
About a year ago, my family and I moved from St. Louis to the Metro East, or as I lovingly call it, the Dark Side.
I have come to the conclusion that St. Louisans are nervous about making that scary, scary trek across the Poplar Street Bridge for three reasons:
Edwardsville
Smaller than that other children’s museum, The Children’s Museum in Edwardsville offers an inexpensive place where kids’ imaginations can run wild. My 3-year-old loves the dress-up area and the pretend town where she can dream of becoming a doctor or banker.
From May through October, downtown Edwardsville becomes the scene of The Land of Goshen Community Market, featuring locally grown foods, crafts and entertainment in a family-friendly atmosphere.
Grafton
Mr. and Mrs. P love Grafton for its restaurants and wineries. If the kiddos are with us, Pere Marquette State Park has plenty of activities, including horseback riding and hiking, as well as a lodge on site.
Grafton’s water park, Raging Rivers, has something for everyone – a play area for toddlers, action slides for the older kids and a great view of the Mississippi River. Every time I’ve been there, it’s been busy, but never crowded.
Belleville
Although Eckert’s Country Store and Farms has locations in Grafton and Millstadt, its Belleville location is home to its restaurant offering homecooking and glorious fried biscuits. Mmmm, fried biscuits...so warm and sweet…sorry, got off track. Take the kids for strawberry picking in May and blackberry and peach picking later in the summer.
Belleville is also home to the Skyview Drive-In Theater and hosts Art on the Square May 14-16, one of the nation’s top art fairs.
These are only a few of the many attractions your family can enjoy. From Splash City in Collinsville to the Gateway Grizzlies in Sauget to the Camp River Dubois Lewis and Clark Historic Site in Hartford, a day of fun is waiting for you with one quick journey across the river. For more details on attractions and events, visit the Tourism Bureau Southwestern Illinois website.
By Nicole Plegge, Lifestyle Blogger for SmartParenting
Metro East mom Nicole Plegge has written for STL Parent for more than 12 years. Besides working as a freelance writer & public relations specialist, and raising two daughters and a husband, Nicole's greatest achievements are finding her misplaced car keys each day and managing to leave the house in a stain-free shirt. Her biggest regret is never being accepted to the Eastland School for Girls. Follow Nicole on Twitter @STLWriterinIL
At this free art program for ages 3-6 the focus is on the process of making art rather than the finished product. Dress to get messy!
Splash and play with your little one in this fun morning activity. No registration is necessary.
Meet up in Forest Park for a fun storytime followed by nature adventures! These free story times are open to children of all ages and their caregivers.
Take your kids to the farm this summer! At the Brookdale Farms Farm Friends Meet & Greet kiddos can get up close and have snuggle time with friendly farm friends, including baby goats, bunnies, donkeys and more.
Celebrate Summerween all week long at The Magic House! Beat the heat and get a sneak peek at the fun of fall. Come dressed up in your "funnest" beach attire or Halloween costume – whichever season suits you – and trick or treat throughout the Magic House.