Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows at Starkenburg

A short drive from Hermann is a unique site to take in some history and maybe a little meditation. The Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows at Starkenburg is an outdoor shrine and grotto behind St. Martin's Catholic Church in Starkenburg, MO, near Rhineland. The shrine has indoor and outdoor altar areas and seating. A lush, quiet wooded area is the perfect setting for the large shrine and underground grotto. There are several smaller grottos featuring religious statues and beautiful landscaping along a winding path down through the trees. Also of interest is the set of large outdoor Stations of the Cross that makes a circle and ends at the main grotto.

St. Martin's Church is also of interest. The Church is open during the day to go in and take a look at it's lovely, historic interior. A small museum telling of the Church's history and the building of the Shrine is in the sacristy behind the altar. Historic items such as old German hymnals, religious artifacts and early church photos are there for viewing.

Outdoor Masses are held at the Shrine at noon the second Tuesday of each month. Religious pilgrimages to the Shrine are also held one or more times per year.

WEBSITE:
http://www.historicshrine.org/

LOCATION:
605 Bluff Street
Starkenburg, MO

DIRECTIONS:
From Hermann, head north out of town on Hwy 19 for a short distance, then turn left (west) on Hwy 94. Follow Hwy 94 a few miles to the little town of Rhineland. Turn right on Hwy P and follow signs to the Shrine at Starkenburg.

PARKING:
Lot by St. Martin's Church

HOURS OF OPERATION:
Daylight hours, daily


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Astral Glass Studio and Gallery, New Haven

An area attraction that I found very enjoyable was Astral Glass Studio in New Haven, MO. Just 15-20 minutes from Hermann, the glass studio is a unique artistry shop where you can watch glassblowers make a variety of glass objects, then take home your very own hand-blown souvenir. On Saturdays and Sundays, glass blowers Gary Rice, Nick Phillips and Lance Stroheker work in the glass-walled blowing room so that visitors can watch them make their glass art. Three rows of seating allows guests to sit and watch comfortably for as long as they wish. I stayed for over an hour, watching the artists at work and perusing the studio's shelves of glasswork for sale. Owners Gary and Judy Rice are very amicable people, and I shared an interesting conversation with them about the world of glassblowing. I asked a question about how they made a certain intricate-looking glass rose, and Gary responded by getting Nick to go in and make one especially for me. This was a really neat place to go, and a great place to pick up one of a kind gifts or souvenirs from your visit to Hermann and New Haven.


LOCATION:
133 Front St.
New Haven, MO

DIRECTIONS:
From Hermann, follow Hwy 100 East about 15 miles to New Haven. Stay on Hwy 100 through town until you get to Miller Street. Turn left onto Miller St. and follow until you cross the railroad tracks at Front Street. Since Front St. is one-way, go past it and take a left on Main Street, then a left on Olive Street, then a left onto Front St. Astral Glass is near the end of Front St.

PARKING:
Parking spaces along Front Street, Olive Street

HOURS OF OPERATION:



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Winston Churchill Memorial & Library at Westminster College in Fulton

I thought it was well worth the hour drive to Fulton, MO to check out the Winston Churchill museum and memorial at Westminster College. Going through the entire thing took me a couple of hours; the museum is huge and full of interesting information about the life and leadership of Sir Winston Churchill. Here you can learn about English architecture, war, international relations, Churchill's political life and home life. I especially liked one of the last exhibits, "The Wit and Wisdom of Winston Churchill," that let you read and hear some of Churchill's famous quotes and eloquent words of wisdom. There is also an exhibit about Churchill's Iron Curtain speech that he gave at Fulton with President Truman in 1969. Also on site are the reconstructed 12th century Church of St. Mary the Virgin that was relocated to Fulton, a length of the Berlin Wall, and a memorial statue of Churchill. This is, in my opinion, one of the best museums in Missouri and a must-see if you have the time to take it in.


WEBSITE:
http://www.churchillmemorial.org

LOCATION:
501 Westminster Ave
Fulton, MO

DIRECTIONS:
From Hermann, go north out of town on Hwy 19 about 16 miles and merge onto I-70 West. Continue west on I-70 about 26 miles then take Exit 148 US-54 toward Fulton. Turn left on US-54. Take a slight left at N Bluff St./US-54. Turn right at St. Louis Ave., then a slight left on Market Street. Turn right on E 4th St., then turn right on Westminster Ave.

