In the St. Louis metro area, there are lots of well-known major recreation areas such as Forest Park and state-owned Busch and Columbia Bottoms conservation areas. These are big areas with plenty of development and planned activities.

But, what aren't as well known are the dozens of smaller public conservation areas in the metro-St. Louis area. Many don't have a lot of planned activities but there's plenty of open space where you can plan your own outdoor fun.

There are over 125 government-owned parks as well as conservation and access areas in the Missouri counties in the metro St. Louis area. And they aren't just in the rural areas.

There are a dozen areas within the City of St. Louis. There are another 40 areas in St. Louis County. Also included are dozens of areas in St. Charles, Crawford, Washington, Jefferson, Franklin and Lincoln counties.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) spotlighted urban conservation areas in a special article in the March edition of the Missouri Conservationist magazine.

The author was a mother from St. Joseph, MO, who told about her search for neighborhood outdoor areas that she and her daughter, Rose, could use. It turned out they had a neat outdoor area right close to home.

That was the Mark Youngdahl Urban Conservation Area. That meant the family didn't have to make a lot of elaborate plans for an outdoor visit. They were within walking distance of nature every day if they wanted.

She said her family now thinks of the Youngdahl area as a neighborhood park, "although it's not the kind of park where you'd find swings and jungle gyms.

"This was more a natural playground. The best thing about it was that it was close to home; in fact, it was just across the street from our grocery store."

Ms. Youngdahl also told of a number of the small, neighborhood nature areas her family had visited in other parts of the state.

One she highlighted in the St. Louis area was the August G. Beckemeier Conservation Area in Chesterfield. This area isn't one that gets much publicity. But, the small area provides space where kids and their families could plan their own outdoor fun activities.

Mrs. Youngdahl cited the Beckemeier area for its great nature viewing along the bluffs overlooking the Missouri river. There hasn't been much development of the area but there is plenty of space for bird watching, hiking and nature viewing.

At the end of the article, there's a website with a new statewide listing of all public Missouri conservation areas, www.missouriconservation.org/2930.

The website allows you to target your search to areas in your district. Just click on the St. Louis district.

The first area listed in the St. Louis district is the tiny Allenton Access. That's a state-owned 10-acre site along the Meramec River off of I-44 near Six Flags.

Although small, the Allenton area has places for bird watching, canoeing and fishing. There's also a boat ramp to the Meramec River. There are also restroom facilities and a public parking lot.

Another area listed is the Emmenegger Nature Park, a less-than-100-acre park close to the Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center near the junction of Interstates 270 and 44 in St. Louis County.

This area has hiking trails, including a half-mile disabled-access trail. There is parking, a pavilion, picnic area and restrooms. All areas have access for the disabled.

An example of a larger area still within an urban area is the Saint Stanislaus Conservation Area in north St. Louis County. This is over 800 acres and provides for bird watching, fishing, hiking and deer hunting.

This site includes access to the Missouri River and has Cowmire Creek on the site. There is a 3½-mile hiking trail, including a portion with for disabled access.

Another St. Louis County site is the Pelican Island Natural Area, which is on the Missouri River in north St. Louis County. This site is over 2,200 acres along 5.8 miles of the Missouri River.

This is one area with very little development and no designated trails, although there is 2,100 acres of forest and woodland. Of course, there is plenty of bird watching, fishing, hiking and hunting opportunities.

This is one of the areas where kids can plan their own outdoor activities.

One of the Jefferson County areas that is large but with plenty of opportunities for kids to plan their own activities is the Young Conservation Area. This is in north-central Jefferson County.

LaBarque Creek is a permanent stream on the site, along with two small fishing ponds. Among the activities are bird watching, fishing, hiking, hunting and even trapping opportunities with a special-use permit.

Of course, if you like your outdoor activities planned for you, check with the larger state, county and even municipal parks and conservation areas.

But, if you like to plan for yourself, you'd do well to explore some of the smaller, lesser know areas. The Missouri Department of Conservation makes it easy with its website, which gives detailed descriptions for areas close to where you live.

Mrs. Cadden said she always wanted to get her daughter to appreciate the outdoors. In the beginning, she was thinking she'd have to special trips into rural areas.

But, she said there didn't seem to be enough time for longer trips.

That's when she started exploring the outdoor activities close to home. The MDC has made that easier with its extensive listing of urban conservation areas. Try the listings and plan your own close-to-home nature activities.