Top 25 Things to do in St. Louis, Missouri

Gateway Arch - St. Louis, Missouri

Welcome to St. Louis! 

This city is near and dear to my heart, as this is where I was born and raised. Whether you’re traveling solo, going with a friend, your spouse, or even your kids, there is plenty to do in St. Louis to keep you busy for days!

Did I mention the food is amazing too?! Make sure you don’t leave without trying St. Louis style BBQ and some toasted ravioli. You’ll thank me later. 

You’re about to find:

• Top 5 Things to do Outdoors

• Top 5 Things to do Indoors

• Top 5 Places to Eat

• Top 5 Things to do with Kids

• Top 5 Nightlife Experiences

Without further ado, let’s dive right in!

Top 5 Things to do Outdoors

Hidden Valley - St. Louis, Missouri

Hidden Valley

• If you’re an adrenaline junkie, look no further! Hidden Valley located in St. Louis County has all kinds of winter activities including skiing, snowboarding, and tubing. They offer lessons and have “baby slopes” for beginners and some great routes for more advanced athletes. You can rent everything you need once you get there, or you can even bring your own equipment. Near the slopes, they have a restaurant with food, alcohol, and winter treats like hot chocolate. This is a winter-only activity. They are typically open for 4ish months out of the year but they have a way of generating fake snow for the cold days mother nature doesn’t provide its own snow! 

Busch Stadium / CITYPARK

• St. Louis is known to be a sports-loving city! While we have a professional hockey team and a newly acquired soccer team, St. Louis has always been known to love baseball as we are home to the St. Louis Cardinals! From Stan Musial and Ozzie Smith to Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright, we’ve had generations of phenomenal ballplayers that have helped mold the people in our city to become the baseball fanatics they are today. Busch Stadium gives you a panoramic view of down St. Louis including the Gateway Arch and the vibe is guaranteed to be indescribable compared to other Major League Baseball experiences. Don’t forget to stop by Ballpark Village right across the street! They have nightlife opportunities that I will discuss later. But they also have an interactive museum, a great outdoor place for kids to play yard games, and you can get food, drinks, or frozen custard while you’re there, too. If baseball isn’t your thing, no big deal! Head down the street to the brand new soccer stadium CITYPARK, home of the St. Louis City SC. While this is a fairly new St. Louis staple, it’s grown in popularity quicker than I ever could have imagined. See what all the hype is about yourself! 
  

Gateway Arch

• In 2018, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis became the 60th U.S. National Park. While people have mixed opinions on whether or not it should be considered a national “park” versus a national “monument,” it’s a great place to visit regardless! Their newly renovated museum has hours of information to read along with several interactive activities for visitors of all ages. You’ll have the opportunity to purchase a tram ticket that takes you 630ft in the air to the top of the arch. Once you get there, you’ll be able to get out of the tram and explore the small viewing room and get top notch panoramic views of both the Missouri and Illinois sides of the St. Louis region. Be aware! The trams are small and you feel large wind gusts once you get to the top. So if you are claustrophobic or you get motion sickness easily, it might be worth waiting for your friends in the museum! There are also plenty of walking trails and photo opportunities outside as well. 

Castlewood State Park

• Castlewood State Park is in St. Louis County and is right along the Meramec River. This park has several playground options for kids and hiking trails that range of all difficulty levels. My favorite trail is the River Scene Trail that’s 3.4 miles and rated moderate. After a steep initial incline, this trail gives you some amazing views of the river from up above and then leads you all the way down so you can skip rocks. Be sure to check trail conditions prior to arriving! 

Union Station

• You know those things that are “meant” for kids but are actually really fun for adults? Yeah, that’s basically Union Station. This train station used to look like a rundown mall and now includes the St. Louis Aquarium, a ferris wheel, a mini golf course, peddle boats, restaurants, bars, art vendors, and more! They even offer Christmas train rides throughout the holiday season but you have to book those FAST because they’ll sell out in no time. 

Top 5 Things to do Indoors

Enterprise Center

• Even though St. Louis is known to be a baseball city, we still love our Blues! Indoor stadiums always have such a way of captivating the crowd. Not only does it have the jumbotrons and intriguing food like outdoor stadiums. But when they can control all the lights and sounds around you, it always gives me goosebumps from head to toe! When it’s not hockey season, the Enterprise Center hosts an abundance of events. As a former police officer and current volunteer firefighter/EMT, an event that will always be near and dear to my heart is Budweiser Guns ‘N Hoses - a boxing match that brings the friendly rivalry of police officers vs firefighters alive!

