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If you're in the Ellisville, Missouri, area, your options are plentiful. Here are a few of our favorite coffee shops and cafes we think you should check out in the Ellisville area: Donut Palace If you're looking for a classic coffee and donut shop, head to the Donut Palace. Their fresh-made donuts and quality coffees are one of the best ways to start the day in Ellisville. They have a wide variety of donut styles to choose from, so you're sure to find something that fits your palate. Whether you want to be royalty at the office or slip away solo for a refresher, Donut Palace has your back. The Wolf Cafe The Wolf Cafe is a crowd-favorite that's worth visiting multiple times to try everything they have to offer. Its chic atmosphere and focus on real, thoughtfully made food pair well with their coffee selection. They have all the espresso-based drinks you'd expect from a well-established coffee shop, but it's their brews that we keep coming back for. They offer bottomless cups of drip coffee, cold brews, nitro cold brews, and Vietnamese coffee. If you're at The Wolf Cafe for lunch, make sure you also try one of their fantastic sandwiches to stay fueled for the day. more 6 North Cafe Need a hand-crafted latte to warm you up? Try Ballwin's 6 North Cafe. They have a coffee menu that covers all your coffee shop staples, as well as great breakfast and lunch options to complete your experience. They've been bringing some of the best coffee to the area since 2005, and they show no signs of slowing. Grab a breakfast sandwich or wrap to start your day off, or choose one of their soups, salads, or crisp sandwiches for lunch. The Miller Haus Head over to Wildwood, less than 10 miles east of Ellisville, for the Miller Haus, a coffee shop that you could easily spend hours in. This MIller Haus is a beautiful space that lends itself well to the tasty coffee its baristas brew. This coffee shop prides itself on being a community space where people can lounge, meet with coworkers and friends, and even bring their dogs (in the outside area). More Than Coffee If you're looking to make a difference in your community just by buying a cup of coffee, head to More Than Coffee in Ballwin. This coffee shop is owned by the Extreme St. Louis Charitable Foundation, and a portion of the profits go to helping special needs youth. So, you can feel good in two ways: by warming up with a good cup of coffee and by giving to those in need. Nothing warms the soul quite as well as a good cup of coffee. Whether you're a black coffee aficionado or a sweet espresso drink seeker, you'll find what you need at these top-notch coffee shops in and around Ellisville, Missouri. Image via Pixabay.

Every city has a history filled with facts and figures; what they also have in common are bits and pieces of interesting information. St. Louis has its own story to tell. Find out about some of the fun facts that tell the tale. Wainwright Building As skyscrapers go, there are more than a few towering buildings around the world that stand tall into the sky; many competing with the clouds. In St. Louis, there's a 10-story high-rise called the Wainwright Building. Designed in 1891 by architects Sullivan and Adler, this National Historic Landmark has the distinction of being one of the first high-rise buildings in the world. You can visit the Wainwright Building in downtown St. Louis. Grant's Farm Since 1852, Anheuser Busch has made its home in St. Louis. One of the most popular attractions of the major brewing company through the years has been its stable of Clydesdales. The horses are housed nearby at historic Grant's Farm, named after Ulysses S. Grant, who originally owned the property. more Peanut Butter Peanut butter has a very long history that begins with ancient Aztec and Incas who turned the crunchy peanut into a palatable paste. Fast forward to 1903 when Dr. Ambrose Straub of St. Louis, developed and patented a machine that turned peanuts into today's version of peanut butter. Waffle Ice Cream Cones A year after Italo Marchiony was awarded a patent for producing the first ice cream cone, in 1904 at the St. Louis World's Fair, the waffle cone came into creation by Ernest A. Hamwi. The invention wasn't planned. During the fair, an ice cream vendor whose booth was next to Hamwi who was selling pastries, ran out of cups to serve fairgoers fresh ice cream. Seeing the dilemma, Hamwi rolled up one of the waffle pastries he was baking to form a cone, also referred to at that time as a cornucopia. The vendor took it, filled it with ice cream, and the rest is history. In 1906, Stephen Sullivan of Missouri became one of the first independent entrepreneurs serving ice cream in creative cones at Missouri events. While Sullivan was busy serving cones, Hamwi started the Cornucopia Waffle Company and later the Missouri Cone Company. The Naming of St. Louis Before becoming the busy metropolis it is today, St. Louis was a fur-trading village founded by Frenchmen Pierre Laclede and Auguste Chouteau. When choosing a name for the village, Laclede chose St. Louis in honor of French King Louis IX, an acknowledged Anglican patron saint. Brown Shoe Company Back in the day, shoes men's and women's shoes weren't always discernible from one another and they weren't created for the difference between the right and left foot. In 1878, George Warren Brown changed the "sole" of the industry when he formed the Brown Shoe Company with the focus on designing shoes for men and women and creating them to fit properly for each foot. In 1913, the company made it to the New York Stock Exchange. In 2015, the company changed its name to Caleres, which means "passionate to glow." Take a trip through time and uncover the many interesting fun facts that will have you coming back to discover more. Image via Flickr by Akihito Fujii | CC BY-SA 2.0.

Fall is just around the corner in St. Louis, Missouri. If you haven't blocked out your calendar with dozens of fun events and activities and are looking for something to do, you don't need to worry. There are tons of activities to keep you busy, and we've compiled a list of the top ways to enjoy the fall this year. Visit A Local Farm There are plenty of local farms around St. Louis that will be ripe with fall fun. The town of Belleville, Illinois, lies just 30 minutes east of St. Louis. There, you'll find Braeutigam Orchards, which offers apple picking, hay rides, delicious cider donuts and more. If you're a baker, you'll love the selection of fall apple varietals, such as Jonathan, Golden Delicious, Fuji, and Gold Rush. Pin Oak Farms is a bit further away at close to an hour out, however, the destination is worth the journey from St. Louis, Missouri. The farm includes free admission, free parking, and free hayrides to the pumpkin patch, which is plenty of fun even if you aren't buying a pumpkin. During fall, the grounds are littered with fun activities for the whole family, including a kid corral, corn maze, straw bale maze, farm animals, and more. more Check Out the Missouri Botanical Garden With the season comes, it brings amazing foliage that's bursting with exciting, vibrant colors. One great way to see fall's most iconic traits is to head over to the Missouri Botanical Garden. The grounds span 79 acres where you can find some peace by Japanese style waterfalls or check out the massive domed greenhouse. Forest Park and Citygarden are two other options to spend some time outdoors and take in some beautiful foliage. If the stars align, you'll find yourself at the botanical garden during the first weekend in October. If you do, you'll find yourself in what's called the Best of Missouri Market. On this weekend, the gardens are transformed into a massive market featuring incredible products that were either grown or made in Missouri. The exciting experience paired with great foliage makes it a can't miss opportunity. Attend the Shrewsbury Fall Festival Another way to enjoy the season around St. Louis, Missouri is to check out the many festivals that take place during the fall. One of the more popular festivals takes place about 20 minutes to the southwest in Shrewsbury, Missouri. This event is fun for everyone whether you have kids or are just going with some friends. The festival takes place on October 5th and runs from 2 p.m. - 9 p.m. Different activities will be operating throughout the day, so be sure to check the schedule to better plan your day. Some of the activities include inflatable structures, a craft beer tent, games, hayrides, live music, and even a petting zoo. There are countless opportunities for fall fun in St. Louis, Missouri. Head out to one of these few activities and you're guaranteed to create lasting memories with your friends and loved ones. Image via Flickr by JazzChick | CC BY-SA 2.0.