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Pickle Springs Natural Area, Highway AA Ste. Geneviève, MO 63670 Call us at 573-883-3603 Pickle Springs has been designated a Natural Landmark by the National Park Service for its biological and geological values as an undisturbed site. A two-mile trail named the “Trail Through Time” winds through the park and guides the visitor through 500 million-year-old geologic wonders carved in sandstone. The trail features clear streams, cool canyons, spectacular bluff views, and “The Slot,” a crevice marked with holes, pockets, and ridges. Visitors must climb through the ”Keyhole” to descend to the creek below. Twin footbridges cross Bone Creek and pass Mossy Falls. The park is a primitive natural area and does not have services. Be sure to bring a camera and plenty of liquids before hiking the trail. Read more…

Ste. Genevieve – Modoc Ferry For well over two centuries, a ferry crossing has connected the Missouri and Illinois shores of the Mississippi River near Ste. Genevieve, making it one of the oldest continuously operating transportation routes in the American Midwest. Today’s Ste. Genevieve – Modoc Ferry carries on a tradition stretching back to the very earliest days of European settlement in the region—a living link to the frontier era when the Mississippi was both highway and boundary. Now operating Wednesday through Sunday, the ferry provides reliable access to historic sites on both sides of the river, carrying vehicles and passengers across approximately 10-15 minutes of pure Mississippi River experience. The crossing represents more than transportation; it’s a step back in time and a connection to the river’s enduring power and presence that hasn’t fundamentally changed in over 200 years. A French-Language Petition: 1798 The story of this ferry crossing begins in 1798, when residents of Ste. Genevieve formally petitioned for ferry service across the Mississippi. The petition itself was written in French—the language of commerce, government, and daily life in this thriving French colonial river town. At that time, Ste. Genevieve was already a well-established community, one of the Read more…

Ste. Genevieve Levee Wildlife Refuge: Where Flood Defense Becomes Eden Between downtown’s brick facades and the Mississippi River’s dark embrace, more than 200 acres of bottomland forest, wetland, and open field transform a massive levee—built in response to catastrophic flood—into sanctuary where white-tailed deer browse at dawn, great blue herons hunt the shallows with patient stillness, and bald eagles perch through winter within towering cottonwoods overlooking the great river itself. Dedicated in 2021 after seven years of collaborative vision between the City of Ste. Genevieve, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, both levee districts, Missouri Department of Conservation, and Army Corps of Engineers, this refuge embodies something rare: infrastructure born from disaster transformed into blessing, flood protection reimagined as habitat, human engineering serving wildlife rather than dominating it. Here, along levee-top pathways and primitive trails descending toward the river’s edge, visitors encounter what 290 years of Ste. Genevieve’s relationship with the Mississippi has always offered: simultaneously magnificent and terrible beauty, bounty and threat, the particular romance that emerges only when human communities accept their genuine dependence upon landscape that doesn’t care about human comfort. The Levee: Monument to Resilience Understanding this refuge requires understanding the earthen barrier itself—massive, unglamorous, completed in Read more…

Ste. Genevieve Trolley – Your Ride to Wine Country Adventure Since 2016, the Ste. Genevieve Trolley has been providing safe, friendly transportation that connects the charm of historic downtown with the scenic beauty of the county’s wineries. What began as a community transportation service has become an essential part of the Ste. Genevieve experience—especially for visitors wanting to enjoy local wines without worrying about driving. The Perfect Wine Country Solution Missouri wine country is one of the region’s hidden treasures, and Ste. Genevieve County is home to several excellent wineries producing everything from traditional varietals to distinctive local specialties. The challenge? These wineries are spread across the beautiful countryside, and responsibly enjoying wine tastings means having a designated driver. That’s where the trolley transforms your day from logistically complicated to blissfully simple. How It Works For just $20, you receive an all-day ride wristband that gives you unlimited access to the trolley service. This isn’t a rushed, schedule-locked tour—it’s flexible transportation that lets you create your own wine country adventure at your own pace. Board the trolley at one of the convenient downtown stops, settle into your seat, and enjoy the scenic ride through the countryside to the wineries. Once Read more…

Twin Oaks Vineyard & Winery At 6470 Highway F in Farmington, Twin Oaks Vineyard & Winery sits amid its own vineyards, creating the kind of immersive experience where tasting wine connects directly to the landscape producing it. This family-owned operation opens Friday through Sunday and offers red, white, and blended wines alongside premium beers in a tasting room anchored by an antique turn-of-the-century bar. While browsing unique gifts and apparel, you can sample wines at your own pace, then build your own charcuterie from locally available meats, cheeses, crackers, fruit, and chocolates. The tranquil pond adjacent to the patio becomes gathering place during warm months, hosting live entertainment from April through October, while the tasting room’s fireplace provides cozy refuge during cooler seasons. Twin Oaks also accommodates private parties, corporate events, and weddings, making it versatile venue for occasions beyond casual wine tasting. Vineyard Setting: Wine With a View Twin Oaks distinguishes itself through location. You’re not visiting winery in town—you’re visiting winery on the vineyard itself. That matters because it connects you tangibly to the work producing the wine. You can see the vines, understand the landscape, appreciate how terroir shapes what’s in your glass. The setting transforms tasting Read more…