MISSOURI

NEW INFORMATION:

As we revisit areas listed in our books, we find new places to shout about – especially new lodging and dining. In a recent visit, we landed in historic downtown St. Charles, MO, just northwest of St. Louis. We spent almost all our time on Main Street. There are so many little shops to browse through and cafes to eat at. Park once, walk for hours. Here’s some of the things we explored:

NE – Embassy Suites Hotel St.Louis-St.Charles – Two Convention Center Plaza, Saint Charles, MO 63303
Reservations: http://embassysuites.hilton.com or 1-800-EMBASSY. Rates: $141.00 plus. Each suite is beautifully decorated with a private bedroom and spacious living room. All suites are fully equipped with two televisions, a refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, two telephones with data ports, high-speed Internet access and a well-lit dining/work table. Price also includes cooked-to-order breakfast and nightly manager’s reception.

NE – Llywelyn’s – 100 North Main Street. www.llywelynspub.com. Historic area. Kids Menu includes: Grilled Cheese, Mac & Cheese, Mini Corndogs, Two Mini Burgers, Chicken Tenders, Pizza, or Kids Fish. All are served with a kids drink (excluding Fitz’s) Fries, chips, fruit cup, or veggie sticks and Oreos for $5.49. Parents, you must try Welsh Potato Chips or Welsh Rarebit to start, flatbreads w/Guinness for lunch or traditional Irish fare of Bangers & Mashed, Shepherds Pie or Irish Stew for a filling dinner.

NE – Little Hills Restaurant – 501 South Main Street. www.littlehillswinery.com. Wait until you see their Children’s Menu: typical chicken tenders, grilled cheese, mac and cheese, burgers but also pot roast or a chicken tender bowl with mashed potatoes and corn. Avg. $5.00-$6.00. Special items for adults are highlighted on the main menu – including specialty steak and chicken dishes plus dinner “bowls.”

Page 69 – 200 south block – First Capitol. You can just go in a look around the interpretive center floors for free or pay a small fee and tour the whole complex with detailed stories. Page 71 – 900 south block – Lewis and Clark Boat House & Nature Center State Park (Riverside Drive on the water). When you pay the $2.00-$4.00 admission be sure to get the kids activity sheet to complete for a prize. Inside the museum kids will snoop out the dress up clothes, the bullboat? (a small round boat covered with the skin of one buffalo bull), and the Missouri River water table. Have them look for a journal and an old-fashioned laptop – a lap desk.

Campers?

Sundermeier RV Park (www.sundermeierrvpark.com) may be the haven near the big city you were looking for. A wonderful low cost base to day trip from, Sundermeier park has the typical amenities for rv campers but also an on-site restaurant, wi-fi, cable, cottages to rent, a lovely city park with a playground and basketball court across the street, and the Katy Trail State Park is adjacent. The deluxe cottages have a fireplace, full kitchen, bathroom, living room, bedroom and porch. there are also sleeping cottages with just a bathroom and shower. All cottages are air conditioned and heated. Open year round.

Want 500 more ideas for discovering the adventuresome state of MISSOURI? Take a look at KIDS LOVE MISSOURI.