While consuming alcohol is strongly associated with unacceptable conduct in the park and while authorities are not banning it, there are new measures in place to deal with rowdy people.  The new regulations place a ban on “beer bongs,” and similar devices.  Those individuals in possession of beer bongs and similar equipment will receive a citation.  Jello shots and/or other gelatin based alcoholic beverages will also be banned and the individual bringing it into the park will be cited.

It is a matter of using common sense and exercising caution and limiting oneself to a responsible amount of alcohol.  Adult visitors are being asked to only bring in one six-pack of beer or similar quantities of alcohol beverages per day.  People floating in canoes and rafts should bring in a cooler the size of 48-quarts or smaller, unless camping along the river.  When people are intoxicated and floating, it can be as deadly as drunken driving and it is important for everyone to be safe on the river.

People gathering and making an exorbitant amount of noise will be discouraged and park rangers will be strictly enforcing sound level laws.  There will be no noisy blasting of stereo systems, air horns or dangerous “dry ice” bombs.  There will also be no jumping from rocks or cliffs and rope swings within the park will also be banned to reduce injuries, cut down on parties and make sure everyone is safe.

The use of polystyrene or Styrofoam food and beverage coolers is also prohibited because they frequently wind up as trash in the river and pose a danger to wildlife and are a source of pollution.  When canoes flip over in the river, coolers can lose their lids or break, which results in the spilling of contents, however foam bait containers will still be allowed for fishermen.  It is not about stopping people from having a good time, but it is about protecting everyone and making sure the parks and rivers stay clean and safe at all times.

All drugs and underage drinking are strictly prohibited and the laws will be vehemently enforced, as well as laws which outlaw glass containers, disorderly conduct, public nudity, profanity and littering.  Distributing or accepting Mardi Gras beads is also prohibited and people caught doing it will be cited and fined.  The National Park Rangers and various Missouri law enforcement agencies will be working together to crack down on violators and will cite or arrest troublemakers and kick people out of the parks.  Observant visitors will notice a vast influx of uniformed and plainclothes officers on the river and throughout the park; because there is a great need to enforce public safety.

If you have not visited the Ozark Riverways recently, now is the time to come back and have some summer fun.  The presence of rangers and law enforcement officers has been making a real difference in the past few years and by cracking down on unacceptable and deviant behavior, now more than ever the parks and riverways are family friendlier.  If you are wondering what to do with your family this summer, visiting the Ozark Riverways is a great way to have some fun and make some memories.

Missouri is home to some 6,300 caves at last count. By having a vast number of caves, many floaters can view them while paddling down the rivers. Just like the wildlife, caves should only be viewed from afar. Even though it may be tempting to explore a cave, these unique formations can be deadly.

In Missouri, the common saying is “If you don’t like the weather, wait a few minutes and it will change.” Thunderstorms can pop up at anytime, dumping large amounts of rain in a matter of minutes. Not only does this cause flash flooding in the Missouri waterways, it also causes flash flooding in caves. In an instant the caves that were once dry can quickly become filled to the top with rushing water.

Missouri caves support over 900 species of wildlife. These species are called cave-dependent because their habitat is limited. Many of these species are sensitive to changes in their environment. For this reason, protecting these cave environments is critical to the survival of cave-dependent species. When humans go into a cave, they can cause serious damage to the cave ecosystem without even realizing it.

In ancient times, many Native American and prehistoric tribes used caves for shelter or religious reasons. They left behind paintings and items from their daily life. There are even many cave sites that contain ancient artifacts that are yet to be discovered. Since the state is abundant with caves, many are closed off to the public due to the archeological digs being done there. These artifacts can be damaged and lost due to unauthorized people entering into a cave.

The U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources all work together with scientists and cavers to help preserve and study the caves in the state. A majority of the caves are on public land. These caves fall into three classes. Class 1 caves are open to the public, Class 2 is restricted access and Class 3 is closed for various reasons. Other caves in the state are privately owned and public access is not allowed. A permit is generally required to enter many of the caves in Missouri.

If you really want a cave experience that is safe, there are many caves that offer tours. Meramec Caverns, Onondaga Cave and Fantastic Caverns for example take tours through this underground landscape. Some are even handicap accessible and children are welcome.

