In the Water
With River Country only a short drive from St. Louis, locals get out there a lot. On any given weekend, it’s hard not to find someone going on a float trip, camping, fishing, biking or day-tripping. Generations of families return to their favorite spots over the years and explore new ones together.
The Meramec, Huzzah (pronounced HOO-zah), Current and Jacks Fork Rivers (all spring-fed) are summer hubs for friend and family float trips. St. Charles County just opened the Dardenne Creek Blueway — the only Blueway in the state and the first of several water trails planned for the area. And today, many groups like Big Muddy Adventures are working to make St. Louis a go-to place for big river fun.
For the more adventurous, Missouri boasts the epic MR340, a three-day, 340-mile annual canoe race along the Missouri River from Kansas City to St. Louis, as well as Race to the Dome that ends near the state capital in Jefferson City.
Near the Banks
For many who grew up in St. Louis, fishing is a rite of passage. In addition to a few spots in the metropolitan area, the nearby River Country is full of them. And the rainbow trout and smallmouth bass are waiting.
When it comes to camping, 41 state parks and historic sites offer more than 3,500 campsites that range from secluded walk-in sites to sites with hookups for water, sewer and electrical service.
There are over 1,100 hiking trails in the state, many very close to St. Louis. If wheels are more your speed, biking the 240-mile long Katy Trail will pull you through beautiful scenery including picturesque farmland and quaint rural towns. Caving experiences take you inside the Earth for a new perspective and cooler temperatures.
Historic Towns and Highways
Whether you’re on the Katy Trail cycling through or just want to check out a nearby town with a history, you’re a short drive from the historic river towns of Washington, St. Charles, Ste. Genevieve in Missouri and Alton on the Illinois side of the Mississippi.
All This and Wine Country Too
Within an hour of St. Louis, people like to spend a Saturday sipping. With tours through the wineries in the historic German towns of Augusta, Herman, and more, it’s a day of trying the Norton grape (America’s oldest grape) in as many ways as you can. With over 125 wineries, there’s no shortage of festivals and scenic tasting opportunities.