When you’re trying to discover a few of the finest issues to do in St. Louis, you’ve come to the appropriate place. Being a Midwest metropolis, you wouldn’t assume St. Louis has all that a lot to do. However we’re right here to let you know there are a great deal of issues to do in St. Louis.
You would possibly’ve heard about St. Louis Arch or Busch Stadium the place the Cardinals play however in addition to that, there are a ton of hidden gems and fascinating issues to find within the metropolis.
Superior Issues to Do in St. Louis, MO
Based in 1764, St. Louis has many historic buildings which were superbly renovated for modern-day use. There are additionally nationally acknowledged museums that host fascinating displays and artwork to see. Aside from that, St. Louis has some scrumptious native meals and a few fascinating spins on issues that you need to strive.
Right here’s a take a look at simply a few of the finest issues to do in St. Louis!
1. Take a look at The Gateway Arch Nationwide Park
The Gateway Arch Nationwide Park is dwelling to and named for the 630-foot-tall Gateway Arch. This nationwide park displays St. Louis’ function within the Westward Enlargement of america through the nineteenth century, Thomas Jefferson’s function in opening the West, the pioneers who helped form its historical past, and Dred Scott, who sued for his freedom within the Outdated Courthouse.
The Gateway Arch, being the principle attraction of the park, includes a brief 4-minute journey to the highest that prices $13-$19 per particular person, a model new free museum about St. Louis’ function in westward enlargement, and a 30-minute documentary film about how the Arch was constructed.
The Gateway Arch Nationwide Park is totally the #1 factor to do in St. Louis for apparent causes, but in addition as a result of you may get one of the best views of the town of St. Louis in addition to the Illinois aspect of the Mississippi River. You haven’t been to St. Louis if you happen to didn’t take a look at the Gateway Arch!
2. Go to a Cardinals Recreation at Busch Stadium
The Cardinals are the skilled baseball group of St. Louis, Missouri, taking part in all of their dwelling video games at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals have received the Main League Baseball World Collection 11 occasions. Second solely to the New York Yankees. We could also be biased, however the Cardinals can placed on a fairly good recreation.
In case you are in St. Louis from April to September, it’s the good alternative to catch a baseball recreation at Busch Stadium. It’s a tremendous inexpensive expertise for the complete household at a median price of $40 a ticket, however you’ll be able to simply discover tickets for as little as $11 per particular person if you happen to don’t thoughts some nosebleed seats. Grab your tickets here.
You’ll want to get to the park early to get the total Busch Stadium expertise and likewise get one of the best probability of a very good parking spot. Begin the expertise by taking a stroll across the stadium whilst you get pleasure from all the superb views of downtown St. Louis and the Gateway Arch that Busch Stadium has to supply. You may additionally need to take pleasure in a few of the ballpark fare whilst you’re at it!
3. Exit for Drinks at Ballpark Village
Ballpark Village is a 150,000-square-foot retail and leisure district positioned proper throughout from Busch Stadium. The district options Budweiser Brewhouse, Cardinals Nation, Bally Sports activities Dwell!, in addition to a number of different leisure and restaurant venues.
Ballpark Village additionally produces over 120 free annual occasions and has welcomed over 10 million guests to date. It’s a new and thrilling a part of St. Louis’ group and nightlife that’s inside strolling distance of most of the downtown actions.
Ballpark Village is open year-round and is energetic each day and night time. There are occasions for all ages, however most of the venues are geared toward adults. You are able to do principally something you’ll be able to consider at Ballpark Village like: eat, drink, keep, store, discover, and a lot extra. Going for a drink is likely one of the finest issues to do in Saint Louis earlier than or after a Cardinals baseball recreation.
4. Get out in Nature at Forest Park
Forest Park is taken into account to be one of many nation’s best city public parks that includes 1,300 acres of gorgeous landscapes like forests, completely different ecosystems, nature reserves, lakes, streams, 5 main cultural establishments, and infinite alternatives for recreation. Better of all, the park and most of the establishments are free for the general public to get pleasure from!
To place the dimensions of Forest Park in perspective, it’s bigger than Central Park in New York! That will clarify how the Saint Louis Artwork Museum, Missouri Historical past Museum, The Muny, Saint Louis Science Heart, and Saint Louis Zoo can all be located inside Forest Park.
The Saint Louis Zoo, positioned on the southwest aspect of Forest Park, is called one of many high 10 zoos in america and it is likely one of the solely free zoos as nicely. The zoo is devoted to analysis and conservation and works domestically and globally to guard animals and their habitats.
