Writing — Page 31

A 1927 Canada goose sanctuary near St. Louis that grew into one of Illinois most important wildlife refuges, now hosting up to 150,000 geese each winter.

Where the Missouri meets the Mississippi — a 4,000-acre conservation area at one of North America's great river confluences, with 285 bird species recorded.

Castle ruins, a massive spring, a natural bridge, and karst topography that makes every trail a small geological revelation — Ha Ha Tonka earns its reputation.

Missouri's largest continuously running waterfall — 163 feet wide and 12 feet tall over solid chert, just outside Joplin.

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…

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.