Visitors Guide to Attractions
in Saint Charles County, Missouri
Visitors to St. Charles County, Missouri will find a wide variety of attractions to check out. The historic downtown district of St. Charles harkens back to the 19th century. Most of the district’s shops and restaurants along Main Street are in refurbished historic buildings. The state of Missouri maintains the First Capitol building and adjacent to the downtown district along the banks of the Missouri River is the Lewis & Clark Boat House and Nature Center. The Katy Trail State Park biking and hiking trail begins at Frontier Park in downtown St. Charles and travels along the Missouri River through the small town of Augusta before heading off west. Augusta has become the center of one of Missouri’s most popular wine regions. There are plenty of green spaces in St. Charles County. The nearly 7,000 acre August A. Busch Conservation Area contains forests, prairie, and wetlands and features 72 fishable lakes and ponds and 7 hiking trails. The Audubon Center and Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary along the Mississippi River is noted for bald eagles in the winter and migratory birds such as the American Pelican. Art and culture can be found throughout St. Charles County. The Foundry Art Centre in St. Charles is housed in an old 1940-era factory building overlooking the Missouri River and offers visitors multiple galleries with high quality exhibitions, working art studios, and performing art presentations. St. Charles is full of exciting things to do and see and is conveniently located just northwest of St. Louis
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Lewis & Clark Boat House & Nature Center
Saint Charles, MO
This is the home base of the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles and houses their replica keelboat and pirogues. The upper level of this certified site of the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail features a large diorama, exhibits covering Lewis and Clark and the Missouri River ecosystem, a classroom, and a gift shop.
Missouri Wing Commemorative Air Force
Saint Charles, MO
This volunteer organization operates a WWII Memorabilia Museum and features three operational WWII aircraft.
Our Lady of the Rivers
Portage des Sioux, MO
This 25-foot high statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary sits at the water's edge looking across the Mississippi River to the bluffs above Alton, Illinois. The statue was erected by the St. Francis Church after Portage des Sioux escaped damage from the flood of 1951. Our Lady of the Rivers is the site of the annual Blessing of the Fleet in July where hundreds of decorated boats gather from miles around to receive a blessing from the town priest asking for Mary's intercession to protect their vessels from harm.
Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary
West Alton, MO
3,700 acres of wetland area managed by the Corps of Engineers across the Clark Bridge from downtown Alton. The Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary is noted for bald eagles in the winter and migratory birds such as the American Pelican and the Bald Eagle. The Sanctuary is also the site of the Audubon Center at Riverlands which features a number of interactive exhibits involving birds and the Mississippi Flyway.
Saint Charles County Historical Society
Saint Charles, MO
Located on Main Street in the downtown Historic District, this building features a several historic exhibits, a library, and is home to the volunteers who research and maintain the history of the county.
Weldon Spring Conservation Area
Saint Charles County, MO
Weldon Spring Conservation Area is a mostly forested area with pasture, cropland, and some wetlands and glades and includes the Weldon Spring Hollow Natural Area. Katy Trail State Park passes through Weldon Spring Conservation Area. The area features a boat ramp on the Missouri River, two hiking trails, two hiking/biking trails. There are 8 ponds that are fishable along with riverbank fishing on the Missouri River. The area is noted as a good location for birding.
Weldon Spring Site & Interpretive Center
St. Charles County, MO
A 45-acre and reaches 75-foot tall mound covers a nuclear waste disposal cell. A viewing platform on top of the disposal cell is the highest accessible point in St. Charles County and a nearby interpretive center tells the story of this former WWII TNT facility and Cold War era uranium processing plant. The site also features a bike trail and a 150-acre native grass prairie.
Ameristar Casino
St. Charles, MO
You can feel the excitement from miles away. Find the latest, most popular slot and video poker machines, a wide variety of table games and one of the last live poker rooms in the market. The adjoining streetscape is full of first-class restaurants, entertainment spots, and more.
Family Arena
St. Charles, MO
The Family Arena offers a wide variety of affordable entertainment including sporting events, concerts, family shows, conventions and trade shows.
Lindenwood Ice Arena
Wentzville, MO
This facility features two ice surfaces (both professional regulation size), a fully stocked pro shop, food service center, party / group outing facilities, and a video game arcade.
National Equestrian Center
Lake St. Louis, MO
This 60-acre, equestrian and sports complex host horse & dog shows, sports events, fairs, festivals, and heavy equipment shows.
St. Peters Rec-Plex
St. Peters, MO
The St. Peters Rec-Plex has state-of-the-art facilities including the natatorium, gymnasium, and skating rink.
EXPLORE PAGE 1 OF ATTRACTIONS IN SAINT Charles County
For Travelers Heading Down River
The Metropolitan Saint Louis Area
Metropolitan Saint Louis has a lot to offer its visitors. The area's most prominent attraction is the Gateway Arch. Saint Louis has a number of outstanding public institutions that are free to visit including the Zoo, Art Museum, History Museum, and the Science Center. The Saint Louis region has a number of green spaces for nature and outdoor enthusiasts. Forest Park is one of the largest urban parks in the United States. Faust County Park, in Saint Louis County, is home to many historical and cultural attractions including the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House, a historical village, and the Saint Louis Carousel. The county is also home to Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park, Columbia Bottom Conservation Area, the Powder Valley Conservation Area.
For Travelers Heading Across the River
Meeting the Missouri River
The two longest rivers of the United States, the Missouri and the Mississippi, meet at St. Charles County, Missouri. The Historic St. Charles downtown area offers visitors a variety of attractions including the Lewis and Clark Boat House and Nature Center, The Foundry Art Centre, and Missouri’s First State Capitol. Nearby is Confluence State Park and the Daniel Boone Home.
For Travelers Heading Up River
Missouri's Lincoln Hills
The Lincoln Hills region of Missouri north of St. Louis is often called the Northern Ozarks. In the north is Hannibal, which conjures up images of the steamboat era and has become virtually synonymous with Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer, and Huck Finn. South of Hannibal is the Little Dixie Scenic Byway that travels atop limestone bluffs and through the real river towns of Clarksville and Louisiana. At the foot of the Lincoln Hills in Lincoln County is Cuivre River State Park, one of Missouri's largest and most rugged.
