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Traveling to Camp No Limits Missouri

June 26, 2019 by Jill 3 Comments

My family and I just completed our longest trip by car ever. The four of us drove from San Antonio to Potosi Missouri, in the Mark Twain National Forest to take my son Zack to Camp No Limits Missouri. The trip is about 860 miles each way and Google Maps calculated it has about a 14 hour drive, each way. We decided to break it in to two driving days, each way. We are travel people and we are road trip people but we are not long driving day people. We’re sharing some details about our trip: what we liked, how we got there, and where we stopped along the way.

Table of Contents

  • Traveling to Camp No Limits Missouri in the Toyota Highlander
    • What is Camp No Limits?
    • Our driving route
    • About the Toyota Highlander
    • Where we stopped
    • A little bit about the YMCA Trout Lodge and Camp Lakewood

Traveling to Camp No Limits Missouri in the Toyota Highlander

We had a lot of fun Traveling to Camp No Limits Missouri

These two…

A big thank you to Toyota for the loan of the 2019 Highlander. We are convinced it’s the holy grail of travel cars and it gave our trip that extra level of awesome. 

What is Camp No Limits?

Camp No Limits is a camp for kids with limb loss or limb differences. It’s not a static camp but a traveling camp where the core staff move their program to various camp sites around the United States. This eases travel time and costs for families across the country who want to send their kids to camp. My son Zack has attended Camp No Limits for three years – two at their Texas location and once at the Missouri location. We loved Camp No Limits Missouri and I like it a lot better than the Texas camp…even though we had to drive a longer way to get here. 

Traveling to Camp No Limits Missouri

Zack’s tee shirt says “10 Fingers are Overrated.” I couldn’t agree more.

The Texas location is about a three-hour drive from our house and obviously much more convenient than driving all the way to Missouri but we had a conflict with the Texas date this year. My son gets a tremendous benefit from attending camp with other limb different kids and we decided to find another location that worked versus skipping entirely. 

Camp No Limits is a family camp, meaning that you don’t just drop your kid off. Although the program is centered around the challenges kids with limb differences face, it’s got all the stuff a regular camp would have. S’mores, singing, swimming, arts and crafts, canoeing…that sort of stuff. 

Traveling to Camp No Limits Missouri

Travel with kids + spacious backseat = peace for parents. Sort of. Maybe.

 

Zack is an incredible kid and he doesn’t let his limb difference stand in the way of the things he wants to do. He plays soccer and football. He’s a red belt in martial arts. He’s a fantastic dancer, a great artist and he’s an all-around kind person who makes me want to be a better mom and a better person. Sometimes, it’s difficult to be the kid who stands out and that’s why camp is so important to him. Zack stands out because he’s a great dancer or a cute kid but not because of his limb difference and if we can give him that experience for a few days a year, well…it was worth the drive to Missouri. 

Traveling to Camp No Limits Missouri

Why yes you CAN zipline with one hand. Absolutely.

Our driving route

We drove up I-35 until we hit I-44 after crossing the border in to Oklahoma. We took local Missouri highways once we passed the St James/Rolla area. You can see our general driving route here. We do have a Texas Toll Pass. Oklahoma does have a reciprocal agreement that honors our Texas Toll Pass so we can use the faster lanes going through the toll booth. We are big fans of using toll roads and find them to be overall much faster, even if the total mileage looks like it will be greater. If you have a toll pass for your state and you’re driving through other states, check online to see what reciprocal agreements are out there. Also, if you’re driving a car you don’t usually drive, as we did with the Toyota Highlander, don’t forget to make that adjustment in your profile online so you can zip through those toll lanes quickly.

Traveling to Camp No Limits Missouri

The Toyota Highlander in the Mark Twain National Forest

About the Toyota Highlander

The 2019 Toyota Highlander Limited Platinum, which you see in the photos here, is a mid-size SUV with a third row that folds down. It’s a rather small third row that’s probably most comfortable for a child but I love having that extra seating as an option. For our trip to Missouri, we did not use the third row seating because we had our gear in the back. It is on the larger size for a mid-size SUV but it didn’t feel bulky or uncomfortably large when I drove it and I didn’t feel that “learning curve” like I do when I get behind the wheel of a large truck or full-size SUV, like a Tahoe or an Escalade. The price on the model you see here is $48,000 although the base price of the Toyota Highlander is around $31,000. This one is fully loaded, which I love. 

The Highlander proved itself as a great travel car – I give it an A++ – but I could absolutely see us using this as our everyday runaround car. And, while it makes a great family car, it’s a great car for anyone who wants a great looking mid-sized SUV with a lot of room. If you regularly camp, hike or go on adventures, this is a great vehicle to consider. It’s just rugged enough to where you feel good driving it in rougher terrain but slick enough for in town driving. I could wear a dress and heels in this car and not feel weird.

Traveling to Camp No Limits Missouri

Camping Life.

