Outdoors

As soon as the leaves start to turn red and orange, it’s time to visit Eckert’s Farm. Located about 30 minutes from St Louis, this is a lovely farm where you can go apple picking. This is a great day-trip idea to go with friends, pick and eat their different varieties of apples, and take photos in their pumpkin patch. You can actually go all year-round, and you can pick a variety of fruits and vegetables depending on the season. And once you are done walking in their orchards, you can visit their country store where you can find, among other things, a delicious collection of baked goods. Their pies and apple cider donuts are a must.

In the heat of St. Louis summers, why not cool off and chill out on a relaxing float trip down one of the Mississippi’s tributaries? Float trips are a classic Missouri mainstay, and that includes renting out rafts, inner tubes, or canoes to float gently down the river for a few hours, blast your music, and imbibe on your beverage of choice. There are several raft-rental agencies within about 1.5 hrs of STL. It’s a great class-bonding activity!

For a more local experience, two-person paddleboats can be rented to paddle your way around the interconnected lakes and fountains of Forest Park!