Backroad Weekly

06/18/2026

If you've found Backroad Weekly through social media, you might know me as "the girl making videos about places around/near Southeast Missouri."

But what you might not know: Social media is not my main "thing"! I adore making the videos and I love that you love them. xoxo.

But the videos are just a pleasant side effect of my business and the work I do there.

The business is the newsletter.

The Backroad Weekly newsletter started because when I moved back home, I kept finding fun stuff to do that made other folks go, "I didn't know that was there!"

Now I'm on a mission to help other people find things to do close to home. And, dare I say, fall back in LOVE with Southeast Missouri??? Instill a little local pride, even? *gasp*...what? no? too ambitious? Ok.

Every Thursday, I email out ideas for day trips: local events, hiking trails, restaurants, museums, festivals, and other places worth checking out within a couple hours drive of Cape Girardeau. And it's all at no cost! Our wonderful sponsors help make that possible.

A little about me:
• I grew up in Scott City, MO.
• I'm a SEMO graduate.
• My day job is a business counselor at the Missouri Small Business Development Center at SEMO.
• I moved away for 11 years. Most of which was spent kickin' it with caimans and coffee in Costa Rica. Some of it was spent in France and Chile. I moved back 3 years ago to be close to family again.
• I firmly believe Southeast Missouri is a great place to live, especially if you love getting outside.

If you're already a reader, thank you for subscribing!

And if you've been watching the videos but haven't subscribed yet, I'd love to have you join the mailing list! Let me in your inbox, Barb! I'll leave the link in the comments.

Photo taken at Hartle's Ford in the Whitewater Township. I'm the one on the right.

06/17/2026

Se/MO summer road trip season has arrived!

We asked our sponsor, Mesta Meadows, how to build a day trip around the farm, and they delivered:

- First, visit the Mason Jar farm store at Mesta Meadows Ranch in Glenallen for beef, jams, honey, eggs, ice cream, and other farm-raised freshness. While you're there, ask about the farm tour. I bet you'll get to pet something.

- Head into Marble Hill to grab scratch-made lunch with a side of old-school luncheonette nostalgia at the famous EC Reed's.

- Then, step out onto First St. and get lost for hours in several antique and consignment shops.

- Before heading home, swing by Ava Craft Center in nearby Burfordville

This day trip is brought to you by Mesta Meadows.

06/16/2026

Get Outside at Legion Lake in Perryville, MO.

If you haven't noticed, Perryville has been climbing the ranks as an outdoor recreation destination in Southeast Missouri. You may remember last fall when we covered the day hike at Perry County Community Lake. Or you may recall how often we rant and rave about the wild caving excursion put on by the Perry Park Center. (Which I will continue to gush about. Can't stop. Won't stop)

But this week's Perryville-loves-the-outdoors fun spot is Legion Lake.

***Things to do at Legion Lake***:

--Hiking/trail running/rucking the inner loop i.e., Victory Trail (1.22 miles)

--Hiking/trail running/rucking the outer loop i.e., Freedom Trail (2.87 miles)

--Mountain biking! Ride the inner & outer loops, as well as the pump track, flow trails, and skills trails with obstacles like MTB bridges

--Dock/bank/kayak fishing, and if I understand correctly, boating is permitted with electric motors. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong and about to unleash boating hell onto Legion Lake.

--Birdwatching & wildlife photography. I grant thee permission to make your own little nature documentary. You're an adult. You can just DO fun stuff.

--Picnicking. Eating a sandwich and looking cute in the outdoors is always an option.

***Things that might be useful to know***:

--You can trust Google Maps. I thought I couldn't. It wasn't showing a lake, and it looked like we were heading straight into the Perryville Country Club. But typing in "Legion Lake Perryville MO" WILL take you to the right place.​

--Internet, if I give my honest opinion, do you promise to be kind? My first impression was, "meh. underwhelming.", But the longer I stayed and explored, the more it grew on me. You can't always trust your first impression.

--The trails are single track and there are parts where they're lined with thick underbrush. As usual, watch where you step and take allllllllll the necessary tick precautions.

Legion Lake, Klaus Park, Shepherd Mountain, St. Joe State Park (to name a few). We have the places to mountain bike. Now, I just need an MTB clinic.

If you enjoy Southeast Missouri day trips, sign up for our free newsletter.

06/15/2026

Did you know the Stars and Stripes Newspaper (the same publication still serving U.S. military personnel around the world today) traces its origins to Bloomfield, Missouri?

In November 1861, ten Union soldiers requisitioned a local printing press and produced the first edition while serving under General Ulysses S. Grant's command. More than 160 years later, Stars and Stripes is still being published for service members worldwide.

Photo: U.S. Army Signal Corps, June 16, 1944. Two American soldiers read Stars and Stripes from a foxhole in France shortly after D-Day. Public domain image courtesy of the U.S. National Archives. https://tinyurl.com/bdf769rn

Source: Ahttps://www.nssml.org/stars-and-stripes-newspaper-history-1861/

06/13/2026

An insider heads up from our sponsor, VisitCape: You might want to keep June 20 open.

