3 Weekend Escapes Within 100 Miles of St. Louis, Missouri

Planning vacations can be daunting with trying to pick a good hotel, obtain plane and attraction tickets, having to arrange accommodations for pets, and more can all just be too taxing for some people needing to get away from the day-to-day grind of everyday life. A good alternative is to take a three or even four-day weekend trip. I you live in or near the St. Louis, Missouri area, there are three excellent cities that make weekend excapes fun and memorable, with St. Louis itself being top on the list.

St. Louis, Missouri

Strategically located hotels, exciting attractions and the Metrolink makes St. Louis an excellent place for year-round weekend escapes. St. Louis offers many comfortable hotels ranging in rates from less than $100.00 to well over $500.00 a night. Some family attractions in the area are free such as the St. Louis Zoo and the St. Louis Science Center, while some charge a fee, like Six Flags Over Mid-America with a cost of $31.00 for online tickets. However, almost all the hotels and attractions offer discounts.

Every summer my grandchildren and I take a weekend trip to Eureka, Missouri, just outside the city of St. Louis. We stay at the Days Inn at Six Flags where the rooms are adequate with a microwave and small refrigerator, and there is a pool and game room for the kids. We spend a Saturday at Six Flags, stay at the hotel that night, and then go to the zoo on Sunday. The grandchildren love it. Other attractions in St. Louis are the Gateway Arch, historic Laclede's Landing and Soulard's Farmers Market, where you can purchase fresh locally grown produce. Any time is a good time for a weekend getaway to St. Louis. However, summer would probably be best if you want to visit the zoo or Six Flags.

St. Charles, Missouri

On the outskirts of St. Louis lies the historic town of St. Charles, Missouri, which is located on the banks of the Meramec River. The buildings on the town's historic Main Street date back over 200 years and are now home to antique shops, restaurants and bed and breakfasts. The place to stay on your weekend escape to this quaint town is at one of the local bed and breakfasts, which range in price from $110 to $150 a night. Located right in the heart of the historic district, these establishments are within walking distance of Figuero's Coffee and Gourmet shop, which offers specialty blend coffees and teas. I love their tea blends of China Black, Black Currant, and Peppermint, and stock up whenever I am there. The tea is loose leaf and can be purchased in as small amounts of a one-fourth pound.

The St. Charles visitor's center is manned by knowledgeable staff who can answer all your questions about the area. The center also provides maps and guides to help you find your way and to not miss any historic sites. It even has preloaded iPods you can use for the 90 minute walking tours. Although anytime is good to visit St. Charles, I love to go when they have their Festival of the Little Hills, which is held in mid August. This free three-day event features craft stands, food, musicians, activities for children, and much more.

Springfield, Illinois

Less than 100 miles north of St. Louis is Springfield, Illinois, home of our 16^th president, Abraham Lincoln. Springfield is a great place for a weekend escape, especially if you like history. In the center of Springfield is a two-block section named the Lincoln Neighborhood where Lincoln's home is located along with other homes from that period. Free guided tours given by park rangers are offered, you only need to acquire a free tour ticket at the visitor information desk located at the visitor center at the entrance to the neighborhood.

Not far from the Lincoln home is the new Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. The museum charges an entrance fee of $10 for adults, ages 16 to 62, $7 for those over 62 years old, and $4 for youths five to 15. The library is free. When we visited the library last fall, we were able to view George Washington's Bible. It was on display for one day only from the Smithsonian Institute.

There are many hotels in the Springfield area offering great accommodations, at fees ranging in price from under $100 to well over that. Most of the hotels provide a map of the Springfield area to help visitors get around easier. The best time to visit Springfield, Illinois is in the summer. During the spring and fall, these historic sites are filled with schoolchildren and it may be hard to acquire tickets.

Sources: Pesonal Experience, www.alplm.org, www.festivalofthelittlehills.com, www.sixflags.com