Ste. Genevieve County

Maybe you've been to France, and would love to go again. Or maybe a trip to Pari is on your bucket list. Good news! You can take a mini trip to the city of love the weekend of Aug. 12—and you don't even need airline tickets.

By foot is the best way to see Pickle Creek, sandstone landscapes, shut-ins, and distinctive flora. Rose azaleas accent fern-covered ledges and Whispering Pine Wild Area beckons you to discover the wonders this State Park has to offer.

We searched every corner of Missouri for hidden gems—fascinating but sometimes overlooked places that are worth the drive. Where will this southeast Missouri hidden gems road trip, with places suggested by Missouri Life ambassadors, take you?

On this date in Missouri history: Missouri lawmakers kickstart “Plank Road Mani.” The biggest, longest, and most planked road in America, the Missouri Plank Road, eventually stretched more than 42 miles, running from Sainte Genevieve through Farmington to Iron Mountain.

The 2021 Christmas Country Church Tour, set for December 16-17, encompasses more than thirty churches in tiny hamlets, villages, and towns spread across Perry, Bollinger, Ste. Genevieve and Cape Girardeau counties in southeastern Missouri, and one in Kaskaskia, Ill. All but three of the church buildings are more than 100 years old; three churches recently celebrated their 200th anniversaries. Each church on the free, self-guided driving tour is staffed with volunteers eager to share information about the church’s history and traditions.