Places to Go, Things to Do

Plenty to do outdoors in November

Winter may be approaching, there are still lots of outdoor activities to do in November. And there's one outdoor thing that goes indoors when the St. Louis County indoor skating rinks open.

One of the more unusual outdoor activity that starts in November is the opening of the St. Louis area winter trout program. The Missouri Department of Conservation stocks 16 metro area lakes with catchable trout, starting this month.

Each month, Young Saint Louis.com highlights a number of activities and events of special interest to kids and their families. Be sure to check this feature each month to find things that are available throughout the metro area.

Check out details for these November events:

Urban winter trout season

Since 1989, the MDC has stocked rainbow trout in St. Louis area lakes. That's to give St. Louis area residents a chance to do a type of fishing they don't often get a chance to experience.

Trout are coldwater fish. With St. Louis' hot summers, the local lakes are just too warm.

But, with the coming of winter, the water in local lakes will be cool enough to sustain the trout. So, from November through February, rainbow trout are stocked in 16 local lakes.

Kevin Meneau, a fisheries management biologist, said a total of 36,000 trout will be stocked in the local lakes this season. The trout range from 9" to 14", with the average about 11".

This year, to make the number of trout as large as possible for kids, the stocking will be done closer to the weekend. "Most kids will be fishing on the weekend so this will leave more fish for that time," he said.

The lakes included in the trout program are:

• Lakes 21, 22, 23, 24 and 28 at Busch Conservation area in St. Charles County.
• Lakes 1, 2 and 3 at Suson Park in south St. Louis County
• Tilles Park Lake in St. Louis County.
• Walker Lake in the city of Kirkwood.
• Vlasis Park Lake in the city of Ballwin
• O'Fallon Park Lake in St. Louis City.
• Boathouse Lake in Carondelet Park in the city.
• Jefferson Lake in Forest Park in the city.
• January-Wabash Lake in the city of Ferguson.
• Wild Acres Park Lake in the city of Overland.

People fishing in Tilles Park Lake, Jefferson Lake, Walker Lake, Wild Acres Park Lake and Busch Lakes 21 and 28 must release their fish after catching them. Those fishing in the other lakes may keep their catches, up to the daily limit.

Meneau said people reaching their limits of trout are required to quit fishing for any type of fish for the rest of that day.

Stocking dates aren't announced ahead of time. However, you can find out after stocking has been done by checking with the Fish Stocking Hot Line at (636) 300-9651.

Indoor ice rinks open Nov. 5

The St. Louis County indoor ice skating rinks open Friday, Nov. 5. However, there are only going to be two rinks open this season, at Kennedy Recreation Complex and at South County Recreation Complex.

The facilities at Queeny Park will be closed this season so a new ice system can be installed. The rink is scheduled to reopen for the 2005-2006 season.

The indoor season this year opens Friday, Nov. 5, and closes in March.

The Kennedy Recreation Complex is located on 6050 Wells Road in south St. Louis County. The North County Recreation Complex is on 2577 Redman Avenue in north St. Louis County.

There are open skating times each week. Lessons for ice skaters are available.

In addition, both rinks have a number of special skating events, including figure skating and speed skating competitions.

For specific information, call the Kennedy rink at (314) 894-3089 and the North County rink at (314) 355-7374.

There is no county-residency requirement to use the skating facilities.

Neat outdoor hikes in area wildlife areas

The Missouri Department of Conservation area will have several interesting hikes during November. They include an Owl Prowl, a Waterfowl Watching, a Turkey Trek and a Fall Hike.

Two Owl Prowls will be held at the Busch Conservation Area on Saturday, Nov. 20, at 6 to 7 p.m. and at 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. You'll get a chance to listen for and call to some of the resident owls. Reservations for the prowls can be made, starting Nov. 8, by calling (636) 441-4554.

The Waterfowl Watching is scheduled for noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at the new Columbia Bottom Conservation Area in extreme northeast St. Louis County. The Bottoms area is a good place for waterfowl watching because it is in the Mississippi Flyway. That's one of the major waterfowl migration routes in the U.S. For directions, call (636) 877-6014.

The Turkey Trek will be held 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, at the Rockwoods Reservation in southwestern St. Louis County. You'll be taking a pre-Thanksgiving hike on the Turkey Ridge Trail. You can make reservations from Nov. 8 by calling (636) 458-2236.

The Fall Hike will be Saturday, Nov. 13, at the Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center in Kirkwood. The time is 10 to 11 a.m. The guided tour will focus on how animals adapt to the coming winter months. Reservations started Oct. 29. To sign up, call (314) 301-1500.

Science Center's free telescope viewing

The free St. Louis Science Center public telescope viewing will be held Friday, Nov. 12, from dusk to about 10 p.m.

The sky viewing will be held on the archery range just west of the Center's McDonnell Planetarium in Forest Park.

The viewing is held in conjunction with the St. Louis Astronomical Society.

If the archery grounds are too soggy or the sky is overcast, the viewing will be cancelled. So, it's important that you call Night Sky Update at (314) 289-4453.

Using center telescopes, you'll be able to see stars, planets, constellations and deep-sky objects.

Painting on glass at the Art Museum

The St. Louis Art Museum's Fall Family Program for November is Painting on Glass. The free programs are held each Sunday, Nov. 7, 14, 21 and 28.

The programs will be in the Grigg Gallery from 2 to 4 p.m. each Sunday.

The sessions include hands-on activities, gallery games and demonstrations aimed at making art accessible and fun for kids.

All materials are free and no registration is needed.

The Painting on Glass program involves viewing the museum's treasured stained-glass windows. Also, the kids will get a chance to exercise their creativity by painting on glass.

For information, you can call (314) 721-0072 or visit www.slam.org.