If 2020 has reinforced one thing for me...

... it is the importance of knowing that one activity that instantly brings you back to the core of who you are AND tapping it when you need it. What centers you, friends? 

Spring Sweet Spring in Castlewood

There is a one week each April that the forest floor bursts alive in a sea of gorgeous bluebells... 

Run, don’t walk, to Castlewood State Park or you will miss it, friends! 💙

Just for Fun: 60 and Sunny!

The perfect day to sneak in some mid-day trail time at Castlewood State Park with my girl.

Just Listed: #845 Woodside Trails in Ballwin (Marquette)

Just listed in the heart of West County, minutes from Castlewood State Park...

Move in just in time for the opening day of the subdivision pool, clubhouse, and tennis court!

#845 Woodside Trails is move-in ready, epitomizes pride of ownership, and boasts amenities galore in the highly sought-after Woodside Trails community. This stylish 2 bedroom, 2 bath top floor West County unit is over 1100 square feet with an attached garage and a private deck overlooking wooded common ground. 

Unit goodies include a gracious two story entry foyer, an open and airy floor plan, fresh paint, neutral decor, modern fixtures, closets galore, , a wood-burning fireplace with marble surround, an impressive amount of natural light, and all appliances included. The spacious master suite has triple windows with serene wooded views, plentiful closet space, a walk-in shower, an oversized vanity, and a main floor laundry. 

Woodside Trails amenities include a swimming pool, club house, tennis court, and lovely wooded grounds plus access to the incredible Ballwin amenities in the reputable Rockwood schools district (Marquette high school). Fully updated in the heart of West County!

For more information or a private tour, call Carrie Nenonen at 313.298.5275.  See the full listing HERE.

Just listed: 2019 Pincian Drive in Rockwood School District

Cute as a button and move-in ready...

#2019 Pincian Drive boasts a fabulous Southwest St. Louis County location just minutes from I-44 and 141 and within walking distance of numerous playgrounds and South Buder Park. This charming ranch boasts an open floor plan, updates galore, and a sizable fully-fenced backyard in the reputable Rockwood school district.

Home features: 2 main floor bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, a beautifully updated kitchen with custom cabinetry and granite countertops, and a professionally-finished lower level that DOUBLES your total living space with a sizable recreation room, recessed lighting, a basement bedroom with full bath, and oodles of storage.

Heading outside, the backyard is adorned with mature trees and lovely low-maintenance perennial landscaping. There is a deck, an organic raised-bed vegetable garden, and plenty of fully-fenced green space for your children, pets, and summer soirées.

Complete with a 1 car garage, a new roof with architectural shingles (14), new gutters with leaf guards (13), fresh paint (16), new flooring, new windows, new dishwasher (16), newer furnace, and a new sump pump (14)… this home is a complete package! Beautifully maintained and move-in ready, this property has been loved and it shows.

Offered for $154,900.

Call Carrie for a private tour at 314.298.5275.  See the full MLS listing HERE.

HOMEOWNER UPGRADES:

• New roof with architectural shingles - 2014
• Waterproofed basement and new sump pump (through PermaJack, installed below foundation footing with drain leading along walls to sump pit-has warranty for the lifetime of the home) - 2014
• New dishwasher - 2016
• New furnace - 2009
• New French doors w/ enclosed dust-free blinds - 2012
• Full kitchen remodel and reconfiguration with custom cabinetry, separate pantry, and     granite countertops - 2009
• New windows throughout (upstairs pre-2008, basement 2012)
• Main floor bathroom remodel (down to the studs, rebuilt with mold-resistant walls) - 2012
• New Gutters with leaf guards - 2013
• Backyard organic vegetable garden and spacious fully-fenced backyard with new low-maintenance perennial landscaping and installed French drain
• New basement bedroom carpet - 2016

LOCATION AMENITIES:

• Fantastic family-friendly neighborhood includes (multiple and very close to the house) common grounds with playgrounds and basketball courts.
• Located in the reputable and award-winning Rockwood School District.
• Located just one block from South Buder Park with numerous playgrounds and sprawling green space.
• Less than a 5 minute drive from Lone Elk Park and several notable Meramec Greenway running and hiking trails including Riverside Park and the Chubb and Castlewood Loop.
• Easy access to 141, I-44, and I-270.
• Resident access to the City of Fenton RiverChase Recreation and Community Center with 3 pools, over 5,500 sqft of fitness center, basketball courts, multipurpose rooms available for rent, and an indoor walking track.
• Old Towne Fenton Farmer’s Market runs every Saturday from May-October with locally-grown produce, flowers, live music, and crafts.

Hidden Gem: Lone Elk Park and the World Bird Sanctuary

Anyone who knows me well (or follows me on Instagram) is aware that I spend the bulk of my free time outside with my family, soaking in the beauty and serenity of our local parks.  During the warmer 9 months of the year, I am typically in the isolated wooded and elevated river view trails of Castlewood State Park...

On the wildlife-filled trails of Queeny Park...

Exploring the original farm house, stables, and surrounding grounds at Longview Farm...

Getting lost in Babler State Park...

 Or biking Forest Park...

As far as public parks go, St. Louis is top-notch.  The city owns and maintains over 100 parks (like Tower Grove and Lafayette), the county owns and maintains over 40 parks (like Creve Coeur Lake), and there are 10 Missouri State Parks within the Greater St. Louis area.  There are incredible local resources for fellow outdoor-lovers.

I mention it, as this morning I drove through one of my area favorites- a total hidden gem- and was surprised to discover that I have never done a blog post on it.  The fact is, when the boys were little, I spent a LOT of time here as they were (and are) total animal lovers.  Though as they have grown up and life has gotten busy... I simply forgot how special it is until I did a random drive-through this morning while killing time before a showing with a client.

Lone Elk Park is over 540 acres, located at 141 and 44 just west of the town of Valley Park...

The park was originally part of the Tyson Valley Powder Plant during WWII, where ammunition was stored and tested.  There are still numerous towers, bunkers, and firing platforms scattered around the park.  HERE is more about the history and name of the park.  After the war, the area became a public park and herds of elk and bison were established.

There are a ton of incredible trail heads and excellent places to get lost in the woods at Lone Elk, though we typically just take advantage of the driving route for wildlife viewing due to no domestic animals allowed (sorry Willow) and frequent tick/chigger infestation with the animals.

The park is free of charge for entry and is an AMAZING place to get in close proximity to the animals in their wild habitat...
One of my favorite aspects of visiting Lone Elk, is you never really know what you will stumble upon.  As the animals freely wander the park, it is often a game of "Where's Waldo".  Sometimes, you spot nothing.  Other times, you get super lucky like I did today!

A peek at my morning elk encounters...

The bison area this morning...

Note, parents of young ones:  this is an INCREDIBLE cold-weather excursion where you can get the kids out in nature and in close-proximity to animals without paying a penny or even unstrapping them from the car seat.

Just adjacent to Lone Elk Park is the World Bird Sanctuary, one of North America's largest facilities for the conservation of birds with over 300 acres and 200 animals in their care...

We rarely visited one without the other with the boys.  The sanctuary educates, rehabilitates, conducts field studies and research, and does captive breeding of injured and threatened birds of prey.  Only here do you get the opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the rarest birds found in nature in an open air display...

So incredible, so cool.  While the World Bird Sanctuary is also 100% free to visitors, I always donate to the care of the animals whenever I visit.  They do amazing work.

A peek at the scenery this morning...

Learn more about the county parks HERE and the city parks HERE.

See my other area Hidden Gems HERE.