5. Day Journey to St. Charles
There are many superb day journeys which you can take from St. Louis reminiscent of floating down a few of Missouri’s pristine rivers on a Missouri float trip, however one other noteworthy day journey to take a look at is St. Charles, Missouri.
Based in 1769, St. Charles is a restored historic metropolis located proper on the West aspect of the Missouri River. A lot of the historical past of St. Charles might be discovered within the buildings that line the Historic Principal Road.
You’ll be able to eat, drink, and store at quite a lot of companies which have discovered a house on Principal Road in addition to take a stroll within the parks that encompass the realm. Additionally, you will discover that St. Charles’ Principal Road hosts many occasions year-round, and quite a lot of these occasions are free.
St. Charles is roughly a 35-minute drive from St. Louis, Missouri, making it the right day journey so as to add to your checklist of issues to do in St. Louis!
6. Go to the Saint Louis Artwork Museum
One other establishment positioned on the west aspect of Forest Park is the Saint Louis Art Museum. The St. Louis Artwork Museum, in any other case referred to as SLAM, is likely one of the principal United States artwork museums that includes stunning and fascinating work, sculptures, cultural objects, and historical masterpieces from all around the world.
The Artwork Museum is open to the general public each Tuesday via Sunday from 10:00 AM to five:00 PM. Admission to the museum is free each day all 12 months spherical, and admission to the principle rotating exhibitions is free each Friday.
The Saint Louis Artwork Museum is consistently altering with new exhibitions, installations, and acquisitions and it presents a bunch of thrilling on-site actions for all ages. There are over 34,000 objects spanning 5,000 years of historical past and cultures to see right here.
7. Meander via the Missouri Botanical Backyard
The Missouri Botanical Backyard, informally referred to as Shaw’s Backyard, is a middle for botanical analysis and science training in St. Louis. The Backyard presents 79 acres of wonderful horticultural show, together with a 14-acre Japanese backyard, historic structure, and one of many world’s largest collections of uncommon and endangered flora.
The Missouri Botanical Backyard is open each day from 9:00 AM to five:00 PM year-round. The highest points of interest of the backyard are the Climatron, the Japanese Backyard, and the Sachs Museum. When you get uninterested in strolling, the Botanical Backyard additionally presents narrated tram excursions that will help you discover the backyard.
Whereas the Missouri Botanical Backyard is likely one of the few ticketed establishments in St. Louis, it’s only $14 for adults to benefit from the gardens. The backyard additionally hosts quite a lot of rotating occasions all through the season that target issues like artwork installations. The Botanical Backyard is by far one of the stunning issues to do in St. Louis, MO.
8. Study Historical past on the St. Louis Historical past Museum
One other free staple positioned on the north entrance of Forest Park, the Missouri History Museum explores the histories of those that name the St. Louis area dwelling. The museum, run by the Missouri Historic Society, focuses on the historical past of St. Louis from its founding in 1764 as much as the current day. You’ll be able to uncover the town’s historical past of sports activities, life on the Mississippi, the 1904 World’s Honest, and a lot extra!
The Missouri Historical past Museum is often open Tuesdays via Sundays from 10:00 AM to five:00 PM year-round. Normal admission in addition to most particular rotating displays and occasions are at all times free for everybody.
If you wish to go on a deeper St. Louis historical past dive, the Missouri Historic Society presents 24+ completely different excursions that blend partaking storytelling and deep historic data with enthusiasm for the town of St. Louis. The excursions vary from $20-$35 and might last as long as 2 hours lengthy.
9. Go on a Brewery Crawl
Aside from the enduring Gateway Arch, St. Louis is thought for its expansive craft beer scene. St. Louis has over 20 breweries and 1000’s of beer types to supply locals and guests alike. Among the St. Louis favorites embrace 4 Arms Brewing Co., The Schlafly Faucet Room, Rockwell Beer Co., City Chestnut Brewing Co., and dozens extra.
You might be additionally prone to be conversant in Budweiser, and St. Louis is definitely dwelling to the headquarters of Anheuser-Busch. You’ll be able to benefit from the Budweiser Brewery Expertise there which lets you discover the campus, go to the Clydesdales, and style the beer straight from the ending cellars.
Budweiser presents quite a lot of experiences which are custom-made to suit your pursuits and timeframes. Relying on the expertise, it may price $15-$40 per particular person.
