Right along highway 44 in Gray Summit, Missouri is the Shaw Nature Reserve that is a part of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Shaw Nature Reserve is about 40 minutes west of St. Louis, making it a great way to get out of the city and enjoy nature. The reserve focuses on native plants and wildlife, providing a great way to experience what the region looked like before massive development. The park is situated along the Meramec River and provides lovely views of the Ozark Mountains, as well as the wetlands, glades, forests, rivers, lakes, and prairie that are in the park.

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There is a road that loops throughout the reserve, providing a lovely scenic drive. Off of the road there are trails, historic buildings, gardens, and a visitor center. Visitors can hike, bike, picnic, look for critters, and take a variety of classes offered by the reserve to learn more about plants. When we visited we drove along the loop and walked on a couple of the trails, as well as stopped by the Whitmire Wildflower Garden and a couple of the historic buildings. We visited on a weekday in Spring around mid-morning and there were only a couple people there, allowing us to really explore the reserve on our own. Since it was spring, we were able to see an array of beautiful flowers and watched a spring rain shower roll, which was lovely!