With iconic attractions, vibrant neighborhoods, natural beauty, and Midwestern charm, St. Louis rewards visitors with memorable experiences distinct to the Gateway City. Families thrive off interactive museums and attractions catering to kids’ interests. Sports fans relish games at state-of-the-art stadiums and arenas.
| Activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Forest Park | Expansive green space with museums, a zoo, golf course, and outdoor events. |
| Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour | Explore the history and brewing process of Anheuser-Busch with tastings. |
| Gateway Arch | Iconic monument offering tram rides and a museum about westward expansion. |
| St. Louis Zoo | Highly-ranked zoo with diverse species and interactive experiences. |
| Ted Drewes Frozen Custard | Local dessert institution serving rich frozen custard with various mix-ins. |
| St. Louis Cardinals Baseball | Enjoy a game at Busch Stadium and experience the city’s baseball culture. |
| St. Louis Blues Hockey | Cheer for the St. Louis Blues hockey club at Enterprise Center. |
| Missouri Botanical Garden | Explore well-manicured gardens, interactive exhibits, and rare plant collections. |
| City Museum | Unique urban museum with slides, mazes, artistic exhibits, and more. |
| National Blues Museum | Learn about the history of blues music through exhibits and live performances. |
| Six Flags St. Louis | Amusement park with thrilling rides and family attractions. |
History buffs lose themselves in stories of westward expansion, aviation, and more. And outdoorsy types find green spaces and water recreation minutes from downtown. These 12 things to do only skim the surface of how St. Louis keeps locals and travelers entertained year-round.
Forest Park
Name and Location: Forest Park, St. Louis, Missouri.
History and Significance: Opened in 1876, Forest Park is one of the largest urban parks in the United States, exceeding the size of Central Park in New York. It was the site of the 1904 World’s Fair.
What to Expect: A variety of attractions including the St. Louis Zoo, museums, golf courses, and scenic walking paths.
Visitor Information: Open year-round with free admission. Some attractions within the park may have fees.
For outdoor fun and culture in one beautiful package, Forest Park has everything vacationers want within its 1,300 acres of greenery. Museums like the St. Louis Art Museum and Missouri History Museum keep guests engaged with expansive collections and rotating exhibits. The Saint Louis Zoo dazzles with innovative habitats hosting exotic species. Play spots like the Highlands golf course, paddle boat rentals on Post-Dispatch Lake, and Dennis & Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center entice families. And scenic walking paths as well as regular outdoor concerts and events give more ways making the most of Forest Park’s natural splendor.
Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour
Name and Location: Anheuser-Busch Brewery, St. Louis, Missouri.
History and Significance: Founded in 1852, the Anheuser-Busch Brewery is one of the oldest and largest breweries in the United States. It’s known for producing Budweiser.
What to Expect: Guided tours showcasing the brewing process, history, and a chance to taste different beers.
Visitor Information: Tours available with varying schedules. Some tours are free, while others require a fee.
Beer lovers get the ultimate behind-the-scenes experience of history and brewing processes behind America’s favorite beers at Anheuser-Busch’s original St. Louis brewery. Complimentary tours give access to historic buildings like the 1885 brewhouse to observe modern brewing technology in action. At the end, enjoy sampling complimentary Budweiser and specialty brews like seasonal ales or limited-edition craft creations at the hospitality room. Guests 21 and over also taste a selection of products straight from finishing tanks on the more extensive Brewmaster tour before heading up to the rooftop bar and biergarten for a view overlooking the entire brewing complex.
Gateway Arch
Name and Location: Gateway Arch, St. Louis, Missouri.
History and Significance: Completed in 1965, the Gateway Arch stands as a 630-foot monument to the westward expansion of the United States. It’s the tallest arch in the world.
What to Expect: Observation area at the top providing stunning views of St. Louis. The site also includes a museum about the westward expansion.
Visitor Information: Tickets required for the tram to the top. Open year-round with varying hours.
Defining St. Louis’s riverfront and skyline stands the iconic 630-foot Gateway Arch, the nation’s tallest monument. This slender steel architectural marvel commemorates St. Louis’s role in 19th century westward expansion across America and pays tribute to the early explorers and pioneers who contributed to the city’s founding. For an unparalleled glimpse into history and views into Illinois, take the unique tram ride up to the observation platform at the arch’s top peering out the small windows. The subterranean Museum of Westward Expansion then illustrates how St. Louis became the “Gateway to the West” through historical artifacts and interactive exhibits.
