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There are plenty of places within easy reach of Ellisville where you can see our native animal species in the wild. You can also see more unusual or endangered animals at centers where the staff work hard to protect and, where possible, reintroduce them into their natural habitat. Here are four of the best locations to check out the wildlife. Castlewood State Park Less than five miles from Ellisville lies the Castlewood State Park, once a popular party resort for people escaping the city of St. Louis in the early 1900s. The park is now a natural haven of almost 2,000 acres, where you can follow the 26-miles of trails which take in the park's ridges and valleys and the banks of the Meramec River. The park is a great place for bird watching with 191 species recorded, including many waterfowl, vultures, hawks, kingfishers, great blue herons, wild turkeys, and bald eagles. You may also be fortunate enough to spot mink, river otters, beavers, skunks, and white-tailed deer, among others. more Lone Elk Park During WWII, this area was used for the storage and testing of ammunition. After the war, it became a county park and herds of bison and elk were established. However, during the Korean War, the park was taken back by the government and the herds were destroyed. A single bull elk survived and the park's name was later changed to Lone Elk Park. In the 1960s, the herds were re-established and still thrive. Designated as a wildlife management area, the park is home to elk, deer, bison, wild turkey and many bird species. The best time to see the herd animals is before 8 a.m. when the staff feeds them. World Bird Sanctuary Next door to Lone Elk Park is the World Bird Sanctuary set up in 305 acres of forest. The mission of the sanctuary is a combination of rescue, rehabilitation, research, and education. There are large enclosures for non-releasable birds, and you'll see bald eagles, peregrine falcons, red-tailed hawks, pelicans, a variety of owls, and more. Other animals at the sanctuary include snakes and bats. The sanctuary runs free family-friendly seasonal shows where you can meet some of the animals close up. Endangered Wolf Center Around 14 miles from Ellisville is one of St. Louis' best-kept secrets, the Endangered Wolf Center, which was set up more than 40 years ago. The dedicated staff at the nonprofit wildlife facility want to see a world in which endangered wolves can exist and thrive in their natural habitat. At the center, you'll find Mexican wolves, red wolves, and maned wolves, as well as other canid species, such as African painted dogs, swift foxes, and fennec foxes. You can symbolically adopt individual animals or an entire pack in return for membership of the Endangered Wolf Center and additional benefits. A visit to these parks and animal sanctuaries enables you to enjoy Missouri's native animals in their natural habitat and contribute to the conservation of endangered species. Image via Flickr by pasa47 | CC BY 2.0.

There are plenty of places within easy reach of Ellisville where you can see our native animal species in the wild. You can also see more unusual or endangered animals at centers where the staff work hard to protect and, where possible, reintroduce them into their natural habitat. Here are four of the best locations to check out the wildlife. Castlewood State Park Less than five miles from Ellisville lies the Castlewood State Park, once a popular party resort for people escaping the city of St. Louis in the early 1900s. The park is now a natural haven of almost 2,000 acres, where you can follow the 26-miles of trails which take in the park's ridges and valleys and the banks of the Meramec River. The park is a great place for bird watching with 191 species recorded, including many waterfowl, vultures, hawks, kingfishers, great blue herons, wild turkeys, and bald eagles. You may also be fortunate enough to spot mink, river otters, beavers, skunks, and white-tailed deer, among others. more Lone Elk Park During WWII, this area was used for the storage and testing of ammunition. After the war, it became a county park and herds of bison and elk were established. However, during the Korean War, the park was taken back by the government and the herds were destroyed. A single bull elk survived and the park's name was later changed to Lone Elk Park. In the 1960s, the herds were re-established and still thrive. Designated as a wildlife management area, the park is home to elk, deer, bison, wild turkey and many bird species. The best time to see the herd animals is before 8 a.m. when the staff feeds them. World Bird Sanctuary Next door to Lone Elk Park is the World Bird Sanctuary set up in 305 acres of forest. The mission of the sanctuary is a combination of rescue, rehabilitation, research, and education. There are large enclosures for non-releasable birds, and you'll see bald eagles, peregrine falcons, red-tailed hawks, pelicans, a variety of owls, and more. Other animals at the sanctuary include snakes and bats. The sanctuary runs free family-friendly seasonal shows where you can meet some of the animals close up. Endangered Wolf Center Around 14 miles from Ellisville is one of St. Louis' best-kept secrets, the Endangered Wolf Center, which was set up more than 40 years ago. The dedicated staff at the nonprofit wildlife facility want to see a world in which endangered wolves can exist and thrive in their natural habitat. At the center, you'll find Mexican wolves, red wolves, and maned wolves, as well as other canid species, such as African painted dogs, swift foxes, and fennec foxes. You can symbolically adopt individual animals or an entire pack in return for membership of the Endangered Wolf Center and additional benefits. A visit to these parks and animal sanctuaries enables you to enjoy Missouri's native animals in their natural habitat and contribute to the conservation of endangered species. Image via Flickr by pasa47 | CC BY 2.0.