Next time you and a group of friends want to take a break from floating and check out a cave, do it the safe way. Many of the caves that offer tours to the public are located by popular floating destinations.

Contest Ended. Winners at bottom of post.

Get Soaked This Summer with FloatMissouri.com’s Summer Float Trip Giveaway

We’ve partnered up with several float trip outfitters from around Missouri and have created a great contest.

Grand Prize: A tube trip for 8 people, a $50 Wal Mart Gift Card (for camping supplies) and two memory foam pillows (for your tent!)

Float Trip: Compliments of Big Spring RV Camp – choose any of the float trips described at CurrentRiver.com. Includes tubes and shuttle for up to 8 people and cooler tubes on the spring fed crystal clear Current River in the heart of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.

Gift Card: From FloatMissouri.com – our first prize winner gets a $50 Wal Mart gift card to use on camping supplies for the float trip!

Pillows: The folks over at STLBeds have graciously donated two memory foam pillows for your camping pleasure!

Second Prize: A Two Day Float Trip on the Eleven Point River

Compliments of Richard’s Canoe Rental – 1 canoe for a two day trip with 1 night free tent camping.

Third Prize: Two Nights’ Camping & Float Trip

Compliments of Caplinger Mills River Front Resort – A free 2 night Electric/Water campsite; $50 value; Plus canoe for 2 $30 Value.

Fourth Prize: A One Day Float Trip

Compliments of Richard’s Canoe Rental – Two canoes for a 1 day trip with two nights free camping.

How Do I Win?

You can win the Super Soaked Summer Contest by simply liking our facebook page.  All past Facebook fans are automatically entered into the drawing!

Fine Print
Yeah, we gotta have it, sorry. Must be 18 years of age.  Winners must claim prizes by June 30, 2011 or they will be forfeited.  Winners will be notified via email and prizes will be mailed to winners.  Float trips must be redeemed during the month of July, 2011.

Winners

If you are named as a winner, you have until June 30 to claim your prize.  You must email us (info@floatmissouri.com) by 11:59pm June 30, 2011.

Grand Prize: Sable Sparks

Second Place Prize: Tim Coleman

Third Place Prize: James Marvin Casteel

Fourth Place Prize: Johnathan Lee Best

Congratulations to the winners!  If you did not win, stay tuned to our site for our next float trip giveaways!

The following is a list of mosquito attractants which a person should be aware of and avoid if at all possible:

·    Dark clothing is an attractant because mosquitoes use vision to find a host from varying distances.

·    Lactic acid is released either after a person exercises or from eating certain foods such as those containing high levels of sodium and potassium.  You should avoid working out and limit sodium in the diet before attending an outdoor event in the summer, to limit mosquito attacks.

·    Carbon dioxide is given off if a person is hot or has been exercising, burning candles, torches or having a bon fire are other ways the gas is released into the air and it will act as an attractant.

·    Skin temperature can be an attractant, but the exact temperature will depend on the type of mosquito and many are drawn by lower temperatures than higher.

·    Moisture attracts mosquitoes because of the chemicals released and because it increases humidity.  Even small amounts of water, such as moist grass, plants or standing water, will also draw mosquitoes and provides a perfect breeding ground.

·    In addition to perfume, hair care products and scented lotions and sunscreens, mosquitoes also love floral fragrances which you should avoid at all costs, lest you become a bug buffet.

For those people wanting to make their own all natural bug repellant, there are many inexpensive alternatives which will effectively repel mosquitoes, but require more frequent application (every 2-hours).  Because there are so many different types of mosquitoes, a person should use a combination of different repellants to best ward off bugs.  Natural repellants include the following:

·    Oils from verbena, lavender, pine, cajeput, basil, thyme and allspice, garlic, and soybean
·    Citronella oil
·    Lemon eucalyptus oil
·    Geranium oil
·    Cinnamon oil
·    Castor oil
·    Lemongrass oil
·    Clove oil
·    Peppermint oil
·    Rosemary oil
·    Cedar oil

Remember things like sunscreens, swimming, sweating and rain can dilute the effectiveness of natural repellants, so it is important to reapply often for maximum effectiveness.  The word natural does not always imply safe, and many people are allergic or sensitive to the oils in plant extracts, so perform a spot test before slathering any on your body.  It is important to find a combination that works for you and to remember to follow the manufacturer’s instructions before using any all natural bug repellants.

