Hermann to St. Charles

Running 240 miles, Katy Trail State Park is the longest rails-to-trails conversion in the U.S. and is open for hiking, running, walking and bicycling through the Missouri countryside. Alongside the trail, wineries, restaurants, bed-and-breakfast inns, hotels, campgrounds, galleries and shops are great places to take a break.

Once the site of an old silica sand quarry in Augusta, Klondike Park’s 250 acres feature more than 4 miles of natural and paved trails for hiking and biking, plus a lookout bluff that provides picturesque views of the Missouri River Valley. Camping is also available.

Explore 7,000 acres with more than 30 lakes, several hiking trails, and a full-service rifle, pistol, trap and skeet range at the August A. Busch Conservation Area and Nature Center in St. Charles. You’ll also find educational displays and naturalist-led programs.

Find co-op vegetables, local honey, fresh eggs and a vineyard at Sunflower Hill Farm in Augusta. Then enjoy mouth-watering, slow-smoked BBQ and a handpicked selection of whiskeys, moonshine and bourbon.

More than 62 varieties of fresh and smoked sausage, German specialty sausages, hickory-smoked bacon, a full-service deli, ice-cold beer and craft soda are offered at the Wurst Haus in Hermann.

Located on the south end of Main Street in St. Charles, the Old Millstream Inn offers delicious food, an extensive beer selection, a tucked-away outdoor patio and a basement bar. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner and offers a beer list of 120 brews and a wide selection of seasonal beers.

In-house roasted coffee and farm-to-table eats are what you’ll find at the Upshot Coffee Brake Shop, housed in a former brake shop in St. Charles.

There is also a location in Cottleville. 

Take a break from your day with delicious hand-dipped ice cream and freshly baked cookies at Cottleville Cookies and Cream, located in the heart of this historic town. Relax in their new dining room or take advantage of the patio during Missouri’s crisp fall weather.

Wake up to spectacular views of historic Hermann and the Missouri River, before enjoying five-star luxury service and style.

Located on Stone Row in St. Charles’ historic district, this fully restored 1800s inn offers four guestrooms, each with a private bath and jetted tub — and even includes colonial sleeping garments.

Surrounded by a wraparound porch, Lost Creek Vineyard presents stunning views from every seat, in addition to a wide wine selection. But wine is not the only reason to visit— bring your bike to explore the bluffs and river from the Katy Trail, which runs nearby.

Meaning “Court of Flowers,” Blumenhof Winery was named after the Blumenberg family’s ancestral farm in Germany. Enjoy their award-winning wine made from locally grown grapes and picnic in the large outdoor seating area.

In the heart of Augusta Wine Country, Noboleis Vineyards offers estate-grown and -produced wine that can be enjoyed by the glass in a flight and at lunch.

Four hundred feet above the Missouri River Valley on Osage Ridge, you can find breathtaking views and delicious wine. Situated inside the winery’s tasting room, the Klondike Cafe serves lunch sandwiches, salads, wraps and pizza daily.

Located in America's first Viticultural Area, Augusta Winery features estate-bottled wines and a tasting room. Bring your own picnic or purchase cheese, sausage and snacks at the winery and experience the changing leaves.

Perched on a hilltop overlooking the Missouri River Valley, Sugar Creek Winery offers wine, port, snack selections and Katy Trail access to enjoy the fall breezes.

Reminiscent of Napa Valley and Northern Italy, Chandler Hill Vineyards features a 5,000-square-foot tasting room, marketplace and restaurant, plus an additional 4,500-square-foot deck overlooking the vineyards, lake and rolling hills.

Overlooking the Femme Osage Valley, the Historic Daniel Boone Home in Defiance represents life in the early 1800s. The home sits on nearly 300 acres and overlooks “the village” — a simulated 19th-century town comprised of more than a dozen buildings, such as a general store, schoolhouse and grist mill.

Running parallel to the Missouri River, this Main Street region is Missouri's first and largest nationally registered historic district. The area’s brick-paved streets and restored buildings date back to the 1800s and are home to one-of-a-kind shops, art galleries and restaurants.

Housing full-size replicas of the keelboat and pirogues used by Lewis and Clark, this museum in St. Charles brings the Lewis and Clark Expedition to life and includes information about the Missouri River ecosystem.

Once a train car factory, this 1920s building in St. Charles’ Frenchtown district is home to the region’s interactive art center. Raising awareness and appreciation of the arts, the center offers a variety of exhibitions, studio space, performing arts and educational programs.

From 1821 to 1826, Missouri’s first state capitol was located in St. Charles before moving to Jefferson City. Explore restored governmental chambers, the governor’s office, a residence, and a dry goods store.