We have some awesome destinations in the western reaches of St. Charles County. In fact, why not combine forces and look for a multitude of options in Historic Missouri Wine Country? You can get your history fix at the Daniel Boone Home & Boonefield Village (www.lindenwood.edu.boone), relish the vista views at more than 10 wineries in Defiance and Augusta and while you're there? Did you know you can actually take tours that come complete w/ transportation for a group of any size? Yep, focus areas include, history, shopping and wineries. To schedule a guided tour, call (314) 223-3423 or go to www.historicstcharles.com for more info.

When planning for a teen date night, I would check all of your local parks to see if there are activities that might be interesting. For example, why not make a whole day out of it - grab some card board boxes and duct tape and make a boat for the two of you to enter the Cardboard Boat Races at Progress Park on August 9th - the fee is only $10!

Or you could make your very own box car and come to the drive in movie, "Winnie The Pooh" at Rotary Park on August 3rd. It's free to get in and refreshments are available at very affordable prices - or you could just pack a picnic and bring your own.

If you are looking for something a little more active, register for a free program called "Songs of the Night Nature Walk". It's on August 10 at 8pm at the lower area of Rotary Park. Listen to the song of the birds, the chorus of insects and maybe even see some wild life.

Check the city website at www.wentzvillemo.org/parks for these activities and more!

Tamara, if I were still a teen a good activity to include in "date night" would be a trip to the St Louis Carousel at Faust Park. It only costs $2 to ride the carousel and it really is a magical experience...

Great suggestion, Dottie, for the region is blessed with a wide variety of local options for Parks & Recreation. Here are some helpful links your entire family can use to access green space and keep costs to a minimum:
. St. Louis County -- http://www.stlouisco.com/ParksandRecreation
. St. Louis City -- http://stlouis-mo.gov/by-topics-term.cfm?termID=155&termName=Parks%20and%20Gardens&topTermName=Leisure%20and%20Culture
. St. Charles County -- http://parks.sccmo.org/parks/
. St. Charles City -- www.stcharlesparks.com
. Franklin County -- http://thebigmuddy.net/franklin_county_map.html
. Warren County -- http://warrencountymo.org/
. Lincoln County -- http://www.lcmo.us/

Climb to the top of the Weldon Spring Mound an half hour before sunset for a spectacular view. It can be windy so take a jacket and a thermos of hot cocoa for a little treat as you watch the sun set. FREE!!!! and romantic:)
Visitors Guide to the Weldon Spring Site & Interpretive Center
S7295 Highway 94 South
St. Charles County, Missouri
636-329-1438

P.S. And, as Dottie mentions above, don't forget to check out our state parks, too! http://mostateparks.com/

Brian... the Convention & Visitors Bureau actually distributed an E-Newsletter to visitors this July, entitled "Beat the Heat" to focus on indoor activities and museums. Demolition Ball & Adrenaline Zone (www.db-az.com) is a unique game that combines hockey, football, polo & basketball -- played in bumper cars. Also the Lewis & Clark Boathouse and Nature Center, Foundry Art Centre, and Frenchtown Heritage Museum are indoor attractions.

I've played Demolition Ball before, but not in St. Charles. It's a lot of fun!

Good idea Donna! Although I've never been there before, I feel like I've been every season considering the amounts of advertising they do along the highways. I've even seen a billboard for Meramec Caverns once in northern Texas (or maybe it was Oklahoma). Can you believe that?!?

Here is a link to a coupon for the Caverns: http://www.visitmo.com/meramec-caverns.aspx

Kalen, you are so right. Let's talk about eating. People can easily get into a routine of visiting the same restaurants. As a staycationer take off those blinders and try something new. Indulge in a Chef's Table at the Four Seasons, pick up a copy of either FEAST or Sauce magazines to learn about new/hightly regarded restaurants in the area. In terms of activities, many organizations maintain a Calendar of Events. Log on and find something interesting (Opera, free concerts, festivals). Try www.explorestlouis.com. Everything and anything you wanted to know about touring STL is at your fingertips - it's the virtual Visitor Guide everyone picks up when exploring a new destination.

Take a scenic drive to the Historic Missouri Wine Country along Highway 94 south for wine sampling and live music on the weekends. Explore the quaint town of Augusta. Explore your own city, with a trip to Historic Main Street for shopping and dining -- enjoy a walk along the brick streets and of course, stop for an ice cream along the way or cool drink.

Kalen,
Again, I have to suggest your local, county and state parks. There are so many different things to do and they are often free of charge. Have you camped in one of the state parks lately?
Another great activity would be visiting the Daniel Boone Home and Boonesfield Village? This is a great opportunity to learn some local history! You can visit their website at:
http://www.danielboonehome.com/

Visit the St. Charles CVB's website for discounts available at restaurants, shops, lodging, & more.
http://www.historicstcharles.com/visitors/coupons/
Great way to find some deals!

Build a daily itinerary for your staycation just like you would if visiting a location out-of-town. Get everyone in the family to chime in re: "must see and do" activities. I agree with Donna...residents of the region have access to both the St. Louis CVC (www.explorestlouis.com) and the Greater Saint Charles CVB (www.historicstcharles.com); both sites provide not only a wealth of info about the region, but also offer "travel planning" tips that will make it easy for your family to pack as much punch as possible into each and every day!

You are right Jordan. I took my nieces and nephews and they had a "ball."

Camping outside isn't appealing with this heat, so why not camp inside? Move some furniture around and put the tent up in the living room. Better yet build a fort! Make the experience complete with grilled burgers, corn on the cob, potato salad, s'mores, etc.

Kalen... Saint Charles doesn't have a riverboat anymore along the Missouri River, but I have been on the paddle-wheel by the Arch that Dottie mentioned -- a really fun trip!