City: St. Louis, MO

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (618) 786-3323, ext. 1

Description: With plenty of winding roads, hilly terrain, and a plethora of hiking and biking trials, Pere Marquette has no shortage of green space or scenic overlooks. The facility provides plenty of places to camp, fish, bird-watch, and go horseback riding, as well as any number of ways to relax and enjoy the serenity of nature. The upper picnic area offers great scenery, with a view overlooking the majestic Mississippi River, plus occasional visits from the deer, squirrels, and other wildlife who call the park home. A nature-lover’s paradise, this 8,000-acre park is famous for the exceptional beauty of its fall colors and for its bald eagles during the winter. Pere Marquette’s visitor center offers a three-dimensional map of the park, a 300-gallon aquarium, and a wealth of exhibits about the Illinois River, wildlife habitat, and local history.