8 Kid-Friendly Things To Do Near Silva, Missouri

by  on  in Family Life, Missionary Acres

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If you’re planning a missionary trip to Missionary Acres, you might wonder what else you can do while you’re in the area. Here are some of our family’s favorite things to do near Silva, Missouri.

But first, let’s set the stage!

What Is Missionary Acres?

Missionary Acres is a retirement community for missionaries, pastors, and career Christian workers. The staff is all fully funded or volunteers to help keep the residents’ costs as low as possible.

In addition to the staff, we rely on volunteer groups to help with projects. That’s where you come in! We love having individuals, couples, families, and teams come down for a short-term mission trip.

Wondering why you should come to Missionary Acres for your mission trip? <= Read that post! 

Where Is Missionary Acres?

Nestled in the southeastern Missouri Ozarks, Missionary Acres is near Silva, Missouri. It’s about two hours south of St. Louis and half an hour north of Poplar Bluff.

This area of the country boasts a picturesque landscape. It also has abundant wildlife and a range of activities to enjoy.

So in the evenings when you have some downtime after working with the staff at the Acres or if you add an extra day to your trip for exploration, you’ll find plenty to do within a 90-minute drive of Silva.

8 Activities Near Silva, MO

If a trip to Missionary Acres is in your future, here are a few activities you can add to your schedule.

These are all things we’ve personally done as a family (or at least part of the family). And they’re kid-friendly, which is helpful if you’re coming as a family or a teen group.

1) Enjoy the Greenville Bike Trail

Whether you’re biking or walking, the three-mile hard surface trail that connects the town of Greenville to the historic site of Old Greenville is a great way to enjoy some of the natural beauty in the area.

There’s so much history along the Greenville Bike Trail! Our kids really enjoyed exploring the old town site before we started walking.

And there’s a great park in the area! We tend to park by the playground, and then the younger kids and I walk only half the trail before turning around and going back to play. Then Bryan and the older kids walk the entire thing.

Since Greenville is only a few miles from the Acres, this is a good evening or Saturday activity. And when you get to Greenville, you’ll find Trails End Coffee and Cafe.

This is where Bryan and I go for date lunches each month and take the kids for their special birthday drinks. They have delicious food! (Check their operating hours if you plan to stop there, as they’re limited!)

2) Walk the Braille Trail at Elephant Rocks State Park

While there are plenty of hiking options at Elephant Rocks State Park, our favorite is the Braille Trail. It’s wheelchair friendly (mostly) which means Owen can enjoy it with us.

You’ll have to drive for about an hour to get to Elephant Rocks, but the views are worth it. The huge boulders are so cool, and an old train station is also there. Our little boys really like seeing that!

We pack a picnic lunch when we go, as several picnic tables are at the front of the park. There’s also a playground!

3) Visit Johnson’s Shut-Ins

Last year, Missionary Acres took a day trip to this incredible site! It’s near Elephant Rocks so you could do them both on the same day (which is what we did!)

It’s a great way to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation!

You can splash in the water, hike, or sit and enjoy the views. There’s a nice benched area. The kids had fun looking at the Black River from all angles and taking pictures from different spots.

If you come here, check the signs before heading into the water. It gets dangerous sometimes, and when that happens, the water access is restricted.

4) Go Fishing or Swimming

When talking about things to do near Silva, MO, we can’t forget this one!

When my parents visited in the summer of 2022, they took the kids fishing in nearby Lake Wappapello. Out-of-state fishing licenses were only $8 a day, giving them a fun way to spend time together and make memories.

And though we’ve never swam there, many teen groups who visit the Acres find the nearby river a fun way to cool off on a hot day. It’s always a well-received activity!

5) See the Mississippi River

If you’ve never seen the mighty Mississip, you’ll want to drive over to nearby Cape Girardeau and take a peek. When my parents first came down, we went to Cape Rock Park, around the site of the area’s original trading post.

There’s so much history here!

We took our time driving around the area, enjoying all the sites along the riverfront and taking in the beauty of God’s creation.

And even though it’s not the mountains and pine trees we grew up around, it is definitely beautiful in a different way.

If you decide to do this one, please note that the roads between the Acres and Cape Girardeau aren’t great if anyone in your party gets carsick. You’ll go around lots (and lots) of curves.

6) Check Out Discovery Playhouse in Cape

While you’re in Cape looking at the sights, take the kids to play at Discovery Playhouse so they can burn off some energy. It’s one of our favorite field trip locations! If you aren’t going with a pre-arranged group, the price is $8/person. The group rate is significantly less.

At the playhouse, you’ll find two floors of fun for kids of all ages. The main level is devoted to hands-on activities for younger kids, while the upstairs was designed with older kids in mind. There’s a tinkering workshop, a Lego wall, a music room, and more.

7) Go Roller Skating

A community center in Piedmont, MO has an open skate time every Tuesday night. The prices are great (currently $2 for entry and $2 for skates, cash only), and it’s a fun way to spend a couple of hours in the evening.

The center also has a foosball table, a few arcade games, and other fun activities. Plus, they have a snack bar.

The kids love getting a popsicle partway through their skating time.

8) Walk the Trails at Hendrickson Park

One of our favorite parks in the area, Hendrickson Park in Poplar Bluff, has several short hiking trails. The Hendrickson Trail is just over a mile and connects several parks, making it fun. And it’s paved and flat, so it’s perfect for Owen’s wheelchair!

The Bacon Park Half Mile Walking Trail is good if you’re short on time.

This park also has disc golf, and while we’ve never played the course, it’s on our bucket list.

Other Activities in the Area

Here are some other fun activities in Southeast Missouri. These ones are either a bit further away from the Acres or things that we haven’t personally done yet.

For even more ideas, check out Midwest Nomad Family. This blog shares ideas for family fun in the greater St. Louis area.

Have Fun in Silva, MO

Ready to come volunteer at Missionary Acres?  We’d love to have you! So contact the director and schedule your visit to southeast Missouri.

Then you can enjoy some of these things to do near Silva!

  1 comment for “8 Kid-Friendly Things To Do Near Silva, Missouri”

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