Missouri is full of long winding highways through wooded hills—the perfect places to see the annual autumn color show. You can pick almost any country lane or state park to see great trees, but it’s helpful to know when to plan your fall adventure. Roads designated as “scenic byways” by the U.S. Department of Transportation are a good bet for driving tours of the countryside. In Missouri, try the Great River Road, which follows the Mississippi River. Try a drive north along Hwy 79 and Hwy 61 which will take you to Clarksville and Hannibal. Or head south along Hwy 61 to St. Genevieve and make …

Before Europeans even dreamed of sailing across the Atlantic to the New World, a civilization of Native Americans dubbed the “Mississippians” lived in Illinois from around 700 A.D. to 1,400 A.D. We don’t know what they called themselves or their city of 20,000 souls, but the gigantic mounds of earth they left behind means they won’t be forgotten. The remnants of this ancient civilization is called Cahokia Mounds, named after a tribe of the Illiniwek who settled in the area long after the original mound builders vanished. It’s located in Collinsville, IL, about 30 miles from St. Louis County. …

You’ve seen Stone Hill wines in your local grocery store and maybe you’ve even had a few glasses of the winery's famous Norton red. But to understand what makes Stone Hill winery so interesting, you need to know a little history about the wine business in Missouri. Stone Hill Winery is located in Hermann, MO, about an hour's drive from St. Louis County. The town was settled by German immigrants back in 1837, and like other immigrants, they came to this part of the world looking for cheap land and a shot at the American dream. While many Germans settled in St. Louis and introduced us to the …

Drive to Piasa Park in Alton to see the famous rock-wall painting of Alton’s unofficial mascot, the Piasa Bird, a fearsome monster from Native American lore. The creature has a man’s face, deer antlers, a scale covered body and giant red wings. (For non-natives, Piasa is pronounced Pie-a-saw.) Alton is about 50 minutes from south St. Louis County. The original painting was one of several petroglyphs in the area, which may have dated back to the ancient Mississippians who built the Cahokia Mounds. What we know today of the original art comes from Father Jacques Marquette who in 1673 wrote …

The Columbia Star Dinner Train is a whistle blast from the past. The train offers fine railroad-style dining from days gone by, complete with friendly waitstaff, white linens, real china and candlelight. Train buffs would be interested to know that the engines are a pair of retired Great Northern Railroad diesels from 1948 and 1953, while the passenger cars are genuine Southern Pacific Pullmans from 1938. Meals are prepared right on the train, in a modern kitchen placed in a converted baggage car. The train can seat over 200 guests and can also be reserved for private excursions. The Columbia…

If you’re looking for farm-grown fun this weekend, take a trip to Eckert’s Country Store and Farm where you can pick fruit by the sack full. Late summer and fall are the best time to visit Eckert’s, when the orchards are bursting with peaches (June through August) or apples (September through October). It also grows pick-your-own strawberries, blackberries, pumpkins and Christmas trees. Check the ripening schedule here for a full calendar. Eckert’s Belleville farm is where Alvin Eckert opened his first roadside stand in 1910. Now it’s the heart of a thriving agritourism business where …

Modern treasure hunters armed with GPS units are combing the woods of Missouri right now. They hike the trails of state and local parks, often bushwhacking their way through the underbrush, looking for hidden boxes full of grungy plastic bobbles. Geocaching is a great way to mix technology with hiking and an excellent excuse to get people outside. You can plan a creative day trip by packing a picnic and seeking geocaches hidden in your favorite park or one you have not yet explored. Geocaching can be played by families, casual hikers or serious adventurers. If you’ve ever gone geocaching, you…

When it comes to downtown St. Louis tourist activities a lot of locals say, “been there, done that.” Really? When? Many native St. Louisians haven’t been up in the Arch or sailed the Becky Thatcher since they were kids. Here’s a list of favorite St. Louis tourist attractions that are worth visiting, even if you don’t have out-of-town guests in tow. The Gateway Arch. Ok, maybe you swore that you’d never stuff yourself into that cramped little capsule for the ride to the top again. But have you been to the Malcolm Martin Memorial Parkviewing platform on the other side of the river? It’s right …

If you’re a native of St. Louis you’re probably familiar with the ghost of Route 66 as it wanders through town. The famed Mother Road was slowly replaced by bigger and better highways—most notably in our area by Interstate 44. In 1985, it was officially removed from the U.S. Highway system. Retracing Route 66 is a fun way to spend an afternoon in St. Louis. You can visit the old road by taking a trip to Ted Drews, check out what’s left of the Coral Courts at the Museum of Transportation or take a slightly eerie bike ride around the abandon town of Times Beach, which is now called the Route 66…

St. Charles is very proud of its past and has preserved a chunk of old Main Street just as it was when Daniel Boone might have dropped in for a visit. Historic St. Charles is great day trip whether you're wanting a history field trip for the kids, a shopping trip with the girls, or a romantic date with your special someone. First Capitol Building: St. Charles is home to Missouri’s first capitol building, a plain brick and timber building on Main Street where the House and Senate met while Jefferson City was being constructed. For several years the state government ran in a few rooms on the …