When you get the urge to eat out but you don't want to break the bank, Ellisville has a great choice of inexpensive restaurants. And cheap doesn't mean you have to settle for poor quality. Here are five of the best restaurants for dinner on a budget. Boardwalk Pizza This pizza restaurant gets consistently good reviews for the friendly owner and staff and the quality of the food. The menu isn't huge, but what they do, they do well. Appetizers include wings with a choice of four sauces, toasted ravioli, and Land Shark Pork Bites. The specialty pizzas are freshly made with hand-tossed dough and feature names like Shark Attack, Hurricane, and Big Kahuna. You can get $5.99 lunch specials with a three-topping pizza, calzone, sub, or wings, along with a side salad or chips and a 24-ounce fountain beverage. more Clancy's Irish Pub & Grill The friendly, family-run Clancy's on Old State Road prides themselves on being an established part of the community. It's a great place to meet with friends and have an ice-cold beer or a crafted cocktail. They offer casual dining with traditional American dishes and an Irish influence. The starters menu features a good choice, including a pile of fresh homemade Irish Chips for $5.99. Burgers start at $7.99, while you can get entrees like Nick's Kickin' Chicken for $9.49 or a fried shrimp dinner for $9.99. Watch out for the special $1 burger nights! Peppers Deli & BBQ Peppers Deli is an unassuming place that serves great food at low prices. It's counter service, but you can sit inside or, weather permitting, on the outdoor patio. They slow smoke meat over a hickory fire and the place always smells amazing. For extra flavor, they have their own line of sauces — not that they're needed. You can get freshly made salads and different gourmet homemade soups each day. From the barbecue, you can choose the chopped Angus brisket, which is smoked for 16 hours, pulled pork or chicken, or handmade burgers. Or you could opt for one of the unique combos, like the Garden Grinder, Screwy Schue, or Smokin' Gobbler. Asian House Restaurant The Asian House is a small, family-run business offering freshly prepared Chinese and Japanese cuisine. The pleasant, clean decor creates a lovely atmosphere. There is an excellent selection of sushi rolls, including signature rolls, the chef's specials, and nigiri sushi. The main menu has plenty of meat, seafood, and vegetarian dishes to choose from. You can also get lunch specials ranging from $6.75 to $7.75. Yiro Gyro For a taste of Greece, Yiro Gyro hits the spot. The small menu features freshly made gyros, doner kebabs, meat and falafel combos, and veggie options, and the portions are generous. You can add some authentic Greek sauces to your meal. The Classic Gyro is $7.95 and the veggie version is $7.25. Whatever food takes your fancy, you can find a good quality, budget-priced restaurant in Ellisville, MO where you eat in, get takeout, or have it delivered. Image via Flickr by pizzamasetti | CC BY 2.0.

