Discover St. Louis

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Planning a quick overnight and day trip to discover St. Louis? Come along as we explore a few of the must-see attractions that my friend, cousin, and I enjoyed during our visits.

St. Louis is basically my hometown. Even though I live in Illinois, I spend most of my time in Missouri. It’s my stomping grounds for work, shopping, grabbing a bite, and checking out all the cool stuff St. Louis has. Recently, a good friend from Orlando came to visit, and soon after, my cousin from Indiana also stopped by. Here’s a snapshot of our awesome day in St. Louis. There’s always something cool to discover in this spirited city!

Stay – DIscover St. Louis

The 21C Museum Hotel (1528 Locust St, St. Louis, MO 63103)

The 21C Museum Hotel is a fantastic place to hang out, socialize, and do all sorts of fun activities. Once a YMCA, this hotel features an art museum, a really cool pool (even if you don’t swim, you should check it out!), a hot tub, a spa and sauna, and even a billiards table in the lobby. Oh, and let’s not forget about the orange penguins! These 4-foot-tall plastic penguins, orange to represent St. Louis, seem to wander around the hotel as if they have a life of their own. (You can even have some fun and move them around!) You can also enjoy a meal and drinks at the hotel’s restaurant, Idol Wolf, so there’s no need to leave! If you feel like taking a leisurely stroll, make sure to visit Blood and Sand across the street for a nightcap or dinner. It used to be an exclusive club, but now it’s open to everyone. Just a heads up, it’s best to stay nearby at night.

Breakfast – Discover St. Louis

Hammerstone’s (2028 S 9th St, St. Louis, MO 63104)

Hammerstone’s is one of my personal favorites. It has a dive bar feel and is located in the heart of the historic neighborhood of Soulard. It’s a popular spot for locals. They make a killer spicy bloody mary. I also recommend trying the Soulard Omelet – it’s spicy, so be prepared for a little kick from the hot jalapeno peppers.

Morning Discoveries – Discover St. Louis

Saint Louis Art Museum (1 Fine Arts Dr, St. Louis, MO 63110)

We’re lucky to have plenty of museums in St. Louis, and most of them won’t cost you a dime to get in, including the Saint Louis Art Museum. Let me tell you, we spent hours there and still didn’t manage to see everything. The museum spans three stories, so you can imagine how hard it was to cover it all in one visit. The building itself is a real piece of art; originally constructed as the Palace of Fine Arts for the 1904 World’s Fair, it’s one of the few structures that were designed to outlast the fair.

The Boathouse at Forest Park (6101 Government Dr, St. Louis, MO 63110)

Forest Park in St. Louis is one of the largest urban parks in America, even bigger than Central Park. It is home to several museums, including The Saint Louis Art Museum, The Missouri History Museum, The Saint Louis Science Center, and The Saint Louis Zoo—all fantastic places to visit. After visiting The Saint Louis Art Museum, we rented a paddleboat at The Boathouse and paddled out onto the lake in 90-degree weather. It was very hot, but we had a great time and got to see Forest Park from a whole new perspective. After returning the paddleboat, we went to the Boathouse to grab some water. You can also grab a beer and lunch there. The food is provided by Sugarfire, another hometown favorite.

LUNCH or dinner

The Old Spaghetti Factory (727 N 1st St)

After our paddleboat excursion, we headed to Laclede’s Landing, the oldest district in St. Louis, for a late lunch. We ate at The Old Spaghetti Factory. Even though it’s not locally owned, The Old Spaghetti Factory has been a St. Louis landmark for at least forty years. It’s housed in the Reader Place building, which was formerly the Missouri Hotel and Christian Peper Tobacco Company. This area is home to many historic buildings and the famous Eads Bridge. While it’s not as vibrant as it was 25 to 30 years ago with music venues, bars, restaurants, and shops, there are still a few restaurants, historic buildings, cobblestone roads, the Eads Bridge, and a casino.

Finishing up the day

Gateway Arch National Park (11 North 4th Street)

We took a walk from Laclede’s Landing along the riverfront, passing under the Eads Bridge and continuing to the Gateway Arch National Park . If you’ve never been, it’s an impressive sight, standing tall and majestic as the gateway to the west. For the adventurous, there’s a small egg-shaped tram that takes you to the top, offering a view of St. Louis and Illinois. Additionally, there’s a wonderful museum beneath the arch that is a must-see, highlighting St. Louis’s role in the westward expansion. You can also buy tickets for a river boat cruise to see some of the best views of the Gateway Arch and St. Louis.

While on our sightseeing adventure, we stopped at the The Captains’ Return, a bronze statue of Lewis and Clark. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to visit the arch, but we enjoyed walking through the grounds. Then we headed back to Laclede’s Landing and our car, before returning to the 21C Museum Hotel. Our day of discovering St. Louis was complete.

Connect with me to discover St. Louis

There are always new things to discover in St. Louis. This is just a snippet of what the city has to offer. If you want updates, more information about St. Louis, such as recommended hotels, and travel highlights, feel free to connect with me here.

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