Want to travel more this year? Why not visit the “gateway to the west”? St. Louis oozes history and charm and has tons of fun places to explore. But you won’t find the hustle and bustle in this midwest city – it embraces a cool, unassuming vibe. Keep reading to learn about the city’s free attractions, great places to enjoy nature, iconic things to do, and the top 10 reasons to visit St. Louis, Missouri.
Some of the best places to travel to are the ones that no one else is thinking about.
Year after year, different tourist attractions are trending, with tons of people flocking there to see what the hype is all about.
But you know what?
Jumping on the travel bandwagon means you end up in a super crowded, touristy hot mess. Loads of people, over-inflated prices, long lines to wait in…
Not my idea of travel bliss.
If you’re looking for an easygoing travel destination (but still want loads of variety and things to do), St. Louis is just the place.
Disclosure: Any tips or products shared are things I truly believe in. If you take action (ie make a purchase) after clicking one of the affiliate links, I’ll earn some money which helps me continue creating travel content for you. Thank you for your support!
Hello St. Louis!
Did you know St. Louis invented the ice cream cone? If that isn’t reason enough to visit the city, I don’t know what is! Ha! But seriously, St. Louis is a super fun, friendly and vibrant place to be. I should know, because before moving to San Diego, I grew up in the midwest and actually lived in St. Louis for a short time.
St. Louis is the kind of place where you can relax and be yourself. Not pretentious in the least, its people are warm and welcoming. Don’t be surprised if they hold open the door for you or smile and say hello as you pass them on the sidewalk.
Located on the banks of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, the city of St. Louis is perhaps one of the easiest places to travel to. It’s within easy driving or flying distance to most places in the United States. Lambert International Airport (while somewhat small) offers a decent variety of flights daily and nonstop flights to over 70 destinations.
Need more convincing? Here’s a sneak peek of what’s in this post:
- Info about the world’s tallest arch
- List of free tourist attractions
- Why the St. Louis Zoo is a must-see
- The best green space in the city (it’s over 1,300 acres!)
- A few things only found in St. Louis
- Hotspots recommended by locals
- Intangible things that make the city a gem
Reasons To Visit St. Louis, MO
1. St. Louis Has the World’s Tallest Arch
Yes, you read that correctly, it’s the tallest in the world (and actually the tallest monument in the United States). Cool right?
The Gateway Arch is a unique and iconic staple of the St. Louis skyline. It symbolizes the westward expansion of the United States in the 19th century. While it’s fun to admire it from the outside, you can actually take a tour and ride to the top! Because of its curved shape, it’s part-elevator, part-ferris wheel (and part thrilling because you can feel it sway). It’s a must-do on your trip to St. Louis!
It’s part of Gateway Arch National Park, which is a small waterfront green space located next to the Arch. It’s a fun area to explore and learn more about the history of St. Louis and the Arch. (Keeping it real – don’t go here expecting anything compared to other national parks. It’s tiny!) To get the wow factor, take the tour and go up in the Arch.
2. There Are Tons of Free Things To Do in St. Louis
Did you know St. Louis has more free tourist attractions than any other city in the U.S. outside Washington, D.C.? Pretty amazing, right? It’s kind of crazy what you can get for free as compared to other U.S. cities where most everything has an entrance fee. That’s reason alone to visit St. Louis, Missouri!
Here’s a list of all the free things to do in St. Louis:
- St. Louis Art Museum
- Gateway Arch National Park
- St. Louis Zoo
- Forest Park
- Missouri History Museum
- Grant’s Farm
- Contemporary Art Museum
- St. Louis Science Center
- St. Louis Cathedral Basilica
- Laumeier Sculpture Park
- City Garden
- World Chess Hall of Fame
- Lone Elk Park & World Bird Sanctuary
- Holocaust Museum and Learning Center
- And more!
3. You Can Visit America’s #1 Zoo
There are lots of great zoos in the U.S. (like the one in San Diego), but not many of those zoos are free. Home to over 17,000 wild animals, the St. Louis Zoo is totally free, walkable, and is always adding new exhibits.
One of my favorites is Sea Lion Sound, which has an underground viewing tunnel that’s amazing. Other highlights include the polar bears, stingrays, and penguins and puffins. Many of the exhibits allow you to get really close to the animals, which adds to the experience.
If you’re craving an even more, the zoo offers behind-the-scenes tours where you can feed giraffes, hold a python in your arms, and more.
4. Forest Park is an Urban Oasis
Forest Park is St. Louis’ most beloved urban park. Covering over 1,300 acres, there are so many things to see and do! Besides the zoo and several museums, Forest Park is also home to The Muny, the nation’s oldest outdoor theater. It’s a great place to see a musical and is also free year-round.
