St. Charles: History, Parks, and Water Experiences

St. Charles combines historical themes with a range of ideas for spending time outdoors: you can explore Missouri history and the Lewis and Clark Expedition, hike or bike on trails, and fish and paddle on select lakes. When planning a hotel stay, it’s worth first considering which of these interests will shape your trip.

Missouri History and the Lewis and Clark Expedition

St. Charles was the first permanent European settlement on the Missouri River and Missouri’s first capital from 1821 to 1826. Tours at the Historic Daniel Boone Home cover the Boone family and Missouri history during the territorial period. Topics include aspects of daily life as well as the history of Indigenous peoples and African Americans. Tours take place during the park’s opening hours.

The Historic Daniel Boone Home also offers village tours, living history programs, and seasonal craft demonstrations. In addition to historical topics, the program includes demonstrations and living history interpretation; craft demonstrations are seasonal.

At the Lewis & Clark Boat House and Museum, you can see a full-scale replica of a keelboat and two pirogues from the Lewis and Clark Discovery Expedition. The museum presents additional information about the expedition, features depictions of Indigenous peoples, and explores habitats along the Missouri River. The exhibits thus connect the history of the expedition with the people and landscapes that are among the museum’s topics.

The trails at Veterans Tribute Park serve a practical recreational purpose: they’re suitable for hiking and biking. At the same time, the memorial areas tell the story of regional and American history. The Veterans Memorial Plaza lists on stone tablets the names of St. Charles County service members who have died while serving the United States since World War I. The Tribute Walk uses interpretive panels to cover conflicts from the founding of St. Charles County in 1812 to the present. The park also has an accessible adventure playground with a splash area for children of all abilities.

Trails, Water, and Nature Viewing

At 603 acres, Indian Camp Creek Park is the largest park in St. Charles County. More than ten miles of paved and natural-surface multi-use trails offer opportunities for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Klondike Park also has paved and natural-surface multi-use trails, with more than four miles in total for hiking and biking. Comparing trail lengths can help with planning your day; both parks combine different trail surfaces with several activities.

The lake at Klondike Park is suitable for fishing, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding. The park also includes a dedicated area for bird and wildlife viewing. Those interested in plants and landscapes can find further points of interest at Weldon Spring Site: The 150-acre Howell Prairie surrounding the site has been planted with more than 80 species of prairie grasses and wildflowers. The Weldon Spring Site Interpretive Center presents the site’s history, cleanup efforts, and current status. An observation platform at the disposal cell offers panoramic views of St. Charles and St. Louis counties, as well as the surrounding Howell Prairie.

The Jeannie Moe Memorial Native Plant Educational Garden covers eight acres and features Missouri native plants, walking paths, and benches. The four-acre Agriculture Educational Garden at Broemmelsiek Park offers a different focus on regional history: this interpretive outdoor area is dedicated to the history of agriculture in St. Charles County.

You can also combine time on the water with exercise: 370 Lakeside Park has a 140-acre recreational lake for fishing and boating, as well as trails for biking and hiking. Kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding are available at Park at New Melle Lakes, which also has an 18-hole disc golf course. The choices range from quieter nature viewing and gardens to trails, water sports, and disc golf. To plan your trip, you can sort these options by the activities that matter most to you, then search for hotels for your stay in St. Charles.

Discover more destinations: O’fallon, Wentzville, Saint Peters, Foristell, Lake Saint Louis, Saint Charles.

Return to the main travel overview: Missouri.