Saint Louis Hotels and City Guide

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With the Mississippi carving its way through the city, St. Louis is a wonderful place filled with history, natural beauty and fantastic sites. Whether you come for the shopping, the many restaurants, the Arch or a great game of baseball, you’ll find lots to explore here. Visit the home of renowned ragtime composer Scott Joplin, or see where Yogi Berra grew up. Stroll through the huge city park or go for the thrills at Six Flags. With so many varied options for you to choose from, St. Louis is the place to be.

One of the largest urban parks in the world is located right in St. Louis. Forest Park is even bigger than New York’s Central Park. There are over 1,300 acres of gorgeous land and lakes and the park has made use of every square inch. You could spend your entire vacation here. There’s the Art Museum, Science Center and Planetarium, History Museum, the Muny Theatre and the St. Louis Zoo. Those that want a little exercise can enjoy the many biking and jogging trails as well as a few soccer fields and baseball diamonds. If you’re here in the winter you can even skate here.

The most recognized site in St. Louis is the Gateway Arch. Built in 1966, the Arch stands at 630 feet tall and commemorates the 19th century pioneers who would stop here before continuing towards the west. And thus, the Arch is also called the Gateway to the West. Enjoy a spectacular view at the top and watch the Mississippi River flow below. The Arch is close to many interesting sites in St. Louis. There’s a museum located underneath the Arch and nearby is the Old Cathedral. But one of the more historically important buildings is the Old Courthouse, made famous by the slave Dred Scott who tried to sue for his freedom. The case is thought to have been one of the key causes in the start of the American Civil War. In fact, St. Louis also has an amazing Black World History Museum that’s definitely worth discovering.

You’ll find many beautiful churches located throughout the city. If you only have time to visit a few, enjoy the old and new cathedrals of St. Louis. Built in 1843, the Basilica of St. Louis, King of France, also known as the old cathedral, is St. Louis’ earliest church and is a national monument. The museum located next door has beautiful 18th century religious artifacts. Located near the Gateway Arch, the riverfront cathedral continues to be a Catholic parish but had become too small and so a new cathedral was built. Designed in the Romanesque styles, the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, also known as the new cathedral, has an amazing interior. In a recent edition, 41.5 million glass pieces in over 7,000 colors cover 83,000 sq ft making it the largest mosaic collection in the world. It’s an amazing site to see.

Who would have thought that St. Louis would be home to the National Bowling Hall of Fame. But it’s true. Enter this classic 1930s bowling alley and get a glimpse into this sport and even try knocking down a few pins yourself. But maybe its not so surprising that this Hall of Fame would be here. St. Louis has a wealth of sports legends including baseball greats Yogi Berra and Mark McGwire. And what goes hand in hand with watching a great game? Why a frothy beverage of course. And you’re in luck. The Anheuser-Busch Brewery has its headquarters here. Take a tour of the brewhouse, the legendary Clydesdale stables and the lager cellar. Bottoms up.

Shopping in St. Louis doesn’t have to be your typical mall experience. Although there are malls for you visit, explore some of the more unique shopping areas that they offer. Go to the completely restored Union Station, once the world’s largest train station now used as a venue that provides great shopping. There are a few nice restaurants here as well. Laclede’s Landing is another area where St. Louis has upgraded the run-down to become beautiful. Explore old warehouses for the best deals. It’s also a great place to find a meal or dance the night away at the clubs and bars. For the upscale shopper in you, explore the high-end boutiques at Plaza Frontenac. There’s Saks Fifth Avenue, Coach, Louis Vuitton and BCBG. Don’t worry, they have other stores that won’t send your credit card into cardiac arrest. It’s an interesting place for dining as well whether it’s a light lunch or a gourmet meal.

Feel like a bit of adventure? Take a short drive and enter the fantastic world of Six Flags. Whether its riding the world-class wooden coaster aptly named The Boss, catapulting with the Xcalibur, going head over heels again and again at Batman the ride, or cooling off at the 12-acre water park Hurricane Harbor, you’ll love the swoops, twirls and drops that the Six Flags amusement parks are well known for.

Although St. Louis has a reputation for some odd food (fried brain sandwiches anyone?), eating in St. Louis can be a real treat. Make your way to the Hill Neighborhood, well known for the countless Italian restaurants that have fed many generations great Italian food. Make sure you sample the toasted Ravioli, a staple here in St. Louis, or should we say St. Luigi. For the sports fans traveling with you, they might find it interesting that the Hill was home to baseball greats Yogi Berra and Joe Garagiola. Their childhood homes were on Elizabeth Avenue. Not in the mood for pasta? Make your way to the Mississippi Riverfront and enter the Laclede's Landing. It’s a beautiful area where the cobblestone streets take you to converted warehouses. There are fantastic shops, restaurants and bars throughout the entire block. For something that is unique to St. Louis, you’ll want to try some of Ted Drewes concrete custard, which you can find along the historic Route 66. Doesn’t sound too appetizing but it’s a delicious dessert. The gooey butter cake is also a St. Louis favorite.

There is a lot to keep you busy in St. Louis. Enjoy seeing the great sites, the fantastic meals (again, I’d avoid anything called fried brain sandwich), or cruise along the Mississippi on one of five riverboat casinos. With all the great options here, you may need to come back for more.