In the event you’re seeking to discover a few of the greatest 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 fantastically 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 it’s a must to attempt.
Right here’s a take a look at simply a few of the greatest 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 the USA in the course of 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opening the West, the pioneers who helped form its historical past, and Dred Scott, who sued for his freedom within the Outdated Courthouse.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 experience 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 completely the #1 factor to do in St. Louis for apparent causes, but in addition as a result of you will get the perfect views of town of St. Louis in addition to the Illinois facet of the Mississippi River. You haven’t been to St. Louis in the event you didn’t try the Gateway Arch!
2. Go to a Cardinals Recreation at Busch Stadium
The Cardinals are the skilled baseball group of St. Louis, Missouri, enjoying all of their dwelling video games at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals have gained the Main League Baseball World Sequence 11 instances. Second solely to the New York Yankees. We could also be biased, however the Cardinals can placed on a reasonably good recreation.
If you’re 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 your entire household at a mean price of $40 a ticket, however you’ll be able to simply discover tickets for as little as $11 per particular person in the event you don’t thoughts some nosebleed seats. Seize your tickets right here.
You’ll want to get to the park early to get the complete Busch Stadium expertise and likewise get the perfect likelihood of parking spot. Begin the expertise by taking a stroll across the stadium when you get pleasure from all the superb views of downtown St. Louis and the Gateway Arch that Busch Stadium has to supply. You may also need to take pleasure in a few of the ballpark fare when 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 Reside!, 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 this point. It’s a new and thrilling a part of St. Louis’ group and nightlife that’s inside strolling distance of lots of the downtown actions.
Ballpark Village is open year-round and is energetic each day and evening. There are occasions for all ages, however lots of the venues are aimed toward adults. You are able to do mainly 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 among the greatest 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 countless alternatives for recreation. Better of all, the park and lots 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 might clarify how the Saint Louis Artwork Museum, Missouri Historical past Museum, The Muny, Saint Louis Science Middle, and Saint Louis Zoo can all be located inside Forest Park.
The Saint Louis Zoo, positioned on the southwest facet of Forest Park, is named one of many high 10 zoos in the USA and it is among 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 journey, 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 facet of the Missouri River. A lot of the historical past of St. Charles will be discovered within the buildings that line the Historic Fundamental Road.
You possibly can eat, drink, and store at a wide range of companies which have discovered a house on Fundamental Road in addition to take a stroll within the parks that encompass the realm. Additionally, you will discover that St. Charles’ Fundamental Road hosts many occasions year-round, and a whole lot of these occasions are free.
St. Charles is roughly a 35-minute drive from St. Louis, Missouri, making it the proper 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 facet of Forest Park is the Saint Louis Artwork Museum. The St. Louis Artwork Museum, in any other case often called SLAM, is among the principal United States artwork museums that includes lovely and fascinating work, sculptures, cultural objects, and historical masterpieces from everywhere in the world.
The Artwork Museum is open to the general public each Tuesday by means of 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 continually altering with new exhibitions, installations, and acquisitions and it affords 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 by means of the Missouri Botanical Backyard
The Missouri Botanical Backyard, informally often called Shaw’s Backyard, is a middle for botanical analysis and science schooling in St. Louis. The Backyard affords 79 acres of fantastic 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 sights of the backyard are the Climatron, the Japanese Backyard, and the Sachs Museum. In the event you get uninterested in strolling, the Botanical Backyard additionally affords narrated tram excursions that will help you discover the backyard.
Whereas the Missouri Botanical Backyard is among the few ticketed establishments in St. Louis, it’s only $14 for adults to benefit from the gardens. The backyard additionally hosts a wide range of rotating occasions all through the season that target issues like artwork installations. The Botanical Backyard is by far one of the vital lovely 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 Historical past 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 possibly can uncover 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 by means of Sundays from 10:00 AM to five:00 PM year-round. Common 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 affords 24+ completely different excursions that blend participating storytelling and deep historic data with enthusiasm for 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 long-lasting Gateway Arch, St. Louis is thought for its expansive craft beer scene. St. Louis has over 20 breweries and hundreds of beer types to supply locals and guests alike. Among the St. Louis favorites embody 4 Arms Brewing Co., The Schlafly Faucet Room, Rockwell Beer Co., City Chestnut Brewing Co., and dozens extra.
You’re additionally prone to be accustomed to Budweiser, and St. Louis is definitely dwelling to the headquarters of Anheuser-Busch. You possibly can 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 affords a wide range of experiences which are custom-made to suit your pursuits and timeframes. Relying on the expertise, it could 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 world was based by Italian immigrants within the 1800s which is what nonetheless closely influences the “little Italy” really feel of the neighborhood at the moment. The Hill is stuffed with proud longtime residents in addition to some new faces that hold historical past alive at the moment.
You may get the complete genuine Italian neighborhood expertise in The Hill by visiting any of the 25 superb eating places, searching for distinctive presents and items, or staying in a single mattress and breakfast within the historic houses.
We can also’t discuss 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 in all probability stumble throughout a constructing that has a college bus hanging off of the sting of it and marvel what on earth is going on. That’s simply the norm on the Metropolis Museum although!
The Metropolis Museum is a weirdly fantastic museum of play with a rooftop and 4 flooring stuffed with installations, sights, collections, and extra. Lots of the museum’s displays encompass repurposed architectural and industrial objects, most of that are interactive. Good 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!
