Things to do around the farmhouse in Carroll County, Missouri

The farmhouse sits in the countryside near Bogard, in Carroll County. Carrollton, the county seat, is the closest town for supplies and a stroll around the square. Chillicothe is a short drive for murals and small-town history. Here’s what’s worth a visit nearby. Hours and event dates change, so check the sources at the bottom before you go.

How far things are from the farmhouse

• Carrollton: about 15 minutes
• Chillicothe: about 30 minutes
• Bunch Hollow, Little Compton Lake, Swan Lake and Fahrmeier Family Vineyards: 45 minutes or less
• Kansas City and Kansas City International Airport (MCI): about 1.5 hours

Things to do in Carrollton, MO

Carrollton has groceries, gas and essentials. Most guests cook in, so it’s worth stocking up on the way.

Around the square

• River Bottoms Brewing: a brewery on the square. We’ve been.
• Main Street Restaurant: a breakfast spot in Carrollton.
• Shirley’s Shoes & Boots: men’s and women’s clothing, footwear, accessories and gifts.

First Friday

First Friday is a street event with music on the Carrollton square, held spring through fall.

Carroll County Historical Museum

The museum on North Mason Street has displays on early Carroll County life: homes, schools, churches, farms and shops. It’s open seasonally.

Chillicothe: murals and the Home of Sliced Bread

• Downtown murals: more than two dozen large outdoor murals, with a self-guided walking tour.
• Home of Sliced Bread: the first commercially sliced bread was sold in Chillicothe in 1928, and the town has a welcome center that tells the story.
• Main Street events: Main Street Chillicothe runs seasonal events downtown, such as a Wine Walk and a Fall Brew Crawl.
• Chautauqua in the Park: a yearly September festival at Simpson Park.
• Bigger supply runs: Chillicothe has a Walmart Supercenter.

Nature near Carroll County

• Bunch Hollow Conservation Area: about 10 miles north of Carrollton. We’ve been, and it has its own section in our nature and outdoors guide.
• Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge, near Sumner: open in daylight hours, with an observation tower. In winter, ducks, geese and bald eagles are easy to spot around open water. The refuge interior is closed to the public from the end of October until the first Saturday of March to protect the birds, so check the refuge’s visitor page before you go.

At the farmhouse itself, there’s the stocked fishing pond (children must be supervised near the water), plenty of wildlife, and a quiet, private setting with no houses in sight.

A winery day trip

For an afternoon out, Fahrmeier Family Vineyards in Lexington pours its wines in a restored 1930s-era tasting barn. It’s 45 minutes or less from the farmhouse.