Most of the time when Jefferson County residents or families plan a “staycation,” the target area to visit is St. Louis with its world-renowned national monument and activities attracting tourists from hundreds or thousands of miles away.
The Gateway Arch and its accompanying museum, the historic Old Courthouse and places like the free St. Louis Zoo in Forest Park are always worth a visit. Dining options in The Hill neighborhood are just an appetizer for all the fine food establishments available in a major metropolis. St. Louis County is dotted with parks for hiking or other outdoor adventures.
But earlier this fall we headed south for a mini-excursion and found plenty of fun and good food less than an hour from home. With the onset of autumn, worthwhile destinations are available for a Sunday drive or a day in the woods.
We stayed two nights at the Timber Creek Resort by Holiday Inn on Highway 67 south of Festus and east of
De Soto. The amenities and the rates make it a terrific place to call base camp. I can’t count the number of times I have driven past the entrance and wondered, “what exactly is on the other side of that hill?” The answer is much more than you might imagine.
Our accommodations included a two-bedroom, two-bath suite with a full kitchen, dining table and living room, but the real attractions were outside. A large lake offers fishing and paddleboat or kayak rentals. The five-hole, par 3 golf course was well maintained, and the miniature golf course was challenging but fun. Basketball and tennis courts were available, along with a full game room. The pool was closed for the season, but it was easy to see it being a popular spot for all ages during the heat of summer. A walking trail circles the big lake, and an additional nature trail snakes through the hardwood forest.
While there, the focus of our day trips was mostly food and drinks, but we did visit a few good places to walk the calories off. We started by going south on Hwy. 61 to Bloomsdale for the first recommended pit stop. The Kozy Kitchen and Dew Drop Inn, two restaurants in one building, offer great menus of hearty, home-style cooking.
For hikers, the nearby Magnolia Hollow Conservation Area provides some relatively easy trails, but no public restrooms – so plan accordingly before ordering one more cup of coffee or another cold drink at the Kozy or Dew Drop.
Continuing south on Hwy. 61, historic Ste. Genevieve has some great shops and restored structures you can visit on a walking tour of the town. We went further south for dinner at Mary Jane’s Burgers and Brews on Jackson St. in downtown Perryville. With dozens of sandwich options and a wall full of beer taps, you’ll find flavors for everyone’s palate. Be sure to get the smoked ketchup with your french fries.
On day two, we went south from Timber Creek on Hwy. 67 to the Old 102 Tap House in downtown Farmington. In addition to its specialty wood-fired pizza – with a build-your-own option – the menu includes pasta, sandwiches, and a flash fried buffalo cauliflower appetizer that by itself is worth the drive.
A walk in the woods is nearly a requirement following pizza and appetizers, and St. Francois State Park is just the place for it. The two hiking trails are each about three miles long and a full workout. Mooner’s Hollow has 200 feet of elevation change throughout the hike. The Swimming Deer Trail only changes altitude by 100 feet, but it goes up and downhill multiple times.
All that walking deserves a perfect relaxation spot. Just north of St. Francois State Park off Hwy. 67, State Route Y leads to the hamlet of French Village near Goose Creek Lake. On the hill overlooking a wide valley, the Terrace at French Village offers a spectacular sunset view on Friday evenings, with live music all weekend. With sunsets happening earlier as winter nears, the 5 p.m. closing times can provide a spectacular show on Saturdays and Sundays, too.
Autumn is an outstanding time for a drive down Hwys. 61 or 67 to catch a great fall leaf show you wouldn’t see heading to St. Louis. The roads lead to plenty of destinations to treat yourself close to home.
John Winkelman has been writing about outdoors news and issues in Jefferson County for more than 30 years and is the Associate Editor for Outdoor Guide Magazine. If you have story ideas for the Leader outdoor news page, e-mail ogmjohnw@aol.com, and you can find more outdoor news and updates at johnjwink.com.