All aboard the train to Hermann for a day of Missouri countryside, delicious wine, gourmet food and most importantly ending the night in your own bed! As the weather starts to cool, I want nothing more to find a beautiful view and sip a full body Missouri red wine. Like most people, it is hard to carve out an entire weekend to get away. Between, wedding, showers, baptisms, birthdays and work, Brad and I do not have a full free weekend until Novemeber! My need for Missouri wine has to be satisfied before then which is how our day trip to Hermann was born!
Here is how you can plan your own day trip to Hermann!
- Pick a Saturday that you are free to run away to wine country.
- Book your train ticket! You will want to take the Missouri River Runner #311 which leaves St. Louis at 9:15 am. Don’t forget to book your train back. While we want to get away, the goal is to end in your own bed. I would suggest taking the Missouri River Runner #316 which leaves Hermann at 7:48 p.m.
- Plan fun activities for your train ride. I suggest packing a deck of cards, light and gives a wide variety of games to play. My obsession with trains and playing cards started when I backpacked through Europe. We use to play cards for hours to pass the time as we galavanted from town to town
- Do a happy dance you made it Hermann in under two hours.
- Catch the trolley and enjoy the ride all day and night for only $15
- Choose from five wineries to visit or visit them all!
- Stone Hill: Stone Hill is the oldest and largest winery in town. It also has a restaurant if you are looking for a larger menu than Hermannhof. It is easy to spend a few hours at this large winery between the rich history, wide variety of wine tasting and tour.
- Adam Puctha: This is one my favorite wineries from when I only drank sweet white wines. Fors those who love white wine, the Adams choice is delightful it is crisp, refreshing and a sweet white. Adam Puctha is tucked away in the Hermann countryside and has a family feel which makes sense as it has been family owned for 7 generations!
- Hermannhof: This is a quick walk from Amtrak and the perfect spot to start your day. They pride themselves on being a small winery rooted in the German history of the town offering locally german made sausage to accompany their wine collection.
- Star Lane: The converted cattle ranch turned into a family owned winery proves making wine is a mixture of science, passion and the right environment. The family brought in experts to ensure their harvest would delight guest, and is known for their cabernets. You know you can find this red wine lover sipping on a local favorite.
- Oak Glen: Oak Glen is new to the Hermann Winery community and has been in existence for only about 10 years. What they lack in history, they make up with the view. They have what I would claim to be the most stunning look out point in town overlooking the Missouri countryside and river that will take anyone’s breath away.
- Ok, I am down right hungry. FEED ME!! Here are three restaurants that the trolley will take you to directly. Not in the mood for any, check out the wide variety of restaurants Hermann has to offer here.
- Simon’s on the Waterfront
- Vintage Resturant
- El Ranchito Mexican
- I had so much fun, but my tummy is full and my wallet is empty it is time to go home. Let the Trolley finish your delightful day and take you back to the train station.
Hermann is a wonderful day adventure that takes you away from the hustle and bustle of city life while still letting you sleep in your own bed. It is a great staycation and an easy way to recharge your battery and enjoy great wine without taking a plane to Napa.
Traveling without Brad is always be a bit tricky. While I avidly try for Jennifer Aniston’s arms, I always fall short at about the 6th push-up. My weak upper body with my lacking stature (5’2″ and a quarter) leaves me in the awkward situation of lifting a 30-pound bag over my head and into a small compartment. Compound this with holding up the line and my cheeks get red, and I start to panic.