10. Head to The Hill for Scrumptious Italian Meals
The Hill is a novel Italian neighborhood positioned in St. Louis Metropolis. The realm was based by Italian immigrants within the 1800s which is what nonetheless closely influences the “little Italy” really feel of the neighborhood in the present day. The Hill is stuffed with proud longtime residents in addition to some new faces that hold historical past alive in the present day.
You will get the total genuine Italian neighborhood expertise in The Hill by visiting any of the 25 superb eating places, purchasing for distinctive presents and items, or staying in a single mattress and breakfast within the historic properties.
We can also’t speak about The Hill with out mentioning the St. Louis favourite, toasted ravioli or t-ravs. The toasted ravioli is a breaded deep-fried ravioli, often served as an appetizer with a dipping sauce like marinara sauce. This St. Louis meals oddity was first created and popularized within the Nineteen Fifties on the eating places in The Hill!
11. Go on an Journey at The Metropolis Museum
Whereas exploring downtown St. Louis, you’ll most likely stumble throughout a constructing that has a faculty bus hanging off of the sting of it and marvel what on earth is occurring. That’s simply the norm on the City Museum although!
The Metropolis Museum is a weirdly fantastic museum of play with a rooftop and 4 flooring stuffed with installations, points of interest, collections, and extra. Most of the museum’s displays include repurposed architectural and industrial objects, most of that are interactive. Excellent for the adults to get pleasure from whereas the children play.
Tickets to the Metropolis Museum begin at $20 per particular person and get you entry to the 30+ slides, man-made caves, treehouse + tunnels, the world’s largest pencil, and a lot extra!
When you go to from March via October, you too can add rooftop entry for less than $8 so you’ll be able to take a look at the large praying mantis and the Massive Eli Ferris Wheel.
12. See the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis
The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, or the Saint Louis Cathedral, dates again to 1764 and is a one-of-a-kind murals. With a lot magnificence to see on the within and the superb structure on the surface of this cathedral, it’s a particular cease on our checklist.
There are free guided and self-guided excursions out there most days between 10:00 AM to three:00 PM so that you received’t miss out on any of the main points.
The decrease degree of the Cathedral Basilica is dwelling to the Mosaic Museum. The museum comprises a number of shows depicting the design and set up of mosaics together with different historic spiritual objects.
Additionally positioned within the museum within the Cathedral Crypt if you wish to get somewhat spooky. The museum is open each day till 4:00 PM with a contribution of $2 per particular person requested as admission.
13. Drink a Root Beer Float at Fitz’s
Fitz’s is an area St. Louis craft soda microbrewery and restaurant providing scrumptious American meals, well-known floats and shakes, and views of the bottling line. Fitz’s bottles all 19 of their distinctive flavors on their classic bottling line proper within the restaurant, however their root beer is their most well-known taste.
This isn’t simply an bizarre root beer although. Fitz’s Root Beer is acknowledged as among the finest root beers in america! The foundation beer is made in line with an unique recipe developed in St. Louis in 1947, and it’s most famously served as a Root Beer Float at Fitz’s.
You’ll be able to order one of many famously giant Root Beer Floats throughout any day of the week from 11:00 AM to eight:00 PM at both their historic Delmar Loop or South County places.
14. Head to the Museum of Transportation
Based in 1944, the Museum of Transportation will take you on a journey again in time via 190 main displays. The gathering is acknowledged as the biggest assortment of transportation automobiles on this planet. You’ll get to see traditionally well-known prepare vehicles, vehicles, boats, and planes a few of that are hooked up to some fairly neat St. Louis historical past.
Not solely does this museum have all issues transportation, it even has gardens, a restaurant, and a boutique. There are gardens on all 3 ranges of the museum that incorporate native and sustainable crops to assist the native birds, butterflies, and different pollinators.
Barrett’s Touchdown Café is a good place to go to for lunch. They’ve numerous choices so you’ll be able to both seize a meal, a fast snack, or a to-go deal with. The Boxcar Boutique, positioned inside the principle museum constructing, has enjoyable commemorative items and transportation-themed presents.
The Museum of Transportation is open each Monday via Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. You’ll be able to take a guided or self-guided tour, and admission begins at simply $5 per particular person.
15. Get an Ice Cream at Ted Drewe’s
Ted Drewe’s has been promoting frozen custard in St. Louis for over 80 years and is likely one of the hottest summertime treats for St. Louisans and vacationers alike. Ted Drewe’s has every kind of scrumptious dessert treats however is finest identified for the “concrete” which was created in 1959. A “concrete” is a malt or shake so thick that it may be served the wrong way up!
