I think this qualifies as a mini-trip report and since others in my area may not be aware of this area, I thought I ought to share. Of course, everyone else may already know about this!

On Saturday morning I had it in my head that I wanted to buy some peaches and can them. I had found out from someone about Peter's Orchards in Waverly MO so I did mapquest and set out. I was in for a really lovely surprise. The route I took was Hwy 13 through Richmond linking up with Hwy 24 just east of Lexington MO. I had never been this far east on this hwy before.

Not only was it simply a beautiful ride through the country--everything lush and green, fields of crops, orchards, and vineyards--there were wineries and roadside farmstands galore. I enjoyed the drive, about 1 hr 15 minutes, and decided that I would make stops all the way back from Waverly. And that is what I did.

At Peter's Market in Waverly I bought a bushel of peaches for myself and additional peaches for friends. I also bought a few other farmstand items. Working my way back I stopped at Shreiman Orchards and bought fresh baked goods; Rasa Orchards and bought watrermelon (huge), cantaloupe (huge) and a bushel of akana apples. Then I stopped at Baltimore Bend Winery, did a little wine tasting and bought bottles of Cabernet Franc, Chambourcin and Cynthiana, all produced there at the winery. There I was lucky enough to stumble across the Santa Fe Trail Growers Association brochure.

Apparently this stretch of hwy was originally part of the old Santa Fe Trail along which goods were hauled. In 1933 the current hwy was built, and roadside stands sprung up, and there is a wide variety today. This is also the largest apple producing area in Missouri. Who knew!? Well, maybe you but not me, I'm not from here originally.

In all seasons you can get a variety of locally produced goods--from gardening goods, asparagus, strawberries and rhubarb in spring, to peaches, veggies, apples, canteaoupe, watermelon, tomatoes and corn in summer, to more apples, mums, pumpkins and pecans in the fall, to trees, wreaths and winter apples in th holiday season. And wine year round! (yes, I'm paraphrasing from the brochure so I get it right).

What a fun surprise this day was! I thought I was just going to get some peaches and indulge my inner homemaker by canning, and just had such a fun day. I ended up with a late lunch back in Lexington MO at the Riley Pub (not sure that is quite right) with a local beer and a Reuben.

Here are a few web sites if you are interested in a day trip;

www.visitlexingtonmo.com

www.petersmarket.com

http://www.fahrmeierfarms.com/

www.schreimanorchards.com

www.baltimorebend.com

http://www.threetrailswinery.com/

There are many more, but those were the web sites I could find. I'm planning on doing another day trip in late fall for those pumpkins and apples! Hope someone else can benefit from this info.

Oh, from KC I would imagine you could drive 24 east from Independence, or go I-70 out to Odessa then north on 131 to 24 then east, or, go I-70 to Hwy 65 and go north to Waverly and work your way back West on 24.

Sounds like a very cool day trip, Toucan! Thanks for sharing.

This is a beautiful area, especially in the fall when the apples are ripe. Lexington has an historic homes tour each year. This year its in Sep. This is a great one or two day trip.

I have always wanted to do that historic homes tour and seemed to miss it each year. I will keep my eye out for the dates. From the outside they have some beautiful old places.

I live 4 hours away but we love to visit there. Not only are there the tour homes, but you can see the Anderson House at the battlefield that was used by both sides in the Battle of the Hemp Bales. The courthouse is also amazing, its the oldest courthouse structure still in use west of the Mississippi. Then there's Linwood Lawn, which is one of the finest Southern plantation homes you'll see in Mo. By the way the hemp still grows wild.

I've visited the battlefield site once with my nephew, but Anderson house was closed at the time. I wasn't aware of Linwood Lawn. I hope the new bridge and hwy bypass of 13 doesn't negatively impact the downtown area. I'm just as happy not to cross that old bridge anymore though! Was not crazy about seeing the Missouri river through the pavement.

Amen! That was just too spooky.

Well, we've been all around Missouri over the years but not much in the area you mention. Thanks.

Ozarksbill [email protected]

Lots of your posts have been helpful to me Ozarksbill, so if mine was helpful to you in any way, yay!

Well thanks, Toucan2! I have in fact printed out your comments about those Missouri areas mentioned as yet unexplored. We've been in the state some time but are not natives. Have covered most areas back when camping and since.

Ozarksbill
[email protected]

I'm not native to the area either although I've been here since 94. Still many new things to discover!

Just looked at a copy of AAA Midwest Traveler for Sept-Oct. which has an article "Touring the Trail" which might be of interest. It includes Lexington and BTW mentions a plaque honoring Russell, Majors & Waddell who had a successful freighting enterprise for wagon trains headed west. Wm. Hepburn Russell went on to found the Pony Express and was my grt-grt-grt uncle so maybe I should indeed go to Lexington.
(I've traced Russell and Hepburn genealogy back to early Colonial days).
Ozarksbill

Yes, you definitely should! The place I had lunch, Riley's Irish Pub, had a bit about Russell, Majors and Waddell. I think one of the current owners may be related too. I haven't looked at my current AAA mag, so I'll have to look for the article. And Kenny above said that there was a historic homes tour in September, maybe you should time that!

So Ozarkbill, I decided to google it and the historic homes tour in Lexington is Sat and Sunday September 12 and 13

Sponsored by the Lexington Tourism Bureau - for complete details, call 660-259-4711 or visit them on the web at www.visitlexingtonmo.com

Tickets are available at the Chamber of Commerce office - for ticket information call 660-259-3082