St. Louis Zoo
Name and Location: St. Louis Zoo, Forest Park, St. Louis, Missouri.
History and Significance: Founded in 1910, it’s renowned for its conservation efforts and diverse range of animal species.
What to Expect: Home to over 17,000 animals across 600 species. Exhibits include the River’s Edge, Big Cat Country, and the Penguin & Puffin Coast.
Visitor Information: Free admission. Some attractions within the zoo may have fees. Open daily except for Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Consistently ranked one of the top zoos in the country, the Saint Louis Zoo delights visitors with innovative habitats hosting exotic species from around the world across 90 acres. Get nose-to-nose with playful sea lions, ponder the majesty of elephant herds, giggle at silly penguins, sneak peeks at elusive jaguars, traverse exotic bird habitats, and encounter hundreds more incredible creatures. Interactive feeding experiences, shows, classes, special events, and stingray touch tanks keep guests engaged beyond exhibits alone at this dynamic, conservation-focused community treasure enjoyed free of charge since 1910.
Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
Name and Location: Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, St. Louis, Missouri.
History and Significance: Operating since 1929, Ted Drewes is a St. Louis institution famous for its frozen custard, particularly the “Concrete,” a blend so thick it’s served upside down.
What to Expect: A variety of frozen custard flavors and toppings. Expect long lines but a worthwhile wait for this iconic treat.
Visitor Information: Seasonal operation with varying hours. Cash and credit cards accepted.
No trip to St. Louis gets completed without stopping at the local dessert institution Ted Drewes and getting a concrete…or two. Their rich, velvety frozen custard serves as the base blended with mix-in ingredients that transform tasty vanilla and chocolate treats into concrete thickness. Cookie crumbles, candy pieces, brownies, and fruit mixes tantalize sweet tooths of all ages at their walk-up windows. Belly up alongside locals ordering inventive signature concrete concoctions, go classic with a spoonful of plain custard, or get crazy crafting a customized blended dessert masterpiece.
St. Louis Cardinals Baseball
Name and Location: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri.
History and Significance: The St. Louis Cardinals, one of the oldest and most successful franchises in Major League Baseball, have won 11 World Series championships.
What to Expect: Exciting baseball games in a modern stadium with great views and atmosphere. The stadium also offers tours and has a Hall of Fame Museum.
Visitor Information: Ticket purchase required for games. Season runs from April to October. Museum and tour tickets are separate.
As one of Major League Baseball’s cornerstone franchises boasting the second most World Series titles ever, the St. Louis Cardinals enjoy one of sport’s most loyal fanbases since 1882. Watching Cards’ baseball at classic Busch Stadium captures why the team captivates the city’s spirit and attention every season come April. The exciting on-field play gets bolstered by traditions like organ power chords revving up the “Best Fans in Baseball” into thunderous standing ovations and cheers of “Go Cards!” resonating as a community rallying cry.
St. Louis Blues Hockey
Name and Location: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, Missouri.
History and Significance: The St. Louis Blues, a professional ice hockey team in the NHL, have a passionate fan base and won their first Stanley Cup in 2019.
What to Expect: High-energy hockey games in an arena known for its enthusiastic fans and great sightlines.
Visitor Information: Season runs from October to April. Ticket purchase required. Various dining and merchandise options available inside the arena.
Hitting the ice at home arena Enterprise Center downtown, the St. Louis Blues hockey club has kept pucks sliding and hometown hockey passion percolating in the city since 1967. Cheer raucously amid a sea of blue and gold-bedecked fans for beloved Blues players outskating and outshooting opponents all season long on the rink. Special theme nights, giveaways, on-ice promotions during intermissions, and creative concessions like Korean fried chicken keep energy electric too. For getting a true taste of St. Louis sports mania, catch hard-charging, hard-hitting Blues hockey live.
Missouri Botanical Garden
Name and Location: Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, Missouri.
History and Significance: Founded in 1859, it’s one of the oldest botanical institutions in the U.S. and a National Historic Landmark.
