24 Things to Do in The Lou

Saint Louis, MO

With centuries of history as a native American settlement and then again as a major port on the Mississippi River, St. Louis is a city with a ton of things to explore. I got a chance to spend a week there, and here are some of my favorite things I did while in St. Louis.

The St. Louis Gateway Arch

One of the most popular tourist destinations in Missouri is the Gateway Arch in St Louis. The St. Louis Arch is the iconic symbol of the city and one of the most popular tourist destinations. The 630-foot tall steel structure was built in 1963 and stands as a monument to westward expansion in the United States. Visitors can take a tram to the top of the arch for views of the city and the Mississippi River.

The St. Louis Gateway Arch is the most famous attraction in the city. The arch is a prominent part of the city’s skyline, and it stands at over 600 feet.

You can walk through the park that the arch sits on, or you can pay to take the small elevator up to the top of the arch. Note that the elevator is tiny and not for those that are claustrophobic once at the top. You can get amazing views of the city and out across the river into Illinois as you walk across the top of the arch to get to the other pod that takes you back down.

It’s a tremendous and historical attraction in the city but again, not one for those who are afraid of heights or small spaces.

Gateway Geeyser

My next recommendation is the gateway geyser. Directly across the river from the Gateway Arch in the Malcolm W Martin memorial parks, it’s the gateway geyser. This park was initially supposed to have a second arch, but after they lost funding, they decided to install this geyser instead. Most people don’t even know that it’s here, but it runs every single day during the summer months and noon for about 10 minutes.

The fountain supposedly shoots up to the height of the arch on a day with no wind. When we went though, it shot pretty high but nowhere near the arch’s height. It’s a fun, quick stop in the city with a unique history, and the park is also beautiful for sunset as well since you get a great view across the water to the STL Arch. more info

This park was initially supposed to have a second arch, but after they lost funding, they decided to install this geyser instead. Most people don’t even know that it’s here, but it runs every single day during the summer months and noon for about 10 minutes.

Missouri Botanical Garden

Botanical Gardens

Founded in 1859, the Missouri Botanical Garden is one of the oldest and largest botanical gardens in the country. The 79-acre garden features over 7,000 different types of plants, a Japanese strolling garden, a Victorian conservatory, and more. The garden is open year-round and also offers educational programs for all ages. With over 70 acres, the botanical gardens of St. Louis are one of the city’s most popular attractions.

City Museum

The City Museum is a unique attraction that is fun for the whole family. The museum is housed in an old shoe factory and features hands-on exhibits and interactive displays. Visitors can explore the 10-story museum by climbing through tunnels, sliding down slides, and crawling through caves.

City Museum is probably my favorite place in St. Louis. It reminds me a lot of me Olaf and Santa Fe as it’s a giant crazy art installation that you can interact with and explore. There’s seriously so much to climb on and discover in the space that you could easily spend a day and not see it all.

Of course, if you have a family with older children, then this is a must-visit, but don’t be scared off if you don’t have kids as it was a blast for Christina and me to just climb and explore all throughout the museum.

Also, I recommend paying the extra five dollars to access the roof. The roof has excellent views of downtown STL and some fun slides and a Ferris wheel as well. Seriously don’t miss this spot while you’re in St. Louis.

Gateway Arch National Park

The Gateway Arch National Park is home to the 630-foot tall Gateway Arch, as well as the Museum of Westward Expansion.

The park is also a great place to take a walk or bike ride along the Mississippi Riverfront.

The park is open year-round and offers a variety of ranger-led programs, walks and hikes, views of the the St Louis skyline from the top of the arch, bike and boat rentals.

Saint Louis Art Museum

The Saint Louis Art Museum is one of the leading art museums in the United States. The museum features a collection of paintings, sculptures, and prints from around the world. The museum is free to the public and also offers educational programs for all ages.

Saint Louis Zoo

The Saint Louis Zoo is one of the top zoos in the country and features over 13,000 animals from all over the world. The zoo also has a Children’s Zoo, an Insectarium, and a Conservation Center. The zoo is open year-round and offers educational programs for all ages.

