St. Louis

What is there really to do in St. Louis? Isn’t it just like Chicago?

This question was presented to me in conversation recently by a Californian, and it got me thinking just how easy it is to assume things based on opinions or simply a lack of time to really explore when traveling through a place. Not that this was a bad question to ask, I get it, the Midwest doesn’t necessarily have the beautiful coastlines and climates of other places, but tucked inside the Midwest region there are many gems within that are calling out to be discovered and appreciated by travelers passing through just as there are in many places around the world. Remember, free your thought from all of the opinions you have heard or even have yourself, and plan with a fresh perspective. 

There are quite a few options of things to do in St. Louis. I have spent a lot of time in St. Louis over the years, and no matter how often I have been, I continue to find something new and interesting to see and to do that is enlightening and enjoyable.

St. Louis Food for the Foodies

St. Louis has some really great food options. If you don’t have a lot of time, it is worth giving the city’s various food options a try. I recommend looking up your favorite food types in google maps/reviews, or just searching “best foods in St. Louis” and then narrow down some places based on the reviews. As with any city, there are a lot of good restaurants to chose from. Here are a few of my food specific recommendations to help you get started looking:

BBQ – Pappy’s (brisket), Bogart’s (ribs), and Sugarfire (creative side options and BBQ sandwiches) are all St. Louis BBQ standouts. There are many additional BBQ places in St. Louis in addition to the ones I have recommended. So, scroll through the reviews (see the bullet point below) and get a nice overview as you choose.

St. Louis Kolache – the kolache itself is in the shape of a large roll with a fresh bread outer layer filled with a variety of savory options and even some sweet options. Their hours are early morning through early afternoon, so be sure to get there earlier in the day for the best choices or preorder by phone in the morning.

Gooey Butter Cake – is a specific dessert treat linked to St. Louis. It was created when a baker put too much butter one time in the pound cake. There are many flavor options.

London Tea Room – This place is special in that you can walk in and get the feeling like you are having high tea, but it provides you with a fast casual service allowing you to choose exactly what you would like from a menu and pay specifically per item. I’m sure they offer special events with a package experience as well, but just having the option to experience tea time at your own pace is quite unique. This place can get busy, and the seating is tight the last time I was there, so it is helpful to have that perspective before going in and plan a visit accordingly.

Mac’s – Located near Forest Park, this place emphasizes serving local foods. Their burgers and fries are very good and they also have vegan burger options.

Depending on where you are traveling from, you can find a pretty good experience with any type of food in St. Louis. I have found tasty food trucks, ice cream, custard, calzones, Thai food and even Korean BBQ over the years. Friends and passerby’s have recommended some really great places to me, but if you are just searching on your own online, reviews really can help guide you in the right direction. 

• When it comes to reviews, try not to get too overwhelmed by all of the reviewing. People can be super picky to the point of it being overdone, so I encourage an open perspective. Remember that ultimately you are making your own decision. Get a quick perspective by scrolling through the reviews and take an overall impression. For example, if your visit is short there and you see a well reviewed place with multiple recent reviews about it taking too long to get food, either call in and check out the wait time or consider choosing another place. Same with the opposite perspective: If time is not a big issue and you are just looking for a good place to eat and relax, those reviews do not apply to your situation.

Another tip for food, is just ask where a local likes to eat. Sometimes it isn’t even a place or type of food St. Louis is known for that turns out being super delicious. 

St. Louis Attractions that can be seen easily in a short amount of time:

Forest Park – This spacious and beautiful park is located in the suburbs of St. Louis next to the Central West End district. There is plenty of history within this park all centered around the World’s Fair when it was hosted in St. Louis in 1904. There is still architecture left behind from the fair to see today throughout the park. Within Forest Park, here are some ideas for spending some time:

have a picnic or lounge on a blanket on Art hill (Art Hill is located right in front of the Art Museum overlooking the fountains below.)

drive by car through Forest Park or walk/bike/rent a scooter on designated paths through the park – Choose a mode of transportation listed above and take time to pass by some of the sites left from the World’s Fair. Even the fountains below the Art Hill/Art Museum have historical significance.

attend the St. Louis Zoo – the zoo is free, which makes it very easy to go for the whole afternoon, or even just for 30 minutes. There is usually always a free parking spot to find in the area, with some patience, or you can pay to park in their zoo parking lot. It is a large and spacious zoo with plenty of adorable animals to see.

St. Louis Art Museum – Free to attend and a nice rain or any day attraction. You can browse a few paintings for a few minutes to cool down from the heat or spend an afternoon there. 

Missouri History Museum – Another a free museum covering Missouri’s history.

For some activities that have an entrance fee: The Fox theatre (once a 1929 movie palace now broadway/concert theatre) is beautiful inside as is the Powell Symphony Hall. You could see a Cardinals game, a Blues Hockey game, visit the recently renovated Union Station attraction area (large observation wheel, mini golf, aquarium), reserve tickets ahead to go up inside of the St. Louis Arch (or attend the free museum inside the Arch basement, and also walk around outside the arch in the park if tickets up are not available.) If you enjoy ballroom/swing dancing, the Casa Loma Ballroom hosts live bands of all musical types to enjoy and dance along to. The Missouri Botanical Garden is one of the largest botanical gardens in the world, and definitely worth seeing during a St. Louis visit.

Quite a bit of focus in the news has been placed on crime in the St. Louis area, but honestly it’s not much different than with any other place. It all comes down to the area you are in, the time of day, and whether or not you are paying attention. Pay attention to your surroundings, be aware if something feels off and just go somewhere else if it does feel off. Don’t make yourself a target, park with other cars, keep your belongings well hidden whether it be on yourself or in your car and keep your car locked. I recommend taking the highways if you are not familiar with St. Louis. Sometimes the apps recommend driving through neighborhoods for shortcuts and honestly taking the highway doesn’t add on that much time and it takes away the mystery of which neighborhoods to go through. You can also quickly tell when you are in or driving through a place that doesn’t feel right. Just remain calm, and be observant and find your way back to the main road.