Ever want to get nose to beak with our national bird? Then head down to the World Bird Sanctuary in Valley Park to see Bald Eagles, hawks, vultures, owls and all sorts of other deadly feathered creatures. One of the sanctuary’s missions is to help injured birds of prey and return them back to the wild. Unfortunately, not all the birds that come through their doors are able to make full recoveries and become residents. These are the birds you’ll find on display or in educational programs the WBS staff puts on locally and around the country. For example, Liberty the Bald Eagle was hit by a car …

Missouri is home to several wine regions, where stands of grapes sprout up between hay fields and cow pastures. Ste. Genevieve County is one of these regions, home to several family wineries on the “Route du Vin.” The Route du Vin, named for the region's French heritage, starts in the town of Ste. Genevieve and stretches west all the way to Farmington. Ste. Genevieve is about 50 miles south of Arnold down Hwy. 55. You can pick out a few wineries to visit or make a weekend of it. There are few precautions to take when planning a drive on the Route du Vin. Most of the wineries are connected by …

Kimmswick is a mere shadow of its former self, but what an interesting shadow. The town was founded 150 years ago and dozens of its oldest buildings have been restored into an eccentric shopping district. It’s also the home of the Blue Owl, a bakery and restaurant nationally famous for its towering pie. Kimmswick is about seven miles south of Arnold, off Hwy 61-67, in Jefferson County. It’s that same highway that almost killed this river town years ago. Kimmswick once thrived on traffic from steamboats that traveled up and down the Mississippi and from the Iron Mountain Railway, which both …

Meramec State Park in Sullivan, MO has everything you need for a day trip or weekend getaway in the woods: cheap camping rates, canoes to rent and miles of trails to explore. It also has something other parks don’t have: 49 caves. Meramec State Park is 42 miles from Eureka, which is an easy 45-minute drive down Interstate 44. The park has a day-use area with four pavilions that can be rented for special events or can be enjoyed on a first-come, first-served basis. The camping area, located far from the main entrance, has more than 200 camping sites for basic, electric and RV campers. The …

Where can you see a summer blockbuster in your lawn chair while drinking an icy cold brew and munching on pizza, for ten dollars a ticket? No, we’re not talking about your backyard. We’re talking about the last drive-in theater in the St. Louis Metro area—the Skyview Drive-In in Belleville, IL. The Skyview Theater is 32 miles, or 40 minutes, from Fenton. It is located at 5700 North Belt West in Belleville. The Skyview opened its doors way back in the summer of 1949 when drive-ins were commonplace. The theater still has its original projection booth, and we suspect, the original bathrooms. The…

Purina Farms is fun day trip for dog-loving families, especially those with young children. The demonstration farm is run by Nestle-Purina, which has its North American headquarters in St. Louis. It’s a great place to take little ones to learn about pets and farm animals. The 300-acre farm is located in Gray Summit, about 14 miles west of Eureka. There are two distinct areas of the farm: the Visitor’s Center and the new Purina Event Center, which opened in 2010. Purina Farms has been offering tours since 1926 and it attracts an average of 135,000 visitors a year. The farm is open every day …

Elephant Rocks State Park is a natural playground for grown-ups and kids alike. You can climb the giant boulders, crawl under some of them and explore the maze-like crevices between. Climb the rocks at your own risk--and keep an eye on the kids—because there's no rubber safety mat on nature's playgrounds. Elephant Rocks is a favorite day trip for St. Louis hikers and nature seekers. The park is located about 80 miles south of St. Louis County and it takes around an hour and a half to drive there, depending on your starting point and which highway you take. The best route is by way of Hwy 67 (…

Ghost hunting isn’t just for Halloween anymore. If you ever wanted to see real life “paranormal activity” you need to visit to one of the metro area’s lesser known haunted places, the Morse Mill Hotel. And you should do it quick, before this 140-year-old Jefferson County mansion is transformed from a ramshackle derelict into a charming French-Colonial bed and breakfast. The hotel is located about 30 minutes from Arnold in Morse Mill. Some of the hotel’s history has been lost over time, but we know that John Morse built his home and the mill in the 1870s. He also built the nearby iron bridge …

Katy Trail State Park is a bike-and-hike trail that runs more than 230 miles from St. Charles west to Clinton, MO and covers almost the whole width of Missouri. You don’t have to be a long distance cyclist to enjoy the trail, because the 27-mile stretch between St. Charles and Augusta have multiple trail heads, making it incredibly accessible to short distance users. This section of the Katy also runs through Missouri wine country with seven wineries (and two breweries) located close to the trail. A few more wineries are along Hwy. 94, the road that parallels the Katy. The hard-packed gravel …

Take a drive to Illinois and see where Lewis and Clark really started their great westward expedition. The Lewis and Clark Confluence Tower and the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site are both located in Hartford, IL and when visited together are well worth the drive. The Confluence Tower stands 180 feet tall and overlooks the spot where the Mississippi and Missouri rivers meet. The nearby historic site has a museum and replica of Camp Dubois, where Lewis and Clark spent the winter before sailing down the Missouri River.Hartford is less than an hour’s drive from west St. Louis County. The two…