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site

The Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site is the site of a former Native American city that was inhabited from 700-1400 AD. The site includes a visitor center with exhibits on the history of the city, as well as the ruins of the city itself. The site is open year-round and also offers educational programs for all ages.

Anheuser-Busch Brewery

The Anheuser-Busch Brewery is one of the most popular tourist destinations in St Louis. Visitors can take a tour of the brewery, see the Clydesdale horses, and sample some of the beer. The Budweiser brewery tour as probably America’s most well-known brewery. Budweiser has had its presence in St. Louis for more than a century. There are many different tours you can take, ranging from free to $35. The free tour is a great one, though, as it takes you in a historic barn to see the Clydesdales and then into a few more of the beautiful brick buildings that make up the Budweiser facility.

The area is massive, and it really feels like a town as you’re walking around and exploring it on tour. After the tour, you can enjoy some free samples and relax in the impressive beer garden. They have their Budweiser, which is really a must stop for beer lovers in the city. But if you wanted another brewery to check out, I definitely recommend going to urban chestnut as well.

Saint Louis Science Center

The Saint Louis Science Center is a hands-on museum that is fun for the whole family. The museum has exhibits on science, technology, engineering, and math. The museum is also home to the James S. McDonnell Planetarium and the OMNIMAX Theater.

Busch Stadium

Home to the St Louis Cardinals, Busch Stadium is a must-visit for any baseball fan. The stadium offers tours of the facilities, as well as a chance to see the Cardinals in action.

Missouri History Museum

The Missouri History Museum is a museum dedicated to the history of the state of Missouri. The museum features exhibits on the Lewis and Clark expedition, westward expansion, the Civil War, and more. The museum is free to the public and also offers educational programs for all ages.

Scott Joplin House State Historic Site

The Scott Joplin House State Historic Site is the former home of ragtime composer Scott Joplin. The house is now a museum that features exhibits on Joplin’s life and work. The house is open for tours and also offers educational programs for all ages.

Next up is the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. I was truly blown away when I visited this Cathedral; it is breathtaking with massive mosaic murals all along the ceiling of the interior. It’s one of those places that you can sit in for an hour since the art that lines the wall is so intricate.

They also have a mosaic museum downstairs that you can see when it’s open as well. The Cathedral is a quick stop, but I guarantee it’s one of the most impressive US-based cathedrals you’ve ever seen. view more

Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis

I discussed why the Cathedral Basilica was the #1 spot to visit in Saint Louis, MO. It’s a majestic building and a must-see attraction. The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis is a beautiful church that is the seat of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis. The cathedral is open for tours and also offers Masses and concerts.

The cathedral is also home to the St Louis Cathedral Concert Series, which features world-renowned musicians. The best thing about the cathedral is its beautiful stained glass windows, which are some of the largest in the world.

Forest Park

The next few recommendations are in the Forest Park area of St. Louis, which is a massive part of Missouri. Forest Park is one of the largest urban parks in the United States and covers over 1,300 acres. The park is home to the Saint Louis Zoo, the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Missouri History Museum, and the Muny Opera. The park also has a golf course, an outdoor swimming pool, and miles of trails for hiking, biking, and running.

First up is the St. Louis Zoo. Often voted one of the best in the United States, the St. Louis Zoo is an excellent spot in Forest Park. The zoo itself is free to visit, and you only have to pay to park, and for some of the add-on attractions, we had a blast exploring the large zoo and got to see everything from elephants to penguins.

Also, there’s a great butterfly enclosure with tons of butterflies flying all around you that’s popular as well.

It’s a fantastic zoo, and it’s crazy that it’s a free attraction in the city.

St. Louis Science Center

Next up is the St. Louis Science Center. The Science Center is another free spot in the Forest Park area. It’s a great place to visit with younger children. The center has a lot of fun interactive exhibits ranging from video games and dinosaurs to rotating exhibits like Pompeii.

