Now that the weather is getting much hotter and humid, more and more of you are probably looking for places to cool off.  When I was a kid, I could spend hours at the local swimming pool.  Sometimes the whole day.  I think I found a summer destination that the family will love, and the swimming should be fantastic. It's Castor River Shut-Ins.

All Trails - Patricia Brasher
All Trails - Patricia Brasher
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Castor River Shut-Ins is located in Amidon Memorial Conservation Area in Frederickton, Missouri.  It's a 1,630-acre area located on the upper reaches of the Castor River in Bollinger and Madison counties. To get to the swimming part, you will need to hike the 1 mile Cedar Glade Trail.  Should not be too hard, even the kids can handle it.

Facebook - Amidon Memorial Conservation Department
Facebook - Amidon Memorial Conservation Department
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A backpack with your beach gear, and waterproof shoes will be best if you wish to explore the rocks around the area.

Facebook - Amidon Memorial Conservation Area
Facebook - Amidon Memorial Conservation Area
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Castor River Shut-Ins have the potential to get crowded but there will be plenty of places to find some quiet spaces to get cool.

Facebook - Amidon Memorial Conservation Area
Facebook - Amidon Memorial Conservation Area
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Boasting crystal clear water, the shut-ins create a natural waterpark where you can wade in the shallow water.

Facebook - Amidon Memorial Conservation Area
Facebook - Amidon Memorial Conservation Area
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The Shut-In's are home to several small waterfalls and natural pools.  Talk about refreshing.

All Trails - Ben Lipe
All Trails - Ben Lipe
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Obviously be careful while you are there.  No lifeguards, and sometimes a strong current.  Especially after the rain.

Facebook - Amidon Memorial Conservation Area
Facebook - Amidon Memorial Conservation Area
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The rocks are a nice place to sunbathe before cooling off in the water.

Trip Advisor - Shelby S
Trip Advisor - Shelby S
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So if you are looking for a cool place for natural waters, swimming, waterfalls and more, check out Castor River Shut-Ins.  You can click HERE for more info. Castor River Shut-Ins, Fredericktown, MO 63645

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Every beach town has its share of pluses and minuses, which got us thinking about what makes a beach town the best one to live in. To find out, Stacker consulted data from WalletHub, released June 17, 2020, that compares U.S. beach towns. Ratings are based on six categories: affordability, weather, safety, economy, education and health, and quality of life. The cities ranged in population from 10,000 to 150,000, but they had to have at least one local beach listed on TripAdvisor. Read the full methodology here. From those rankings, we selected the top 50. Readers who live in California and Florida will be unsurprised to learn that many of towns featured here are in one of those two states.

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