It’s always a relief when a summer holiday hits. Finally, a little time to unwind. But after the relief sets in, what do you do? And if you love the outdoors, where do you go?

There are more options around Kansas City than we can list here. And you probably have some personal faves. But if you don’t – or if you’re looking for new ideas, we offer five of our faves for the Fourth of July weekend.

We had a great response to our first post about shady walks in Greater KC. But there are many more to list. And of course we want to cover as wide of a geographic territory as we can. With that in mind, we hope you can catch a break from the heat on some of these shaded hikes in Kansas City.

Summer in Kansas City can be glorious, but it can also be sweltering. What are the area’s best shaded hikes? Read on to find out.

Historic Downtown Pleasant Hill, Mo., is home to a seasonal Farmer’s Market, century old (and older) buildings, restaurants, boutiques and a train depot. For hikers, it’s the location of two trailheads. A visit to Pleasant Hill is an easy day outing that’s near all points in Kansas City.

Waterfalls are fairly infrequent in the Kansas City area – especially any that are more than a foot or two high. That’s what’s unique about Lake Olathe Falls on Cedar Creek. It drops at least six feet and rumbles after an abundance of rain. It’s also one of the easier falls to reach in Kansas City.

Is Northern Missouri at the top of your hiking list? Or is it even on it? This sparsely populated area is characterized by rolling prairie, pockets of preserved forest and even some steep hills. When everyone else is heading south to the Ozarks, the north is open for the rest of us to experience the quiet solitude of nature. Let’s seize the day!

Primitive camping is much more common in areas with vast acres of public land than it is in the Kansas City area. Yet, if this is your goal, it can happen. Here are highlights of a few places where you can experience true primitive camping within a few hours’ drive.

While Kansas City is short on mountains and beaches, we’re home to an abundance of stunning wildflowers. They populate our prairies and forests. Here are some of the best locations to view them in their natural environment.

Columbia, Mo., is synonymous with all things MU. It’s a pilgrimage site of sorts for graduates, almost graduates and people who love the college and sports scene.

But there’s also a natural side of the Columbia area that rivals parts of the Ozarks in its scenic beauty. In addition, all the trails listed here are within one hour of the city, making it one of the state’s most concentrated series of hiking opportunities.

Want to experience the epicenter of Missouri’s wild and rugged beauty? It’s found in the Arcadia Valley in the state’s remote southeast. The ancient St. Francois Mountains, made of granite, are the foundation of the area’s spectacular landscape of water and rock. Three state parks are located within 10 miles of each other near the town of Ironton.

Kansas City Hiker lists nine trail systems in Lawrence and Douglas County (but of course there are many more). The area is a great location for day trips because it’s close to Kansas City and has plenty of creature comforts to sustain you before and after hiking. All the amenities and weirdness of a college town are nearby.

Warsaw, Mo., has quietly distinguished itself as a standout hiking location. This Central Missouri lake community doesn’t get all the hubbub of our state’s better-known lakes. And that’s great for those of us who prefer nature and serenity.

Don’t let ticks and other “no-see-ums” keep you indoors in Greater Kansas City. By making the right preparations, you can enjoy nature without complications from ticks and other inspect bites.

Should you hike solo or with a group? Yes! While some only want the wind as company, others wouldn’t think of hiking without a group. Most of us fall somewhere in the middle. What are some factors to consider when deciding whether to go alone or with hiking buddies?

The 117-mile Flint Hills Trail takes hikers and bikers through Kansas’ rural, eclectic backyard. Crumbling history, stunning views, monuments to Native Americans and more are all waiting to be discovered.

First it snows, then freezes. Then it thaws and everything turns to slush. Most natural surface trails will either be closed or turn to a sea of slop. What’s a hiker to do? While there’s no perfect solution, some trails offer viable options even in the sloppiest of winter weather.

Apart from remote destinations in the Ozarks, the Columbia, Mo., area features one of the state’s most concentrated series of scenic hiking areas. This may indeed be a well-kept secret.

Winter hiking is paradoxical. It’s cold … yet invigorating. The landscape is mostly brown, yet it reveals horizons usually blocked by green foliage. When snow is on the ground, contrasts are vivid: a fox, herd of bison and numerous birds leaped to the forefront of my vision. All of these phenomena were apparent as I hiked on the Flint Hills Trail at Council Grove and at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.

Most hikers are friendly, but are in pursuit of solitude and lonely places. Using data from state and national parks, we've ranked the quietest and busiest state parks for Missouri and Kansas, as well as national parks.

Winter hiking has many advantages: no bugs, no poison ivy and no heat exhaustion. Not only that, when leaves fall, new horizons emerge. There’s also the wonder of snow-covered landscapes, icicles and winter wildlife. But where is the best place to go? Here are our top three winter hiking destinations in Missouri and Kansas.