After the holiday weekend, we were set to finish this 51 night trip at two very popular locations. First, we made a stop at Cross Creek RV Park near Lake Ozark, Missouri. We knew the drive in was a bit rough according to Campendium reviews and it was. After turning off the main highway, there was about a two mile, rough, hilly gravel road but it was so worth it. Our site was right on a small lake and at the same time, it was a very short drive to have dinner on the Lake of the Ozarks at the Boathouse Restaurant.
The best part of this campground was the people. The owners and camp hosts all made our time there very special. There is also a multitude of wildlife. Slim Jim is a tame deer that makes his rounds. There were ducks, turtles burying their eggs, a summer tanager singing from the trees, chipmunks, and even a black snake. We spent one whole day lounging at their beautiful swimming pool. We definitely plan to return.
After three nights, it was off to Hermann and camping at the city park. The drive there took us through Jefferson City and then down the very scenic Highway 94. We had planned for lots of eating out so the first night, we enjoyed live music and pulled pork sandwiches at the Tin Roof Brewery. But there were some families there that chose to let their children run wild and when they started throwing rocks, we were ready to go. We walked right across the street to the Black Shire Distillery and enjoyed a much quieter patio, more live music (violin and keyboard-no singing) and a blackberry whiskey lemonade on the rocks. Kismet was with us and loved the people watching.
The next morning, we realized we could walk up to the Stone Hill winery which has always been one of our favorites. Kismet couldn’t go inside so we skipped the tasting and just enjoyed a glass of their Chardonel on the terrace. When it was time to eat linner, we took Kismet back to the RV and headed downtown to the 4th Street Pizzeria. Yum!!!! And then some shopping in the area.