Tours & Attractions - Area Overview
The visitors who trek to St. Louis each year are all but certain to find something they like in the Gateway to the West. But where to find it? Since St. Louis is relatively spread out, the following overview of the area will give you an idea what to expect in the different neighborhoods. The chapter has been arranged by the geographical sections that have been used throughout the book.
Tours & Attractions - Attractions
The St. Louis area is home to a diverse collection of attractions and activities that are well suited to families, couples, and kids of all ages. The attractions are presented under self-explanatory subject headings, such as Amusements and the Zoo; Boat, Train, and Helicopter Rides; Farms and Gardens; etc. Many of the main attractions—including the history museum, art museum, zoo, and science center—are easily accessible by riding MetroLink, St. Louis’s light-rail system. MetroLink has 30-plus stations and stretches more than 46 miles, serving a number of municipalities throughout St. Louis and into Illinois.
This chapter also includes a listing of places to go and things to see on the “other side” of the Mississippi River, in the area often referred to by locals as the Metro East. Illinois has a number of fun and exciting places to visit, and included here is a list of the most popular.
Tours & Attractions - Kidstuff
Lots of cities claim to be “family-friendly” or “kid-centric,” but St. Louis means it. Not only are there plenty of activities and attractions geared toward kids of varying ages, but many of the attractions are free, which makes St. Louis a budget-friendly destination for families. The attractions that charge admission have a lot to offer as well, and many of these are great places to go when it’s a rainy day and the kids need to use up some of that excess energy that little ones always seem to have.
The listings in this chapter have been organized under the following subject headings: Artsy Stuff, which includes art museums as well as artistic and cultural attractions and organizations; Fun Stuff, a listing of amusement and water parks as well as other select outdoor or more active attractions; Furred, Finned, and Feathered Stuff, which features places where kids of all ages can get up close and personal with animals; Smart Stuff, which includes museums, historic sites, and the like; Tasty Stuff, a listing of restaurants in the area that are especially kid-friendly; and Wacky Stuff, which covers pretty much everything else.
Tours & Attractions - Day Trips And Weekend Getaways
As if there wasn’t already enough to do in St. Louis! But, if you’ve got a bit of a road warrior in you, your need to hit the open road is understandable. Luckily, St. Louis is situated in the middle of some pretty interesting country, so you’re only a couple of hours from a diverse collection of entertaining things to see and do. From exploring rock formations and the prehistoric past to wandering through the heart of America’s history, there’s something around here for just about everyone. History buffs can trace the path of explorers Lewis and Clark from St. Charles, Missouri, or walk in the footsteps of honest Abe Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois. Wine aficionados can sample their way through Missouri’s wine country as hikers and bikers set off along the beautiful Katy Trail. Those who just can’t get enough time behind the wheel will enjoy the natural beauty along the Great River Road as well as the nostalgic photo opportunities along historic Route 66. From the most quaint bed-and-breakfast inns to the kitschiest greasy-spoon diner, chances are that you can find whatever it is you’re looking for somewhere within an approximate 120-mile radius of St. Louis. And all of the suggested destinations are close enough that you can make it back to St. Louis for the evening, and just far enough away to feel like you “got away from it all.”
City: St. Louis, MO
Category: Tours & Attractions
City: St. Louis, MO
Category: Tours & Attractions
3. Swing-A-Round Fun Town
City: St. Louis, MO
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (636) 349-7077
Description: Swing-A-Round Fun Town offers a variety of games and activities for families, including three miniature golf courses, go-karts, bumper boats, batting cages, “Bowlingo” Bowling Lanes, and an arcade with more than 80 games. Food concessions and snacks are available for purchase on-site.
4. Forest Park Boathouse
City: St. Louis, MO
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (314) 367-3423
Description: This is a great family spot and a fun way to step back in time and enjoy a “human-powered” boat ride. Boat rentals and gondola cruises are available, as well as lakeside patio dining, live music and a full-service restaurant. The menu is family-friendly and includes Angus burgers, soups, stews, chili, hand-tossed pizzas, and salads, along with signature dishes such as flank steak rarebit and salmon BLTs. Warm up with a glass of wine or a hot toddy around the stone, wood-burning fireplace during cold weather months.