When you get the urge to eat out but you don't want to break the bank, Ellisville has a great choice of inexpensive restaurants. And cheap doesn't mean you have to settle for poor quality. Here are five of the best restaurants for dinner on a budget. Boardwalk Pizza This pizza restaurant gets consistently good reviews for the friendly owner and staff and the quality of the food. The menu isn't huge, but what they do, they do well. Appetizers include wings with a choice of four sauces, toasted ravioli, and Land Shark Pork Bites. The specialty pizzas are freshly made with hand-tossed dough and feature names like Shark Attack, Hurricane, and Big Kahuna. You can get $5.99 lunch specials with a three-topping pizza, calzone, sub, or wings, along with a side salad or chips and a 24-ounce fountain beverage. more Clancy's Irish Pub & Grill The friendly, family-run Clancy's on Old State Road prides themselves on being an established part of the community. It's a great place to meet with friends and have an ice-cold beer or a crafted cocktail. They offer casual dining with traditional American dishes and an Irish influence. The starters menu features a good choice, including a pile of fresh homemade Irish Chips for $5.99. Burgers start at $7.99, while you can get entrees like Nick's Kickin' Chicken for $9.49 or a fried shrimp dinner for $9.99. Watch out for the special $1 burger nights! Peppers Deli & BBQ Peppers Deli is an unassuming place that serves great food at low prices. It's counter service, but you can sit inside or, weather permitting, on the outdoor patio. They slow smoke meat over a hickory fire and the place always smells amazing. For extra flavor, they have their own line of sauces — not that they're needed. You can get freshly made salads and different gourmet homemade soups each day. From the barbecue, you can choose the chopped Angus brisket, which is smoked for 16 hours, pulled pork or chicken, or handmade burgers. Or you could opt for one of the unique combos, like the Garden Grinder, Screwy Schue, or Smokin' Gobbler. Asian House Restaurant The Asian House is a small, family-run business offering freshly prepared Chinese and Japanese cuisine. The pleasant, clean decor creates a lovely atmosphere. There is an excellent selection of sushi rolls, including signature rolls, the chef's specials, and nigiri sushi. The main menu has plenty of meat, seafood, and vegetarian dishes to choose from. You can also get lunch specials ranging from $6.75 to $7.75. Yiro Gyro For a taste of Greece, Yiro Gyro hits the spot. The small menu features freshly made gyros, doner kebabs, meat and falafel combos, and veggie options, and the portions are generous. You can add some authentic Greek sauces to your meal. The Classic Gyro is $7.95 and the veggie version is $7.25. Whatever food takes your fancy, you can find a good quality, budget-priced restaurant in Ellisville, MO where you eat in, get takeout, or have it delivered. Image via Flickr by pizzamasetti | CC BY 2.0.

Winter is a great time to have fun in Missouri, especially if you're in the St. Louis area. In fact, there are quite a few excellent entertainment options within easy reach of the city of Ellisville. Here are just some of our favorites. Ice Skating Strap on your ice skates and hit the rink. Visit St. Louis's Kiener Plaza between Nov. 17, 2018, and Jan. 1, 2019, to participate in Winterfest. In addition to ice skating, this festival has a playground and hot chocolate. You can also drive just over half an hour to get to the city of Florissant, where you'll find the James J. Eagan Ice Rink. Enjoy a selection of tasty snacks from the concession stand before getting onto the ice. Of course, if it's just too cold to be outside — or not cold enough for real ice — there are plenty of indoor rinks in the area. more Skiing or Snowboarding Ice skating is a lot of fun, but sometimes you need to up the adrenaline factor. Skiing and snowboarding are an ideal way to get a more extreme winter thrill. We recommend visiting the Hidden Valley Ski Resort in Wildwood; it's only about 15 minutes from Ellisville and has about 30 acres of slopes to enjoy. While the snow is mostly machine-made, that'll be the last thing on your mind as you're careening downhill on skis, a snowboard, or even a snow tube. Tickets are about $50 for adults and $30 for children, with additional fees if you need to rent your equipment. Bird Watching Get back to basics by going out in nature and seeing the local wildlife. We're not talking about songbirds, either — the nearby towns of Alton and Grafton are home to one of the biggest bald eagle populations in the country. A bald eagle's nest can be as big as 5 feet in diameter and 4 feet deep, and you'll have the chance to watch the birds constructing their nests if you visit during the winter. This bird is much more than a symbol of America. It's also a fascinating predator with well-documented chick-rearing behavior. Don't miss your chance to see one in the wild. Try an Escape Room Even in the worst winter weather, you'll have a blast at an escape room. These are interactive experiences where you'll be locked in a room and given a set amount of time, usually an hour, to solve a series of clues and puzzles, advancing a storyline and allowing you to claim victory and “escape.” Multiple companies offer these games in our area. Breakout Games has rooms themed after a museum heist, kidnapping scenario, and erupting volcano. Mastermind Room Escape also has elaborately themed puzzles centered around favorite Christmas movies like "Home Alone" and "Elf," which ideal for the winter season. Don't let the winter blues get you down; there's so much to do in Ellisville that we'd be tempted to call it our favorite season. Start with one of these fun activities to get off on the right foot. Image via Flickr by oskarlin | CC BY-SA 2.0.

