Anyone else have cabin fever yet? We are so tired of the dreary days and blistering cold temperatures. Our February outdoor to do list for this month, we focused on local, St. Louis events to help get you out of the house and having fun!
Find a trail and start running or hiking!
Just because the ground is still frozen, doesn’t mean you have to put away your running shoes. There are plenty of trails and parks in the St. Louis area that are open all year long. Get out and explore the beautiful scenery that St. Louis has to offer! Here is a list of several trails that members of the Dowco staff visit often:
- Castlewood State Park
- Babler State Park
- Creve Coeur Park
- Al Foster Memorial Trail
- Katy Trail
- Rockwoods Reservation
Mardi Gras Pet Parade!
When most people think of Mardi Gras, they think of beads and partying. This year, try the other components of the Mardi Gras celebration with your furry friends and family. The Beggin' Strips Barkus Pet Parade is held in Soulard the weekend before the Grand Parade and other Mardi Gras festivities occur. It begins at Allen and Menard and ends near Soulard Market Park. You can register your pet for the parade for $10 and all entry fees go to Open Door Animal Sanctuary, a no-kill shelter in House Springs, MO.
After the parade, you can head over to the Petsmart Weiner Dog Derby beginning at 2PM at Soulard Market Park. At this event, Daschunds of different varieties race in different age brackets. The cost to race is $10 per dog with a portion of the money raised going to the Dachshund Rescue Foundation.
Do some eagle watching!
Get out and observe some of the country’s largest birds of prey at several locations right over the border. This is the time of year when thousands of eagles migrate back to the cold waters of Illinois and Mississippi Rivers and stay until March. As you plan your day of eagle watching, be sure to visit the Alton Visitor Center for information first. The following locations are great for spotting eagles:
- Pere Marquette State Park
- Brussels Ferry
- Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge
- Melvin Price Locks and Dam
Try something different!
Have you ever heard of the Maple Sugar Festival? Neither have we, but it’s right in your backyard! This annual event at the Rockwoods Reservation brings in people from all over the St. Louis area to learn how to make that succulent syrup you put on your pancakes in the morning. You can learn the process from tapping the trees for sap to boiling down the maple sugar so you can literally make maple syrup and sugar in your own backyard! This event is on February 1 from 10AM-3PM at the Rockwoods Reservation.
What would you add to our February Outdoor To Do List? We'd love to hear from you!
