Day 5 — Sunday, July 5
Hike & explore — or slip out for a half-day trip. A change of pace mid-week.
At a Glance
| Block | Plan |
|---|---|
| Morning | Hike to Frenchman’s Bluff (or a local day trip) |
| Midday | Lunch + heat-of-day rest |
| Afternoon | Creek wading / fishing / camp downtime |
| Evening | Spaghetti night |
Option A — Park Day (Hike & Explore)
- Morning hike while it’s cool: Frenchman’s Bluff for the 120-ft overlook (hold little hands at the edge), or the easy Lakeside/Blazing Star trails for younger kids. (Hiking guide.)
- Midday: lunch in the shade, rest.
- Afternoon: wade Big Sugar Creek (crawdads & minnows), more fishing, or hammock time.
Option B — Half-Day Trip
Mid-week is a good time to break routine. Easy options (see Day Trips):
- Troy (~15 min): lunch out, Lincoln County Historical Museum, Woods’ Fort, restock ice.
- Hannibal (~1 hr): Mark Twain sites + a cave tour (a great rainy-day backup).
- St. Charles historic district (~45 min): riverfront, ice cream, history.
Keep it a half-day so the cooks have time for dinner and kids aren’t fried.
Evening — Spaghetti Night
- Dinner: Spaghetti & Salad (Older Smiths host) with Hawaiian-bread garlic bread.
- Naturalist program or campfire; star-gazing once it’s dark.
Mid-week reset: Day 5 can feel flat. A short adventure (a bluff view or a town run) re-energizes everyone for the back half.