Growing up, going for a nature hike often meant a visit to Grafton, Illinois to walk the trails of Pere Marquette. I always felt so proud of myself for climbing the bluffs that characterize the Grafton area and later felt regret when as a day camp counselor I dragged a dozen 5-12 year olds on four miles of mostly uphill climbing… Anyway, now my … Continue reading Pere Marquette State Park
In this post we’re going to take a little detour about 40 minutes from downtown, to Southern Illinois! I now live close to St. Louis proper, but I grew up on the Southern Illinois side with the wonders of Sacred Grounds, Lotawata Creek, and King Louie’s. All of these establishments are worth a jaunt across the river. SACRED GROUNDS Sacred Grounds, true to it’s name, … Continue reading Nostalgic Southern Illinois Eats
Every year around mid-September my family starts thinking about Eckert’s. If you’re not from St. Louis, the name Eckert’s might not mean much, but for my family it means fall, apple crisp, and hayrides! Eckert’s is a family owned orchard with several locations. My family most often visits the Belleville, Illinois location, about 25 minutes from downtown St. Louis, but there also locations in Grafton, … Continue reading Eckert’s
Few places in the St. Louis area transport you back in time like St. Charles’s Historic Main Street. Right off the Missouri river, Main Street was an important trading stop that helped St. Charles become the Missouri state capital from 1821-1826. Most of the houses on Main Street date from the German influx in the early 1900s and, through preservation efforts, many have been converted … Continue reading A Day Out in Historic St. Charles
When we want a day trip or even a short weekend, our go-to is Columbia, Missouri. Now I will admit my husband and I are a little nostalgic towards this college town as our undergrad was a half hour from Columbia and we lived in the city for two years while my husband was earning his masters at Mizzou. Even so, if you want a … Continue reading Columbia Day Trip
This Mom's St. Louis 