In the event you go to from March by means of October, you may also add rooftop entry for less than $8 so you’ll be able to try the large praying mantis and the Huge 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 accessible most days between 10:00 AM to three:00 PM so that you gained’t miss out on any of the main points.
The decrease degree of the Cathedral Basilica is dwelling to the Mosaic Museum. The museum incorporates 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 slightly 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 odd root beer although. Fitz’s Root Beer is acknowledged as among the finest root beers in the USA! The foundation beer is made in response to an authentic recipe developed in St. Louis in 1947, and it’s most famously served as a Root Beer Float at Fitz’s.
You possibly can 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 areas.
14. Head to the Museum of Transportation
Based in 1944, the Museum of Transportation will take you on a experience again in time by means of 190 main displays. The gathering is acknowledged as the biggest assortment of transportation automobiles on the earth. You’re going to 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 vegetation to assist the native birds, butterflies, and different pollinators.
Barrett’s Touchdown Café is a superb place to go to for lunch. They’ve plenty of 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 by means of Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. You possibly can 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 among the hottest summertime treats for St. Louisans and vacationers alike. Ted Drewe’s has all types of scrumptious dessert treats however is greatest identified for the “concrete” which was created in 1959. A “concrete” is a malt or shake so thick that it may be served the other way up!
This makes Ted Drewe’s the proper ritual cease to make after an extended sizzling 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 the earth, however at the moment it serves a brand new function for town of St. Louis.
The Union Station now homes a wide range of actions just like the St. Louis Aquarium, a huge Ferris wheel, a rope course, mini golf, a carousel, a mirror maze, and lightweight reveals. Aside from the leisure, there are ample choices for meals, so you may also seize a chunk to eat at one of many 9 completely different eating places. Additionally in the event you occur to get too drained by the top of the day, you’ll be able to keep on the Union Station Lodge.
Mainly, the St. Louis Union Station has all of it. It actually captures the essence of historical past, enjoyable, and leisure. It’s undoubtedly a spot to convey the household and spend a complete day! Union Station can also be the jumping-off level for this superb tour of St. Louis Landmarks.
17. Spend a day at St. Louis Science Middle
The Saint Louis Science Middle is one other one of many nice free issues to do in Saint Louis. It is among the solely free nonprofit science museums within the nation, and it serves greater than 1 million individuals every year.
The Science Middle 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’re certain to be wowed by the dinosaurs if nothing else!
The Saint Louis Science Middle combines experimentation, creativity, and play which makes it just about the proper 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 middle that presents the ‘Better of Broadway’ in St. Louis. You possibly can see reveals starting from Broadway reveals, Vegas performers, live shows, basic 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 possibly can try 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 Middle space in Midtown St. Louis. This surrounds the theater with some scrumptious eating choices in addition to some good motels to spend the evening 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 youngsters’s spray plaza, and a 180-foot-long pool with a waterfall.
The Metropolis Backyard Sculpture Park is among the nice issues to do in St. Louis, MO, on a sizzling 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 yet 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 the USA 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 all the things you may presumably consider like recent produce, meat, seafood, cheese, snacks, baked items, spices, flowers, and far more!
The Soulard Farmers Market is open Wednesday by means of Saturday year-round regardless of being an open-air market. Entry is free, however it is suggested to have money on you in the event you 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 Youngsters’s Museum stuffed with hands-on displays and academic applications. The Magic Home affords a wide range of interactive studying experiences and enjoyable St. Louis issues to do for teenagers.
This award-winning instructional vacation spot is positioned in Kirkwood, Missouri, which is correct outdoors 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 by means of 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 Evening each third Friday of the month.
22. Artwork Hill
Situated proper in entrance of the St. Louis Artwork Museum, Artwork Hill is an expansive area 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 live shows all through the week.
Artwork Hill can also be well-liked within the wintertime when it snows because it’s an incredible 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 train you concerning the historical past of chess in addition to the impacts it has had over time on our tradition. The World Chess Corridor is definitely additionally dwelling to the Guinness World Data’ Largest Chess Piece.
Together with its sister group, the Saint Louis Chess Membership, there are a whole lot of enjoyable methods to get entangled in enjoying the sport of chess in St. Louis. Due to these two organizations, St. Louis is definitely often called the Chess Capital of the USA. So in the event you’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 an effective 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 lessons.
The park additionally hosts festivals all year long the place hundreds of individuals collect to understand the fantastic thing about the park and the distinctive artwork.
25. Modern Artwork Museum
The Modern Artwork Museum in St. Louis is a superb place to spend a day in the event you love up to date artwork. The museum is one other institute in St. Louis that’s free, so it’s straightforward to spend a number of hours testing the displays.
The CAM is positioned within the Grand Middle Arts District the place you’ll discover a dozen of different museums, displays and galleries, and live performance halls.
In addition to 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 unbelievable 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 propose 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 wish to spend a day or per week right here, there are such a lot of enjoyable and thrilling issues to do in St. Louis, Missouri for everybody. You possibly can spend a pleasant day outdoors at a baseball recreation or hold cool and cozy 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 attempt.
You won’t have the ability to get to do all 21 of the perfect issues to do in St. Louis, however we hope that we now have helped you slim down your favourite must-dos and deliberate the proper St. Louis tour!
Creator Bio
Ron and Jess are the homeowners 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 unbelievable issues town affords. You possibly can join with Ron & Jess on their Instagram or Fb web page the place they provide extra inspiration and ideas for touring.