I like the Toyota Highlander because of the space, particularly the space in the second row of seating, where my kids sit. The second row of seating is bucket seat style which gives them a tone of room and keeps them a little further apart. And, let’s be real…they need that extra level of separation on a road trip. They can keep their backpacks in the backseat with them without feeling crowded, and we all know road trip survival with kids is all about snacks and electronic entertainment. 

Traveling to Camp No Limits Missouri

This color is called “Toasted Walnut Pearl” and different lighting gives it different looks, anywhere from a light metallic beige to a deeper coffee color.

According to Toyota, the Highlander gets an average of 22 MPG, 26 highway and 20 in town. We did a lot of highway driving during the two-week period we had this car. We found we consistently got about 26 MPG, so their facts are spot on. It’s a comfortable and flexible vehicle that looks good and feels good. I think it’s a great family car and now I want one. The Highlander comes in a fun red color called “Ooh La La Rouge Mica” which I’m sort of obsessed with because it’s fun to say. There’s just something about Toyota paint colors that makes me get a little geeky. If the Highlander came in Voodoo Blue, I’d probably have kept driving north and not come back. Just kidding, Toyota. But seriously…if you’re in the market for a sturdy (yet still a little bit sexy) SUV for your family’s everyday runnings around, check out the 2019 Toyota Highlander. 

Where we stopped

I mentioned earlier not being a “long driving day” person. My kids and I did a very ambitious road trip last summer – you can read more about where we went HERE – but our longest leg of driving was around five hours and it was only five hours because I got a little bit lost. OK…really lost but that’s another story for another day. 

We decided to stop for the night in Muskogee Oklahoma (if you’re singing anything about being an Okie from Muskogee Oklahoma U.S.A. right now, you’re totally not alone) because that was the halfway point and we found a place we wanted to stay that was close to the highway. It took us about eight hours to reach Muskogee. We stopped a couple of times to use the bathroom and once to fill up the tank so I don’t think that was at all bad, considering we had an eight-year-old and a nine-year-old in the back seat.

Traveling to Camp No Limits Missouri

The spacious rear seat was probably my favorite feature of the Toyota Highlander

On the way back from Camp No Limits, we stopped and spent an hour in Uranus. I’ll pause while you laugh. Talking about Uranus (and saying it as many times in a sentence as possible) does not get old. If you want to know more about Uranus, check out this post to learn everything I know about Uranus. 

We drove to Durant, Oklahoma to spend the night, although my husband and I both wish we’d have gone a little bit further.We could have gone a little longer and stopped in McKinney, Texas but we’d already booked a room in Durant so that is where we stayed. We had a pretty short drive to get home the next day. The big thing I have to foot stomp about this driving route is to take the toll roads. I have a friend who does a lot of driving within Texas that consistently refuses to take the tolls because it’s a greater distance but the toll roads will save you so much time. I love 131 that goes around Austin. It’s a great road and almost no one takes it. You can zip along at 80 mph and get to where you’re going way faster. Besides, Austin traffic is a nightmare and if you’re not stopping there, don’t go through there. 

A little bit about the YMCA Trout Lodge and Camp Lakewood

Although this facility was home to Camp No Limits, anyone can come and stay here. You don’t even have to be members of the Y, which is a pretty cool deal. Located in rural Missouri in the Mark Twain National Forest, this camp is a place for all kinds of campers to relax, have fun, and connect. If you want to camp as a family but aren’t sure how to plan the activities (or don’t want to sleep in a tent, let’s be real) this is a place you’ll want to check out. This area is beautiful in the summer and the temperate climate was a welcome change from June in Texas. 

Traveling to Camp No Limits Missouri

Archery is just one of the things you can do at Camp Lakewood.

I’m absolutely in love with the outdoor swimming area and the lifeguards are great. I’m not always a fan of swimming in a lake but this one was great. There isn’t a pool on the property – the lake is it, so if you like to swim and the lack of pool bothers you, this might not be the place for you. 

I adored this lake. My son Kyle was afraid to swim much, though, so there’s that.

Traveling to Camp No Limits Missouri

They call this Zorb Ball. Do you think it looks fun?

There are cabins available and also rooms in the main lodge, which are similar to hotel rooms. We stayed in a room at the lodge which was about the same size as a standard hotel room. It had two double beds and a private bathroom as well as a lovely balcony overlooking the lake. What it didn’t have was a television (it’s camping, duh) but the entire camp had great WiFi. 

I didn’t take any pictures of our room but here’s a sweet one of the balcony:

Traveling to Camp No Limits Missouri

Sweet view, that is. One kid looks like he’s trying to choke the other kid. Sigh.

If you want more info about the camp, visit their website. Unfortunately, I don’t have any information on their rates because their website doesn’t include it but if you’re interested, give them a call. Most activities and three buffet meals a day are included and the food is pretty good. 

We had a great trip and I’d do Camp No Limits Missouri again next summer in a heartbeat, if the timing works out. It sure is a lot easier to get to the Texas camp but I was in love with this lake space and the beautiful summer weather in Missouri. Thank you again to our friends at Toyota for letting us take the 2019 Highlander along on our trip. If you want more info about the 2019 Toyota Highlander visit their website to check out your options. 

