Follow the Missouri River west from St. Charles to Hermann for a fall road trip full of cobblestone streets, hillside wineries, wine slushies, and a surprise white-sand park, ending in a charming small town rich with German heritage and history.
Boone's Colonial Inn
Located right on Main Street in St. Charles, this boutique hotel set the mood for our trip. The porch overlooked the cobblestone Main Street, and parking was included, making it easy to walk to everything along Main Street and into Frenchtown.
Room:
Napoleon Suite
See More
BookPicasso's Coffee
If you're looking for good coffee, fun seasonal specials, and a quick breakfast bite, Picasso's is the spot. It's an easy walk from Boone's Colonial Inn. My husband is picky about his coffee, and even he enjoyed Picasso's roast!
Ordered:
Black Coffee
Egg & Pepper Sandwich
Maple Spice Sweet Cream Cold Brew
Breakfast Burrito
Picasso Peach Smoothie
See MoreThe Main House
We had brunch here on our first day and loved this charming spot. We didn't need a reservation, but I would recommend making one on busy weekends, especially during Oktoberfest or other event weekends. They offer both patio and indoor seating, along with a large menu with plenty of options.
Ordered:
Cobb Salad
Avocado Toast
French Toast
See MoreFratelli's Ristorante
Fratelli's was a filling dinner and the perfect spot after a long day of exploring. I highly recommend making a reservation for dinner. We had one, but the wait for walk-ins was over an hour when we were there. And definitely get the toasted ravioli!
See MoreKlondike Park
This is one of those "I can't believe this is here" spots. You're driving through tree-lined roads and then suddenly pull into a park with an overlook hike and a lakeside path lined with white sand.
Our daughter loved being able to stretch her legs at the park, and the landscape was such a unique surprise on our drive from St. Charles to Hermann. Definitely worth a stop if you're looking for a scenic break along the way!
See MoreMontelle Winery
Beautiful views just outside the town of Augusta. We split a flight and a charcuterie pretzel, the perfect "girl dinner," even though my husband was with me. 😂 There's plenty of seating, and did I mention the views?
See MoreThe Inn at Hermannhof
Located right in the heart of Hermann, The Inn at Hermannhof was another very walkable stay. A sit-down breakfast was included with our room rate, and we enjoyed eggs, toast, potatoes, and a parfait each morning.
They also have standalone residences up the hill, which is where we stayed. Our room comfortably fit my husband, me, and our two girls, and children are welcome in the standalone residences. The view overlooking the town was amazing and made for the perfect spot to watch the sunset.
Room:
The Violin Shop
See MoreStone Hill Winery
This was one of my favorite parts of the trip! The free tour is about 30 minutes, and I learned so much history about Stone Hill Winery and the surrounding area.
After the tour, you can add on a wine tasting or be like me: grab a wine slushy and sip it while taking in the views overlooking the winery.
Be sure to head over to Vintage 1847 Restaurant for lunch or dinner after your tour.
See MoreHermannhof Winery
Cute patio with tastings offered inside, plus flights and slushies outside. We grabbed a bottle to take back to our stay since we were driving, and it was such a lovely way to end our day!
See MoreHermann 1837 Cellar Bar
We ate from the takeout window on the patio and grabbed drinks in the Cellar Bar. It gave us major German vibes and was such a low-key way to end our day. Great community feel, no frills, and live music seven days a week!
See MoreVintage 1847 Restaurant
This part of the trip reminded me so much of New Ulm, Minnesota, just a few hours from where I grew up. The German heritage, rich history, and cozy fall atmosphere made this one of my favorite stops.
With so much history to explore and plenty of delicious bites along the way, Hermann is the perfect fall getaway. And while we were already on-site at the winery, we couldn’t pass up a German beer and some traditional German fare!
See More
