Categories: Entertainment and Attractions
Nature in St. Louis
Author: Beth Custer and Jennifer R. Rolf
Outdoor activities and recreation are easy to find in St. Louis. Find places to go and things to do in the great outdoors, including hiking and biking trails, golf courses, and beautiful parks.
Hiking Trails
In its previous incarnation, the Katy Trail (800-334-6949) hiking and biking trail was the railbed for the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad. Now it serves thousands of visitors and tourists who love to hike and bike this mostly flat, crushed limestone trail. The trail begins at 1000 Riverside Drive in historic St. Charles, meanders through quaint villages, farmland, and vineyards, and ends 265 miles later in Clinton.
The 1100 acre Confluence Point State Park (636-940-3325) provides a unique view of the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. Outdoor interpretive exhibits give the history of the rivers and explain the role they played in the Lewis and Clark Expedition. A short trail takes visitors to the point where the two rivers merge. Admission is free, and the park is open during daylight hours.
Website: www.mostateparks.com/confluence
At the Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center ( 11715 Cragwold Rd., 314-301-1500) you can hike the paved trails through the woods; inside you can marvel at a working beehive or help your kids put on a puppet show. Events like "Fun with Animal Tracks" and "The Birds Need Your Help!" are held often. Admission to the Nature Center is free, and trails are open daily, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Golf Courses
Often voted one of the best places to play golf in the St. Louis area, Annbriar Golf Course (888-939-5191, 1524 Birdie Lane, Waterloo, Il,) is known for its lush greens and well-kept fairways.
Website: www.annbriar.com
Forest Park offers not one but two golf courses from which to tee off. The Norman K. Probstein Community Golf Course and Youth Learning Center (314-367-1337) consists of 27 holes recently redesigned by St. Louisan Hale Irwin. The holes are laid out as three courses that can be combined. Another golfing option found in Forest Park is the Triple-A Golf and Tennis Club (314-652-2433), a nine-hole course that also offers 15 tennis courts.
Crystal Springs Quarry Golf Club (314-344-4448, 12163 Prichard Farm Rd.) is considered to be a peaceful retreat for the avid golfer. The club features a large, tree-lined 18-hole course built in an old quarry.
Website: www.golfattheq.com
Nestled among rolling hills and natural streams, Quail Creek Championship Golf Club (314-487-1988, 6022 Wells Rd.) is ideal for the experienced golfer who likes a challenge - an 18-hole course presents a higher level of difficulty than other area courses.
Eagle Springs Golf Club (314-355-7277, 2575 Redman Road, in Veterans Memorial County Park) is a golf and instruction facility with 27 holes, including an 18-hole championship course. Rental clubs are available.
Website: www.eaglesprings.com
New Melle Lakes Golf Course (636-398-4653, 404 Foristell Rd., Wentzville) winds around a 29-acre lake and is surrounded by natural forestry. Lessons and group clinics are offered and rental clubs are available.
Website: www.newmellegolf.com
A Jack Nicklaus signature course is the center of attention at Stonewolf Golf Club (618-624-4653, 1195 Stonewolf Trail). There is also a full service restaurant, pro shop, and top-notch practice greens.
Website: www.stonewolfgolf.com
Natural Beauty
If enjoying the sights, scents, and sounds of nature is for you, St. Louis obliges with dozens of outdoor attractions. The wonders of botany await you at the country's oldest botanical park - Missouri Botanical Garden (800-642-8842, 4344 Shaw Blvd.). Beautifully landscaped grounds encompass a peaceful Japanese garden, an English woodland garden, the tropical environment inside the Climatron, and many other outdoor attractions.
Website: www.mobot.org
Over 500 acres larger than New York's Central Park, Forest Park offers visitors tons of attractions and endless outdoor recreation. At the Boathouse, park-goers can rent paddleboats or canoes, and row their way around Post-Dispatch Lake and its two islands before entering the gloriously restored Grand Basin at the base of Art Hill.
Website: www.forestparkboathouse.com
For more than 45 years St. Louisans and visitors alike have swooshed their way around the Steinberg Ice Skating Rink (314-361-0613). Due to a $1.4 million renovation, the Rink is at its best with a new rink surface, sound system, and landscaping. Located on the east side of Forest Park, the Rink is open from November-March.
Website: www.steinbergskatingrink.com
The Jewel Box (314-531-0080) floral conservatory was built in 1936, but has undertaken a $3.5 million renovation, thus enhancing its Art Deco glory. The 50-foot glass walls were repaired and polished to perfection, allowing the Jewel Box to re-live up to its name and shine brightly in the heart of Forest Park. Hundreds of beautiful plants and flowers grow under the bright tutelage of the sun beaming through the glass panes. Trees and water features adorn the exterior landscape of the Jewel Box, offering visitors a peaceful place to stroll.
