City Stories: St. Louis, MO
I’ve been to St. Louis just a few times over the years, and every time I’m there, I leave thinking, if only I could have a few more days here. There’s so much to see and do in this very underrated city.
Let’s start with some of the free things to do. I can’t understand how so many amazing things are free, but somehow they are.
- The St. Louis City Zoo
- The St. Louis Art Museum
- The Gateway Arch National Park – you have to pay to go up into the arch, but the museum and tour of the old courthouse are free.
- Missouri History Museum
- Soldiers Memorial Military Museum
- St. Louis Science Center
- Anheuser-Busch Brewery tours are family-friendly, and they offer a free tram to the baseball stadium.
- Kemper Art Museum
- Citygarden
- The Muny – offers free tickets on a first-come, first-serve basis.
- Forest Park
- Contemporary Art Museum
- Pulitzer Arts Foundation
- Laumeier Sculpture Park
- World Chess Hall of Fame
- Lone Elk Park – the World Bird Sanctuary is located within the park as well).
- Castlewood State Park
- Grand Central Arts District
- Cahokia Mounds
Below is a list for those who want to take in some of the beautiful architecture St. Louis offers.
- Take a tour of the Central Public Library.
- Visit the lobby at Union Station. It’s now part of the Hilton family of hotels.
- The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis
- Lafayette Square
- Stifel Theatre (formerly known as the Peabody Opera House)
- Frank Lloyd Wright House in Ebsworth House
- Frank Lloyd Wright Pappas House
- Nine tours to not miss
- St. Louis History and Architecture tour
- Self-guided or guided tours of St. Louis
- A few self-guided tours
- More tours around St. Louis
These things aren’t free but are highly worth the cost of admission:
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- City Museum -this place is nuts in the best way—10-story slides, a ball pit with kickball-sized balls, etc.
- Powder Valley Nature Center
- The Magic House Children’s Museum
- Spend an afternoon watching a Cardinals game
- See a Louis Blues hockey game
- Enjoy a St. Louis City soccer game
Be sure to walk through these neighborhoods:
- Central West End -stop into Left Bank Books and Jeni’s Ice cream, and be sure not to miss the homes in this area that are worth taking a stroll to see around the neighborhood.
- The Grove -be sure to go on a mural hunt.
- The Hill is the Italian area of St. Louis. Make a reservation because the locals pour into this area on the weekends.
- Shaw
- St. Louis Hills
- Benton Park (one of the best meals I’ve had was in this area, The Mud House)
- Old North St. Louis
- And this is a small town outside of St. Louis, but still worth a visit, Kirkwood.
I know I’m missing many things because I still have so much to explore and learn in St. Louis. What are some of your favorite, never to miss spots in the city?
Thanks as always for being here! – Erin
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