The Fabulous Fox Theater

• The Fabulous Fox Theater first opened its doors in 1928 and the stunning architecture shows firsthand why it’s been such a popular venue for almost 100 years. They host regular big-name events like concerts and comedy shows but they’re truly known for showing live Broadway shows and other plays and musicals. If you’re looking for an opportunity to put on your fancy clothes for the evening, you’ve come to the right place. Whether it’s a date night or a family outing, this theater will impress those of all ages. 

Anheuser Busch Brewery 

• Where are our beer lovers at?! Did you know that St. Louis is home to the original Anheuser Busch Brewery and the Budweiser Clydesdales? Before you even enter the building, you can tell how massive this brewery really is. They take you on a tour that tells you about how beer is made and you even get to see the factory where people are actively packaging the beer you see on shelves today. Of course, the tour comes with some samples and you even get to see the Clydesdales yourself! If beer isn’t really up your alley - no problem! During the winter time, they add an ice skating rink to the facility with more Christmas lights than you could ever imagine. 

St. Louis Aquarium 

• Another new-ish addition to St. Louis is the Aquarium! As previously mentioned, this is located in Union Station in downtown St. Louis. One of the best parts of this Aquarium is how interactive it is! From shows and interactive exhibits to petting animals and seeing them from all angles, this Aquarium will make everyone leave feeling more educated and excited about sea life. 

Art and History Museums

• Inside the famous Forest Park in St. Louis, you'll find gorgeous land and many walking trails but you'll also find a couple beautiful places to go if you need a break from Mother Nature. The St. Louis Art Museum and the St. Louis History Museum are both on the park grounds and have endless exhibits to explore throughout your day. They are both FREE to visit - but be sure to check their hours before arriving.

Top 5 Places to Eat

Pappy’s Smokehouse

• If you want some authentic St. Louis style BBQ, look no further! As soon as you pull up to Pappy’s, get out of your car, and smell your surroundings, you’ll immediately fall in love. There are truly options for everyone and the meat is so tender, it falls right off the fork. There are so many flavors to try and you’ll leave for a brand new appreciation for St. Louis BBQ. 

The Hill

• The Hill is an “area” of St. Louis where there are a multitude of Italian restaurants within walking distance of one another. You can’t go wrong with any of these restaurants but my personal favorite is Zia’s On the Hill. Here, you can get your favorite Italian dishes but you can also try a huge St. Louis staple - toasted ravioli! Imagine a small piece of ravioli thrown in a delicious fried and seasoned dough. If you haven’t had it before, you’ll realize immediately why St. Louis natives are so obsessed and you’ll wonder why your town hasn’t adopted this delicious food, too. 

Kobe’s Steakhouse

• If you’re looking for a romantic hibachi restaurant, check out Kobe’s Steakhouse! This is located in Westport Plaza which has some great nightlife attached to it, a comedy club, and even a hotel. Not only is the staff amazing and the food delicious, but it’s located on the upper portion of Westport Plaza which gives you a gorgeous view of St. Louis. Be sure to book a reservation here and come hungry! While this is one of the best restaurants in St. Louis in my opinion - everyone else thinks so too so it’s bound to be busy! 

Twisted Ranch

• Do you like Ranch Dressing? I like Ranch Dressing. Did you know there is a restaurant where you can literally try up to FORTY different flavors of Ranch? From more “traditional” sounding flavors like BBQ and Cajun to more unique flavors like Jack the Ripper and Red Billy goat, there’s truly a flavor for everyone. They sell Ranch “flights” where you can mix and match your favorite flavors to determine your all-time favorite type of Ranch. Wait until you see some of these options!

The Fountain on Locust

• The food here is great, but let’s be real. People choose to visit the Fountain on Locust for their endless ice cream, sundae, adult float, and ice cream martini options. That’s right - these boozy and sugary bowls of goodness will have you hooked instantly. Just search for the name of the restaurant, click on images, and you’ll be sold in no time. You’re welcome. 

Top 5 Things to do with Kids

City Museum

• If you’re going to take ANY of my advice in this article…. Please listen to this. If you have children or even just enjoy releasing your own inner child, you CANNOT miss out on a trip to the City Museum. How do I even describe this place in words? Imagine the world's largest indoor/outdoor playground where you climb on everything BUT playground equipment. You can climb through spiral tunnels that take you up to the next story of the building, swing on ropes above skating ramps, and climb through a suspended airplane outside, just to name a few. There’s a massive cave maze that randomly sends you to other parts of the building and there’s even a school bus that hangs off the roof of the building that you can climb in and look down. How can I forget? Our local CIRCUS practices here and if you come at the right time, you can watch! Disclaimer: Be prepared to CHASE your children because they’ll be in an environment that they’ve never experienced before and they’ll be eager to see it from every angle. Out of everything on this list, this is my personal #1!