At the Grand Basin (pictured above), you can have a picnic, enjoy the fountains and more. At the nearby Boathouse, eat on the patio and relax at the beer garden. Another fun thing you can do is get on the water – they have all kinds of rentals available for paddleboarding, canoeing, and kayaking.
The list of things to do at Forest Park just keeps going! If you love nature, check out the Jewel Box or try on of several trails that runs through the park.
5. St. Louis is Home to Anheuser-Busch
People in St. Louis love beer! And its no surprise why, since the Anehuser-Busch brewery is the largest beer-producing facility in the U.S. and has been open since 1852. Want free beer? Why not take their tour?
It’s a fascinating place to spend a couple of hours. A few of the things you see on the free walking tour are the fermentation cellar, the bottling process, and the Brew House. They even take you to the stables to see the iconic Clydesdale horses that the brand is known for.
6. You’ll Have Lots of Sporting Events to Choose From
Did you know St. Louis is home to three major-league sports teams? If there’s a home game, you’ll know it! The Blues and Cardinals games are on TVs everywhere across the city and the people of St. Louis love to support them.
If you’re a hockey fan, be sure to catch a St. Louis Blues game. They won the Stanley Cup in 2019 and play downtown in the Scottrade Center. If baseball is more your thing, St. Louis is home to the Cardinals and they’re 11-time World Series champions!
There are also several minor-league and collegiate sporting events too, all around the city. If you love sports, you definitely won’t be disappointed by a trip to St. Louis.
7. Tons of Fun For Families and Kids
Traveling with little ones? St. Louis is incredibly family-friendly. Here’s a sampling of some of the most fun and playful things to do on a trip to St. Louis:
- Grant’s Farm
- The Magic House
- City Museum (Super cool! One of my favorite places in the city)
- The St. Louis Science Center
- The Butterfly House
- Critter Lane Petting Zoo
- Six Flags St. Louis
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- Citygarden Sculpture Park
8. There’s No Shortage of Delicious Food to Eat
Seriously some of the most mouth-watering food you’ve ever tasted can be found in the city of St. Louis. Have you heard of gooey butter cake? It’s life-changing and you have to try it! A local delicacy that’s been served since the 1930s, the name says it all. It has a coffee cake-like consistency with a custard layer on top. So good!
A few other delicious foods to try in St. Louis are frozen custard (be sure to try Ted Drewes!), ribs and barbeque, and St. Louis-style thin crust pizza. You won’t go hungry on your trip, and you can pretty much find any kind of cuisine you like.
9. Walk Down One of the 10 Best Streets In America
The perfect way to wrap up your trip to St. Louis is to visit the Delmar Loop. One of the most unique and colorful places in the city (can you tell its one of my favorites?), its also been named one of the 10 Great Streets in America.
Covering about 6 city blocks, what you’ll find in the Delmar Loop are some of the city’s most eclectic restaurants, art galleries, one-of-a-kind boutiques, epic neon signs, and 12 different entertainment venues. There’s even a trolley to get you from place to place!
There’s always something fun going on at the Delmar Loop, whether its a festival, 5K run, or live music. It’s a must-see on your trip, and one of my favorite reasons to visit St. Louis, Missouri.
One Last Reason To Visit St. Louis
Any great city has lots of fun things to do. But St. Louis is so much more than that. It’s a diverse and welcoming city, with culture, art, and history but also a laid-back feel.
Its people are warm and welcoming and will go out of their way to help a stranger in need. I don’t need to convince you – go and see for yourself! Experience the midwest charm that St. Louis is known for. A tour is a great way to see the city, especially if you’re limited on time or just like the idea of chilling while someone else drives you around. Below is one tour option I recommend:
Comment below and let me know – which one of these things made you want to take a trip to St. Louis?
Consider Supporting The Blog (at no extra cost to you!)
If you found this post helpful, consider supporting Compass & Coastline by booking your next accommodation by clicking on the link below. Trivago is awesome because they do all the legwork for you, and you don’t have to search through tons of sites to find a good deal. One cool feature is that you can search by landmark. For example, maybe in St. Louis you want to stay near Busch Stadium (go Cardinals!). You can type that into the search to make sure you find a hotel close by. Cool, right? If you use the search below to make a reservation, I’ll receive a small commission at no cost to you, which helps me produce travel content just like this. Thank you for supporting me!
1 Comment
Great Post!!! I truly believe that there is much more to explore new places. The world has incredible beauty which makes us visit new places for sure.