st. louis
The city of Saint Louis is filled with fun and free things to do. Many of these are just a short drive from the hotel!
The Saint Louis Art Museum is one of the nation’s leading comprehensive art museums, containing more than 30,000 works of art. Admission is free!
Housed in the 600,000 square-foot former International Shoe Company, the museum is an eclectic mixture of children’s playground, funhouse, surrealistic pavilion, and architectural marvel made out of unique, found objects. The brainchild of internationally acclaimed artist Bob Cassilly, a classically trained sculptor and serial entrepreneur, the museum opened for visitors in 1997 to the riotous approval of young and old alike.
Cassilly and his longtime crew of 20 artisans have constructed the museum from the very stuff of the city; and, as a result, it has urban roots deeper than any other institutions’. Reaching no farther than municipal borders for its reclaimed building materials, City Museum boasts features such as old chimneys, salvaged bridges, construction cranes, miles of tile, and even two abandoned planes!
18,000 animals from 700 species on 90 acres, including an Insectarium, Children’s Zoo, Penguin & Puffin Coast and a Zooline Railroad. Admission is free!
Many of the top attractions in the city are free, including the St. Louis Science Center. The Science Center focuses on hands-on learning with exhibits, experiments and classes showcasing many different kinds of science.
The Science Center was also voted the Best Free Attraction in St. Louis in the 2012 About.com Readers’ Choice Awards. Admission is free!
An energizing and eclectic entertainment and shopping district, The Loop offers six blocks of exhilarating retail, restaurants, live music, café culture, and even a Walk-Of-Fame. A century ago at this location, streetcars from downtown “looped around” to return to the city, which gave the area its name. That movement and momentum continue today, as The Loop expands into the City of St. Louis with the exciting new growth and development that have made it a destination. Named “One of the 10 Great Streets in America.”
Visit the Pin-Up Bowl bowling alley and martini lounge, the famous Blueberry Hill restaurant, or the boutique Moonrise Hotel and bar. Also stop for root beer floats and a burger at the famous Fitz’s restaurant and brewing company.
See 30 miles in every direction and 200 years into the past! 200 years ago, Lewis and Clark set out on their great journey. Today, the Gateway Arch stands as the iconic monument symbolizing the westward expansion of the United States. And if you’ve never seen the grandeur of this architectural wonder or the breathtaking views of St. Louis 630 ft. in the air — now is your chance. Tram tickets cost $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 3-15.
The Gateway Arch is just one part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. The Museum of Westward Expansion is located under the Arch. This free museum features exhibits on Lewis & Clark and 19th century pioneers who moved America’s borders westward. Just across the street from the Arch is the third part of the Memorial, the Old Courthouse. This historic building was the site of the famous Dred Scott slavery trial. Today, you can tour restored courtrooms and galleries.
In April 2008, the City of St. Louis and Gateway Foundation broke ground on Citygarden, and in just over a year, the two blocks between Eighth and Tenth Streets had been transformed from ordinary park property to one of the most extraordinary urban gardens in the country.
Founded in 1859, the 79-acre Missouri Botanical Garden is the nation’s oldest botanical garden in continuous operation and an oasis in the city of St. Louis.
Today, 153 years after opening, the Garden is a National Historic Landmark and a center for science, conservation, education and horticultural display.
This complimentary tour offers visitors of all ages an in-depth look at how some of America’s favorite beers are crafted, using the finest, all-natural ingredients, by following it through the steps of the brewing and packaging process. Since its founding in 1852 in St. Louis, Missouri, Anheuser-Busch has been perfecting this process, taking pride in producing some of the world’s finest beers, one batch at a time. You will also learn about the extraordinary initiatives and practices Anheuser-Busch has in place that allow our breweries to recycle more than 99 percent of the solid waste they generate.
Those who are 21 and older will then have an opportunity to taste some of our quality products in the Hospitality Room at the conclusion of the tour. Soft drinks and snacks are also available.
Schlafly Bottleworks has been described as the ‘local home of beer’ and one of the best places in St. Louis to arrive hungry and thirsty.
It is fun, friendly, warm and inviting and has become a gathering place for the local community and their families. As St. Louis’s first new production brewery to open since the end of Prohibition, the free tours are not to be missed.
The Schlafly Tap Room first opened its doors in 1991 and proudly holds the distinction of being the first new brewpub in Missouri since Prohibition.
Housed in a beautifully-restored wood and brick building on the National Historic Register, The Schlafly Tap Room enjoys a reputation as a casual, earthy place to drink, dine, listen to great live music or host a special event.
Completed in 1914, it is the mother church of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The cathedral is named for Saint Louis and was designated a basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1997.
The church is known for its large mosaic installation (which is the largest in the world), and burial crypts. Completed in 1988, the mosaics collectively contain 41.5 million glass tesserae pieces in more than 7,000 colors.