Cape Girardeau's annual Citywide Juneteenth Celebration returns to Ivers Square on Saturday, June 20, with live entertainment, food vendors, artisans, community organizations, kids' activities, and more.

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced freedom for the enslaved people there. The news had finally reached Texas, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

The Cape location of this event also carries significance. Long before it was known as Ivers Square, this area was a site where enslaved people were bought and sold. It later became a place where Black men from the region enlisted in the Union Army, fighting for the freedom that Juneteenth now celebrates.

The celebration is free, family-friendly, and runs 11am-4pm.

ONE WEEK AWAY!

The Citywide Juneteenth Celebration is almost here, and we’re counting down the days until Ivers Square comes alive with music, food, culture, community, and celebration!

Join us on June 20th from 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM as we honor Juneteenth and celebrate freedom, unity, and the rich history that continues to inspire generations.

We’ll see you next Saturday!

06/13/2026

Which Se/MO adventurer is seeking an adventure cat?!

06/13/2026

The Asher Creek Trail at Lake Wappapello State Park

Throwing it back to one of our April hikes, when we blundered about Lake Wappapello State Park. Most associate it with summer camping and fun on the water. But have you hiked the trails?

Of the four trails the state park offers, we put the Asher Creek Trail on trial:

--Star info: A 2.6-mile lollipop loop of moderate difficulty on rocky terrain with only a couple of steep climbs.

--Of note: Lake views, lake shores (including one little rocky beach), valleys, and hilltops. Great variety in a short distance. A really fun trail.

--How to not get lost: Grab a trail map at the trail head OR take a picture of the map before you get started. Do it. There isn't a great signal out there. This trail runs counterclockwise and follows the red blazes with a couple of shortcut options. Even when the trail is under a lot of leaf cover, there are plenty of red blazes. Clearly marked.

--Avoid surprises (and lyme disease) and play it safe: Wear bug spray, leave no trace, make sure someone knows where you're going and when you'll be back, and all the other safe, responsible tips for a day hike that I pray you know (or at least review before you head out). Seriously, wear bug spray.

--Getting there: I got the trail head coordinates from the MO State Parks PDF. Type this GPS location into Google Maps: 36.94372, -90.34293 and it will take you straight there. And in case convenience is your love language, I'll leave a link the comments.

--Eat Here - Speedy Cone: If you're like me, you think that surviving any hike merits a catfish po'boy, potatoes in some form, and a milkshake. Would it really be a Backroad Weekly day trip without something fried? The answer is no, so you can stop hovering over unfollow. I got you: Speedy Cone is nearby for all your battered, gloriously greasy, and frozen lactose needs.

06/12/2026

This weekend's event details and links are in the latest newsletter issue. Link in the comments.

Hot diggity dog.

06/10/2026

Another day-trip worthy Se/MO jewel.

Visit Mesta Meadows in Glenallen for:
-the farm tour
-pettin' critters
-the farm store (fresh eggs, meat, milk)
-the ice cream (made entirely on site)
-and camping in a sheep pasture

Down to make a whole day of it? Drive the 5 minutes into Marble Hill for lunch and antiquing. Part of the Missouri Antique Trail, there are several fun shops along First St within walking distance of one another. And if you're in town before 2pm we recommend EC Reed's for lunch.

06/09/2026

Day Tripping in Aquilla & Bloomfield, Missouri

Some upcoming weekend when it's too humid to hike, trade the trails for some small-town ramblin' in the A/C. Check out Aquilla & Bloomfield, MO., where you can spend a whole day indulging your hot granny hobbies: shopping, gardening, flea market pickin', and strolling around with your arms crossed in a museum, reading all the displays.

Our itinerary - Aquilla & Crowley's Ridge:

1st - Try the famous Shady Oak Market sandwiches - It's a country store (and local favorite) with yummy deli sammies. Browse baked goods, home decor, hardwood/rustic furniture & lawn furniture, groceries, gifts, and toys. But the star is the deli that doubles as a diner, serving fresh, made-to-order sandwiches. The experience feels a lot like being let in on a Se/MO secret. If I can't convince you, the Google Reviews will.

2nd - Daydreaming at Yoder's Garden Shop - It felt a little like a mini botanical garden where every thing's for sale: Huge potted flowers, veggies, cacti, fruit, hanging flower baskets, trees, shrubs, etc. Instant dopamine hit. Once again, don't believe me, read the Google Reviews.

3rd - Cruising through Crowley's Ridge Conservation Area - Enjoy the gravel road cruise through the conservation area and keep an eye out for wildlife. We stopped at Pond 2 to be nosy and see if the folks fishing from the bank and kayaks were catching anything.

Then, keep the party going in Bloomfield:

If you're traveling without a toddler in charge (unlike us), you might still have some metaphorical gas in the tank to keep the local road trip rolling (unlike us).

There are two more interesting destinations right down the road from Aquilla in Bloomfield that we still need to check out:
​- Country Pickins’ Flea Market - Bloomfield
​- Stars and Stripes Museum

And one big, fat tip about timing: Go on Saturday! Everything is closed on Sunday.
The Stars and Stripes Museum closes at 2pm on Saturdays, so if that's part of your agenda, maybe start your trip there.