St. Louis, Missouri, is pretty underrated. I mean, how many people decide to go on vacation to St. Louis? Not as many as they should. How many people think “Wow, St. Louis sounds like the dream place to live?” More people, lately, but still fewer than dream of moving to oh, say, Miami, Chicago, or Portland. St. Louis is one of my favorite places on earth! It’s where I went to college and met my husband. But, more importantly, it’s a unique city that has a little something for everyone. Yes, I do mean everyone. Whether you’re into sports, the outdoors, or the food scene, you’ve got a lot to love in St. Louis. Here are Five Things You Should Do When You Visit St. Louis.
We visited St. Louis MO, entirely on our own. All attractions were paid for by us.
1. Discover The Food Scene.
Okay, if you went to St. Louis and didn’t have a slinger, did you even really go to St. Louis? St. Louis has a wide and varied food scene, with everything from Ethiopian food to some of the best BBQ in the country. Whether you’re looking for fine Italian food in the Hill, upscale dining downtown, or a mom and pop barbecue joint, you’re in the right place. While St. Louis is full of options for any palate, you really can’t pass up a few things that are, well, stereotypically St. Louis. Get a St. Louis style pizza covered in Provel at IMO’s, hit up City Diner for a slinger, grab some toasted ravioli….well, just about anywhere. Gooey Louie has the best gooey butter cake, (you can’t go wrong with any flavor!) and you can’t miss Ted Drewe’s for frozen custard. And don’t forget to hit up Goody Goody Diner for the best chicken and waffles you’ve had in your life! If you’re gluten free like me, there are still plenty of options. Fitz’s Root Beer, Lulu’s Local Eatery, and Sweet Art all make my gluten-free list.
2. Check out Forest Park
Forest Park in St. Louis is larger than the famous Central Park in NYC. As if having acres and acres of land to explore couldn’t keep you busy, it’s also home to some of the coolest activities St. Louis has to offer. Check out the St. Louis Zoo, which is free to visit and has enough animals to keep even the shortest attention spans happy for hours. The Children’s Science Center is also free to visit, as is the Art Museum and the Missouri History Museum. You could also snag a free seat for a show at the Muny, but you’d have to get there incredibly early and you really should just pay for admission. You’re gonna want to be front and center for whatever you decide to see. We’ve seen Les Miserables and Mary Poppins at the Muny, and I can’t decide which one I liked better.
3. Visit the City Museum
For those of you who have never been, there’s something you should know about the City Museum. It’s false advertising. It’s not really a museum. No, instead, this refurbished factory has been turned into a giant playground made out of recycled junk. It’s fun for all ages, but if you’re an adult without a child, you’ll probably want to visit after 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Also, the City Museum sells alcohol, which seems dangerous, but okay. Be sure to check out the Rooftop with its climbing maze and the giant indoor slide. We once made paper crafts while the instructor told us about the ghosts who reside in the museum.
4. Visit South City
South City is really just the southern part of the city of St. Louis, which comprises a variety of areas. It’s definitely my favorite region of St. Louis. Don’t get me wrong, North City is cool. There’s a lot of immigrant influence, some beautiful architecture, and anything you could want in a city. However, South City contains my favorite neighborhoods. I mean, there’s Tower Grove East, South Grand, Cherokee… Of course, like any city, there’s crime in this part of St. Louis. If you avoid it because of its bad reputation, you’re missing out on some really cool parks, restaurants, and experiences. Just be safe, and don’t do anything you wouldn’t do in your own city.
5. Visit Grant’s Farm
A safari, a petting zoo, and free beer samples. I mean, what else can you really want? I can’t drink the beer samples due to Celiac, but I could spend all day feeding the baby goats. They’ve really got a racket going on there since the tourists are paying money to feed the baby goats. That’s never stopped me from shelling out the money to do it. At Grant’s Farm, you can also see the famous Budweiser/Anheuser-Busch Clydesdale horses. They’re not as cute as the baby goats. You’ll get to ride the tram through the park while a narrated guide tells you about the animals, and you shouldn’t miss the Bavarian village!