This makes Ted Drewe’s the right ritual cease to make after a protracted scorching day visiting one of many many Saint Louis issues to do just like the Arch, the Fox and Muny Theaters, the St. Louis Zoo, or a Cardinal’s baseball recreation.
16. Go to Union Station
St. Louis’s Union Station was once one of many largest and busiest passenger rail terminals on this planet, however in the present day it serves a brand new function for the town of St. Louis.
The Union Station now homes quite a lot of actions just like the St. Louis Aquarium, a big Ferris wheel, a rope course, mini golf, a carousel, a mirror maze, and light-weight exhibits. Aside from the leisure, there are ample choices for meals, so you too can seize a chew to eat at one of many 9 completely different eating places. Additionally if you happen to occur to get too drained by the top of the day, you’ll be able to keep on the Union Station Resort.
Principally, the St. Louis Union Station has all of it. It actually captures the essence of historical past, enjoyable, and leisure. It’s positively a spot to convey the household and spend a complete day! Union Station can also be the jumping-off level for this amazing tour of St. Louis Landmarks.
17. Spend a day at St. Louis Science Heart
The Saint Louis Science Heart is one other one of many nice free issues to do in Saint Louis. It is likely one of the solely free nonprofit science museums within the nation, and it serves greater than 1 million folks annually.
The Science Heart campus options greater than 700 interactive experiences throughout 10 completely different galleries. There’s additionally an agricultural out of doors pavilion, the well-known McDonnell Planetarium, and the 4-story OMNIMAX Theater. You might be positive to be wowed by the dinosaurs if nothing else!
The Saint Louis Science Heart combines experimentation, creativity, and play which makes it just about the right place to convey the entire household for a brilliant informative but enjoyable expertise.
18. See a Present at The Fabulous Fox Theater
The Fabulous Fox Theater, a former film palace, is a performing arts heart that presents the ‘Better of Broadway’ in St. Louis. You’ll be able to see exhibits starting from Broadway exhibits, Vegas performers, concert events, traditional films, and extra.
Fabulous is part of the title for a purpose too. Aside from the leisure, the Fabulous Fox Theater is thought for the beautiful inside of the historic constructing. You’ll be able to take a look at the superb inside and expertise the magic of the Fox Theater for as little as $32 a ticket!
You may make it dinner and present too since The Fabulous Fox Theater is positioned within the arts district of the Grand Heart space in Midtown St. Louis. This surrounds the theater with some scrumptious eating choices in addition to some good inns to spend the night time at.
19. Take a look at the Metropolis Backyard Sculpture Park
Situated within the coronary heart of downtown St. Louis, Metropolis Backyard Sculpture Park is an city sculpture park stuffed with free interactive artwork, fountains, and gardens. The Metropolis Backyard spans roughly 2 blocks in downtown St. Louis, consisting of paved paths that lead guests round 24 sculptures, 6 rain gardens, a kids’s spray plaza, and a 180-foot-long pool with a waterfall.
The Metropolis Backyard Sculpture Park is likely one of the nice issues to do in St. Louis, MO, on a scorching summer time’s day. It’s the good place to convey the children particularly as a result of all the sculptures are made to be performed on.
The park is open and accessible year-round. It’s one more fantastic free factor to do in St. Louis that’s positioned inside strolling distance of the Gateway Arch!
20. Seize some Veggies on the Soulard Farmers Market
The Soulard Farmers Market is the oldest working public market in St. Louis, Missouri, and the oldest public market in america west of the Mississippi River. Situated within the Soulard neighborhood’s “Grand Corridor”, the market is within the coronary heart of St. Louis.
The market hosts 147 stalls with distributors that promote every little thing you may presumably consider like contemporary produce, meat, seafood, cheese, snacks, baked items, spices, flowers, and far more!
The Soulard Farmers Market is open Wednesday via Saturday year-round regardless of being an open-air market. Entry is free, however it is suggested to have money on you if you happen to plan to make a purchase order as some distributors don’t take debit or bank cards.
21. Use your Creativeness on the St. Louis Magic Home
The St. Louis Magic Home is a not-for-profit Kids’s Museum stuffed with hands-on displays and academic applications. The Magic Home presents quite a lot of interactive studying experiences and enjoyable St. Louis issues to do for youths.
This award-winning instructional vacation spot is positioned in Kirkwood, Missouri, which is correct exterior St. Louis. The museum was initially a 5,500-square-foot Victorian Mansion, however it’s now a spot that has sparked the creativeness of over 15 million guests!
