Put A Little Gravel In Your Travel!

Often I hear people say living in Union is great because of how easy of a day trip it is to St. Louis. I am a bit different in that I feel living in Union is great because how easy it is for a day trip to MANY beautiful areas of Missouri that don't necessarily fit "city" mode.

Water Shoes, Minnow/Critter Catching Net, and
cool clear water - THANK YOU MISSOURI! :)

Just 35 miles away is Blue Springs Creek Conservation Area. Hop down I-44 to Bourbon then hit N - beautiful cool clear waters await you. 98 degress out? Who cares!?!?! Sit and chill in the waters, watch your kiddo catch crawdads or find fossils. It's just a wonderful experience.

Crawdad Time! June 2013 at Blue Springs Creek.

Recently I decided to explore another spot. Just 10 miles further (45 miles from Union) is Huzzah Conservation Area. Go on I-44, Onodoga Exit  - go past the park, cross the Meramec, and put a little gravel in your travel to find this gem! Water may not be as chilly as Blue Springs, but it's wider and still can trick your brain into realizing that it's not in the 90's... nature's airconditioning at its best!

Huzzah Conservation Area - July 2013 Cliffs to the right and
woods/creek to the left. Lovely road just like out
of a fairy tale or novel... and right here in Missouri.

Don't get me wrong, St. Louis has great things for day trips, but just as close are two amazing places to create some great memories with family. Some of my fondest memories growing up in the Ozarks are of the Big Piney River and of Paddy Creek in the Mark Twain National Forest.

I call myself the "creek-side gourmet" - she says it's not
"fancy at all" - but she eats and and enjoys it regardless!
Huzzah Creek bank July 2013.

I want my kiddo to have similar experiences and not spend EVERY DAY of Summer break sitting in front of the television. It's amazing how sometimes just an afternoon away and OUTSIDE can improve attitudes and spirits.

More information about Huzzah Conservation Area: ttp://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/Applications/MOATLAS/AreaSummaryPage.aspx?txtAreaID=5702
and about Blue Springs Creek Conservation Area: http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/applications/moatlas/AreaSummaryPage.aspx?txtAreaID=8405

For more information about my photography see my webpage: http://mkdesignsphoto.weebly.com/
and you can visit my blog at: http://mkdesignsphoto.blogspot.com/

Until next time, ~ michelle of Experience Union :)

Meet the Team {Tyann}

Business owner.

Artist.

Photographer.

Website Designer.

Amazing wife and mother according to reliable resources.

That pretty much sums it up. :) Oh, and I do enjoy attempts at humor. Sometimes I succeed, but other times only I get my own joke or slight sarcasm.

My name is Tyann Marcink, and I love our community. Yes, I really do.

I also enjoy teaching photography workshops, and one day I will finish the novel I started writing 10 years ago - an historical romance based on my great-great-great grandparents who came here to Franklin County in the mid 1800's. It's a very intriguing story, and one day, you will be able to read it.

My husband Mike, our boys, and I last Easter.

You have seen a bit of my photographic fine art (i.e. the Experience Union banner and logo) already, so see Marcink Designs for more of it. And to know the latest on my fine art, workshops, and other events, be sure to sign up for my newsletter (note: newsletter subscribers receive something special!). With Marcink Designs, I also do website design and photobook design.

So then, my other businesses that keep me busy:

My custom handpainted children's room decor is the Little Elephant Company. I feel fairly confident that I am a (if not the) worldwide leader in custom quilt clips. I create designs to coordinate with popular bedding sets and ship them all over the world. The post office clerks and I are on a first name basis.

And we have a couple homes in Branson that I manage and make available for travelers. You can see those at Vacation Home in Branson. I really enjoy the hospitality industry and helping our guests to make memories with their family and friends.

But even though I keep myself pretty busy, you will still see me around town at soccer and baseball games with my boys or at school and community events.

A few more tidbits about me:

Oh, how I revel in vacation! 

I love to capture displays of the stunningly awesome
power of God...even if it's only a fraction of it.

Flowers and bokeh and my favorite pinks and purples.

A few links for you:

• My Google + page
• Marcink Designs website
• Marcink Designs facebook page
• Marcink Designs newsletter sign-up
• Little Elephant Company website
• Little Elephant Company Facebook page
• Vacation Home in Branson website
• Vacation Home in Branson Facebook page

Where in Union? {August 3}

Where in Union is this? If you know and are the first one to correctly comment on this blog post or the Facebook post, you will win a prize pack from MK Designs Photography!

Please comment with the exact location, including street/streets, buildings, any identifying landmarks, and even GPS coordinates. The first correct comment wins the prize. Please be as specific as possible! 

Where in Union? {June 24}

Where in Union is this? If you know and are the first one to correctly comment on this blog post or the Facebook post, you will win a prize package from MK Designs Photography Fine Art and Portrait!

Please comment with the exact location, including street/streets, buildings, any identifying landmarks, and even GPS coordinates. The first correct comment wins the prize. Please be as specific as possible! You may comment on this blog post or on the Facebook picture.

Where in Union? {May 18}

Do you know where in Union one can find this time capsule? If so, you could win an ice cream from Scoops N' More!

Please comment with the exact location, including street/streets, buildings, any identifying landmarks, and even GPS coordinates. The first correct comment wins an ice cream from  Scoops N' More. You may comment on this blog post or on the Facebook picture.

Where in Union? {April 27}

Where in Union did I find this?

Please comment with the exact location, including street/streets, buildings, any identifying landmarks, and even GPS coordinates. The first correct comment wins a surprise. You may comment on this blog post or on the Facebook picture.

Photo by Marcink Designs.

Where in Union? {April 20}

Since the hitching post was a pretty difficult game to begin with, here is a Where in Union that should be a little easier. I was on a Sunday evening walk in downtown Union when I came across this gorgeous reflection. Where is it?

Please comment with the exact street/streets, building, any identifying landmarks, or even GPS coordinates. The first correct comment wins a prize package from this week's sponsor, MK Designs Photography Fine Art and Portrait. You may comment on this post or on the Facebook post.

Photo by Marcink Designs