I’ve had a ton of trouble paring down this list to Five Things. I mean, I left out the food trucks, float trips down the Merrimac, Purina Farms, all the haunted houses during Halloween, the food festivals, the free concerts in the summer, the beautiful architecture, and more. (I’m trying to sneak it in now, but it isn’t working.) Hopefully, this post has given you a taste of why St. Louis is one of my favorite cities.
Have you been to StL? What’s your favorite thing about the city?
I have never been to St Louise.. I would love to visit the farm, looks so cool and perfect for photography!
I’ve never been to St. Louise but whenever I go to a new place I like to explore. I like to do the tourist things but that food is my absolute favorite part of it all. I like that they offer a variety of styles.
These are great suggestions! I will have to remember them next time we visit!
I’m happy to here that there are some good gluten free options in St. Louis! I would love to visit there again sometime soon.
I’ve been through St. Louis on a tram before when my plane had a lay over. I thought I’d leave the airport and let the tram take me as far as it would. I saw the arch and ate at a nice restaurant but definitely more to explore there.
I have heard when you visit St. Louis, you HAVE to check out all the local places for food! I hope to visit this place one day!
There is so much to see and do in St Louis. I would love to visit this place, especially the farm. It looks like a wonderful destination.
Great post. I’ve never been to St. Louis … would love to visit.
These are awesome! Would love to add these to our list! Definitely visiting each of these places!
Missouri is a place in the US I still have not visited. You have now made me add it higher on the list – thanks!!!
I didn’t realize that there’s so much that you can do in St. Louis. I always love checking out the local food scene whenever I travel. I would really like to taste the food there!
Wow. These places are worth visiting. I love parks and nature trails so I know I would love to visit Forest Park first. I’m taking note of these places to see if and when I get the chance to visit St. Louis!
This is sich a perfect spot. I would love to visit one of these place soon. And I’ll make suee to bring my family.
I’ve never been to St. Louis. I think it mostly stands out from the movie. The park looks gorgeous and I bet kids will lobe Grant’s Farm. Thanks for sharing the top spots to visit in St. Louis!
I’ve only drove through St Louis but would love to visit. Now that I have an insider of what to do and where to go, I’m all set!
Never visited St. Louis and it’s in my bucket list. Heard lots about Grant’s and checking out the food local spots would be a must.
I would start with The Children’s Science Center. The kids will love it and you can not beat free.
I’ve never been to St. Louis but my fiance has had to drive through there a few times for work. South City sounds amazing; I’d love to visit it one day.
I’ve driven through St. Louis, but didn’t stop for long. I don’t count stopping for a few hours to visit family! lol. I definitely want to get there and tour around though.
Checking out the local food scene is always a must for me! I certainly hope to get to St. Louis someday, especially since I have friends in the area.
These are all some really great places to check out while visiting St. Louis. Being born and raised there, I give all of these a thumbs up!
There really is so much to do in Missouri, I think you covered the best posts. Glad you are sharing this for others who may be planning a trip there soon!
Does St Louis has a Wendy’s then I go? He he…im joking, it is one city I do plan to go too when I hit the states again
We are usually just driving through St Louis. I never knew there were so many neat things to check out. Next time we will have to stay a little longer!
Wow, i never realized there was so much fun stuff to do there! I have never been but I am always down for a road trip to see a new place, especially when I know there is some awesome stuff to do.
I really only ever drive through St. Louis on my trips. I did stop once. I went into the museum at the arch, but did not go up to the top. I missed out!
We took a trip to St. Louis a while back, and it was such a great time. I love the parks and the historical areas, and the town itself is gorgeous.
I’d love to see Grant’s Farm. I’ve always been a big fan of visiting historical sites like that.
Oh wow! I’ve never been to St. Louis, but now I really want to go there. These places all look great.
Forest park looks so beautiful. I would definitely call it a can’t miss spot.
My husband was stationed there for a while when he was in the Air Force. He keeps saying that we should go back. He loved it there.