Science Center

• If you’re looking for a FREE activity in St. Louis, be sure to check out the Science Center! One of the exhibits the Science Center is best known for is a tunnel that crosses over one of St. Louis’ major interstates. In this tunnel, you can find radar guns that tell you how fast the cars are going beneath you. There is a massive dinosaur exhibit, shows that are offered daily, and there are several paid activities such as the Omni-Max theater that makes you feel like you’re IN the movie and the Planetarium that lets you go stargazing indoors. You can spend all day here and don’t worry - there’s food, too. 

Magic House

• The Magic House is, well, magical. This STEM focused children’s museum offers endless hands-on experiences for kids of all ages! Kids won’t even feel like they’re “learning” or working on “school work” because they’ll be having so much fun. Younger kids have the opportunity to play with magnets, balls, wind tunnels, and trains while older kids get to learn about different jobs and climb higher than they’ve ever climbed before! 

St. Louis Zoo - St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis Zoo

• One of the greatest parts of the St. Louis Zoo is that it’s known to be the best FREE zoo in the entire country! That’s right - this zoo is funded by donors and a membership program. Now, you still have to pay for parking and obviously food or other treats. But considering most zoos cost $15-$30 per person to visit, it’s nice to have free admission! This zoo has a wide variety of animals, live shows, and they deck out their facility with Christmas lights around the holiday season. 

Grant’s Farm

• Grant’s Farm reminds me of a more hands-on version of the St. Louis Zoo but smaller. This facility stems back to President Ulysses S. Grant and has as much history as it does activities. You’re able to pet animals, feed animals, ride animals, and they have a plethora of year-round events for guests as well. If you want to get up close and personal with these different creatures, consider a visit to Grant’s Farm!

Top 5 Nightlife Experiences

Ballpark Village

• As I previously mentioned, Ballpark Village is located right across the street from Busch Stadium but this is a “fan-favorite” whether or not a baseball game is going on or not. You walk in and see a massive open area with a glass roof and multiple large screens to watch your favorite sporting events and there’s even a stage for live events. There’s an area where you can watch sports broadcasters film their live segments and there are bars around the building including a PBR. If you’re looking to hang out with your friends, have a few drinks, and get a multitude of environments all in one place, you’ll be extremely satisfied with your experience here at Ballpark Village! And of course - visiting during a Cardinals game always adds a little extra hype. 

Westport Plaza

• If my description of Kobe’s Steakhouse doesn’t immediately draw you to Westport Plaza, I have even more reasons for you to go! Westport Plaza is also home to the Funny Bone, one of St. Louis’ oldest and most popular comedy clubs. Here, they make your drinks pretty strong and bring in big names from all around the world. The best part is that the venue is pretty small - so if you get yourself a ticket, you’ll have a pretty intimate event and not feel like you’re one in a million. Around the corner, you can find the Trainwreck Saloon which is an old time bar and restaurant that welcomes live entertainment that turns a cozy restaurant into a concert that you can hear from a mile away. Another great part about Westport Plaza is Westport Social. This bar features a great menu and several games you can play including fussball and bocce ball. After your night full of shenanigans, walk over to one of the several hotel options nearby so you can ensure a safe conclusion to your night. 

Rec Hall

• If you enjoy those bars that give you plenty of activities to do, Rec Hall is your place! This is an indoor-outdoor facility with a full bar inside and a keg trailer outside. Have you ever heard of Fowling? You have to throw a football at bowling pins and it’s way harder than it sounds. They also have beer pong with garbage cans, Connect 4 with basketballs, and even the old-school tetherball game! We’re a highly competitive couple and we love seeking places like this. Their vibe is my all-time favorite and is one of our personal go-tos whenever we’re in the area. 

The Armory - St. Louis, Missouri

Armory

• Speaking of bars with games…. The Armory is a fairly new addition to St. Louis and this place has thought of everything! The Armory is located in a massive old warehouse building and they STILL manage to get packed. They have a large stage for live events along with games like badminton, soccer billiards, a teeter totter, and several arcade games. This is a two-story facility and you can even take a slide to get back down to the main floor. Compared to the Rec Hall, this place can definitely get loud. But if that’s your vibe, this place will be perfect! 

Downtown St. Charles

• Downtown St. Charles is always an adorable option to visit. During the day, Downtown St. Charles has really cute shops, delicious restaurants, and a gorgeous riverfront with a walking trail along it. At night, they have several options for nightlife all within walking distance from one another. Downtown is typically decorated for the different upcoming holidays and there’s no doubt you’ll have plenty of photo opportunities. If you are into casinos, you also have two nearby that you can enjoy as well.