The magnificent parks in and around St. Louis, MO, offer visitors an endless amount of sports and recreational activities, art, culture, and history. The city boasts one of the best and urban open spaces in the country and scenic trails that meander through forests, meadows, and along the banks of lakes and streams where wildlife is in abundance.
1. Forest Park
The 1,300-acre oasis, the city’s greatest civic treasure, is considered one of the country’s best urban spaces. The park boasts various historic landmarks, statues, and monuments, and the region’s most important cultural institutions: The Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis Art Museum, Saint Louis Science Center and James S. McDonnell Planetarium, Saint Louis Zoo, and The Muny, an outdoor musical theatre.
In addition to the wide range of cultural and sports activities, the lakes and lagoons offer excellent fishing opportunities, and scenic paths that wind through forests, nature reserves, over meadows, and past lakes and streams.
2. Castlewood State Park
The park runs for 5 miles along the Meramec River that cuts through majestic white limestone cliffs, oak and hickory forests on the north side, and past a rare indigenous bottomland forest on the south side. On the hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails that wind through the park, nature lovers often spot white-tailed deer, kingfishers, great blue herons, and wild turkeys.
The river is popular with paddlers and anglers who regularly hook largemouth bass, bluegill, and catfish. The World Bird Sanctuary in the park showcases a range of bird species and interpretive displays on birds of prey.
3. Creve Coeur Park
Discover the park’s history and indigenous fauna and flora on miles of trails that wind through the park. Hike on the six-mile Water Trail across the lake and up the creek, or take a scenic stroll to the Dripping Springs waterfall. The park’s 320-acre lake is the perfect place to fish, boat, paddle, and soak up the sun on the sandy beach along the northeast shore.
The lake is teeming with fish and regularly stocked by the Missouri Department of Conservation and one of the prime fishing destinations in the region. Play tennis, disc golf, swing among the trees on a Go Ape Tree Top Adventure and test your skills at the archery range. Enjoy a scenic picnic at one of the many shelters or dine at the Lakehouse Restaurant.
4. Carondelet Park
The historical park was established in 1875 and is the city’s third-largest park. It’s a popular destination for sports enthusiasts and offers a wide range of recreational activities, from baseball, soccer, softball, and tennis to horseshoes, swimming, fishing, and boating.
There is a recreational center, pool, boathouses, playgrounds, lovely paved walking and jogging paths, and picnic areas with pavilions. While you are enjoying the activities in the park, visit Lyle House, a Civil War mansion that belonged to the family who was the original owners of the land.
You don’t have to wander far to enjoy beautiful scenery, view wildlife, and participate in a wide variety of recreational activities. It’s all right here, on your doorstep. Visit Bommarito Chevrolet South County today and our factory-trained technicians will ensure that your vehicle performs optimally.
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