Winter is a great time to have fun in Missouri, especially if you're in the St. Louis area. In fact, there are quite a few excellent entertainment options within easy reach of the city of Ellisville. Here are just some of our favorites. Ice Skating Strap on your ice skates and hit the rink. Visit St. Louis's Kiener Plaza between Nov. 17, 2018, and Jan. 1, 2019, to participate in Winterfest. In addition to ice skating, this festival has a playground and hot chocolate. You can also drive just over half an hour to get to the city of Florissant, where you'll find the James J. Eagan Ice Rink. Enjoy a selection of tasty snacks from the concession stand before getting onto the ice. Of course, if it's just too cold to be outside — or not cold enough for real ice — there are plenty of indoor rinks in the area. more Skiing or Snowboarding Ice skating is a lot of fun, but sometimes you need to up the adrenaline factor. Skiing and snowboarding are an ideal way to get a more extreme winter thrill. We recommend visiting the Hidden Valley Ski Resort in Wildwood; it's only about 15 minutes from Ellisville and has about 30 acres of slopes to enjoy. While the snow is mostly machine-made, that'll be the last thing on your mind as you're careening downhill on skis, a snowboard, or even a snow tube. Tickets are about $50 for adults and $30 for children, with additional fees if you need to rent your equipment. Bird Watching Get back to basics by going out in nature and seeing the local wildlife. We're not talking about songbirds, either — the nearby towns of Alton and Grafton are home to one of the biggest bald eagle populations in the country. A bald eagle's nest can be as big as 5 feet in diameter and 4 feet deep, and you'll have the chance to watch the birds constructing their nests if you visit during the winter. This bird is much more than a symbol of America. It's also a fascinating predator with well-documented chick-rearing behavior. Don't miss your chance to see one in the wild. Try an Escape Room Even in the worst winter weather, you'll have a blast at an escape room. These are interactive experiences where you'll be locked in a room and given a set amount of time, usually an hour, to solve a series of clues and puzzles, advancing a storyline and allowing you to claim victory and “escape.” Multiple companies offer these games in our area. Breakout Games has rooms themed after a museum heist, kidnapping scenario, and erupting volcano. Mastermind Room Escape also has elaborately themed puzzles centered around favorite Christmas movies like "Home Alone" and "Elf," which ideal for the winter season. Don't let the winter blues get you down; there's so much to do in Ellisville that we'd be tempted to call it our favorite season. Start with one of these fun activities to get off on the right foot. Image via Flickr by oskarlin | CC BY-SA 2.0.