When you go on a float trip, it is important to go with a group or take a few friends along, for safety reasons, as much as for added company and enjoyment.  If you have too many people, you might not have as much time to incorporate the things you want to do, so try to limit yourself to just a few people.  There are things you will need to take on a float trip so get a bag ready and pack the following; snacks, sunscreen, larger inner tubes, a cooler with ice and drinks, life jackets, water shoes, sunglasses, money, mesh bag for trash, and an ID and you are all ready to go.

You can either take your own tubes or you can rent some, if the site has an outfitter.  An outfitter will have all your equipment needed for the inner tube float and will arrange for a launch point and pick you and your companions up, at the end of your float.  Pick out a river you would like to float on and scope out the lay of the land, you want to know the terrain and if there is any private property located along the route, which you will want to avoid.

Once you have picked your location to float, remember to never take glass on the river and to bring drinks in cans or plastic bottles and to store these in a hard plastic cooler along, not one made of styrofoam, which may harm wildlife.  Wear a hat and sunglasses, but do not take any keys unless tied to your shorts/pants or swimsuit.  Keys can become lost and once on the bottom of the river are impossible to find, so leave them behind if at all possible.  Bring along a bungee cord to loop the inner tubes together before you and your group get into the water and connect in a circle around the cooler tube, so people have access to cool drinks while floating down the river.

Floating down the river in a tube can be an excellent way to enjoy all the natural beauty offered by the surroundings.  If you enjoy tubing, you can purchase your own tubes which should be 20-inches or larger, from the local tire or tire repair store.  Bring along a waterproof camera, keep yourself well hydrated and find out how much fun it is to float down the river on an inner tube.

Many people have found it is handy as well as convenient to make a waterproof stereo or iPod case out of a cooler. This will make for less space taken up on your trip because you will already have a cooler to take anyway. This will call for some serious testing as well to be sure the ice that is in the cooler does not damage, or cannot get to the stereo components. There are many materials that can be used to help you out with this project. You may want to try your local hardware store as well as maybe your local outdoor supply store. Trying to build your own waterproof stereo can be a bit time consuming and may cost more than you would spend if you were to just buy one already made. The thing to consider is what kind of options you are looking for on your float trip stereo.

If you are looking for a waterproof stereo just to have on the canoe with you, but you do not have to take it under water, you may see different stereos that give you waterproof in the canoe but cannot be taken underwater. You may want to just find a case to put on your iPod so that you can just bring that along with you, or you may just want a simple case for a regular am/fm radio, these may be some of the options you have available to you. Depending on the size, amount of money you can spend, there are options for just about any stereo or iPod you may have. Always be sure to check reviews on any item like this you are interested in, this will give you an idea of how well that particular case works.

The best advice someone can give you is to always test out your case with something that cannot be damaged by water before trying it out on your stereo or iPod. This will sometimes save you a lot of time and money in the long run. You want to protect and electronics when it comes to water because as I said before if they are damaged by water it is less likely that the manufactures will replace it. If you have done your homework and have found a reliable waterproof iPod case or just a simple waterproof stereo, you should be ready to listen to your favorite tunes on your float trip.

The first obvious choice when creating recipes is the jell-o. You can find a wide variety of flavors in jell-o, and everyone has their favorite. This is a list of the common flavors used to make jell-o shots; Blue Raspberry, Lime, Lemon lime, Orange, strawberry daiquiri, and margarita are some great tested flavors to go in jell-o shots. There are also a lot of common flavors that seem to suit jell-o shot lovers as well, such as Cherry, Strawberry, watermelon and Grape. That is just a few of the many, many types of jell-o flavors out there so everyone can find the one they like the best.
If you are looking for the perfect alcohol, with the perfect flavor, to go along with your favorite jell-o, there are a few to mention that are popular choices. They are: Raspberry Vodka, Apple Vodka, Vanilla Vodka.

Some people prefer to use tequila or Jagermeister as well. The type and flavor you choose to use will all depend on your taste and what you like. The best advice is to follow your taste buds and try different types and flavors until you find the one you like the best. You may even find that you find way more than one favorite. The possibilities are endless because as many of us know the amount of flavors that jell-o can come in seems to be endless as well.

