All Things to Do in Missouri

How do you take an old home and update it to current styles? Find out during the Living in Ste. Genevieve House Tour on Saturday, March 18, 2023. From 10a-3p see how homeowners have updated historic homes with modern touches on the inside. This all starts at the Guibourd-Valle House at #1 N. 4th St.   Read more…

Louie’s Smokin’ Hot – Heat Seekers, Flavor Chasers, and Cigar Aficionados Find Their Paradise Walk into Louie’s Smokin’ Hot at 360 Merchant Street and you’re immediately confronted with choices—hundreds of hot sauces ranging from mild pepper vinegars to extract-based insanity, BBQ sauces spanning every regional style and flavor profile, gourmet mustards that elevate sandwiches from pedestrian to memorable, and a wall of infused olive oils and balsamic vinegars that transform home cooking from routine to restaurant-quality. This isn’t a shop where you grab a bottle and leave. This is a tasting destination where homemade baguettes wait on the counter for dipping into truffle olive oil, fig-infused balsamic vinegar, maple balsamic, or Sicilian lemon olive oil—allowing you to actually experience flavors before committing to purchase. The “Smokin’ Hot” name promises heat, and the hot sauce selection delivers with authority, but the shop’s real genius lies in recognizing that serious food enthusiasts want more than just capsaicin: they want complexity, quality ingredients, artisan production, and the opportunity to discover small-batch producers they’d never encounter in conventional grocery stores. Add a humidity-controlled humidor stocked with fine cigars, and Louie’s becomes the rare specialty shop that serves multiple enthusiast communities under one roof—the chiliheads Read more…

Lovegoods Candy + Toys – Where Magic Meets Nostalgia at Downtown’s Gateway At the corner of Market and 4th Street—the literal entrance to Sainte Geneviève’s historic downtown—Lovegoods Candy + Toys occupies the building with the town’s most Instagram-worthy feature: a colorful mural spelling out “STE GENEVIEVE” that draws photographers and selfie-takers before they even step inside. Opened in August 2025, Lovegoods brings whimsy and wonder to Missouri’s oldest town, creating a candy and toy destination where magic meets classic American nostalgia in a shop that’s part sweet emporium, part toy wonderland, part downtown landmark. Lovegoods channels a spirit of open-mindedness, creativity, individuality, and finding magic in unexpected places through eclectic inventory mixing traditional favorites with unique discoveries, creating shopping experience where kids find classic toys and candies their grandparents remember while adults discover novelty treats they’ve never encountered. The mural-adorned building serves as downtown gateway marker—arriving visitors driving up 4th Street toward Market see “STE GENEVIEVE” spelled out large and bright, signaling they’ve reached the historic core while Lovegoods itself welcomes them with doors full of possibilities for treats, toys, gifts, and discoveries. The Sweet Side: Candy for Every Craving Lovegoods’ candy selection spans the full spectrum from nostalgic classics Read more…

Magnolia Hollow Conservation Area – Panoramic Mississippi River Views from Limestone Bluffs Ten miles north of Ste. Genevieve on Magnolia Hollow Road, the rugged 1,740-acre Magnolia Hollow Conservation Area rises above the Mississippi River—a recreation and outdoor lover’s paradise where steep bluffs provide panoramic views of the river bottomlands, Establishment Creek winds through dense hardwood forests, and bald eagles soar past limestone cliffs in winter months. This Missouri Department of Conservation property offers accessible overlooks, forested hiking trails, primitive camping, and the kind of wild, minimally managed landscape that protects sensitive watersheds while inviting nature enthusiasts to experience the dramatic terrain defining Ste. Genevieve County’s Mississippi River borderlands. The Panoramic Overlook: Why People Come to Magnolia Hollow Most visitors arrive for one reason: the view. The Accessible Viewing Platform: A short paved trail (approximately 1/8 mile from the parking lot) leads to a wooden viewing platform with guardrails and benches—designed for wheelchair accessibility and safe viewing for all ages and abilities. From the platform, elevated on limestone bluffs hundreds of feet above the floodplain, you see: The Mississippi River – Visible in the distance, the great river that shaped French colonial settlement patterns, served as superhighway for fur traders and Read more…

Masquerade on Main – Where Every Visit Becomes a Photo Adventure In a town steeped in genuine history, Masquerade on Main offers something delightfully different: a chance to create your own alternate reality through the magic of creative photography. This isn’t a museum where you observe from a distance—it’s an interactive experience where you become the star of your own imaginative photo shoot, surrounded by elaborately themed scenes that transport you to different worlds, eras, and fantasies. A Playground for Your Imagination Masquerade on Main features multiple meticulously crafted scenes, each designed to spark creativity and provide the perfect backdrop for memorable photos. Whether you’re traveling solo, with friends, as a couple, or with the whole family, you’ll find scenes that speak to your personality and sense of fun. Current Scenes to Explore: Old-Timey Scene: Step back into a bygone era with vintage props and settings that evoke the charm of early Americana. Perfect for sepia-toned nostalgia and classic portrait vibes. Goth / Cathedral Scene: Embrace your dark romantic side in this atmospheric setting featuring dramatic Gothic architecture and cathedral-inspired elements. Ideal for those who appreciate the beauty in shadows and the elegance of Victorian darkness. Saloon: Saddle up to Read more…