There’s also an excellent planetarium, and there was an exhibit on the moon that we got to check out while we were there. It didn’t have as much to see as I was anticipating, but it’s still another excellent spot that’s free to visit after you pay to park.

My last recommendation in Forest Park is the Art Museum. I’m sure you realize by now that St. Louis has some fantastic spots to see for free in the Forest Park area. The Art Museum is one of those, and it’s gigantic with three floors of exhibits. I spent a good hour there and saw less than half of what was on display.

My favorite part is the Egyptian area on the third floor, which has two mummies and lots of old Egyptian artifacts. If you’re a fan of art and sculptures, then you will for sure want to stop at this Museum.

The sprawling property is meticulously kept up with thousands of different types of plants to see. There are even three indoor greenhouses with the main one in the middle of the park being a self-contained rainforest ecosystem.

This is another place that you could easily spend a half-day exploring, and it’s one of the most beautiful spots that I saw while in STL.

Delmar Loop

Next up is the Delmar Loop. The Delmar Loop is a great area to just park your car and walk around, especially when you want to get something to eat. The area’s most famous for Blueberry Hill which is the place that Chuck Berry used to play.

There’s a bronze sculpture of him across the street plus the Delmar Loop has the St. Louis Walk of Fame, which highlights some famous people from St. Louis.

Across the street, you’ll see Fitz’s root beer, which is another St. Louis creation that has insane floats in all sorts of different flavor combinations. Lastly, next to that is salt and smoke, one of my favorite barbecue restaurants in the city.

My next recommendation is the old St. Louis County Courthouse across from the Gateway Arch. This historic courthouse is run by the National Park Service, and it’s definitely worth the visit. The Rotunda in the middle of the courthouse is stunning, and you can walk up three floors to get a better view of it.

The courthouse is also where the historic Dred Scott case was tried, which is a depressing part of the nation’s history. They have a great exhibit telling you all about the trial in the courthouse to check out and a bronze sculpture of the Scott’s outside the courthouse as well. It’s one of the quicker stops in the city, but if you’re at the arch, you should go check it out as well. Next up is Grant’s farm.

Grants Farm is probably my top recommendation in St. Louis for families. The farm was once owned by Ulysses S. Grant, and now it’s owned by the Anheuser-Busch family. The farm is free to enter other than parking, and it has a fun 15-minute tram ride to see animals like deer, zebra, and buffalo on the property.

After the tram ride you will get off, and you can feed and interact with all sorts of animals like goats and camels for a dollar fifty, you can grab a bottle of milk and feed the goats which are a fun experience all by itself but being able to feed other animals like sheep, camel, and parakeets is icing on the cake. Plus, in the end, you get two free samples of Budweiser, and I have to say they provided a lot more than I was anticipating for a sample.

Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site

If you’re a history buff, make sure you go across the street to Ulysses S Grant house. It’s kept up by the Park Service, and there is a museum and a tour you can go on to check it out. My next recommendation is Union Station. Union Station is a beautiful old building that serves as the train station for all of Saint Louis, MO.

It’s the future home of the aquarium as well, which will make this an even more popular spot, but when we went, it was impressive to walk through the historic hotel lobby and see the nightly light show. I was told a light show happens every night on the hour, but be sure to confirm that if you go.

When we went, it was underwater themed, and it was a ton of fun to sit there and watch. Also, make sure you go to the Whisper Arch near the entrance, as it’s famous for the fact that you can whisper on one side and hear all the way on the other.

Soulard Farmers Market

My next recommendation is the Soulard farmers market. With over 200 years of history in St. Louis, the Soulard farmers market is still open weekly from Wednesday to Saturday. I recommend going on Saturday if you can since most of the vendors come out for Saturday, but many often don’t come out earlier in the week, so you never know what you’re gonna get.

It’s a cool and historic spot where you can often find unique fruits and vegetables to try, or grab a slice of butter cake and sit and people-watch. Note that the parking can be a little tricky on Saturdays, but it’s something you’re gonna want to check out while you’re in the city.

Jon Finch