What to Expect: 79 acres of beautiful gardens, including a Japanese strolling garden, a Victorian District, and the Climatron conservatory.
Visitor Information: Open year-round with an admission fee. Free for residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.
Exploring the intricate Orthwein Floral Hall, pristinely maintained Japanese Garden, and 79 acres of additional well-manicured gardens earns Missouri Botanical Gardens merit among the country’s premier botanical institutions. But the historic, scientific complex gives visitors even more through exciting interactive exhibits, classes teaching new skills, rotating art installations, captivating rare plant collections, children’s garden play spaces, and seasonal events. Venture through alpine, Chinese, Ottoman, Victorian era, and dozens more immersive garden spaces unveiling nature’s diverse beauty.
City Museum
Name and Location: City Museum, St. Louis, Missouri.
History and Significance: Opened in 1997, this unique museum is housed in a 600,000-square-foot former shoe factory, featuring repurposed architectural and industrial objects.
What to Expect: A playground and funhouse for all ages, with slides, tunnels, and whimsical sculptures. Highly interactive and visually stimulating.
Visitor Information: Open year-round with admission fees. Wear comfortable shoes and clothes suitable for climbing and exploring.
Far more magical museum than mundane playground, City Museum resembles an eclectic urban area explorable inside and out for visitors of all ages. The former shoe factory now holds slides between floors, tower mazes, a Ferris wheel perched on the roof, eateries, funky shops, cave-like spaces, and countless artistic touches leaving jaws dropped. Interactive artistic exhibits give families even more over which marveling together. Fearless adventurers and kids at heart find endless entertainment clambering these seemingly impossible architectural shapes and surreal sculptures.
National Blues Museum
Name and Location: National Blues Museum, St. Louis, Missouri.
History and Significance: Dedicated to preserving and honoring the history and legacy of Blues music. Opened in 2016, it showcases the impact of the Blues on American and worldwide music.
What to Expect: Interactive exhibits, historic artifacts, and music that tell the story of the Blues. Regular live music performances.
Visitor Information: Open daily. Admission fee required. Check the website for events and exhibit information.
St. Louis’s historic role disseminating blues music and culture to mainstream America takes center stage at the National Blues Museum through engaging exhibits and live performances. Permanent galleries utilizing artifacts, archival materials, and multimedia displays chronicle blues roots from African spirituals to inception in the rural South then explosion across other genres. Temporary exhibits highlight regional styles, specific artists’ impacts, and traditions carried forward internationally. Weekly blues concerts, discussions, and classes encourage further celebrating the quintessential American artform.
Six Flags St. Louis
Name and Location: Six Flags St. Louis, Eureka, Missouri.
History and Significance: Opened in 1971, Six Flags St. Louis is a major theme park featuring a variety of roller coasters and entertainment.
What to Expect: Thrilling rides, family-friendly attractions, shows, and seasonal events like Fright Fest and Holiday in the Park.
Visitor Information: Seasonal operation with varying hours. Admission fees apply. Fast Pass options available for quicker access to rides.
Just outside downtown, thrill seekers flock to Six Flags St. Louis taking adrenaline rushes to new heights across dozens of family rides and record-breaking rollercoasters. Test bravery barreling down 15-story drops on American Thunder or face multiple upside-down loops at high speeds on Batman The Ride. Experience virtual reality rollercoasters, share spin control driving your own bumper car, and catch shows like Looney Tunes characters in action too. Little kids also adore areas catering to their heights and whimsy like Bugs Bunny National Park’s pint-sized water play and driving zones.
Conclusion
Whether seeking history, culture, outdoor adventures, or rollicking family fun, St. Louis delivers memorable experiences with Midwestern warmth and hospitality. Forest Park brings natural serenity and premier institutions together for visitors craving both culture and fresh air. The iconic Gateway Arch and brewery tours immerse guests in the city’s founding identity. And world-class sports teams, critically acclaimed restaurants, and attractions for all ages make falling in love with the eclectic river town easy. By getting to know both Hill and downtown neighborhoods, travelers discover the richness behind Saint Louis’s nickname as the “Gateway City.” Those who explore find much more magic awaiting beyond the postcard monument.