Field Trip

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