Eckert's is a place filled with nostalgia for me as I've been going since I was a kid, and after a…read moremany year hiatus I was super excited to check it out again. We decided to stop in and do the sunflower fields with our season pass, allowing us to roam the sunflower fields and get 1 big sunflower each. In addition, we chose to snag a vase for a few extra dollars so we could pick even more smaller sunflowers along with some zinnias to complete our bouquet. The wagon ride out there brought me back to all the times we went as a kid, and the fields itself were beautiful & well maintained! While we were out in the field, we also were able to enjoy a cider from the shack which was pretty great as well. The lady working the cider shed out in the fields was also super helpful in explaining the whole experience to us, which helped us decide on what we wanted to do. When we returned from the sunflower fields, it was time to stop in to their Cider Shed for Xtreme Bar Bingo and a cider flight. There were a ton of tables and plenty of room despite the small crowd that showed up for bingo, and the outdoor pavilion & fans kept things cool despite it being a heater (heat index of 109°F). Our cider flight included the Pink Lady, BeeKeeper, Orchard Sunset, & Cider Donut. While I wasn't a huge fan of the Pink Lady & BeeKeeper, the Orchard Sunset & the Cider Donut were absolutely phenomenal! I would go back just for those two ciders even if we didn't get to do anything else. We were a bit hungry during bingo and decided to try out the Brussel Sprouts as a small side, and while they were pretty good, they were pretty bland with no additional seasonings or add-ins which was a little disappointing. The service at the Cider Shed was great with the staff helping us choose which ciders we may want to try. They also let you get 3 free samples, which was super useful in making our decision. After losing at Bingo (nothing new there), we figured it was best to end our Eckert's evening by having a quiet dinner in their Country Restaurant. I saw a seasonal Grilled Peach & Burrata salad on the menu that I was really excited to try, so we split that as an appetizer. Although it was another solid dish, it wasn't anything special in my opinion. The burrata definitely paired well with the grilled peach, but there wasn't much else to say about it. From there, we snagged a fruit wine flight as we were very curious on how their wines taste. The flight included Blackberry, Strawberry, Peach, & Apple wines, with the Blackberry stealing the show as best overall! The Strawberry was also nice, tasting like a watermelon jolly rancher, while the Peach & Apple were just okay. Lastly, for the entrees, I got the Cheeseburger Platter with a side of mashed potatoes and brown gravy while my girlfriend got the Chicken & Dumplings & a side salad with Aunt Helen's Sweet Vinaigrette. The cheeseburger platter was okay, nothing special, but the mashed potatoes & brown gravy were incredible. The chicken & dumplings fell a bit short as they were pretty meh, lacking the amount of chicken we were hoping for, and the side salad was not great as we thought the "sweet vinaigrette" just didn't taste right. The staff in the restaurant were again, super helpful, nice, and attentive, making us feel right at home. Finally, we grabbed 2 Cider Donuts for dessert on our way out. To say they were delicious would be an understatement. While they were a bit greasy, the flavor and texture was to-die for and gave us a perfect sweet treat to end our night. All-in-all, we really enjoyed our day out at Eckert's roaming the sunflower fields, creating our own bouquet, playing Xtreme Bar Bingo, & trying new ciders & wines. While we will definitely be back for the experiences, donuts, & ciders, the food is nothing special in my opinion and would likely be skipped. Would definitely recommend coming out for their summer & fall experiences, though!

Have you ever been surrounded by sunflowers? The Sunflower Experience at Eckert's is the perfect…read moreplace to do it. Mom and I chose the Flower Power Sunflower Pass, which included admission, a single cut-your-own sunflower, a souvenir mason jar lemonade (booze optional) and a pretty faux flower crown. It added a fun, whimsical touch to the day and made for even better photos! There was an option to fill a cut-your-own vase in the field for $10. The ride to the fields is part of the fun. Slow your mind and enjoy the journey. Once in the field, we skipped the walk up lookout, but took advantage of some of the unique photo opportunities throughout, including a flower arch, bicycle, oversized wicker basket and giant branded watering can, to name a few. The one downside was the mud. The previous day's rain made the ground soggy, and my sneakers sank in amongst the stalks once immediately off the main trail. Eckert's spread hay on some of the muddier areas, which helped absorb some moisture. Waterproof shoes or rain boots are a smart choice if there's been rain. I also recommend sunscreen, bug spray, hats and sunglasses. Pro tip: buy your tickets online ahead of time. I recommend going as early in sunflower season as possible. Quite a few of the blooms immediately alongside the trail had already been cut, despite signs asking visitors not to do so. There were still PLENTY of beautiful sunflowers to enjoy, along with a gorgeous field of colorful zinnias, but access was muddy overall. I know - it's a farm - and there will be dirt, but I hadn't recalled the field being so wet on previous visits over the years, so just tossing out a heads up on proper footwear and such. :) Although our wristbands gave us access to the peach trees also, we opted for picking them up from the Country Store instead! We finished the day with lunch at the restaurant, where I had some of the BEST fried chicken I've ever had. Perfectly coated and fried. It was a great topper on a wonderful day out with my mother. PS Because we were stuffed to the gills, we opted to take two slices of peach pie to go and that was one of the best decisions I've made all year. It's got a delicious homemade quality that is increasingly hard to find. It was stuffed with the freshest, sweetest peaches around. Don't miss out, dude.

