St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis sits on the Mississippi where the Missouri runs in — a river city, a baseball city, and a city that's been around long enough to have layers. The Gateway Arch is the postcard, but the soul is in the neighborhoods. The Hill is the Italian one — a few square blocks of red sauce, fresh pasta, Imo's Pizza, and Italian markets that have been there for generations. Toasted ravioli was invented here. So was the ice-cream cone (allegedly, at the 1904 World's Fair).
Forest Park is bigger than Central Park and holds the Saint Louis Art Museum, the zoo, the science center, and the history museum — all free. Cardinals games at Busch Stadium are some of the best baseball atmospheres in the country. The Missouri Botanical Garden is one of the oldest in the U.S. The Anheuser-Busch brewery still gives tours.
The food alone is worth the trip. Italian on the Hill, barbecue at Pappy's or Bogart's, frozen custard at Ted Drewes, gooey butter cake everywhere. It's a Midwestern city with a lot of pride and a lot of good cheap meals.
Homes in this location.
What's around.
- Gateway Arch National Park · downtown · The 630-foot stainless steel arch, tram to the top, museum below.
- The Hill · central · Italian neighborhood — Imo's, Charlie Gitto's, Adriana's, Volpi's market.
- Forest Park · central · 1,300-acre park with Saint Louis Art Museum, zoo, science center, history museum — all free.
- Cardinals at Busch Stadium · downtown · April-October, one of the great baseball atmospheres.
- Missouri Botanical Garden · central · One of the oldest botanical gardens in the U.S. — worth a half-day in spring or fall.
- City Museum · downtown · Massive, hands-on, climbable art-museum-meets-playground — unlike anywhere else.
- Ted Drewes Frozen Custard · central · Order a concrete (so thick they hand it to you upside down) — a St. Louis institution.
- Anheuser-Busch Brewery · near downtown · Free tours, Clydesdale stables, the original brewhouse.
Getting here.
Getting here
St. Louis Lambert International (STL) is 20 minutes from downtown. MetroLink light rail runs from the airport to downtown for cheap. A car helps for neighborhoods outside the core.
Best seasons
Spring (April-June) for mild weather and the gardens. Fall (September-October) for color and Cardinals playoff baseball. Summer is hot and humid. Winter is cold with occasional snow.
Weather
Hot, humid summers, 85-95°F. Cold winters, 25-45°F with possible snow. Spring and fall sit in the 50-75°F range. Storms in spring — this is the eastern edge of Tornado Alley.
Quick answers.
Where do we eat on the Hill?
Charlie Gitto's, Adriana's (lunch only, get there early), Gioia's Deli for a hot salami sandwich, Volpi's for cured meats. Imo's for the local thin-crust pizza if you're game.
Is the Arch worth the tram?
Yes if you can — the ride up is unique and the view is real. Book ahead in summer.
Is St. Louis walkable?
Some neighborhoods, yes — the Hill, Central West End, Soulard. Between neighborhoods, you'll need a car or rideshare.
What about the City Museum?
Don't miss it. Wear long pants and shoes you can climb in.
Cardinals games?
Cheap upper-deck seats are some of the best in baseball. April-October.
Is the Missouri side or the Illinois side better?
Stay on the Missouri side — that's where most of what you'll do is.