Maryland Heights

Lovingly referred to as St. Louis’ backyard, Maryland Heights blends indoor and outdoor activities in a variety of urban and rural settings.

When the weather permits, rent kayaks or canoes at Creve Coeur Lake for wet and wild fun. You can also bike through Creve Coeur Lake Park, which is the green lung of the city. On Bootlegger’s Run, cyclists face multiple ravine crossings, dips and turns. Slow down to soak up the sun or admire the fall foliage, or speed up to make the ride more exhilarating. Afterward, refuel at Westport Plaza, which boasts tacos, sushi, Freak Shakes and more – plus, a classic bar and game lounge.

The new, immersive Rawlings Experience is also worth a stop. One of the biggest draws is the glove vault, which holds Gold Glove Awards from the Rawlings Gold Glove Hall of Fame. The area is lined with lockers decked out with memorabilia from the players, alongside their awards. Imagine an ode to the history of the Gold Glove Award, which Rawlings – not Major League Baseball – created in 1957. There’s also a glove bar, batting cages, commemorative baseballs and other archival objects.

Beyond Westport Plaza, Maryland Heights offers more diverse cuisines to appease any palate. Dig into Southern-style barbecue, Nashville hot chicken, Italian pasta, Indian curry and Vietnamese stir-fry, to name a few.

In Maryland Heights, you can also golf, climb to new heights and swing from the treetops. Gamers of all ages can play the hundreds of arcade games at Dave & Buster’s, as well, and adults can test their luck at the slot machines and blackjack tables at Hollywood Casino and Hotel.

For music and entertainment, look no further than the summer lineups at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre and Saint Louis Music Park. The former, which opened in 1991 as Riverport, has welcomed some of the biggest names in music to its stage, while the latter is a new 4,500-seat outdoor venue that hosts local markets, festivals and ice skaters (in the winter) in addition to concerts.

With almost 4,000 hotel rooms throughout the city, you won’t have a problem finding a place to stay in the heart of the action. Maryland Heights boasts hotels from all major chains as well as a variety of independent and boutique hotels.