. Shop for fire pits at local shops such as Maschino’s, Outdoor Home and Outdoor Rooms by Design.

Step 4: Listen. When you’re ready to tuck in for the night, close your eyes and open your ears to the summer sounds of evening frogs and cicadas as you doze off. (P.S. We’ll pretend there’s no Step 5... that whole “clean-up in the morning” part.) 

Also read: Great Places to Camp in the Ozarks if you'd prefer to get out of your backyard. Or, check out these places to go glamping.

Catch Crawdads

The crystal clear creeks of the Ozarks are perfect places to turn over rocks and see what critters you can find.

Part of summering like a kid is facing your fear of the creatures you might find icky—picking up worms, catching fireflies and braving the sharp pincers of crawdads. The place to do that last one is in a local stream. Before you reach in to catch the slippery crustaceans, remember that these buggers swim backwards. Reach in from behind to avoid getting pinched and to have a better chance of nabbing one. First, though, you’ll need to find a shallow place to start your search. Read about local swimming holes that are great for wading and snatching up those little guys here. Just don’t forget to release them again when you’re finished.

A golf cart ride through the Lost Canyon Nature Trail at Top of the Rock includes a visit to Lost Canyon Cave. The big draw here is the Bat Bar, a bar located inside the cave that serves cocktails for grown-ups and cold lemonade for the kiddos.

Marvel Cave

In your rush to the rides at Silver Dollar City, be sure you stop for a walking tour of Marvel Cave—it’s free with your park ticket. You’ll see the Cathedral Room and gorgeous formations as you trek. But beware: There are a lot of stairs!