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Winter Favorites for Families

Four family-friendly activities to get you out of the house and active this month

 

This can be a tough time of year for getting out and about, especially for families. The busy holiday season is over. The weather can be unpredictable. But there are still fun activities and exciting things to see and do in Cape Girardeau. Here’s a rundown of four of our winter favorites for families and be sure to check out https://www.visitcape.com/events/ for other family-friendly activities (there’s many to choose from!)

 #1 Learn While You Play

Great for: Ages 6 months to 11 years

Discovery Playhouse Children’s Museum, located in downtown Cape Girardeau, offers interactive learning and engaging activities for infants all the way up to kids 11 years old. The 7,500-square-foot space features a wide variety of exhibits, giving children opportunities to shop in the grocery store, become a dentist, splash in the Secret Water Garden or learn about money at the bank.

You can visit Grandma Ruth’s Farm, where you’ll milk a cow, harvest veggies or sell your produce in the nearby grocery store. Young children can join in the fun as they uncover the magic of “Pollywog Pond” in their kid-sized fishing boat. Kids can become caregivers for the newborn babies in Southeast Health-y Beginnings exhibit, or discover the Power of Air by watching balls zoom and whoosh through the tunnels of Air-Maze-ing Fun. Start planning your visit: https://www.discoveryplayhouse.org/


#2 Enjoy Winter Landscapes

Great for: All ages

Cape Girardeau boasts some beautiful natural scenery, and one of the best ways to enjoy that is up and close and personal on one of our many hiking trails. Even if the weather is chilly, hiking is still a great family activity, with shorter and longer trails to fit all ages and fitness levels. Some of our favorites include:

Juden Creek Conservation Area: This trail, which spans less than 3 miles, is located off E. Cape Rock Drive in Cape Girardeau. While beautiful in the spring and fall, the trail is a great place to spot both flora and fauna in winter too.

Trail of Tears State Park: This park offers picnic sites, hiking and horse trails, along with opportunities to fish in both the Mississippi River and Lake Boutin with majestic views of the Mississippi River and beyond. Its location right on the river makes the park one of the best places in Missouri for viewing migratory waterfowl.

The Cape Girardeau Nature Center Outer Trail Loop: This series of interconnected trails located behind the Nature Center at Cape Girardeau County Park is accessible year-round, with family-friendly benches for resting as you hike.


#3 Interact with Your Environment

Great for: All ages

After an outdoor trek on one of the area’s great trails, pop into the Cape Girardeau Nature Center to enjoy hands-on exhibits, a children’s play area and freshwater aquariums featuring native aquatic species. The Center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. excluding holidays. In addition to interactive exhibits, the Nature Center frequently offers family-friendly activities, from arts and crafts to wildlife education and more. Check out what’s happening there this month: https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places/cape-girardeau-conservation-nature-center


#4 Get Hands-On with Creativity

Great for: Ages 12+

Cape Girardeau has a strong arts community, and that extends to activities for families. This is a great time to take advantage of hands-on arts classes, and the downtown area has several studios that offer opportunities for families, including:

Riverside Pottery Studio: Along with a gallery and shop, this studio offers hand building and wheel throwing classes, mostly geared at teens to adults, but there are also occasional kid-friendly classes as well.

Creative Ewe: This contemporary ceramic studio offers a paint-your-own pottery option that is great for kids of all ages. They also offer group classes for special events and birthday parties.

FreeSpirit Gallery & Studio: Located on Broadway, this studio offers mosaics, fine art, home goods and classes in mosaic art, from glass cutting to placement to grouting.

Contact each studio individually to inquire about specific classes and appropriate age recommendations.

Have your own favorite winter activity? Share it with us on Facebook.

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