By Sally Tippett Rains
“Where did the summer go? “That is being heard all over the area as suddenly families are realizing the end of the summer is coming and they are trying to pack as much into it as they can.
This time of year is both exciting and stressful. Parents are hurriedly trying to get all the school supplies, school clothes and be sure they have their children enrolled in whatever they are planning on. The kids of course for the most part are just wanting to hold onto a few more days of summer– and you can help them.
If you find a hotel close to you or the area you are thinking about going– or even camping like the KOA Campground or Jellystone Park– you can make your own last-minute vacation.
We found out this week there are 23 Drury-owned properties in the Greater St. Louis Area. That’s a lot of hotels, and there are more located all over the United States. They always have such an inviting lobby, like the one shown right, at the Drury in Arnold, our featured hotel for today.
When thinking about a hotel in St. Louis many think of downtown where the sports teams and Union Station are. You may also want one near Six Flags. There are also Drurys on the East Side of the Mississippi.
Our tour guides showed us around the hotel with all of its recent remodeling just completed. Besides the beautiful lobby, there is an office area, a little store in case you forgot something and a meeting room.
Most of the Drury Hotels have been getting face lifts or complete remodels over the past several years and the one located off of highway 55 just south of St. Louis is in the category of looking brand-new.
While Devereaux and Nischwitz were the perfect guides for the hotel, Arnold resident Tim Seidenstricker who has served as the Mayor Pro Tempore and as an Arnold City Councilman in the past served as our expert on the town.
Seidenstricker was born in St. Louis and grew up in Pevely but moved to Arnold in 2012. He has lived in Arnold for 11 years and gave us some great ideas for what to do there.
“Arnold has some wonderful places to shop and many places for dining,” he said. “We have some great parks but beyond that, we have some of the nicest people you will ever meet.”
And Kimmswick is only nine minutes away.
“Kimmswick is a very neat, historic area,” said Seidenstricker
It’s a small picturesque town nestled along the banks of the Mississippi River, with a rich history dating back to the 1850s. It is known for its preserved historic buildings, quaint shops, and warm Midwestern hospitality.
There are some delicious and unique restaurants there including the iconic Blue Owl; and the Dough Depot which has amazing food, with many of the entrees being made from fresh pretzels. There are many other restaurants along with fun shops.
Cindy Schmidt is the owner and she always seeks out both unique and popular gift items.
“We try to carry something for everyone,” said Schmidt. “We carry Southern Tees, Vera Bradley items, Happy Everything giftware, backpacks for back to school, and much more. We pride ourselves with our customer service and and welcome all to our fun, happy place.”
After shopping there several times, we can attest that is a fun, happy place. Cindy Schmidt is proud of the entire town of Kimmswick.
Kimmswick has long been a destination for shoppers during the Christmas Holiday season and each year they host the Apple Butter Festival in October.This year, it is the weekend of October 28-29, 2023, 10am – 5pm both days.
“We have 28 shops,” Cindy Schmidt says. The Kimmswick merchants like to promote each other and she also mentioned the three restaurants and the winery.
“LaChance Winery in Kimmswick is great also,” said Seidenstricker.
LaChance Winery, 6035 2nd St, Kimmswick, MO 63053, is a family-owned winery (in Kimmswick) and they have a vineyard nestled amidst the picturesque, rolling hills of nearby De Soto, Missouri. They serve fine wines, and visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of their vineyards.
Another day trip nearby is Mastodon State Park and Historic Site, which is just seven minutes away by car. Mastodon State Park 1050 Charles J Becker Dr, Imperial, MO 63052 is at the same exit as Kimmswick so you could go check out the Mastodon Visitor Center and then eat lunch in Kimmswick.
“Mastodon State Park is a good place to go,” said Seidenstricker. “There is a small, but very nice museum with a replica of mastodon. And a nice smaller trail perfect for kids.”
If you have kids, ask for a scavenger hunt sheet at Mastodon, and the kids will enjoy looking for things in the Visitors Center.
There is a short movie which is very interesting and a life-sized mastodon skeleton, shown in the photo, right.
It was put there to give you a chance to take a deep breath and be mindful of the peaceful surroundings you are in before starting the hike. This is found at the start of the hike, on the way to the Visitors Center. There are two trails, the Spring Branch Trail, Wildflower Trail and Lime Hill. Just being out in the woods with your family or even by yourself can be just what you need during these busy days.
Once you are out on a hiking trail you won’t remember where you are, you will be a thousand miles away in your peaceful thoughts.
If you want to know more about Mastodon State Park, CLICK HERE.
For families with children there is a playground and horse shoe pit.
Besides the playground area, there is a paved ½ mile hiking trail, volleyball poles, and restrooms. If you enjoy being in the outdoors but would rather not be in the middle of the woods like at Mastedon Park, a walk around the lake might be for you.
Seidenstricker has many good things to say about Arnold and why you should go there. He also likes the close proximity to South County.
“We share a border with St. Louis County,” he says. “I recommend Suson Animal Park. Technically in St. Louis County, but only minutes from Arnold. There is a playground and live animals to see. And of course Downtown St. Louis is only about 15 minutes away.”
And here’s a little known fact from Seidenstricker: “Arnold has the largest Anheuser-Busch can factory in the world.”
Since 2012, Anheuser-Busch has made a significant investment in Metal Container Corporation (MCC) facility in Arnold to increase production of cans both for beer and soft drinks.
Anyone who reads STLSportsPage.com on a regular basis knows that Drury Hotels are our sponsors. We do not tout them because they are our sponsors—we want them as sponsors because we love the hotels.
While many hotels have gotten on the bandwagon and provide a free breakfast, none have the “Country Fresh” scrambled eggs with the shredded cheddar cheese – and the Kelso Brothers coffee. That’s always our staple breakfast; the Kelso Brothers Coffee is delicious.
Kelso Brothers coffee is named for the small town that the original Drury family grew up in: Kelso, Missouri near Cape Girardeau.
One of the main reasons we love the Drury Hotels is they still have the “family” and “small town” values and commitment to service– while they have grown way beyond their initial vision and have some of the most innovative ideas and hotels you will find anywhere.
Drury Hotels and the Drury family do so much for the community and when we want to shine the light on them in that area, they remain humble and modest but they have helped so many charities, churches, and communities in so many ways. Chuck Drury who heads up the hotel division and his staff instill in their employees the ethics of Chuck’s late and great father, Charles Drury which include hard work and being nice to people.
Drury Hotels all have pools, free wifi, large lobbies, and their signature popcorn popping in the late afternoon. If you haven’t checked out a Drury Hotel, at least check out their website so you can see all the locations for when you plan your next trip.
And while you are looking, maybe you will find a good location and take a short trip this week. When you make your reservations, don’t forget to use the promo code: SPORTS.
Today, Richard’s son Dr. Kyle Tosie has joined the family business after Richard’s retirement. They are located in Arnold at 3855 W Outer Rd, Arnold, MO 63010. They are a great group of people, so if you are looking for a dentist, call Tosie Dental: (636) 296-4800 or check out their website: TosieDental.com
