• Day Trip,  Illinois,  Missouri,  St. Louis

    7 Great St. Louis Fall Color Drives

    October is a beautiful month for a road trip from St. Louis. The leaves typically peak from mid through late October in the areas outside of the city. If you are looking to get out of town and do some leaf peeping, here are 7 great St. Louis fall color drives. 1. Great River Road This epic scenic drive is amazing no matter the season, but the road really puts on a show in fall. Start the drive with a…

  • Day Trip,  Hiking,  Kids,  Missouri,  St. Louis

    Take a Cave Adventure at Meramec State Park

    An easy hour drive down I-44 from St. Louis lies Meramec State Park. This lovely Missouri State Park is located along the scenic Meramec River. The park’s claim to fame is that it is the location of over 40 known caves, more than any other park in the state. Our family has enjoyed visiting over the years to hike Meramec State Park’s kid-friendly trails full of interesting natural features. Below is a round up of our favorite trails to explore…

  • Hikes,  Illinois,  Kids,  St. Louis

    Hiking Illinois’s White Rock Nature Preserve

    If you are looking for an Illinois hike big on views and low on crowds, check out White Rock Nature Preserve. Located near the more popular Salt Lick Point Reserve, White Rock is less well known and offers a quieter experience. The trails at White Rock also stay further back from steep bluff edges for those with young children or a fear of heights. History of White Rock Preserve During the Great Depression, miners cut and hauled limestone from the…

  • Hikes,  Kids,  Museums,  Playgrounds,  St. Louis

    Ultimate St. Louis Summer Fun List

    *Updated for 2025 The St. Louis are has so many great attractions and activities to make memories all summer long. If you are trying to find the very best playgrounds, hikes, museums, and more to keep your kids happy and entertained this summer, then this post is for you! Scroll on down to find family fun for a variety of categories whether you are looking for water fun or to just stay cool indoors. Find a list of clickable links…

  • Hikes,  Kids,  Missouri,  St. Louis

    Rockwoods Reservation Lime Kiln Trail

    Rockwoods Reservation is a great spot to hike not far from St. Louis. Several different trails wind through this rocky and wooded spot. The Trail Amoung the Trees is probably my favorite trail here, especially in fall. We recently tried out the more challenging Lime Kiln trail, and found it to be a fun and scenic hike as well. Lime Kiln Loop Distance: 3.25 mile loop Difficulty: 4/5 This is known as a good local trail for training. There are some…