Explore St. Louis

Crisp air, bright blue skies and gorgeous fall foliage await visitors to St. Louis during October and early November. The Gateway City landscape is a kaleidoscope of colors this time of year and visitors can enjoy the colorful scenery, fall festivals and special events during an autumn getaway.

In St. Louis, leaves start changing around mid-September and produce their colorful show for six weeks or longer. The great variety of trees, shrubs and vines in the St. Louis region create foliage displays that offer vivid and subtle shades of red, orange, yellow, gold, green, ochre and brown – a considerably more mixed palette than more yellow tones found in New England.

Experts at St. Louis’ renowned Missouri Botanical Garden track the best and the brightest of the fall display and direct you to the showiest plants, shrubs and trees found within it’s 79-acres. Make a pre-visit click on the Garden’s web site at http://www.mobot.org/, then select “Plants in Bloom” to discover which species are ablaze with color.

Here’s a list of other St. Louis area spots where you’ll find the brightest colors in Mother Nature’s autumn wardrobe:

No need to go far afield to find fabulous fall foliage. St. Louis’ Tower Grove Park, adjacent to the Missouri Botanical Garden, shows off nature’s seasonal change in style. The park has the most diverse and interesting urban forest in the central United States with a greater variety of trees and shrubs than any other urban park in the country – which means there’s a greater palette of fall shades on view. The grounds of the 289-acre park are punctuated with 10 whimsical pavilions, lily ponds, statuary, fountains, and mock classical "ruins." Tower Grove Park was established in 1868 by Henry Shaw, the founder of the Missouri Botanical Garden. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been designated a National Historic Landmark, one of only four municipal parks in the country to achieve that status. Carriage rides through the lovely park are available on weekends.

Incredible fall color awaits at Shaw Nature Reserve, a 2,500-acre nature reserve with tracts of tall grass prairie, glades, wetlands, savannas and woodlands. The reserve, located off I-44 about 60-minutes from downtown St. Louis in Gray Summit, Missouri, also has 14 miles of trails, a wildflower garden, a pine forest and a visitor center.

You can gaze down at turning leaves from 630 feet above St. Louis by taking a tram ride to the top of the glorious Gateway Arch. The nation’s tallest monument sits on beautifully landscaped parkland that is dappled with shades of autumn. Hop aboard a Gateway Arch Riverboat cruise to see trees transform into their fall hues while cruising along the Mighty Mississippi. Cruise options include an upriver Lock and Dam excursion on Saturdays during September and October and an Oktoberfest cruise on October Sundays featuring an authentic German buffet and live German band. For cruise schedules, click on www.gatewayarch.com.

Famed Forest Park, known for its free cultural attractions including the Saint Louis Zoo, Art Museum, Science Center and Missouri History Museum, is no slouch in the autumnal landscape department. Pick up a free Forest Park Voyagers Backpack filled with tree guides so you can I.D. the bright bushes and trees, bird-watching tips and binoculars from the park’s Dennis & Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center. Experience the colors of Forest Park in the fall by foot, bike, boat or Segway. New walking and biking paths meander through the 1,300-plus-acre park. Self-propel around Forest Park’s lakes on paddle or rowboats at the Forest Park Boathouse or take a hip tour via motorized, upright Segway scooters available through the Saint Louis Science Center’s Planetarium. While in the park, don’t miss hundreds of chrysanthemums on sparkling display in the aptly named Jewel Box floral conservatory.

Just west of St. Louis along the beautiful Missouri River Valley, a bounty of fall color and lush vineyards dot Missouri Wine Country. Here, immigrants from Germany’s Rhine River planted vineyards, constructed wine cellars and created America’s first wine region. During a short day trip from St. Louis, take in a winery tour and tasting then settle in at one of the beautiful winery terraces or patios. In Augusta, Mount Pleasant Winery overlooks the river valley laid out in its fall colors. Bikers and hikers can enjoy the autumn views along the KATY Trail, a former railroad right-of-way converted into a scenic path through the valley. Nearby, the wine town of Hermann celebrates its German heritage with Oktoberfest activities including grape stomping at Stone Hill Winery.

Nature’s autumn artistry meets man’s at Laumeier Sculpture Park in St. Louis County. More than 80 contemporary sculptures by internationally known artists blend in the landscape of this 98-acre outdoor sculpture garden. The park’s hiking trails lead visitors along tree-lined paths that bend and twist to expose views of artwork along the way. Nearby, three nature trails at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center provide the opportunity to hear the crunch, crunch, crunch of fallen leaves beneath your feet and to see chipmunks, wild turkey, deer and other woodland creatures prepare for winter. Admission to both the sculpture park and the nature reserve are free.

Got pumpkin? How about apples? Fall’s famous fruits are yours for the gathering at Eckert’s Country Store & Farms in neighboring Belleville, Illinois. Hayrides, apple cider, country
games and fresh produce and country gift shops make this spot a fall family favorite. Pumpkin
and apple pie are served up Route 66-style at Ted Drewes Frozen Custard. After a hard day on the hunt for fall foliage, relax with a “concrete” – a milkshake so thick they serve it to you upside down – at this iconic concession stand on the Mother Road. Pumpkin or apple pie, flaky crust and all, is blended with delectable vanilla frozen custard to create this seasonal delight.

A little further out the Mother Road, the foliage isn’t providing autumn’s only show. Nestled within the picturesque forests off I-44 are three of St. Louis’ natural environments for wild animals: The Wild Canid Survival & Research Center, World Bird Sanctuary and Lone Elk Park. Howl with wolves at the Wild Canid Survival & Research Center. Better known as the Wolf Sanctuary, this renowned captive breeding facility for endangered wolves from around the world hosts great campfire programs with storytelling and wolf howls on crisp fall evenings and throughout the year. Reservations are required for campfire events. Call 636-938-5900 or click on www.wolfsanctuary.org.

Fallen leaves share the grounds of Lone Elk Park along with herds of elk, white tail deer, American bison and other woodland critters. The free drive-thru animal preserve is a fun place to spot brilliant fall color and creatures great and small. Nearby, the World Bird Sanctuary’s naturalists can help you discover feathered friends residing within the 130-acre woodland park via hiking trails and bird-watching areas. Get up close to live eagles, hawks, owls and learn how to attract birds to your own yard at this free environmentally friendly attraction.