5. Gateway Air Tours
City: St. Louis, MO
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (314) 393-2665
Description: From Memorial Day through mid-September, visitors to the St. Louis Riverfront can enjoy helicopter tours that take off from a barge docked on the mighty Mississippi River. Two versions are available for those looking for a bird’s-eye view of the Gateway City. The St. Louis Skyline tours offer a quick 5- to 6-minute look at the riverfront and immediate downtown area, while the Explore St. Louis tour lasts about 15 minutes and includes downtown, the riverfront, a flyover of Forest Park, and a jaunt out to the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.
6. Gateway Arch Riverboats
City: St. Louis, MO
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (314) 923-3048, (877) 982-1410
Description: Join Gateway Arch Riverboats for one of its spectacular Mississippi River sight-seeing cruises. Narrated by seasoned riverboat captains, these scenic cruises recapture the vibrant life on the river at the peak of the steamboat era. Historic ports of call along the Mississippi’s banks, lively river characters from Mark Twain to Louis Armstrong, and famous river tales are all brought to life in the course of an hour-long journey up the river and back through time. Nighttime cruises include dinner cruises and entertainment cruises with live bands and DJs. on board.
7. Wabash Frisco And Pacific Steam Railway
City: St. Louis, MO
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (636) 587-3538
Description: Kids and adults can have fun and enjoy an old-fashioned train ride aboard the Wabash Frisco and Pacific Steam Railway on Sundays from May through October. Trains start scheduled departures from the station around 11 a.m., with the final train leaving at 4:15 p.m. The ride lasts about 30 minutes and travels along the scenic Meramec River. Children three and under ride free.
City: St. Louis, MO
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 10501 Gravois Road
9. Jewel Box
City: St. Louis, MO
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (314) 289-5389
Description: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Jewel Box, located on 17 acres in Forest Park, was built by the City of St. Louis in 1936. The facility hosts special flower shows throughout the year, including an annual poinsettia show at Christmas. Other popular shows are held at Easter and around Mother’s Day, and there is a summer show and a chrysanthemum show in the fall. (These shows charge a nominal admission fee.) A popular spot for weddings, the Art Deco–style Jewel Box is filled with tropical trees, plants, and flowers year-round, with a main display room that is 50 feet high, 55 feet wide, and 144 feet long.
City: St. Louis, MO
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 4344 Shaw Boulevard
City: St. Louis, MO
Category: Tours & Attractions
12. Campbell House Museum
City: St. Louis, MO
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (314) 421-0325
Address: 1508 Locust Street
Description: Built in 1851, this three-story town house, with its carriage house, rose garden, and gazebo, is a showcase of Victorian furnishings and decorative arts. Ninety percent of the furnishings are original to the family who lived here from 1854 through 1938. The estate is the sole survivor of a once-elegant neighborhood of aristocratic family homes called Lucas Place. The Campbell House Museum collection includes classic Rococo Revival Victorian furniture, portraits, textiles, silver, gold-leaf frames and cornices, faux-grained woodwork, and other examples of decorative arts. Children under 12 are admitted free. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
City: St. Louis, MO
Category: Tours & Attractions
City: St. Louis, MO
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 3352 DeMenil Place
15. Eugene Field House And St. Louis Toy Museum
City: St. Louis, MO
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (314) 421-4689
Address: 634 South Broadway
Description: This is the childhood home of Eugene Field, the “children’s poet,” who authored the popular poem “Wynken, Blynken, and Nod,” and his father, Roswell Field, the lawyer who represented Dred Scott in his historic slavery trial. The house, an early Victorian jewel, reflects the era in which Roswell, Frances, and Eugene Field lived within its walls, and it has been turned into a museum that has exhibits and artifacts from Eugene’s personal collections. The museum features a number of changing exhibitions each year, ranging from collections of antique dolls or rare teddy bears to games and quilts. Children under age three are admitted free. Open Wednesday through Sunday; open in January by appointment only.