No matter your age, interests or budget, you’ll find something fun to do in St. Louis this weekend.
Looking for a tour with all the highlights of the Gateway City? Here’s an itinerary with 10 of the must-see destinations St. Louis has to offer.
The Gateway Arch is a 630-foot-tall monument to President Thomas Jefferson and his vision of a continental United States. Take a tram ride to the top for a bird’s-eye view of the Mississippi River or watch “Monument to the Dream,” a documentary that tells the story of the Arch from concept through construction.
After lunch, explore the world-famous Anheuser-Busch Brewery with a tour of the historic Brew House, Budweiser Clydesdale stables, lager cellar, packaging plant, hospitality room and Anheuser-Busch gift shop. Free soft drinks and samples of A-B products are available at the conclusion of the tour in the Hospitality Center.
The Missouri Botanical Garden is considered among the top three public gardens in the world. The magnificent 79-acre garden, a St. Louis institution since 1859, is among the nation’s oldest public gardens. It features 25 demonstration gardens within the Kemper Center for Home Gardening, a Chinese Garden, Boxwood Garden and an expanded Victorian garden complete with a topiary maze and observatory. In addition to the re-created tropical rain forest housed within the Climatron geodesic dome, MBG includes an English Woodland Garden and the largest traditional Japanese Garden in North America. Special classes and activities are available year-round.
Six Flags St. Louis is a state-of-the-art amusement park, packed full of thrilling roller coasters, family-friendly rides and shows, arcade games and classic restaurants. Hurricane Harbor, the waterpark attached to the theme park, is an exciting time for anyone looking to spend a day in the water. Special events take place year-round at Six Flags St. Louis, so be sure to check the calendar to see if anything exciting is happening during your visit!
The National Museum of Transportation is dedicated to America’s love for life in the fast lane. In addition to the unit of the streamline modern-style Coral Court Motel – a popular landmark along historic Route 66 – the museum features more than 300 moving vehicles on display, including locomotives, streetcars and, of course, automobiles.
Dining suggestion: Motor into historic St. Louis Union Station or travel west to Westport Plaza for a variety of restaurants and cuisines.
Site of the 1904 World’s Fair, Forest Park is one of the largest urban parks in America. Covering 1,300 acres, this park features attractions like the Saint Louis Zoo, Saint Louis Art Museum, Missouri History Museum and the Saint Louis Science Center. All the attractions found in Forest Park are free, courtesy of Forest Park Forever.
Once one of the biggest passenger rail terminals in the world, St. Louis Union Station is now home to several attractions, including the St. Louis Aquarium, STL Wheel, the Union Station Hotel and the brand-new Selfie Express. The complex also hosts several restaurants, ranging from casual to fine dining. Be sure to stop in and see one of its light shows, like the Grand Hall Light Show which happens every evening from 5:00pm to 10:00pm at the top of every hour.
City Museum has taken the term “recycling” to dizzying new heights. Housed in the 600,000 square-foot building that was once home to the International Shoe Company, the museum is the brainchild of local artists who created the museum from all sorts of “found stuff.” They didn’t have to go far to find materials for the facility, as the curious curators reclaimed a variety of building materials such as old chimneys, salvaged bridges, construction cranes, miles of tile, and even a couple of abandoned airplanes. There are 4,000 square-feet of man-made caves and tunnels, an enchanted forest with sky tunnels, an aquarium, a working shoelace factory, daily circus performances and much more.
The National Blues Museum explores the Blues and celebrates the genre as the foundation of all modern American music. The facility will educate guests in an entertaining environment that includes high impact technology driven experiences, a 100-seat theater, artifact-driven exhibits and robust public programming.
Home to the St. Louis Cardinals, Busch Stadium is a staple of St. Louis. It has played host to World Series games, major concerts and even the NHL Winter Classic. The stadium sees on average 42,000 fans per game. Busch Stadium has two tours to offer fans interested in learning more about the stadium’s rich history. The Cardinals Hall of Fame is located right next door at Ballpark Village, a state-of-the-art multi-use complex. Stop in and learn all about the rich history of St. Louis’ beloved sports team.
