Now this may sound like a weird city to have as a favorite in the United States, but weirdly enough it is one of my favorites. I think its because I never expected much from it. I always considering Chicago to be THEE city in the midwest and always thought of cities like Atlanta or Nashville when thinking of the south. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) for St. Louis, it is right on the border of the Midwest and the South making it difficult for it to fit into one or the other. I think that is what makes it such a unique city though. You get the best of both worlds from the southern influenced food like BBQ to the Midwestern city skyline and buildings. I have been twice and both times I adored St. Louis. I also happen to have family there which makes it all the better, and that’s how you know you can trust my suggestions, because they were influenced by the locals! Here is what you need to do in St. Louis.
Visit the Gateway Arch
This is an obvious one, the Gateway Arch. Everyone comes to St. Louis to see the arch. Now there are two ways you can do the arch. You can walk to it and get your picture taken and call it a day. That is perfectly fine if you have other things you want to do. If you want to have the full experience and can afford to set aside a few hours and a few dollars, I recommend going inside. Inside you will find a cafe and gift shop and then you can buy a ticket to check out the exhibit about the 1960s construction of the 630 foot arch and then take the tram through the arch to the top. I think its always worth getting a full city view from above of any city, but not everyone likes heights, so this is something you might have to weigh doing. The ticket options vary so you can choose what suites you best depending on if you just want to do the tram ride or you want to watch the documentary or both or any other extras you want to add on. Here is a tip though, if you have a national park pass, you can get a discount, so make sure to have that with you!
Check Out Grant’s Farm and Historical Site
Get that national park pass out again, this is the home of Ulysses S. Grant. There is two ways to do this one as well and it depends on your groups’ ages and interests. For families with small children Grant’s farm is the way to go. Here you can see St. Louis’s famous Clydesdale horses along with other small farm animals like the baby goats. Admission is free but parking can be a bit of a hassle and can get on the pricier side. Also if you are looking for a tour or to attend a special event you will have to buy tickets for these. We didn’t get to actually go to the farm portion because it was packed and this was in the middle of March, so plan for it to be busy. If you want to see the more historical portion that isn’t as busy, then visit Grant’s house on the national historical site. Here you can check out Grant’s estate and learn about his life, his family, and his views on slavery. It is quite interesting and the museum portion is extensive, not to mention the park rangers are very knowledgable. Even though though the portions of the house you can see are small, you could spend a couple hours here just reading and learning. I would highly recommend making the drive out of downtown to check out Grant’s estate.
Attend a Cardinal’s Game
Yes, I am a Twins fan, but I do actually recommend going to a baseball game but instead of phrasing it as attending a Cardinal’s game, maybe we should say see your favorite team play at Busch Stadium. It is a really cool stadium. There is a lot of great food and getting around the park isn’t terribly overwhelming. I think what makes it so cool and unique though is the Ballpark Village that is located right outside the entrance. Here there is an open space full of tables, chairs, vendors, and a stage with monitors so you can watch the game and then it is used for live music after the game. There are also a bunch of amazing restaurants and bars where you can go to get a bit to eat after the game or catch it while its happening. So even if you can’t go the actual game in the ball park, I do recommend checking out the Ballpark Village, because it has an atmosphere I have never experienced before since the fun doesn’t end even after the game does.
Find a Rooftop Bar
I mean who doesn’t like a rooftop bar, but there is something really cool about seeing the Gateway Arch from one! One of the times we visited, we stayed right across Busch Stadium at the Hilton there which had on its top floor, 360 Rooftop Bar. We saw people coming into the hotel dressed for the club constantly just to go up to the bar. I went the last night and I would say it was pretty cool. The drinks were amazing and the view even more so. It definitely felt like the place to be at in St. Louis.
Browse Soulard Farmer’s Market
Now there isn’t much I remember from Soulard’s Farmers Market, because we went here during the first trip in 2021, but I do remember the cute cafe across the street filled with books. It was called Protaganist Cafe and I would spend all day here if I could. Sadly I could not because the market was our last stop out of town. The market itself is pretty cool as well. Its open Wednesday through Sunday from 8 am to 5pm. Its the oldest market in St. Louis and one of the oldests west of the Mississippi as it was started in 1779. You will find a wide variety of things being sold here. There is the fresh produce, spices, baked goods, and flowers, and then the more artisanal works like art, jewelry, clothing, and soap. It is definitely worth a stop, even if you aren’t planning to buy anything. And if you are looking for a souvenir, this is the place to go!
Have Some Fun at Union Station
Union Station was once the central train station of St. Louis but now it is a fun place to hang out with friends and family with many activities and food options. The cool thing about this stop is you can make it as cheap or as expensive as you want. You could just show up to look around and check out the old trains and leave having spent no money, or you can come and do the whole shebang. From the aquarium, to the ferris wheel, to mini golf, and other amusement park style attractions there is a lot for a family to do, but these will cost money. For adults there are still the great restaurants with a wide variety of food. While this isn’t a typical sightseeing destination, it is perfect for those looking to get away from looking at monuments and going to museums to do an activity and experience St. Louis like a local.
Learn About the History of Cahokia
The place that I feel is the most underrated of all the places to visit in St. Louis is Cahokia Mounds World Heritage & State Historic Site. It isn’t talked about nearly enough. And yes, it is a bit outside of the city, so you will need to drive for a bit because it is across the border in Illonois, but it is not far and totally worth it. We don’t have many places like this in the United States, which is sad, because there is so much for us to learn about native civilizations. This is the largest pre-columbian civilization north of Mexico if that tells you anything about how special it really is. So now what are the Cahokia Mounds? It was a metropolis of 4,000 acres, 120 mounds, and 20,000 citizens. The site was named after the Cahokia tribe, but really the city was made up of many different tribes that were considered the Mississippian. You can learn so much more by visiting the site and the interpretive center. Everything is free to visit which is just even more of an incentive to go! Once you have finished learning all about the history and the culture through the exhibits and local experts you can grab a map and follow the trails throughout the site to see the mounds and the different features of the civilization. It truly is one of the coolest places I have visited in the world and I can’t recommend it enough!
Listen to Some Live Music
Whether it is in Ballpark Village, at a bar, a concert, or a Bruce Springsteen cover band in a park (like in the picture), you need to find some music in St. Louis. There is a great music scene in St. Louis between its traditional blues, soul, and jazz, and its up and coming artists bringing hiphop and acoustic music, there is a lot to enjoy in the city. I loved the trio that played outside at Ballpark Village after the game called Alex Rich music. They played great acoustic covers of pop songs and had just the right mix of making them their own while keeping the integrity of the music. There is a lot of different music to experience in St.Louis, but if you want the most traditional St. Louis experience you can get then you need to find yourself a jazz club to spend an evening in. You won’t regret it!
Eat Some St. Louis Specialties
Where do I even start with all the food you have to eat in St. Louis? First you have start with frozen custard like from Ted Drewes! Then the other St. Louis foods I love that are a must: toasted ravioli, gooey butter cake, and St.Louis style ribs. As for the St. Louis pizza, I am not really a fan because I don’t like my pizza crust super thin which is along with the Provel cheese (that I do like) is what makes a St. Louis style pizza. There are many other St. Louis staples, but as a foody these were the ones I think you have to absolutely try in St. Louis. If you just decide to try the pizza though, I won’t hold it against you. It is still a speciality!
This concludes my list of what to do in St. Louis! Drop a comment if you have visited any of these places or if you have other favorites places in St. Louis. I would love to go back and check them out! I hope this has inspired you to visit this underrated city and see all that Missouri has to offer!
The Journal of Wanderlust 