Laderman Park, Belleville IL

Location: 1105 Mascoutah Ave., Belleville, IL 62220

Website: https://www.belleville.net/Facilities/Facility/Details/Laderman-Park-11

Playground Ground Cover: Rubber Chips

Amenities:

• 1 mile walking trail
• Basketball court
• Horseshoe courts
• Lighted soccer field
• Modular playground equipment
• Pavilion #1: 12 tables with electric
• Pavilion #2: 12 tables with electric
• Two lighted softball diamonds
• Volleyball courts

This is a large, well used park. The playground has several sections that are all connected with various bars and poles. There are several slides, streering wheels, & monkey bars. There is a free standing merry-go-round, restrooms, and benches all around.

Climbable statues

Restroom building

North End Park, Belleville IL

Location: 1204 N. Douglas Ave., Belleville, IL 62220

Website: https://www.belleville.net/Facilities/Facility/Details/North-End-Park-12

Playground Ground Cover: Mulch

Amenities:

• Barbecue Grills
• Fitness Trail
• Multi-Purpose Fields
• Picnic Tables
• Playground Equipment
• Soccer Field

This playground has one play structure, which includes a couple slides, and various bars and poles. 

Bigfoot 4x4 Inc, Pacific

Location: 2286 Rose Ln., Pacific, MO 63069

Website: http://bigfoot4x4.com/blog/visit-the-home-of-bigfoot/

The original Bigfoot began as a 1974 Ford F-250 pickup that was modified by its owner Bob Chandler beginning in 1975. By 1979, the modifications were so extensive, the truck came to be regarded as the first monster truck. He also was the first to do "car crushes" that are so popular now at Monster Jam shows. Bob is a St. Louis native and their Bigfoot shop has been located in Pacific since 2015. Kids LOVE posing in the 10 foot tall wheel well! You can go to the shop and pose for photos with the famous truck as long as it's in town. It's frequently on the road doing shows so call first before going to make sure it's here!

Kids love to play in the wheel well

Here's a great article detailing the history of this famous truck and its team.  Check out their Facebook page for events, they have car-crushing events throughout the year. 

The Bigfoot truck is parked at the B&H Market in Pacific if you want to go get a photo in the wheel!

Belleville Skate Board Park, Belleville IL

Location: 709 N Second St., Belleville, IL 62220

Website: https://www.belleville.net/Facilities/Facility/Details/Skateboard-Park-17

No restrooms or benches but kids around here say it's great with challenges for every level.

Dawn Heights Park, Belleville IL

Location: 1004 Wabash Ave., Belleville, IL 62220

Website: https://www.belleville.net/Facilities/Facility/Details/Dawn-Heights-MiniPark-5

Playground Ground Cover: Grass

This is a tiny park with just one playstructure. It has several slides, a bubble window, and a maze board. There is one sling swing and one baby swing. The park has lots of greens pace and is completely enclosed with a fence. There are no restrooms.

Iron Spike Model Train Museum, Washington

Location: 1498 High St, Washington, MO 63090

Website: https://www.facebook.com/IronSpikeModelTrainMuseum/

This museum opened in May 2016. Admission is $8 per adult, $6 per child and veterans are free. $24 per family of 4 and $3 per additional member.

Hours are Wednesday and Thursday 10-3pm, Friday 12-5pm, Saturday 10-5pm, and Sunday 12-5pm. They are closed Monday and Tuesday. Note that these hours are new and are on their pamphlets but are not updated on the website yet. 

This place is a work in progress. It's always evolving as they build more and more layout and track. We hadn't been in a few years and man it's come a long way. There are lots of different layouts in every scale for kids to watch (G, O, S, HO, and N gauge displays).  They've also expanded the playroom and the train table is much larger now. In the first room where you enter and pay there are about 6 layouts including a smaller one that they will teach you to operate. Here someone is teaching my son how to back the engine up and couple it with the green box car. He had a blast operating it!

 Main entrance model train layouts, including a LEGO table.

Train going around the ceiling

Right off to the side of the main room is this kids area with a large train table, a TV, and some other toys.

If you want to see more model trains you can head down the hallway to the back warehouse area. This is the enormous area where most of the trains are. There is merchandise for sale here as well.

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Love the old train station bench

3 levels of trains going!

The whole mountain scene in the back is a recreation of a photo a man took in Colorado. He was so taken with the mountain view he decided to recreate it here.

Recreation of Monument Valley

The great thing about this not being finished is that you can watch them create the layouts with foam board and wood.

They have special events throughout the year and have experienced modelers there who will gladly talk about model trains as a hobby.