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Visit St. Charles, Missouri

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Founded by French Canadians in 1769, St. Charles was first known as Les Petites Cotes—“the little hills”—a reference to the low bluffs that form a picturesque backdrop along the Missouri River. Present-day Missouri was then part of a vast territory under Spanish rule, although many of those who came to the region to start a new life were French nationals. But also among the arrivals was an American pioneer and soon-to-be folk hero named Daniel Boone; he and much of his extended family settled in nearby Defiance.

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The Westin St. Louis

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TownePlace Suites by Marriott Brentwood

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St. Louis Union Station Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton

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Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch

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SpringHill Suites by Marriott St. Louis Brentwood

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SpringHill Suites by Marriott-St. Louis Airport/Earth City

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Sheraton Westport Plaza Tower

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Sheraton Westport Lakeside Chalet

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Marriott St. Louis Grand

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Marriott-St. Louis Airport

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EDITOR PICKWow Your Kids at a National ParkAAA Club Alliance, Erin Gifford09/24/2024 : From scavenger hunts to fossil digs, activities at national parks are sure to please young travelers. Here are the best things to do with kids at national parks.Wow Your Kids at a National Park
EDITOR PICKTop 7 Places to Get Your Geek OnAAA Travel Editorial Team03/21/2024 : Searching for a fun theme for your trip? These attractions, restaurants and hotels are among the best things to do for a self-professed geek.Top 7 Places to Get Your Geek On
EDITOR PICKChicago to Oklahoma City: 8-Day Road Trip Inspired by AAA Route 66 Road FestAAA Travel Editorial Team04/07/2023 : Celebrate America's Mother Road with this trip from Chicago to Oklahoma. Whether road-tripping solo or in a motor coach as part of a vacation package, expect to travel in style with this road trip itinerary inspired by the AAA Route 66 Road Fest.Chicago to Oklahoma City: 8-Day Road Trip Inspired by AAA Route 66 Road Fest
EDITOR PICK7 of the Most Stunning Botanical Gardens in AmericaAAA Travel Editor, Frank Swanson04/05/2023 : One of the best things to do on vacation is to explore botanical gardens. These seven gardens offer a peaceful retreat for both mind and spirit and provide fun things to do with family.7 of the Most Stunning Botanical Gardens in America
ARTICLESt. Charles Founded by French Canadians in 1769, St. Charles was first known as Les Petites Cotes—“the little hills”—a reference to the low bluffs that form a picturesque backdrop along the Missouri River. Present-day Missouri was then part of a vast territory under Spanish rule, although many of those who came to the region to start a new life were French nationals. But also among the arrivals was an American pioneer and soon-to-be folk hero named Daniel Boone; he and much of his extended family settled in nearby Defiance.St. Charles
NATIONAL PARKAbraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park Three miles south of Hodgenville on US 31E and SR 61, Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park preserves the birthplace of the 16th U.S. president. Lincoln was born on Feb. 12, 1809, in a one-room log cabin at Sinking Spring Farm, where he lived for the first 2.5 years of his life.Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
NATIONAL PARKBuffalo National River Reached via US 65 or SRs 7, 14 or 21 in northwestern Arkansas, Buffalo National River stretches through the rugged Ozark Mountains. While the Buffalo River courses 150 miles through the Ozarks, only its lower 135 miles and adjacent land are designated a national river. To protect the natural beauty of this area, Congress declared it a national river in 1972, thereby preserving it from development and population encroachment.Buffalo National River
NATIONAL PARKEffigy Mounds National Monument Three miles north of Marquette on SR 76, Effigy Mounds National Monument extends 3 miles along the bluffs of the Mississippi River and covers 2,526 acres. The Yellow River divides the tract into two sections. The 206 mounds, some built in the shape of animals and birds, contain the remains of a Native American society that lived in this region between 1,000 and 2,500 years ago. At the visitor center a video and museum explain the history of the mounds.Effigy Mounds National Monument
NATIONAL PARKFort Donelson National Battlefield On the Cumberland River near Dover, Fort Donelson National Battlefield embraces the area where the first major Federal victory of the Civil War was won. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant began the campaign in February 1862 to gain control of the Mississippi Valley and bisect the South.Fort Donelson National Battlefield
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