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Amusements

Pickup Sports League
BigBalls Kickball League


For us, there’s an unspoken rule of pickup sports: heavy on fun, light on required athletic prowess. In the case of BigBalls Kickball League in Tower Grove Park, we’re talking grade-school skill level—but for adults. Other perks: BYOB, teams with names like Conan and The BallBarians, and the season-ending Beer Olympics. leaguelineup.com/stlbigballs

Winery
Chaumette Vineyards & Winery

We’re regionally blessed with wineries, but there’s something about a Saturday afternoon spent at Chaumette Vineyards & Winery that does the heart good—as wine itself does. The 310-acre vineyard near Ste. Gen can feel both pastoral and lively, depending on the crowd. A chatty staff pours a dozen-plus Missouri wines in a handsome tasting room with outdoor seating on both sides. Different views, both lovely. Want to extend your stay? There are 26 on-site villas—and a new spa. 24345 State Route WW, Ste. Genevieve, 573-747-1000, chaumette.com

Movie Theater
Great Escape at Gravois Bluffs

Movies have long remained our finest escape mechanism—so what better name for a theater than “Great Escape”? We deem it an excellent choice for the cineplex at Gravois Bluffs. The brand-new attraction has comfy seats, a small video arcade, super-clean restrooms, and plenty of concessions. 754 Gravois Bluffs, 636-326-2862, greatescapetheatres.com

Stargazing
St. Louis Astronomical Society’s Public Telescope Viewings

You probably think admiring the heavens requires a tank of gas and some inkling of the constellations. Not so. The St. Louis Astronomical Society hosts free public telescope viewing events at Forest Park’s James S. McDonnell Planetarium at 7 p.m. during the first Friday of each month. Or visit Francis Park on Wednesdays closest to the first-quarter moon (July 1 and 29) for another chance to scan the stars. slasonline.org

Public Game
Bandwagon Hall Bingo

Simpler times breed simpler pleasures, and bingo, one of the most abiding of those pleasures, gets a new-millennial makeover at South County’s Bandwagon Hall. Boasting both paper and electronic cards, plentiful parking, and other enticements, the facility (which runs games each evening except Monday) leaves you no excuse to stay home and bemoan the recession. 2151 Lemay Ferry, 314-845-1877
 

The Great Outdoors: Get Off the Beaten Path

Hike up to the river bluffs at Fults Hill Prairie Nature Preserve, a national natural landmark. This is Illinois’ finest and largest complex of loess hill prairie—and it’s far from flat. Its 997 acres cross limestone glades, woodland, and ravines; the terrain’s dotted with bluestem grass, cactus, and burr oak—and a few timid plains scorpions. About 45 minutes southeast of downtown, near Fults, Ill.; from Maeystown Road, turn left onto Bluff Road and drive 6 miles.

Mountain-bike the 250-acre Klondike Park in St. Charles. Once a silica sand quarry, the park opened to the public just five years ago. Some trails are paved, others rough and windy; atop the giant bluff, you’ll overlook the Missouri River and Katy Trail. There’s a lake where you can fish, a boat ramp to the Missouri River, cabins to rent—and nearby wineries for provisions. 4600 Highway 94 South, Augusta

Kayak the St. Francis River as it flows out of the hills near Elephant Rocks State Park, heading 23.6 miles from SR H Bridge to Captain Creek Junction. You won’t find whitewater like this on most Missouri streams; your journey’s edged by the St. Francois Mountains, and the rapids reach Class IV. If you survive, the scenery’s worth it. Fredericktown, Mo.

See how far you get on the Ozark Trail, running 225 continuous miles from Onondaga Cave to the Eleven Point River. Ford the Huzzah River (but not in high water), and climb to the ridge where Union soldiers escaped the Confederates. Then hike through old mining areas and into the oak and hickory of Mark Twain National Forest. Start across the Meramec River from Onondaga Cave State Park in the Huzzah conservation area or at Bass River Resort, 10 miles east of Steelville. Shuttles available, 573-436-0540, ozarktrail.com