Much of what we write about here at reallifestl.com is social in nature. It’s much about places or events that bring people together to share in experience. Klondike Park is not that. And getting away from it all is important from time to time.

Mother’s Day Retreat

Our family went to Klondike Park, in St. Charles County, over the weekend for some down time. We needed a little time away from the soccer, the gymnastics, the house, the job and the here and the there. And, we needed to celebrate Mom. Klondike offered just the type of refuge we needed.

The kids had a chance to capture and release lizards and other fun bugs. They also had the chance to catch and release some crazy cool fish. My son even caught a large-mouth bass that measured 37 inches in length and weighed 14 pounds. All on a professional spider man rod and reel that was equipped with a 2 pound line. Okay – it was really kind of small, at least as large-mouth bass go. But I couldn’t resist the urge to throw in an exaggerated fish tale.

My wife and I had the chance to walk the tranquil trail that hugs the shore of the open yet secluded lake. Holding hands and walking in silence – just being. It was a far cry from the hustle of our daily lives. And just what we needed in the way of reconnecting.

Discovery

Klondike is unique in the sense that it’s built on a former sand quarry. It’s part of a regeneration program whose aim is to bring the land back to its highest and best use. I found that to be super cool.

The other thing that I found to be super cool is that Klondike offers three types of camping opportunities: primitive, semi-protected and fully protected cabins. As you can image the primitive sites offer nothing more than a picnic table and a fire pit. They are really arranged for those who like to rough it. The semi-protected sites offer a little more upscale picnic table with covered protection. And a built up fire pit that is ripe for evening fireside storytelling. The fully protected cabins, while being a luxury, don’t offer running water, heat, air conditioning or even a kitchen. They serve one purpose – a comfortable place to sleep. And, the respective price points fit any budget starting at just $7 a night.

Check it out

The parks website really doesn’t give the full picture of this quaint getaway destination. It does shed a little more light on some things that I have omitted for sake of time. It’s totally worth the one hour trip from downtown St. Louis. If you need solitude, it’s a great place to clear the head. If you want to hang with friends for the day, it’s a great place to picnic, toss the frisbee and hike around. If you need to get the family out of the house, it’s great for kids and adults of all ages.

In addition to Klondike Park, Galena, IL is a beautiful place to go for some R&R that is not too far from St. Louis and offers beautiful scenery and great attractions.

Favorite Places 

Klondike Park is now on my list of favorite places within an hour of STL. What are some of yours?

 

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