Crystal Lake Park, MO

Tucked between Frontenac, Town and Country, and Des Peres in west St. Louis County, Crystal Lake Park is a quiet, small-town enclave. The neighborhood got its start in the 1920s as a weekend resort getaway built around an artificial lake and a lively country club. While the water and fairways were eventually replaced by homes, you can still feel that vintage charm through the surviving cottages, mature trees, and golf-themed street names like Putter, Cleek, and Divot.

Today, Crystal Lake Park is completely residential and known for its close-knit atmosphere. A major draw for families is the top-ranked Ladue School District, which serves the area and includes Ladue Horton Watkins High School. Because there are no commercial strips within the neighborhood boundaries, the streets stay peaceful and low-traffic, even though grocery stores and shopping centers are only minutes away in neighboring towns. Residents regularly gather at the city park for annual picnics, holiday parades, and spring planting days.