The St. Louis Magic Home is often open Tuesdays via Sundays from 10:30 AM to five:00 PM. The admission is simply $6.00 for anybody ages 1 and older, however you’ll be able to catch a Free Household Night time each third Friday of the month.
22. Artwork Hill
Situated proper in entrance of the St. Louis Artwork Museum, Artwork Hill is an expansive discipline overlooking the Grand Basin in Forest Park. The Grand Basin was truly the middle of the World’s Honest that happened in St. Louis in 1904.
These days, Artwork Hill is an ideal place to go in St. Louis to get pleasure from a pleasant picnic and sunny climate. In the summertime months, Artwork Hill hosts a movie collection exhibiting well-liked films and concert events all through the week.
Artwork Hill can also be well-liked within the wintertime when it snows because it’s an amazing hill to go sledding down!
23. World Chess Corridor of Fame
The World Chess Corridor of Fame is a non-profit establishment positioned within the Central West Finish neighborhood that celebrates the sport of chess with displays and completely different applications all year long.
The displays will educate you concerning the historical past of chess in addition to the impacts it has had through the years on our tradition. The World Chess Corridor is definitely additionally dwelling to the Guinness World Information’ Largest Chess Piece.
Together with its sister group, the Saint Louis Chess Membership, there are quite a lot of enjoyable methods to get entangled in taking part in the sport of chess in St. Louis. Due to these two organizations, St. Louis is definitely referred to as the Chess Capital of america. So if you happen to’re a lover of chess, you should definitely make a cease on the World Chess Corridor of Fame when visiting St. Louis.
24. Laumeier Sculpture Park
The Laumeier Sculpture Park is one other enjoyable park positioned within the Sundown Hills, a neighborhood about 20 minutes from downtown St. Louis. The park is a good way to interact with artwork and nature with its 105 acres of rolling gardens and 60 out of doors sculptures.
The park is maintained in partnership with the St. Louis County Parks and Recreation Division and has month-to-month occasions for all ages and pursuits. They host completely different sorts of workshops reminiscent of wind chime making, pottery, and yoga courses.
The park additionally hosts festivals all year long the place 1000’s of individuals collect to understand the great thing about the park and the distinctive artwork.
25. Modern Artwork Museum
The Modern Artwork Museum in St. Louis is a good place to spend a day if you happen to love up to date artwork. The museum is one other institute in St. Louis that’s free, so it’s simple to spend a number of hours testing the displays.
The CAM is positioned within the Grand Heart Arts District the place you’ll discover a dozen of different museums, displays and galleries, and live performance halls.
Apart from simply displays, the CAM hosts artist talks, movie screenings, and workshops and performances. One other enjoyable factor the museum has is First Fridays the place on the primary Friday of each month, they’ve guided excursions of the museum and music performed by the in-house museum DJ.
26. Nationwide Blues Museum
The Nationwide Blues Museum is devoted to celebrating and educating everybody concerning the origins of blues music and its impacts on our tradition. The museum opened its doorways in 2016 and the daughter of B.B. King truly spoke on the museum opening!
The museum hosts instructional rotating displays and unimaginable performances of their state-of-the-art theater. Admission is $15 for adults and it’s positioned proper downtown so you’ll be able to simply stroll from different spots you intend to go to such because the Arch or Metropolis Backyard Sculpture Park.
Wrap-Up: The Finest Issues to Do in St. Louis, Missouri
Whether or not you want to spend a day or every week right here, there are such a lot of enjoyable and thrilling issues to do in St. Louis, Missouri for everybody. You’ll be able to spend a pleasant day exterior at a baseball recreation or hold cool and comfy inside one of many many museums. There’s additionally each form of meals you may consider plus some favourite St. Louis editions like toasted ravioli to strive.
You may not be capable to get to do all 21 of one of the best issues to do in St. Louis, however we hope that we’ve got helped you slim down your favourite must-dos and deliberate the right St. Louis tour!
Writer Bio
Ron and Jess are the house owners of Unearth The Voyage, a journey weblog devoted to out of doors adventures, US Nationwide Park guides, and itineraries that will help you plan your subsequent journey. After touring full-time for 4 years, they’ve put roots down in St. Louis however nonetheless journey part-time of their RV and internationally. They love coming again to St. Louis after spending time away and being concerned in all of the unimaginable issues the town presents. You’ll be able to join with Ron & Jess on their Instagram or Facebook page the place they provide extra inspiration and ideas for touring.
