Meet Me in St. Chuck
Eat
Lewis & Clark’s (217 S. Main St., 636-947-3334, lewisandclarksrestaurant.com) is right in Old Towne St. Charles and has upscale-but-not-fancy dinner options. You can find prime rib, swordfish and a slew of pasta dishes, and we hear the Cajun barbecue shrimp is a great meal that packs one heck of a kick. If a more casual just-off-the-Katy-Trail atmosphere is more your scene, Big A’s on the Riverfront (308 N. Main St., 636-949-9900) has been serving tasty lunches and dinners for more than 20 years. Nightly drink specials are available. For lunch, head to Magpie Café (903 S. Main St., 636-947-3883, magpiesstcharles.com) for their homemade soups, quiches and desserts in a quaint atmosphere. Patio seating is available.
Stay
For the feel of a bed & breakfast circa 1840, you’ll want to stay at the Boone’s Lick Trail Inn (1000 S. Main St., 636-947-7000, booneslick.com). It has six restored rooms representing early America and has easy access to the Main Street historic district. Want to get a taste of luxury (and the feeling that you’re living it up in Las Vegas)? The Ameristar Casino Resort Spa (1 Ameristar Blvd., 636-949-7777, ameristar.com) offers 400 luxury suites with sunken living rooms and floor-to-ceiling windows. Each suite features three plasma screen TVs, an automated mini-bar, his and hers granite top sinks, a separate shower and tub and a marble entryway.
Shop
Stroll down the brick roads on Historic Main Street and visit all the boutiques. At Riverside Sweets (416 S. Main St., 636-724-4131), you can watch while they make handmade candy and enjoy browsing through their seasonal home décor. Antique-lovers will enjoy Antiques & Oak (319 N. Main St., 636-946-1898), a shop featuring lamps, clocks, glassware and more. Experience more of St. Charles culture by visiting Plank Road (906 S. Main St., 636-255-0530, refinersfirepottery.com) featuring arts and crafts by local artists.
See
Visitors can watch local artists create fine art at the Foundry Art Centre (520 N. Main Center, 636-255-0270, foundryartcentre.org). It showcases visual art exhibitions, performing arts and educational programs. For a little history, visit the Lewis & Clark Boat House and Nature Center (1050 S. Riverside Dr., 636-947-3199, lewisandclarkcenter.org), a museum featuring a Lewis & Clark scavenger hunt, nature displays and more. The First Missouri State Capitol (200-216 S. Main St., 636-940-3322) was used as the state’s government building from 1821 to 1826. It’s open for tours and special events.
Party
Get your evening started at the Trailhead Brewing Company (921 S. Riverside Dr., 636-946-2739, trailheadbrewing.com) at the historic Grist Mill building. The restaurant has a fun atmosphere and serves American cooking and hand-crafted beers brewed on-site. If it’s a nice night, you can enjoy that microbrew on the patio. Is beer not your thing? Then try the Little Hills Restaurant & Winery (501 S. Main St., 636-946-9339, littlehillswinery.com) in the historic district, which features both inside and outside seating. With inviting fireplaces and award-winning wines, it’s the perfect place to enjoy lunch, dinner or that happy hour vino. St. Charles County is also known for its Historic Missouri Wine Country (Defiance, Augusta, Missouri, 314-223-3423), which has eight relaxing wineries with award-winning wine.
