Saint Louis, Missouri is one of the Midwest’s hidden gems. Harboring a combined population of 2,900,605 in her city and the Metropolitan areas, Saint Louis is home to some of the Midwest’s greatest cultural and historical sites, as well as housing a wonderful number of fun places to visit and great restaurants to eat at.
The first stop for any Saint Louis visitor should be the Delmar Loop, which is one of the more lively parts of the city. Home to great food, amazing shops, and lively people, the Delmar Loop is one of Saint Louis’ gems. The most important stops on the Loop are easily Blueberry Hill and Vintage Vinyl. Blueberry Hill, which is a restaurant home to some amazing décor and very tasty food, is a Saint Louis landmark and no trip here is complete without a visit. Of note, Blueberry Hill is vegetarian friendly, like most local restaurants in Saint Louis, and their vegetarian burgers are both made to order and fantastic. The restaurant is owned by a man named Joe Edwards, who is possibly the reason that the Loop has remained the vibrant area it is through his efforts to keep chain restaurants out of the area. Nearby is Vintage Vinyl, which is a store that sells large amounts of CDs. Often one can find CDs that are no longer in production. These two shops are not the only places of note on the Loop, but they are must sees. Other fun stops include the City Museum, a giant playground built onto the side of a building, and Grants Farm, a park filled with exotic animals that is built on the land of Ulysses S. Grant.
If the goal of your trip is history, no visit to Saint Louis is complete without a trip to the Arch. The monument built to show the city’s place as the Gateway to the West has a museum built at its feet, which is filled with information about the area’s history. One could also visit Scott Joplin’s house. The home of the famous piano player is home to a player piano that plays Joplin’s music as you learn more about his life. Finally, again one could visit the Delmar Loop, which is home to the Saint Louis Walk of Fame. The Walk of Fame contains stars for famous Saint Louisans, from Dred Scott, the slave who sued for freedom and lost, to Nelly, the famous singer.
The Saint Louis’s cultural heritage is as vibrant as its fun areas. One of the stops for any culture seeker must be the Muny, which is a gorgeous outdoor theatre that has many shows each summer. The Muny has been home to many productions like South Pacific, Les Miserables, and Thoroughly Modern Millie. Another culture center is the Fabulous Fox Theatre, which has been home to performers throughout the years, all the way back to 1929 movies and jazz singers. If one doesn’t like the theatre, there are many other locations: one could take a tour of the Anheuser Busch brewery, an important cultural part of the city. Or, one could visit Ted Drewes and get some ice cream. Ted Drewes is located on the historic Route 66, and has been visited by celebrities for ages. Finally, no trip to Saint Louis is complete without a visit to Busch Stadium to see a Cardinals game, and see the best fans in baseball in action. Saint Louis is home to a large number of attractions, and, without a doubt, one of the Midwest’s forgotten gems.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
