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Missouri Botanical Gardens Garden Glow Event
The Missouri Botanical Gardens in St. Louis is a beautiful place to visit year-round. During the holiday season, the grounds are transformed into a winder wonderland filled with over a million lights on display. The pathway runs approximately one-mile long and starts at the Visitor’s Center. The display varies slightly each year with some crowd favorites such as the lighted tunnel remaining each year and some new features added. The pathway includes several firepits and concession stands along the way…
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The Best Christmas Lights around St. Louis
One our family’s favorite holiday traditions is to drive around and look at the colorful light displays. Some of these trips are through elaborate set ups in various parks with millions of lights. Other displays are put up by festive homeowners who go all out to celebrate the season. No matter which side of the river you are on, here is a list of some great spots to check out this year. *List has been updated with new events and…
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View Historic Ruins at Fort Belle Fontaine Park
Fort Belle Fontaine is a St. Louis County Park steeped in history. This site was established in 1805 as the United State’s first military installation west of the Mississippi River. The fort took its name from a nearby spring named “Belle Fontaine” which means “beautiful fountain” in French. Lewis and Clark camped near this site at the start of their famous expedition and also stayed at the newly established fort and trading post on their return in 1806. The fort served…
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Explore Turquoise Waters and History at Maramec Spring Park
Missouri is known for having an abundance of beautiful natural springs. One of these springs can be viewed 90 minutes west of St. Louis at Maramec Spring Park. An area of stunning beauty, the park contains the fifth largest spring in the state. An average of 100 million gallons of water flows from the spring daily into a pool of deep blue water. Park History After being told of the spring and iron deposits in the area by local Native…
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Best Hikes in Shawnee National Forest
The Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois is one of our favorite areas to explore. You forget anything you ever thought about Illinois’s flat landscape when you view the rugged bluffs, trickling creeks, and dramatic overlooks that can be found in Shawnee. Shawnee has an amazing amount of scenic areas and parks to explore. There are trails available for all ages and abilities from a quarter mile easy trek to a multi-day backpacking adventure. It’s hard to pick our favorite…
