Photo courtesy of Carrie Edelstein.
During the holiday season, guests enjoy dinner inside a life-size gingerbread house at the Ameristar Casino Resort Spa in St. Charles.
Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles (1 Ameristar Blvd., 636-949-7777) isn’t just for gamblers. Every room is a spacious suite and the indoor/outdoor pool is open all yearlong. Kids will enjoy the fountain show at the main entrance, playing in the arcade, and sampling a variety of foods at the buffet or restaurant. During the holidays, venture out to nearby historic Main Street or stay in and enjoy dining inside a life-size gingerbread house.
Head west to the Wildwood Hotel (2801 Fountain Pl., 636-733-9100) located across the street from B&B Wildwood 10 Theater, and in the same plaza as several shops and restaurants. Catch retro night with a holiday classic in December, or book your stay to coincide with one of the hot flicks coming soon like Star Wars, The Hunger Games, The Good Dinosaur, Alvin and the Chipmunks or Peanuts. Afterwards, spend the night tubing and skiing at nearby Hidden Valley Ski Resort (17409 Hidden Valley Dr., 636-938-5373) or at the hotel’s spacious and family-friendly indoor swimming pool. Hidden Valley Ski Resort opens in December.
Stay close to home but feel like you’re miles away at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Clayton (100 Carondelet Plaza, 314-863-6300). Kids receive complimentary drink tickets at check-in, and the marble bathtubs are an eye-opening experience for the littlest visitors. At approximately 3-feet throughout, the indoor pool is the perfect depth for new swimmers. Book a night when the hotel is offering the annual Teddy Bear Tea times. Stroll down Carondelet Plaza for a smoothie or hot chocolate at Kaldi’s Coffee. If the weather is right, cross Hanley Road and step into Pastaria (7734 Forsyth, 314-862-6603), where kids enjoy a VIP check-in to the restaurant’s kids’ club and a bowl of alphabet soup. You might even bump into James Beard award-winning chef, Gerard Craft.
