Welcome to Ferryland
With fall's arrival comes a yen for gourds, the rustle of dried corn stalks, and bucolic spots to admire the changing foliage and soak in the sun's shortened rays. Calhoun and Jersey Counties, located just an hour from downtown St. Louis, make for ideal autumn day trip destinations.
![](https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Brussels-Ferry-evening.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=18735fb4e40fc5228421eeede23f5cf7 320w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Brussels-Ferry-evening.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=5611f400f4b416e03b964c98ddd2800b 540w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Brussels-Ferry-evening.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=7393aa8201d4e996b39a06bd0a100974 768w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Brussels-Ferry-evening.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=f122478b899efd8792d1b1531c5ce9f3 1024w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Brussels-Ferry-evening.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=df558c7bf0ce48ea969c9583ebe2eb74 1200w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Brussels-Ferry-evening.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=370df5893c589d5e3e201cf0cba340a0 1440w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Brussels-Ferry-evening.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=4916f5ff6a5e66f82060be70ff5d0da3 1500w)
From the moment you pull onto the ferry, roll the windows down and shut off your car engine, your worries are left on the shore; you’re weightless and drifting. There’s nothing to do but take in the views, which are especially beautiful if you’re lucky enough to catch the ferry at sunset. The road ahead calls, but here between the riverbanks, for just a few minutes, time stands still. When the ferry docks, you’re deposited into a world of farm stands, rolling riverside landscapes and roadside eateries.
![](https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/2007-11-05-14.18.48.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=2e3d48be33f84e036479770d9b6f964f 320w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/2007-11-05-14.18.48.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=28d967925cc22541d566b29fd82527a9 540w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/2007-11-05-14.18.48.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=43ef3973402930280522ecf020debb94 768w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/2007-11-05-14.18.48.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=90ee386f40b26fc1c4a1b29fc5d66bb8 1024w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/2007-11-05-14.18.48.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=76469bcf1075ce3f9098417034998959 1200w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/2007-11-05-14.18.48.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=9fbe1a8b37f3937ec708d8709b4f4439 1440w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/2007-11-05-14.18.48.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=2dc16044f583a1795ce68449830c2217 1920w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/2007-11-05-14.18.48.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=160bfcb40ad8817a4ff4f5c27dbfb3fd 2560w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/2007-11-05-14.18.48.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=1dcb9d15789f175ce64409606c59b944 3008w)
Divided by the Illinois and the Mississippi Rivers, the two counties are like sisters who have just enough space to appreciate the other’s special qualities but recognize their differences. Calhoun County is the older of the two; established in 1825, she’s a tad shy and enjoys watching the world from her antique wavy glass windows. Surrounded by water on three sides, she’s breathtakingly beautiful and well aware of her unique features. Her five municipalities – Hardin, Kampsville, Batchtown, Brussels and Hamburg – are connected by narrow roads that don’t quite welcome hoards of travelers with wide thoroughfares but reward with vistas that rival Tuscany in the fall. It’s a place to get lost and wander down farmers’ driveways to ask directions. When you finally do reach the end of the road, it likely ends at the water’s edge where you’ll wait for the ferry to take you away.
![](https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Brussels-Ferry.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=2cb6290a27d81c8aa73aa5de1b6591e6 320w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Brussels-Ferry.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=1863dd1d0f44732f6f43ff26bcc6e66d 540w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Brussels-Ferry.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=f2d3c6ec5144672a2de8c397e7cb354f 768w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Brussels-Ferry.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=a2256628a4545426eb51128e7f445fed 1024w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Brussels-Ferry.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=4e066cd907551f1d64551f86eee1a10e 1200w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Brussels-Ferry.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=bf00e3b9599c84639378c73f728f5cf1 1440w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Brussels-Ferry.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=58fa8af0d335272696b7b42a6952678c 1800w)
From Calhoun, the Brussels Ferry introduces you to younger and more energetic Jersey County and her most lively attribute, Grafton. After a tranquil day on the quiet side of river, she can be a bit of a shock but is welcoming nonetheless. She’s vivacious, unapologetic and not ashamed of how much she wants you there. The mile-long stretch along Route 100 pulls you in to eat, sleep or party until there’s no hint of crickets ringing in your ears. But Jersey Co. also knows that it takes more than a party to bring people in, so she takes cues from her older sibling and has her own quiet hamlets, back roads and orchards. You may need to fight some crowds sometimes, but that’s how she likes it.
![](https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Ferryland-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=45672d2b32a75186b27f343d6330f3b8 320w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Ferryland-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=81bb85ad92fcc247b6a2ff598b5b205e 540w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Ferryland-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=8abf3e5b5a6f9e8c9297d31872b4ecf2 768w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Ferryland-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=99d9f5275a0d8140d07c0696666203af 1024w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Ferryland-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=6902d3b70b6ebbf3a5bbb5414598d617 1200w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Ferryland-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=205196fee58a0a1f130a283084c85e44 1440w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Ferryland-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=c1c31f7e05b224ab72e6faf1e12af8b0 1920w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Ferryland-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=7cb57db35529a1130bf03dd89ac612ce 2000w)
So, to visit only one of these riverside counties is perfectly fine. But by floating back and forth between them, you’ll get to know two areas that are genetically similar but whose personalities differ and complement each other in the best of ways – although they’d never admit it.
![close-up of fresh, river-caught fish from Beasley Fish Stand, a Grafton restaurant](https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Beasley-Fish-Stand.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=b653914e305caadd3f35b9da16435bbd 320w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Beasley-Fish-Stand.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=4b9789d9dfdf8fb574fe37ddfda90ede 540w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Beasley-Fish-Stand.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=a16f60e37967c1a5da1360c13efc3c82 720w)
(This story was reprinted with permission from Sauce Magazine.)
![](https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Ferryland-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=91721846d3db1158b0d04c679f9ff60b 320w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Ferryland-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=c872a868ab9aae7466309f8dd5ec0e89 540w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Ferryland-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=fe0c04a40903ed8d65b11f275ec324e9 768w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Ferryland-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=e60fc55bdfa01062d7368312a20eacf8 1024w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Ferryland-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=f37c2285baf69fc8092858f6d34fa771 1200w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Ferryland-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=18e2c28d5f77f1ea443c893454ccb50f 1440w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Ferryland-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=d038e47dd00a0fab5cae6b3906b0cfd7 1920w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Ferryland-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=de9aae4ea839fd5cdc2d9132e609a770 2000w)
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