There are also many recipes you can try if you are looking for the non alcoholic version of a jell-o shot. Many people have tried different types of soda flavors to create unique flavor variations. There are also many recipes where you simply combine different flavors of jell-o to create unique jell-o shot flavors. Ginger ale is also used to make a delicious and simple jell-o shot. Vanilla ice-cream can be used in place of the cold liquid when making orange jell-o to create and amazing orange cream jell-o shot. There are so many recipes that can create a great tasting jell-o shot, without the after effects of alcohol, still with the fun that seems to come with enjoying a jell-o shot.

The thing to remember when planning to make jell-o shots is to just be creative and have fun with it. The greatest recipes are found when just adding different flavors together to create a flavor as unique as you want it to be. Jell-o shots are great fun at any party or gathering and can be made very simple for all ages.

Have you created the Perfect Jello Shot? Share your recipe with us!

Katy trail just happens to run through some of the wine country of Missouri and these wineries are easily accessible from the trail. If you like you could include a wine tasting tour on your way and sample some of the finest nationally recognized wines, in the area, along the way. Katy trail follows along highway 94 for about one hundred miles and is often called Missouri Weinstrasse, which means wine road in German. In the 1800’s some German immigrants settled in the area and along with them they brought their wine making traditions and took advantage of the fertile soil and grape friendly climate in this area. This same German flavor can be found in the weinstrasse.

There are a few side trails that connect to the Katy trail, to offer even more adventure. There are at least three trails that are accessible to the Katy trail. The Creve Coeur Park connector-Missouri river crossing that will offer a nice crossing over the Page Avenue Bridge and leads up to the trail system in the Creve Coeur Park. The Missouri research Park Connector is a trail that follows the scenic wooded area through the creek and also includes a nice boardwalk to enjoy. At the end of the connector you will find a small trail parking lot which is the closest park to I-64 for those wanting easier access.

As you can see there are endless possibilities on this wonderful local Trail. This trail offers the beauty of small town Missouri with all the comforts of home at the local Bed and Breakfasts located close by. This trail is offers a once in a lifetime experience for any avid cyclist, hiker or runner.

Starting today you can win a two night stay in one of the awesome cabins at Caplinger Mills River Front Resort (sleeps six – $206 value) and two canoe rentals ($60 value)!

How Do I Win?

You can win the Spring Float Kickoff Contest by simply subscribing to our newsletter.  You must subscribe between March 1 and March 30, 2011.  Drawing will be on March 31, 2011.

Tell Your Friends

Fine Print

Yeah, we gotta have it, sorry.

“Spring Float Kickoff” certificate will be mailed to the winner.  The certificate must be used by June 15th, 2011, not valid on special  event or holiday weekends, reservations a must, cannot be used with any other coupons, non-transferable, must be 18 years of age, Original certificate only.

In Delaware, Lewes Polar bear Plunge has an annual polar bear plunge in order to raise money for the Special Olympics. This event is held on the first Sunday in February and has developed into a very unique Delaware event and also become one of the most significant fundraisers for the Special Olympics. In 2011 they will be celebrating their twenty year anniversary of this wonderful event. This event is so special and meaningful because it brings together many different people, from all different ages, genders, and even different income levels, to raise money for a meaningful cause. This particular event has raised over five million dollars since it beginning.

In Canada these events are known as Polar bear swims, Plunges or Dips. These events are a New Years Day tradition across most the countries, in various cities. In Vancouver’s BC annual Polar bear Swim Club they have been participating in this event since 1920. They usually have anywhere from one thousand to two thousand people registered to participate in this event. They even had a record of over 2100 participants ready to plunge into the English Bay in the year 2000. The participants in this event are not required to register, so the actual number of people who make the plunge may be more then what is on record. The number of people just there to observe can be up in the tens of thousands. Suburban White rock polar bear club was founded in 1958 which also hold plunge events like these, as well as Port Moody and North Vancouver.

No matter who and where this event happens, there are plenty of people willing to make the, sometimes more often than not, very icy plunge into the water. The support given to these events just shows us to what lengths people will go to in order to help out someone less fortunate than them. Just be sure if you plan to participate in one of these Polar bear Plunges, you get ready to experience something like you never have before. Just to see the vast amounts of people at these events is enough to keep you warm in the coldest water, so go ahead and take the plunge.