Hannibal Road Trip Adventure with Dogs Photos

Outside the Hannibal, MO tourism office

Scooter, Betsy, and Odette with Your's Truly as we make a pit stop at the Madison Covered Bridge. Three ladies, originally from Hannibal, were there celebrating the life of their mother. They were eating all her favorites, corn Bugles, easy cheese, Chez-Its, Coca-cola and sherry. One of them was kind enough to snap this.

Placid Mark Twain lake

For a $10 donation to the Mark Twain house, visitors can scribble on the whitewashed fence.

The law office of Mark Twain's father, which inspired many episodes in Twain's literature

Mark Twain's boyhood home

This park is at the base of the climb to the lighthouse. If you make it all the way to the top, a souvenir shop next to this statue will provide you with a commemorative card verifying that you accomplished the feat. The statue is an artist's interpretation of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.

Lover's Leap is pretty, but its beauty is marred by the fence I'm standing in front of in this pic. Hannibal needs to come up with a less intrusive solution.

View of Hannibal, Missouri from Lover's Leap. The cliffside can be seen foreground left.

Hannibal Road Trip Adventure with Dogs

Americans feel sentimental about Hannibal Missouri before we even set foot in town. Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, Becky Thatcher, Injun Joe, and Jim are longtime fixtures in our imagination.

Right alongside them is their creator, Mark Twain, whose wit and wisdom took root in my homebase of San Francisco for a time.

All the sites in Hannibal are outdoor attractions. If you want to pop into the ice cream store for a scoop or see the Tom Sawyer Diaoramas, the experience is there for you. Most of your time, however, you will be hiking to the Lighthouse, exploring the caves, or strolling Main Street downtown.

Between Columbia and Hannibal, my dog charges enjoy a variety of rest stops.

Mark Twain Lake is tranquil and good for hearing your bark echo.

The covered bridge in Madison is recommended particularly if there are a trio of women celebrating the birthday of their deceased mother and they offer you cheese crackers.

In Hannibal, the statue of Tom Sawyer is beloved of Betsy, Odette and Scooter as is the marker for the old jail. Both have lots of shady trees to duck and play under.

Groomingdales on Main Street is the primary sniffing area. A broad variety of high end dog fashions, toys, and treats are available inside if your wallet is willing.

On the highway out of town, Lover’s Leap extends over the town’s canopy. The effect is diminished by an awkward fence. While Hannibal doesn’t deserve the liability of people jumping from that promontory, there has to be a more attractive solution.

The picnic area there was nice for a few laps of water. The dogs aren’t used to being up that high above anything other than the floor. Vertical excitement like that appeals to Betsy most.

Photos to follow in the next post.

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