Downtown St. Louis starts at the banks of the Mississippi River, where you’ll find Gateway Arch National Park.

St. Louis In the News

We love this city. It's no wonder visitors return again and again to explore all St. Louis has to offer. But don't take our word for it. Scroll through the articles below and get a taste of what you'll experience when you visit STL.

Music at the Intersection was more than a festival; it was a musical odyssey through time and genres, a celebration of St. Louis’ enduring influence on music, and a testament to the unifying power of the art form.

Kim So Major, The Source

2024 Media Highlights

St. Louis Is Still A Nice Little Secret

Forbes, November 2024

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St. Louis Is Still A Nice Little Secret

It was a hub for riverboats, wagon trains, and the railroad, and the gateway of westward expansion. Its food and music were born of the New Orleans’ spirit. Still, the city remains underappreciated.

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The Gateway arch and downtown St. Louis skyline.

St. Louis Tourism Reaches New Heights

Facilities & Destinations, October 2024

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Explore St. Louis Reports $5.8 Billion in Visitor Spending, a 60% Surge in Hotel Bookings

With direct visitor spending reaching $5.8 billion, St. Louis continues to emerge as a must-visit destination for both leisure and business travelers, reflecting its growing appeal nationally and internationally.

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7 Best Moments From Music At The Intersection Festival 2024

VIBE, September 2024

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Several key moments from the 3-day event conjured Hip-Hop and soul

Nestled in the heart of the Grand Center Arts District, the festival united locals and visitors alike through the transformative power of art and live performance, with a particular focus on highlighting its homegrown talent.

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From Chingy to Chaka Khan: Everything you missed at Music at the Intersection

Ebony, September 2024

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You just had to be there to truly feel what we felt on the ground.

“Chaka, thank you for coming to St. Louis,” a fan excitedly yelled from the depths of the audience between songs. “How could I resist?” Khan replied. “I definitely feel the love, I ain’t playing either!”

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Bowood by Niche serves brunch in St. Louis.

6 Underrated Food Towns You Need To Visit This Year

Southern Living. July 2024

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6 Underrated Food Towns You Need To Visit This Year

St. Louis is a city of neighborhoods, and nearly every one of them has a delicious reason you should visit.

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This Bud Tour’s For You: Inside the Budweiser Brewery Tour

Paste, July 2024

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Inside the Budweiser Brewery Tour

A couple of months after that tour, what really stands out is the legacy of this place and this company. The impressive architecture of its brick fortresses, … the eye-opening museum, … the 150-year-old stable housing one of the most magnificent animals to ever rest its head upon my shoulder. And, yes, on top of all of that, those two surprisingly good Budweisers, which made me think, for the first time ever, that maybe it could be the king of beers, after all.

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The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge was the original Mississippi River crossing on Route 66.

Route 66 Road Trip: Cruising Down Memory Lane

Leisure Group Travel, June 2024

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Route 66 Road Trip: Cruising Down Memory Lane

On Missouri’s eastern border with Illinois, reminders of days gone by captivate passionate Mother Road fans traveling through St. Louis, the largest Route 66 city between Chicago and Los Angeles.

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St. Louis Travel Groups Uncover Adventures

Leisure Group Travel, May 2024

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Explore the Captivating City That Has a Little Something for Everyone

Few cities can stand toe-to-toe with St. Louis when it comes to history, art, landmarks, and having a good time. Here are some things you should experience as you journey through the Gateway of the West.

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Visiting the 21c Museum Hotel in St. Louis: The A in YMCA Stands for Art

Paste, May 2024

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Visiting the 21c Museum Hotel in St. Louis: The A in YMCA Stands for Art

The first thing you see when you enter the 21c Museum Hotel in St. Louis is a work of art I called The Orb. … The orb basically sums up 21c as a whole: I thought I knew what it would be like, but it’s different, deeper, and richer than that.

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The 41 Best New Hotels in North America and Europe 2024

Esquire, April 2024

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The 41 Best New Hotels in North America and Europe 2024

Standing in a hushed restored basketball court turned art gallery at the 21c—walls hung with work by Kehinde Wiley, Esiri Erheriene-Essi, and Simone Elizabeth Saunders…—is transcendent. It changes the way you think about art, hotels, and, hell, St. Louis itself.

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The Best New Affordable Luxury Hotels of 2023

Travel + Leisure, April 2024

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The Best New Affordable Luxury Hotels of 2023

Opening in August 2023 with the not-so-hidden agenda to breathe new life into one of St. Louis’s most historic neighborhoods, this 173-room property — Missouri’s second 21c Museum Hotel — has proven that it is indeed fun to stay at a YMCA.

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The 100 Best New Hotels of the Year

Travel + Leisure, April 2024

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The 100 Best New Hotels of the Year

The building’s Wes Anderson–esque facade was renovated by the preservation pros at Perfido Weiskopf Wagstaff + Goettel, while Bill Rooney Studio reimagined the guest rooms and architecture firm Hufft designed the public spaces.