 

 


3 Comments

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Comments

  1. Monika says

    July 5, 2019 at 8:56 am

    Great article. Enjoyed reading about your journey. I was not aware of “Camp No Limits”. It is such a great idea to offer an opportunity to start new friendships with other kids. Looks like your family had lots of fun. 🙂

    Reply
  2. Alison Cleman says

    August 13, 2019 at 12:42 am

    Great blog, Looks like a great place to take kids for weekends.

    Reply
    • Jill says

      August 14, 2019 at 11:20 pm

      Alison, it def. is!

      Reply

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All About Jill

I'm a digital content creator and essayist who copes with parenting and most other situations with humor and snark. Just so you know, if this weren't the internet, I'd be smiling awkwardly and answering simple questions like "How are you today" with gems like "I like pockets."

I really do love pockets, though.

I spent 26 years in the USAF, which went by really, really fast. I'm very proud of my service but I'm loving my second act even more. Writing gives me the opportunity to flex my creative muscles and that's what makes me happy. Welcome.

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rippedjeansandbifocals

Freelance Writer & Travel Expert
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💜 Mom via birth & #adoption
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Jill Robbins
Happy Wednesday. 📷 taken at Wasserman Wranch n Happy Wednesday.

📷 taken at Wasserman Wranch near Alpine. Check my bio link for more information. 

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"Intelligence + Character. That is the goal of tru "Intelligence + Character. That is the goal of true education." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I saw a lot of posts about Martin Luther King yesterday when I was doing my scrolls through social media...on a day where I wasn't supposed to be ON social media, ahem. We hear and see a lot of Dr. King's words and quotes one day a year. So, instead of apologizing for posting this "a day late" I'll share that I'm challenging myself to remember some of these important words more than one day a year.

Our kids are watching us right now. I mean...they're always watching us but I think what they see in these times is more important than ever. Nuturing our kids' intelligence and character is more important than ever. My kids are 10 now - this picture is about four years old - and they are absorbing EVERYTHING we say, how we say it and even what we don't say. 

This mural is near the suspension bridge in downtown Waco. Waco is famous for all the Magnolia things but there's a lot there for families, too, and the park around the bridge is a great place to explore along the Brazos River. 

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Here’s something you’ve probably never seen be Here’s something you’ve probably never seen before: my bottom teeth.
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I always hide my crooked bottom teeth in pictures and I’m super self-conscious when I talk. So I did something about it.
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I wore braces as a kid and my top teeth are straight but my bottom teeth are shifting and one tooth is traveling into the back of my mouth and I have some crowding. My orthodontist said it’s very unusual to put braces on just half your mouth but my bite is still aligned so they didn’t have to put them on my top teeth - my wallet is thankful.
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Questions I’ve already been asked:
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1️⃣ At your age? Yes, at my age. I still care about my smile. 
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3️⃣ How long do you have to wear them?
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6-9 months.
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3️⃣ Do they hurt? 
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My teeth are sore and my mouth is tender but not to the Tylenol level so I guess the answer is “Not too much.”
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Other questions? Advice?
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#braceface #adultbraces
Little things can really be big - do you agree? M Little things can really be big - do you agree?

My husband gets up with our kids twice a week and does their breakfast and morning routine and takes them to school so I can sleep in. I don't laze away the morning in bed - it usually amounts to about an extra hour of sleep for me and a little more peace and quiet as I start my day. 

This probably seems like a little thing but this is huge for me. The mental benefits of not having to set my alarm on a schoolday is truly my love language. I would rather have sleep than flowers or presents. 

On those morning where my husband takes my kids to school, I will inevitably find the kitchen not "just so." There will be spills on the table or something that didn't get put away. I resist the urge to be sarcastic or to ask "Um, is there a reason we have four boxes of cereal just sitting on the counter?" or point out that it would take less than 30 seconds to wipe a tabletop or put a box back on the shelf. I resist saying stuff like "I guess if I want it done a certain way, I have to do it myself." I don't even say that to myself. 

My husband isn't "doing me a favor" by taking care of our kids. When I talked about being stressed and tired during an argument last year, he offered to take some things off my plate and giving me two mornings where I don't have to set an alarm was one of his ideas. It's part of the give and take of marriage and even though it makes me clench a little when I see spilled milk or stuff that hasn't put away, I appreciate having a partner who shares the load with me. 

My marriage definitely is not perfect and I'm in no position to give relationship advice. But for us, this one little thing is a really big deal. 

And, as I've recently discovered, a cereal box can sit on the counter for several days and the world doesn't explode. Who knew.

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Anyone else having massive “This time last year” moments?
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2020 started out so fine. We extended our kids’ winter break to take them on a Disney Cruise- no better reason than that, amiright- and I was excited about all the Disney Cruise blog posts I was going to write. Disney Cruises are (errr...were?) one of the most searched terms on my website and how a lot of people found me.
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Early 2020 was such a time of hope and light that pretty much everyone took for granted.
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You know...the good stuff.
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