Writing — Page 25

A ruined stone castle on a bluff above the Lake of the Ozarks — one of Missouri's most dramatic and surprising landmarks.

Inside a restored historic train station, the St. Louis Aquarium packs sharks, stingrays, and river creatures into an unexpected downtown destination.

A bright red mill beside impossibly blue spring water in the Ozarks — Alley Spring is a perfect summer afternoon in Missouri.

The Castor River Shut-Ins near Fredericktown, Missouri are one of the Midwest's best-kept secrets — a swirling landscape of pink granite boulders, clear water channels, and natural swimming holes tucked deep in the Ozarks.

The Route 66 bridge with a legendary bend in the middle, golden in late afternoon light over the Mississippi — a walk you won't forget.

The largest county park in St. Louis, built around an oxbow lake where you can kayak, bike, and watch the Missouri River bend past.

A free, two-block sculpture park in the heart of downtown St. Louis with 24 international artists, 102 water jets, and a remarkably welcoming vibe.

A Route 66 bridge over the Mississippi, now open only to walkers and cyclists — the bend in the middle is real and worth the trip.

A 546-acre wildlife park west of St. Louis where elk and bison roam free — you drive a loop through their territory, not the other way around.