All Things to Do in United States

Birding in Kaskaskia – Where the Mississippi Creates a Haven for Waterfowl and Rare Visitors In the heart of the Mississippi River Valley, where the river’s powerful currents once carved through a peninsula to create an island, lies one of the region’s hidden birding treasures. Kaskaskia Island and the surrounding wetlands managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offer bird enthusiasts a remarkable opportunity to observe herons, egrets, waterfowl, and—if fortune smiles—even the magnificent and critically endangered whooping crane. This is birding with history, where sloughs and backwaters that once sustained a thriving French colonial settlement now provide essential habitat for migrating and resident birds along the Mississippi Flyway. A Geographic Anomaly Creates Birding Opportunity Kaskaskia Island holds a unique place in American geography: it’s the only inhabited piece of Illinois located west of the Mississippi River. This geographic quirk resulted from the New Madrid Earthquake of 1811-1812 and subsequent flooding that dramatically altered the river’s course. What was once a peninsula became an island, separated from mainland Illinois but accessible only through Missouri. This isolation and the island’s low-lying, flood-prone nature have preserved it as largely agricultural land interspersed with wetlands—exactly the kind of habitat that waterfowl and Read more…

The King’s Ball – Sainte Geneviève’s 250-Year-Old Mardi Gras Tradition Where Fiddlers, French Colonial Costumes, and King Cake Crown Missouri’s Oldest Twelfth Night Celebration On the first full weekend in February, hundreds of costumed revelers crowd the VFW Hall in Sainte Geneviève for one of Missouri’s most distinctive cultural celebrations: the King’s Ball. This isn’t some recently invented heritage festival designed to attract tourists—it’s the authentic continuation of a French colonial tradition that’s been celebrated for over 250 years, marking the Epiphany (Twelfth Night) and serving as the region’s traditional close to the Christmas season. Think of it as Sainte Geneviève’s answer to Mardi Gras: music, dancing, elaborate costumes, and the ceremonial serving of King Cake (Galette des Rois) complete with hidden bean or baby Jesus figurine that determines who’ll reign as royalty for the coming year. Purchase tickets here. While most Americans associate King Cake exclusively with New Orleans Mardi Gras, the tradition actually originates in French Epiphany celebrations—and Sainte Geneviève’s King’s Ball represents one of the oldest continuous observations of this custom in North America. The cake, the hidden prize, the crowning of royalty, the communal dancing—these aren’t borrowed from Louisiana. They’re direct inheritances from the early French Read more…

Where: Historic District Ste. Geneviève, MO 63670 800-373-7007 573-883-7097 A family-friendly, living history event! Come explore the traditions of the “School of the Soldier.” This is a fully packed weekend of lectures and camaraderie with plenty of events to see. On Saturday, attend a public heritage auction of discovered “desirables” – memorabilia, collectibles, “accouterments,” utensils, and “watcha-may-call-its.” In addition, Ste. Geneviève has the greatest concentration of original French colonial buildings in North America. Plus it is the only surviving French colonial village in the United States. At Ecole du Soldat activities of that early era are reenacted. Read more…

La Guiannée – Where Sainte Geneviève’s 250-Year-Old New Year’s Eve Tradition Shares Deep Roots with Louisiana’s Rural Mardi Gras Through Ancient French Begging Songs Every New Year’s Eve for over 250 years, something extraordinary happens in Sainte Geneviève’s historic district that directly connects Missouri’s oldest French colonial town to the rural Mardi Gras traditions of Mamou and Iota, Louisiana. As darkness falls on December 31st, a troupe of costumed revelers—dressed in bizarre and archaic 18th and 19th-century attire, some masked in grotesque fashion reminiscent of Louisiana’s courirs de Mardi Gras—emerges to wander from business to business, home to home, singing an ancient French begging song that, according to fiddler and French music expert Dennis Stroughmatt, shares actual lyrics with the Iota Mardi Gras song. This isn’t coincidental similarity; it’s evidence of common cultural ancestry connecting these seemingly distant French traditions through centuries-old songs brought to North America by French colonists and preserved in isolated pockets where French culture remained strong enough to resist complete assimilation. “Bonsoir le maître et la maîtresse, et tous les gens de la maison” (Good evening master and mistress, and everyone who lives here too) begins the song that’s been chanted in Sainte Geneviève since the Read more…

Lavender Moon  – Holistic Wellness in Historic Ste. Genevieve Nestled in the heart of Ste. Genevieve’s charming downtown, Lavender Moon / Crone’s Cupboard offers a sanctuary for those seeking natural wellness, holistic healing, and products crafted with intention and care. This isn’t your typical gift shop—it’s a thoughtfully curated space where ancient wisdom meets modern aromatherapy practice, and where every product reflects a deep respect for the healing power of Mother Earth. Expert Aromatherapy with Two Decades of Experience At the heart of Lavender Moon is owner Kathy, a Registered Aromatherapist with an impressive 20 years of experience in the art and science of essential oils. This isn’t someone who took a weekend workshop—Kathy brings genuine expertise, deep knowledge, and a practitioner’s understanding of how aromatherapy can support wellness, balance, and healing. What makes Lavender Moon truly special is Kathy’s commitment to creating custom-made blends of essential oils tailored specifically to your personal needs. Whether you’re seeking support for better sleep, stress relief, mental clarity, emotional balance, or physical wellness, Kathy can formulate a blend that addresses your unique situation. These aren’t generic, off-the-shelf products—they’re personalized aromatherapy created with your individual needs in mind. Reiki and Aromatherapy Sessions Beyond her Read more…