Chill out in St. Louis, the city of the iconic Gateway Arch. Come visit and you’ll find all of this and more, plus lots of the cool things to do in St. Louis are free!
St. Louis is a vibrant city with a small-town feel that’s filled with trendy and hip venues. Like Soulard, St. Louis’ oldest neighborhood where you’ll find red brick row houses, blues music clubs, and classic taverns. Check out the oldest farmers market in America here which runs Wednesday – Saturday, both indoors and out.
Brew to You – The Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company
Raise a glass to Bud Light, Michelob, and Busch Beer, brewed by the Anheuser Busch Brewing Company. Tour the impressive campus and learn about the quality brewing process from seed to sip. Take your pick from the “Day Fresh Tour,” “Brewmaster Tour”, or the “Clydesdales VIP Experience.” On the “Where You Brew Tour,” you can actually learn to brew beer. Throughout the tours, they hand out a few cool ones for you to sample. Afterward, check out their Biergarten. Reservations are highly recommended.
Root for the Home Team
Yep, I know the Cardinals are the “arch” rivals of the Cubs, but St. Louis is a huge baseball town, cheering on their beloved Cardinals through 11 World Series Championships. Very impressive, second only to the NY Yankees. Busch Stadium is smack-dab in the middle of the city, surrounded by Ballpark Village. Check out the restaurants, bars, and clubs, whether there’s a game going on or not. Favorites include Cardinal Nation, the Budweiser Brew House, and the retro-cool Shark Bar.
Fire Up the Barbecue – St. Louis Style
Did you know that St. Louis is the largest consumer of BBQ sauce in the world? St. Louis style barbecue is distinctive, with a sweet and smoky flavor, sometimes with a little beer added in. Check out the mouth-watering barbecue at Salt + Smoke, Pappy’s Smokehouse, and Smoking Barrels.
Union Station – Where St. Louis Comes to Play
Once the largest and busiest railroad depot in the country, Union Station has turned into a mega-entertainment district with dining, attractions and a historic hotel. Have fun at the Mirror Maze, Ropes Course, Mini-Golf, Carousel and more. Soar to new heights on the St. Louis Wheel, reaching 200 feet in the sky with 42 enclosed, air-conditioned cars. The views of the St. Louis skyline are stellar!
Hungry? Head to the Train Shed for great appetizers, salads, main courses, and gooey butter cake, a St. Louis favorite. Plus, you’ll have a ringside seat to the Fire & Light Show. Treat yourself to an impressive Birthday Cake Freak Shake at The Soda Fountain.
Union Station Hotel
You’ll know you’ve arrived someplace authentic as soon as you enter. With its massive lobby, arched ceiling, and original flooring, this classic 4-star St. Louis Union Station Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton offers a luxurious stay with more than 560 rooms. Stay fit in the 24-hour fitness center, and relax in the seasonal outdoor pool. Grabbing an early-morning Starbucks in the Grand Market. Hang out in the massive lobby bar serving awesome drinks. Don’t miss the trip-the-light-fantastic light show set to music and projected on the ceiling. Explore the nooks and crannies of the hotel to get a real sense of the secrets it holds and the tales it could tell. Also fascinating is the “Whispering Arch” near the stairway to the lobby.
The Gateway Arch – The Icon of St. Louis
You’ve seen the pictures of the Gateway Arch. Now, take a ride up to the top and see the views. Interestingly, both the width and height of the arch are the same, 630 feet. From the exquisite views to the Tram Ride to the top , you can easily spend a half day seeing everything. Afterward, hop on one of the Riverboat Cruises and sail up the mighty Mississippi River. You’ll feel like Tom Sawyer as you cruise past the working barges along this busy freight way. Advance reservations for the Arch are highly recommended.
Chow down at The City Foundry St. Louis
Foodies will celebrate the newest entry in the cuisine scene. The Foundry is a conglomerate of individual food stands created by innovative chefs. Among the stands are 4 Hens Creole Kitchen, Hello Poke, Chicken Scratch and Patti’s Cheesecakes. It’s like a culinary trip around the world!
Best Tastes: Be sure to try Toasted Ravioli, Concrete Shakes, Square Pizza with Brick Cheese, and Gooey Butter Cake.
Make St. Louis your next gateway getaway!
