If you live in the St. Louis area, you are probably familiar with things to do with your family in and around the city. After all, who doesn’t love the St. Louis Zoo? Or The Magic House? But if you just stay in Missouri, you’re missing out on all sorts of hidden gems. Did you know St. Louis has a suburb in Illinois?
Dubbed the Metro-East, this area is only a short drive away from the city, and filled with activities for you and your family to explore. Here are a few of my favorites:
Eckert’s– Belleville: 951 S. Green Mount Rd., Belleville, IL 6220 618.233.0513
With multiple locations, Eckert’s offers families the opportunity to pick their own fruits and vegetables. Open year round, the Belleville location has a restaurant, country store, custard stand, and garden store. Special events, including an always popular Easter egg hunt, never disappoint. The country store has a wonderful selection of wine, and offers cooking classes for both children and adults.
My pick: peaches
Braeutigam Orchards- 2795 Turkey Hill Lane, Belleville, IL 62221 618.233.4059
A family owned farm, Braeutigam Orchards is a great place to spend an afternoon picking fresh fruit, walking around the farm, or taking a tractor ride. There’s a playground for kids, animals to see, and goodies to buy.
My pick: apple cider donuts
The Edge- 701 S Belt West, Belleville, IL 62220 618.475.6169
An indoor facility, The Edge offers something for everyone. Families can choose from Laser Tag, Go-Karts, arcade games, bumper cars, bowling, or virtual reality activities. Hungry? The Edge also has a full service restaurant, d.s. vespers, where you can catch your favorite teams on big screens. Prefer a movie night? Yep, they’ve got you covered there, too. Five movie theatres show the latest films, including one that has bistro dining and recliners.
My pick: go-karts
Fun Spot Skating Center- 1400 West Blvd., Belleville, IL 62221 618.234.4502
Fun Spot was my absolute favorite place to hangout when I was kid, and I love going there with my boys. Rolling skating is a great way to burn off some energy, and Fun Spot offers a wood floor skating rink where kids and adults can practice their rolling skating or roller blading moves. The center also has a vault laser maze and video games to keep you occupied during roller breaks. Skates can be purchased or rented, and there is also a snack bar and full service pro shop. Kids have a day off school? Fun Spot may have an all- day skate!
My pick: roller skating (not a fan of roller blades)
O’Fallon Splash Pad– 300 Obernuefemann Rd., O’Fallon, IL 62269
Located within the O’Fallon Family Sports Park, the Splash Pad is a 2 acre play area that has playground structures and a 6,000 sq ft splash pad to keep kids of all ages occupied for hours. The added bonus? Plenty of areas to sit for adults who want to keep a close eye on their littles without getting soaked. The park itself also has covered pavilions perfect for picnics and family gatherings. Open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.