We have been to this locally owned orchard several times and have enjoyed it every single time. My…read morekids absolutely love the free playground and the animals you can pet, and honestly, I love them too. The free tractor ride is such a nice bonus and always a hit. All of the picking spots are wonderful and make for such a fun family outing. The bakery on site is also amazing and always has the best goodies. Overall, this is one of our favorite places to visit and we always have a great time.

A nice alternative to some of the bigger and more popular orchards around St. Louis and across the…read moreriver in Illinois, Braeutgam Orchards is definitely a place you'll want to visit in the Fall for your annual pumpkin and apple picking traditions. Crowds were manageable and any line we stood in (whether it was for the tractor to take us to the orchard or in the bakery to buy goods) didn't take long to go through. Loved that there was no additional fee to ride the tractors to the orchards. The one downside is that while there is a bakery, there is no food stall to buy lunch or snacks like chips or hot dogs. If you plan on spending a portion of your day there, you'll want to be sure to bring a cooler with food. We made the mistake of assuming there would be things to buy for lunch and we left starving after snacking on a couple of apple cider donuts.

I came by Craft Alliance before the holidays looking for some cute ornaments. Their selection of…read moreglass blown ornaments is beautiful and kept my tree very pretty. The people working there were very nice and helpful in teaching me about the artist and pointing out other items that might be of interest. I plan to keep these for years to come!

Craft Alliance offers camps for kids, classes for kids, teens, adults and 1 day craft seminars. All…read morethe teachers I have had there do a great job of balancing the students interests and aptitudes in the class while allowing freedom to explore and for projects in. I am so thankful to have a place like this in St. Louis. I highly recommend joining as a member and taking some classes (you get a discount as a member)!

When I was young, I participated in an annual music Nativity pageant, the opening lyrics of which…read moresummarize my question on approach to WoL. " "Over dusty roads so dreary ... they had wandered and were weary ... would they find a lodging cheery ... some friendly place of warmth and li-i-i-ight"? The answer is "Yes." WoL is a place of cheery holiday warmth and, obviously, light. I wouldn't describe it as the "best ever," and thought that the light seemed a little thin and too monochromatic in places. But I'd do it again just for the tunnel near the beginning. Thanks, WoL, for spreading needed Christmas cheer.

My husband and I made our yearly trip to Way of Lights last night. If you've never been or it's…read morebeen awhile, I highly recommend it. They've added color lights to make things even more amazing with the drive through light display. In the church parking lot, there are camel rides, donkey rides, pony rides, petting zoo, and kettle corn. In the visitor center, they have a wonderful gift shop, Christmas tree displays, wreath auction, quilt raffle, a fabulous Lego Brick Display, and a new must see Interactive Arctic Mission Exhibit. The food stand offers hot dogs, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, nachos, chili, etc for a very reasonable cost. As left we got our yearly Build a Bear animal-- a donkey this time -- for a minimum $17 donation. Highly recommended for all ages!

Really like the basement bar scene here with a selection of cigars and the only place I know of…read morethat smoking is permitted inside. Different nights have different entertainments. Nice stiff drinks to be enjoyed by all.

Belleville is full of surprises. This downstairs bar and lounge always has great music, upscale…read moredrinks and of course the best selection of cigars around. If you don't know what you want, they are very helpful in offering suggestions. If you are an avid smoker, I'm sure they have what you like as well. Come in and relax and have a great time or venture outside they'll serve you out there too !!!