Check this out.

THEME PARKS

Also at the end of the Great River Road, in the outskirts of Grafton, is a water park called Raging Rivers. With multiple water slides and other water activities, it's a great place to keep cool when the weather is hot.

A little farther away in Eureka, Mo., is Six Flags of America, featuring roller coasters, thrill rides, games, food and even a water park called Hurricane Harbor. With admission to the park, the water park is included. This however, would put a bigger dent in your pocket book than you'd imagine. And watch out for the traffic on the interstate because there have recently been fatal accidents on the highway by Six Flags.

GAMBLERS

For those who like games of chance and are over 21 years, gambling is a big industry in this area. The most popular places to risk your money are the riverboat casinos found on the Mississippi River.

The Alton Belle Casino is near downtown Alton, and it's really rather hard to miss. They recently painted the casino in circus colors and you'd think a troupe of clowns is about to pour out of the entrance. This casino is now the eyesore of Alton, but it's keeping plenty of cash coming to the area.

In East St. Louis you'll find the Casino Queen. It's another riverboat casino, but closer to campus. The best way to find it is to drive toward St. Louis on Interstate 70 and take the exit just before Poplar Street Bridge that has a brown street sign that says "Casino" and has a picture of a riverboat. It's also hard to miss.

Crossing the state line to gamble is also a possibility. On the opposite bank of the Mississippi River from the Casino Queen is the President Casino by the Arch. It's also easy enough to get to by taking the first exit after crossing Poplar Street Bridge.

For land lover's, there's either Station Casino in St. Charles, Mo., or Harrah's Casino and Player's Island Casino, which are both at the Riverport Casino Center in Maryland Heights, Mo. Station Casino can be reached by taking Interstate 70 West at the Missouri River. You'll have to travel a bit farther to reach the Riverport Casino Center. Just take Interstate 270 West until you see signs for "Riverport Amphitheatre" at Earth City, Mo. Drive past the amphitheatre on Earth City Expressway and you can't miss the well-lit casino center.

If noisy slot machines are not your gig, you can always try Fairmount Park Race Track on Route 40 in Collinsville. Horses are mostly raced there, but dog races are held there as well. This is the less interactive way to gamble your money.

SPORTS

St. Louis is home to the Super Bowl champs, the Rams. The TWA Dome on Broadway at Convention Plaza in St. Louis is their home, and tickets for games are more expensive now that we have a winning team. Perhaps football isn't what you're into, but baseball is your viewing pastime.

The St. Louis Cardinals boast the star slugger, Mark McGwire, and the team is doing well this season. Once again, ticket prices have gone up at Busch Stadium, even for bleacher seats. Busch Stadium is at 250 Stadium Plaza in St. Louis.

For hockey, the St. Louis Blues play at the Kiel Center at 1401 Clark Ave. in St. Louis. Make sure to take a jacket because, of course, they keep it cold in there.....