St. Louis may be known for the Gateway Arch, but you'll be surprised to see how many fitness centers are in the city. If you are looking to start exercising, St. Louis has plenty of options for you. Fit City Gym Fit City Gym is at 1601 S. Jefferson Ave. in the Gate District. It is open from 5 a.m. until 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Fit City is a 24,000-square-foot facility loaded with brand-new, state-of-the-art workout equipment from wall to wall and a large selection of cardio machines. Fit City offers two memberships: basic and premium. Basic gives you access to the gym, locker rooms, sauna, and two free training sessions. The premium membership adds on unlimited tanning, access to a babysitting area, and half off smoothies. You can visit the gym for free on your first visit, and be sure to check out frequently changing enrollment specials. more Fitness Formula Fitness Formula is in the Central West End at 4630 Lindell Blvd. Hours are 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. This gym's focus is on group classes, but if that isn't your thing, you can use the facilities at your own pace. Some of the group classes include Formula Total Body, Strength and Cardio Core Blast. These classes are heart-rate monitored to make sure you are burning the most calories possible. Fitness Formula has many membership options, You can do open gym by the day, week, or month, purchase packs of classes, or opt for class memberships. Southtown Yoga Southtown Yoga can be found at 1905 Park Ave. in Lafayette Square. The class schedule varies, but they usually practice daily, sometimes beginning as early as 6 a.m. and as late at 8:30 p.m. The classes offered include aligned flow and meditation, beginners, underground yoga Buti style, yoga basics, and aligned flow. Southtown Yoga does have a unique class called Yogahour Give!, which gives half of the profits of that class to a local charity. Memberships to Southtown Yoga range from a $10 to $15 for a single drop-in session, $95 a month for unlimited classes, or $1,000 for an entire year of unlimited classes. Arch City CrossFit Arch City CrossFit is at 9228 Manchester Road and is open from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Arch City has two CrossFit classes: XM Weightlifting and XM Sweat. XM Weightlifting focuses on strength and technique, while XM Sweat is a high-intensity workout. You can sign up for either eight classes a month at $120, 12 classes a month at $145, or $160 a month for unlimited classes. Arch City has one free Saturday a month where you can try out the gym. If you are feeling out of shape, then make your way to any of these gyms or studios and start a new routine. Your body will feel great once you start working out. Image via Flickr by ThoroughlyReviewed | CC BY 2.0.

St. Louis may be known for the Gateway Arch, but you'll be surprised to see how many fitness centers are in the city. If you are looking to start exercising, St. Louis has plenty of options for you. Fit City Gym Fit City Gym is at 1601 S. Jefferson Ave. in the Gate District. It is open from 5 a.m. until 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Fit City is a 24,000-square-foot facility loaded with brand-new, state-of-the-art workout equipment from wall to wall and a large selection of cardio machines. Fit City offers two memberships: basic and premium. Basic gives you access to the gym, locker rooms, sauna, and two free training sessions. The premium membership adds on unlimited tanning, access to a babysitting area, and half off smoothies. You can visit the gym for free on your first visit, and be sure to check out frequently changing enrollment specials. more Fitness Formula Fitness Formula is in the Central West End at 4630 Lindell Blvd. Hours are 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. This gym's focus is on group classes, but if that isn't your thing, you can use the facilities at your own pace. Some of the group classes include Formula Total Body, Strength and Cardio Core Blast. These classes are heart-rate monitored to make sure you are burning the most calories possible. Fitness Formula has many membership options, You can do open gym by the day, week, or month, purchase packs of classes, or opt for class memberships. Southtown Yoga Southtown Yoga can be found at 1905 Park Ave. in Lafayette Square. The class schedule varies, but they usually practice daily, sometimes beginning as early as 6 a.m. and as late at 8:30 p.m. The classes offered include aligned flow and meditation, beginners, underground yoga Buti style, yoga basics, and aligned flow. Southtown Yoga does have a unique class called Yogahour Give!, which gives half of the profits of that class to a local charity. Memberships to Southtown Yoga range from a $10 to $15 for a single drop-in session, $95 a month for unlimited classes, or $1,000 for an entire year of unlimited classes. Arch City CrossFit Arch City CrossFit is at 9228 Manchester Road and is open from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Arch City has two CrossFit classes: XM Weightlifting and XM Sweat. XM Weightlifting focuses on strength and technique, while XM Sweat is a high-intensity workout. You can sign up for either eight classes a month at $120, 12 classes a month at $145, or $160 a month for unlimited classes. Arch City has one free Saturday a month where you can try out the gym. If you are feeling out of shape, then make your way to any of these gyms or studios and start a new routine. Your body will feel great once you start working out. Image via Flickr by ThoroughlyReviewed | CC BY 2.0.