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The Best Food Neighborhoods in the USA

AFAR, March 2024

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The Best Food Neighborhoods in the USA

Ground zero for young foodies, the Grove has everything: craft beer, kombucha, barbecue, soul food, from-scratch doughnuts, and enough international fusion (Korean Mexican! Ivorian Senegalese!) that you could eat your way around the world in the span of a single square mile.

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‘Greatest Hotels Ever’ Awards: And the Winners Are…

Fifty Grande, March 2024

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‘Greatest Hotels Ever’ Awards: And the Winners Are…

These are the hotels that our readers say are the best experiences you can find for under $350 a night, and we agree.

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US Cities Where the Pizza Is Worth Traveling For

Travel Pulse, February 2024

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US Cities Where the Pizza Is Worth Traveling For

They sure do know how to put it all together, especially at Imo’s, Guido’s Pizzeria and Tapas.

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60 Must-See Exhibitions to Visit This Spring

ARTnews, February 2024

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60 Must-See Exhibitions to Visit This Spring

“Delcy Morelos: Interwoven” at Pulitzer Arts Foundation: Delcy Morelos is well-known … for epically scaled installations of sweetly pungent dirt. A new one will figure in this survey, but on the whole, the exhibition pulls back further, showing that before Morelos went big, she worked relatively small.

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St. Louis Is the Burgeoning Midwestern Destination You Need to Visit This Year

Thrillist, January 2024

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St. Louis Is the Burgeoning Midwestern Destination You Need to Visit This Year

The city is racking up the accolades with James Beard Award-winning restaurants and chefs and investing in its local artists through public installations and free access to the arts, making this a travel destination worth adding to your list.

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The 22 Best Restaurants In St. Louis For Every Price Point

Southern Living, January 2024

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The 22 Best Restaurants In St. Louis For Every Price Point

The secret’s out: St. Louis is one of America’s best food destinations. For years, locals have touted their city’s dining scene, and now the rest of the country is finally taking notice.

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There are cities with great food, and then there are great food cities. St. Louis [is] an essential Midwest culinary destination, offering a food and dining scene impressive in its caliber, expansive in its diversity, and uncommon in its breadth.

Holly Fan, Food & Wine

2023 Media Highlights

The Best New Restaurants in America, 2023

Esquire, November 2023

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The Best New Restaurants in America, 2023

Chaos is the groundwater from which Nick Bognar springs. His new restaurant, Sado, a follow-up to the 2020 Best New Restaurant Indo, has all the decorum of a rugby scrum and all the cakewalk swagger of a victor.

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10 Best Places to Travel in December

AFAR, September 2023

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10 Best Places to Travel in December

Where else to have yourself a merry little Christmas, than the city where Judy Garland’s character first crooned that classic in the 1945 movie?

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Music at the Intersection Music Festival 2023: Day 2

Beyond the Stage, September 2023

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Music at the Intersection Music Festival 2023: Day 2

After the Gateway Arch, we excitedly made our way to the MATI music festival, which boasted an impressive day two lineup featuring some mega blues and jazz legends.

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Music at the Intersection Music Festival 2023: Day 1

Beyond the Stage, September 2023

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Music at the Intersection Music Festival 2023: Day 1

This festival is a true labor of love and cultural deep dive into the imprint St. Louis has had on the music scene.

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2023’s ‘Music at the Intersection’: A Hip-Hop Time Capsule Unearthed

The Source, September 2023

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2023’s ‘Music at the Intersection’: A Hip-Hop Time Capsule Unearthed

In a resounding celebration of music’s timeless power, the vibrant city of St. Louis recently served as the epicenter of musical ecstasy during the 2023 edition of Music at the Intersection.

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Why St. Louis Should Be on Every Art-Lover's Travel List

Matador Network, August 2023

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Why St. Louis Should Be on Every Art-Lover's Travel List

This city of approximately 300,000 (the greater St. Louis area has about 2.8 million) is full of surprises.

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St. Louis Culture: Where Graffiti Meets Groove, Breakdancing Blends with Jazz, and Deejaying Dances with Humanity

The Source, September 2023

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St. Louis Culture: Where Graffiti Meets Groove, Breakdancing Blends with Jazz, and Deejaying Dances with Humanity

Music at the Intersection was a testament to St. Louis’ profound impact on the music world. The festival transcended boundaries, spanning blues, jazz, soul, R&B, rock ‘n’ roll, and hip-hop. It was a vibrant celebration of St. Louis’ musical, cultural, and artistic legacy.

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Seeing St. Louis in Style: A Family Getaway to St. Louis

KC Parent, September 2023

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Seeing St. Louis in Style: A Family Getaway to St. Louis

From the iconic Gateway Arch to the one-of-a-kind City Museum to the St. Louis Union Station and its many attractions and amenities, to Grant’s Farm to the Butterfly House, and the Zoo… there is something for everyone.

