Friday, September 16, 2011
A visit to Cahokia Mounds is an excellent family trip that combines learning with a little exercise.
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. Cahokia Mounds is both an Illinois State Historic Site and a United Nations World Heritage Site. Admission is free, but a donation of $4 per adult and…
Friday, August 26, 2011
The Columbia Star Dinner Train lets you wine and dine while watching the countryside slide past your window.
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 Star operates year round, with a 7 p.m. dinner train on Friday and Saturday with a Sunday brunch train at 11:30 a.m. You can board the train 30 …
Friday, July 29, 2011
If you're tired of haunting the same old Route 66 landmarks in St. Louis, point your car west.
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 State Park. And if you want more? Just point your car southwest and follow Highway 44 out of town. About an hour’s drive from St. Louis County will …
Friday, May 27, 2011
Visit Purina Farms this summer for free family fun just outside St. Louis County.
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 but Monday, March through November, and is a destination all of its own. The Purina Event Center is on the same property and hosts indoor and outdoor …
