St. Charles (Missouri)

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Derivative work by john2690. Other authors listed on source image page.

St. Charles, Missouri is located just outside of St. Louis on the bank of the Missouri River. It was Missouri's first state capital and was one of the first stops by Lewis and Clark on their journey to explore the Louisiana Territory. Its historic Main Street has largely been restored to its 1812-era appearance and is lined with shops selling artwork, handicrafts, home decorations, and antiques. There are also many restaurants.

Get in

St. Charles is located on I-70 about 15 minutes West of St. Louis Lambert International Airport.

Get around

The city's historic district and casino are easily accessible on foot from the public parking garage on North Second St. next to the courthouse. Parking on Main Street itself is often difficult to find during the day, but lots on either side of this strip are usually free and open outside of special events. Little public transportation is available, but horse-drawn carriages make an enjoyable, if not entirely practical, way to visit the historic area.

American Cab, 211 E Elm St # 3A, O'Fallon +1 636 379-1060

See

Lewis and Clark Boathouse and Nature Museum

address: 1050 Riverside Drive
M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 12PM-5PM. Historic buildings and parks. Adults $2.50, under 17 $1.50.
First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site

phone: +1 636-940-3322

address: 200-16 South Main Street
A great place to visit.
Foundry Art Centre

phone: +1 636-255-0270

address: 520 North Main Center
Has a great collection of art and exhibitions along with art classes.
Weldon Spring Site Interpretive Center

address: 7295 Hwy 94 S

Do

Ameristar CasinoWatch the parades.
Attend the many festivals on Main Street and nearby Frontier Park.
Main StBoasts many great restaurants with patios overlooking Main St. The street itself is stone-paved with many shops and boutiques. The central parkette offers public restrooms disguised under a beautifully landscaped garden and gazebo. The many benches along the street allows for a break to rest tired feet.
Hike or bike the Katy Trail, the longest rails to trails park in the U.S.
The RecPlex in nearby St. Peters offers swimming, diving, a fitness center, indoor jogging, ice skating, and rock climbing and has been the home of U.S. Olympic Trial diving competition.
There are a number of county and city parks offering a wide variety of activities , and .
Swing-A-Round St. Charles
- located in St. Charles

Buy

Historic Main Street has largely been restored to its 1812-era appearance and is lined with shops selling artwork, handicrafts, home decorations, and antiques.

Eat

There are many fine restaurants in St. Charles City and County among them are:
On North Main St.:

Llewelyn's Pub
Lewis and Clark American Restaurant and Public House
The Trailhead Brewery
Tony's on Main Street
Big A's
The Mother-in-Law House
Little Hills Winery

Others in the City:

Pio's on First Capital Drive.
Concetta's on First Capital Drive.
Shogun Japanese Steak and SuShi
Vivian Vineyards North Second St.

In the County:

Rizzo's Mexico Rd. in O'Fallon.
Erio's Jungerman in St. Peters.
Vista Grande Mid-Rivers Mall Drive, St. Peters.
Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar, 3020 Highway K, O'Fallon, 379-3994

Drink

City Club Tavern, corner of First Capitol and Main Street. Loud, smoky watering hole for locals lacking anything in the way of class or style. An increasingly popular hangout for twenty-somethings looking for a bargain. Bands play on some Friday nights and pool is free in the back. $2 domestic bottles. $3 specialty. $7 pitchers. Open till 1:30AM. Cash only.
Llewelyn's Pub, on Main St. is a converted bank with great food and daily specials. The outdoor patio offers a great place to eat while overlooking the Missouri River. The restaurant offers a variety of food with one of the best Caesar salads around. Private dining can be had in the vault with its original vault door nicely on display.
Ethyl's Smokehouse & Saloon

address: 8505 Veterans Memorial Pkwy, O'Fallon

Sleep

Embassy Suites St. Charles

phone: +1 636-946-5544

address: Two Convention Center Plaza
Connected to the new 150,000 sq-ft Saint Charles Convention Center.
Quality Inn & Suites St Charles

phone: +1 636-946-6936

address: 1425 South Fifth Street, St. Charles, Missouri 63301
Offers pet-friendly accommodations and services including an indoor swimming pool. Cheap accommodations—rooms match the price.
Country Inn & Suites

address: 1175 Technology Dr, O' Fallon
Staybridge Suites

address: 1155 Technology Drive
Belongs to the Intercontinental Hotel Group (with Holiday Inn). They have many facilities for customer convenience like free laundry facility use, pick and drop within 5 miles.

Go next

St. Charles County is filled with things to see and do. The Missouri Weinstrasse, State Highway 94, offers a lovely drive through the Missouri wine country, with many wineries to visit and scenic overlooks as it winds its way through hills and valleys and quaint villages along the Missouri River. The Daniel Boone Home and Village is nearby with tours for the public. The August Busch Conservation Area, just minutes from down town St. Charles offers a multitude of lakes for fishing, hiking trails, a shooting range and a nature museum.

Troy is a short drive from St. Charles and offers many place to shop and eat as well as Cuivre River State Park. The State Park offers acres and acres of hiking, fishing, hunting and swimming.