PARKING:
Street parking on Westminster Avenue, Market Street

HOURS OF OPERATION:
Daily 10:00am-4:30pm


ADMISSION:
Adults: $6.00
Seniors AAA, AARP: $5.00
Youth (12-18): $4.00
College Students (ANY college): $4.00
Child (6-11): $3.00
Child (5 and under): free


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Trailsides Bar & Grill

Across the Missouri River from Hermann is Trailsides Bar & Grill in the town of Rhineland. Trailsides sits in what used to be the center of town, but in the wake of the 1993 floods much of the town was moved to higher ground. Today, Trailsides is a typical small town hangout. I went there on a Friday night and had the all-you-can-eat catfish special, which was very good. I've heard the burgers are also good there. Arcade games and large beverage coolers line the walls. Since Rhineland is such a small town, Trailsides seemed like one of those places where you walk in and everyone knows your name. It was a good place to eat and at a reasonable price.


LOCATION:
Bluff St. (right alongside Hwy 94 in a strip of buildings)
Rhineland, MO

PARKING:
Large lot in front of building

HOURS OF OPERATION:
Mon-Fri 6:30AM-?; Sat 8AM-?; Sun 8AM-2PM


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Crossroads Bar and Grill

Crossroads Bar and Grill is a local tavern located just north of Hermann across the Missouri River. Dim lighting, big-screen TVs playing sports, a couple of pool tables and a bar fill the interior of the place, and a patio area outside provides more seating options. Crossroads has burgers for $1 on Wednesday nights and also serves good pizza.

LOCATION:
1389 Highway 19
Hermann, MO

PARKING:
Lots in the front and to the side of the building

HOURS OF OPERATION:
Sun-Thurs Open at 11am, closes whenever business slows down, typically 8-9pm
Fri-Sat 11am-1:30am

The Cottage

The Cottage Restaurant and Gallery offers one of the most unique dining experiences in Hermann. Hidden in a grove of trees off of Highway H, The Cottage is a nice, home style restaurant that's also a charming art gallery. A patio area behind the restaurant is an attractive setting to enjoy your meal and a glass of wine. Artwork lines the walls on the inside of the restaurant, which resembles the inside of a home. The menu changes according to what's in season, and the food is made with fresh local produce. Soup, salad and sandwiches are available at lunchtime and home style cuisine is served most weekends for dinner, but on some nights The Cottage will make international dishes. The art gallery is in a small building near the patio, with unique art on display.

WEBSITE:
http://www.goodfoodfineart.com/

LOCATION:
1185 Hwy H
Hermann, MO

PARKING:
Lots on property

HOURS OF OPERATION:
Lunch Wed-Sat 11am-2pm
Dinner Friday and Saturday 5pm-8pm

Thrift Store at the Sheltered Workshop

The Thrift Store sponsored by the Hermann Sheltered Workshop isn't like other thrift stores. This one sells designer clothes that were never picked up from a chain of dry cleaning stores in St. Louis. This is really something! We're talking designer clothes, men's and women's dress clothes and suits, high-end linen tableclothes, curtains and comforters, all priced from $1 - $12. Besides the suits and comforters, most clothing articles are actually just $3 or $4, on average. It's a bargain hunter's paradise!
It's surprising how much stuff is actually never picked up from the dry cleaners. There are racks and racks of clothes and linens to browse through. Sheltered Workshop director Muriel Brison told me that dry cleaners have to give customers one full year to pick up their clothing before they can dispose of it. A mutual friend with ties to a certain St. Louis dry cleaning chain had the idea of donating the abandoned articles to the Workshop to sell. The Thrift Store has been selling the dry cleaned clothing since May of this year, and it's working out nicely for both parties. Come take a look!

LOCATION:
103 Industrial Dr.

PARKING:
Lots to the west of the building

HOURS OF OPERATION:
M-F 8am-3pm
Sat 8am-12pm
*Closed holiday weekends


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