Seeing the outdoor sights of Forest Park is even better on two wheels. City Cycling Tours (314-616-5724) conducts 10-mile guided and narrated bicycle tours that cover all the beautiful Park highlights. Bike tours average $30 per person, and comfortable bikes and helmets are provided for all sizes.
Website: www.citycyclingtours.com
Check out places of interest near Nature in St. Louis:
Confluence Point State Park
P.O. Box 67,
West Alton, MO 63386
This 1100 acre park provides a unique view of the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. Outdoor interpretive exhibits give the history of the rivers and explain the role they played in the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Free admission. Open during daylight hours.
Annbriar Golf Course
1524 Birdie Ln,
Waterloo, IL 62298
Rated the 7th best course in Illinois. One of Golfweek Magazine's top ten courses in Illinois. Also rated one of Top 100 courses by Golf for Women magazine. $59 weekdays and $69 weekends, includes cart.>
The Shrine Hotel
442 S. DeMazenod Dr. ,
Belleville, IL 62223
The Shrine Hotel is a full-service guest facility just 12 miles from Downtown St. Louis on the grounds of the scenic and breathtaking natural splendor of the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows.
National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows & The Shrine Hotel
442 S. Demazenod Dr.,
Belleville, IL 62223
Founded by the Oblates Catholic order in 1958, The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows is a facility with multiple purposes: a quiet place to bask in nature, a serene escape to consider existence, or just a nice stop on a tour of St. Louis.
Shrine Restaurant
442 S. Demazenod Dr.,
Belleville, IL 62223
A full service restaurant located on the tranquil grounds of the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows.
City Cycling Bike Tour
5510 Delor St.,
St. Louis, MO 63109
City Cycling Tours is a premier guided bike tour in the St. Louis area, exploring Forest Park with 18 stops and 10 miles of terrain covered.
Jewel Box
Forest Park,
St. Louis, MO 63110
Commune with the blossoms at an Art Deco floral conservatory with hundreds of flowers.
Katy Trail
320 1st St,
Boonville, MO 65233
If you are craving the outdoors, head for the Katy Trail, a 265-mile biking/hiking trail that begins in St. Charles and ends in Clinton, Missouri. This limestone trail was originally a railroad right-of-way that crossed most of Missouri. Today, the trail serves bikers, hikers, and equestrians, meandering through small towns and giving outdoor types the opportunity to enjoy a taste of small town America. See www.katytrailstatepark.com for more information on the trail.
Missouri Botanical Garden
4344 Shaw Blvd.,
St. Louis, MO 63110
Since first opening in 1859, the Missouri Botanical Garden has acquired contributions from artists, architects, and scientists. Now, secluded oases and photo-ops abound within its 79 acres of natural and architectural splendor. Whether visitors come to brush up on their gardening techniques or simply indulge in personal reflection, the Botanical Garden – also known as Shaw's Garden, after its founder – offers a refreshing natural refuge in the midst of the city.
National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows & The Shrine Hotel
442 S. Demazenod Dr.,
Belleville, IL 62223
Founded by the Oblates Catholic order in 1958, The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows is a facility with multiple purposes: a quiet place to bask in nature, a serene escape to consider existence, or just a nice stop on a tour of St. Louis.
Norman K. Probstein Golf Course
6141 Lagoon Drive,
St. Louis, MO
What's old is new again at the Norman K. Probstein Golf Course. The Forest Park Golf Course was built in 1913, but has been totally refurbished in recent years. Duffers of all skill levels can find 36 holes in Forest Park, 27 at the Norman K. Probstein Course, and nine at the Triple A Golf and Tennis Club. The three courses are par 35 and offer a satisfying selection of holes to keep your day on the links interesting. Golf rates range from $11-$18 for nine holes, and $18.50-$37 for 18 holes. For more information, call 314-367-1337.
Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
11715 Cragwold Rd.,
St. Louis, MO 63122
Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center is a serene section of forest carved from the Greater St. Louis Area, dedicated to unspoiled wildlife and communing the nature.
Steinberg Ice Skating Rink
400 Jefferson Dr, St Louis, MO,
St. Louis, MO
For more than 45 years St. Louisans and visitors alike have swooshed their way around the Steinberg Ice Skating Rink. Due to a $1.4 million renovation, the Rink is at its best with a new rink surface, sound system, and landscaping. Located on the east side of Forest Park, the Rink is open from November-March, when it turns into two lit, regulation size sand volleyball courts. In the winter adults skate for $6, children 12 & under for $5, while all can rent skates for an additional $2. For more information, call 314-361-0613 or visit www.steinbergskatingrink.com
National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows & The Shrine Hotel
442 S. Demazenod Dr.,
Belleville, IL 62223
Founded by the Oblates Catholic order in 1958, The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows is a facility with multiple purposes: a quiet place to bask in nature, a serene escape to consider existence, or just a nice stop on a tour of St. Louis.