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Paint Louis Returns For 26th Year Colorizing St. Louis Floodwall

Forbes, August 2023

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Paint Louis Returns For 26th Year Colorizing St. Louis Floodwall

Paint Louis offers one of the best opportunities anywhere in the world to start understanding. To see graffiti art in the making. Meet the artists. Learn the culture. Understand how the makers are part of a global community.

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Destination Spotlight 23 & 111: St. Louis Interview with Kitty Ratcliffe

RMWorldTravel, August 2023

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Destination Spotlight 23 & 111: St. Louis Interview with Kitty Ratcliffe

If you’ve spent any amount of time in the “Gateway City” for leisure or business then you know it’s a location that offers travelers many different activities and it’s an affordable destination … during our live national broadcast, we reconnected with Kitty Ratcliffe, the President of Explore St. Louis.

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Sneak Peek at $240M Expansion at America’s Center

KMOV, August 2023

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Sneak Peek at $240M Expansion at America’s Center

“This is going to help us compete with Indianapolis, Nashville, and Denver that we are routinely competing, very lucrative event activity that fuels this community with direct expenditures with $250 million a year,” Hall said.

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First look at the progress of the new convention center in downtown St. Louis

Post-Dispatch, August 2023

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First look at the progress of the new convention center in downtown St. Louis

The more than $200 million expansion of the downtown convention center is on track to open in 2024, leaders said Tuesday, promising a new era of business and tourism.

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Top Things to Do in St. Louis

Midwest Living, August 2023

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Top Things to Do in St. Louis

This major metro is a destination in its own right. Attractions include Forest Park, Gateway Arch National Park, the Missouri Botanical Garden and a top-notch food scene.

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America’s Most Exciting Emerging Arts District Is In St. Louis

Forbes, June 2023

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America’s Most Exciting Emerging Arts District Is In St. Louis

Put it all together within a half-mile radius and you have the Grand Center Arts District in St. Louis, the most exciting emerging arts district in America.

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Revealing ‘Secret’ St. Louis

Rovology, June 2023

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Revealing ‘Secret’ St. Louis

On my most recent of many visits to St. Louis in spring of 2023, I fell in with some locals who took me off the beaten tourist path. Consider this “secret St. Louis,” an insider’s adventure. Don’t worry, you’ll still have time to see the Arch.

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St. Louis: A New African American Trail

New York Times, June 2023

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St. Louis: A New African American Trail

Continue along Market Street, where you’ll be swept along with a downtown work crowd, past the beautifully restored St. Louis Union Station and the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station. Soon you’ll reach Citygarden, a cool, urban sculpture park where bubbly fountains and colorful flowers are on full display.

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St. Louis, Missouri: A Traveler’s Essential Guide to the City

One Delightful Life, May 2023

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St. Louis, Missouri: A Traveler’s Essential Guide to the City

You will want to use this essential guide to the city to plan your vacation around the city’s must-see attractions and restaurants. In The Lou, its rave-worthy, award-winning destinations are not to be missed.

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Retrouvez-Moi À Saint-Louis

Evansville Living, March 2023

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Retrouvez-Moi À Saint-Louis

A hub of beautiful gardens, world-class cultural institutions, and an increasing number of professional sports teams, the French-influenced city of close to 300,000 on the Mississippi River draws more than 28 million visitors each year.

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Put it all together within a half-mile radius and you have the Grand Center Arts District in St. Louis, the most exciting emerging arts district in America.

Chadd Scott, Forbes

2022 Media Highlights

A custom cocktail sits on a table at Olive and Oak.

This Is the Next Great Food City, According to Our Readers

Food & Wine, May 2022

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This Is the Next Great Food City, According to Our Readers

There are cities with great food, and then there are great food cities. St. Louis is the latter.

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#1 Best City Park 2023

USA Today, February 2023

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#1 Best City Park 2023

Forest Park encompasses nearly 1,400 acres of land. It is one of the largest urban parks in the United States… The green space is widely used for outdoor recreation and features bicycle paths, jogging trails, baseball diamonds, soccer fields, boating and skating.

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The Pulitzer Arts Foundation houses contemporary art in a modern concrete structure.

St. Louis Surprises With Art And Soul

Forbes, August 2021

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St. Louis Surprises With Art And Soul

St. Louis surprises. No more so than at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation where intrigue begins before even entering the angular, concrete Modernist masterpiece from legendary Japanese architect Tadao Ando which houses it.

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Best Children’s Museum

USA Today 10Best, 2022

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Best Children’s Museum

The Magic House, St. Louis’s children’s museum, helps visiting kids explore their curiosity, enhance their creativity and develop their problem solving skills.

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The 10 best U.S. cities for new grads to start a career—and none are New York or LA

CNBC, August 2022

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The 10 best U.S. cities for new grads to start a career—and none are New York or LA

For new college graduates, the best cities in the U.S. to begin a career aren’t coastal — they’re in the Midwest, according to a recent ranking that has St. Louis at the top of the list.

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