Last weekend, we tricked them again.
We got into the car, drove about 45 minutes and ended up at Innsbrook Resort. My kids have asked everyday since, “When are we going back to ‘the beach.’” The weekend before that, we swam in the indoor/outdoor pool at Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles. Now when we go swimming at pools closer to home, they ask if we can go to the one “from vacation.”
Discover fun things to do with the family
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Yes, I have younger children, but even my niece who is almost 9-years-old was impressed she could kayak without getting on a plane. We can’t change the fact that St. Louis is landlocked. But sometimes something as simple as a lake with pebbles, like Creve Coeur Lake, or a parking lot full of trucked in sand, can make a child’s summer all the more memorable. We found some places that offer experiences that don’t require an airplane, a fortune, or even an ocean.
FOR THE LITTLE ONES
Sandcastle Beach has returned to The Magic House (516 S. Kirkwood Rd., 314-822-8900). Ten truckloads of sand have been loaded into the parking lot for kids to dig for treasures, build sandcastles, or just relax under a big umbrella in a beach chair. The exhibit is only there until June 28 and is included with regular admission.
FOR THE OLDER KIDS
Glam it up on Sundays! Beginning this weekend at the Four Season Hotel in Downtown St. Louis (999 North 2nd St. 314-881-5759), there’s a pool party every Sunday at the hotel with a deejay, music, and poolside service. The cost is $35 for the day and cabanas are available by reservation only.
FOR THE KID IN US ALL
Just about an hour’s drive away, Keyesport Beach at Carlyle Lake has it all: a swimmable beach, a playground, and nearby areas for boating. Plan to spend a little longer than a few hours the weekend of June 12, when vendors line up in downtown Carlyle for the Carlyle Street Fair, which also includes a carnival, live music, and car show.
FOR THE NATURE ENTHUSIAST
Hike the trails then cool off your feet in the Meramec River near Ballwin at Sherman Beach Park. The area serves as a connector between the Al Foster Trail and Castlewood Park. It has a long beach of gravel and is surrounded by several trails ranging from just over a mile to more than six miles.
For more information on swimmable lakes and riverbeds in our area, visit https://mostateparks.com/activity/swimming.
