Meet Me in St. Louis: Play
Southwest's Spirit Magazine
June 2010
ESCAPE TO THE LOU for a day trip or along weekend, and you'll never run out of affordable attractions -- some of them free! And don't just limit yourself to the Gateway Arch. Yes, it's a must-see, but you'll find that there's so much to explore when you meet in St. Louis.
Free and Easy! To enjoy the city without putting a dent in your wallet, head to Forest Park, the home of the Saint Louis Zoo, where the admission is free. The zoo is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a special Zootennial exhibit in conjunction with the Missouri History Museum. Then explore the Saint Louis Art Museum, now in the midst of a $130 million expansion. Check out its Form in Translation: Sculptors Making Prints and Drawings through September 19. Last stop: the Saint Louis Science Center's Life Science Lab, where kids love to put on white coats and goggles and peer into microscopes.
Forest Park is a regional gem that sprawls over 1,293 acres, making it one of the largest urban parks in the U.S. -- 500 acres larger than New York's Central Park. Once the site of the1904 World Fair, today the park is not only home to the zoo and art museum, it also boasts a history museum, assorted monuments, lakes, bike paths, golf course, tennis courts, and The Muny, the nation's oldest and largest outdoor theater, which hosts a popular summer concert series.
Just south of downtown, pop into the Budweiser Clydesdale Stable and then watch beer being brewed at the Anheuser-Busch brewery -- can you say "free samples"? Nearby, the Soulard Market (and its famous mini doughnuts) beckons with the promise of the freshest produce, home-baked goods, and specialty vendors selling sunglasses, T-shirts, hats, jewelry -- you name it! And it has bragging rights: Soulard is the oldest farmers market west of the Mississippi, operating since 1838.
Finally, the whole family will enjoy strolling through the new City garden downtown, which blends sculpture and landscaping with high-rise buildings.
Yes, they're all free!
From Arch to Parks Free is good, but visiting the Gateway Arch is exhilarating. Topping out at 630 feet, the Arch is the tallest national monument in the U.S. Ride in a tram to the top, or stay on the ground and crane your neck to admire the soaring,17,246-ton stainless steel structure. Then browse the Museum of Westward Expansion below the Arch before walking a few blocks to visit the Old Court house, dating back to 1839 when the first brick was laid. This experiences all part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial.
Check out more history while getting back to nature at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Founded in 1859,it's the nation's oldest public garden, which now encompasses 79 acres of horticultural displays. The Garden also operates the more than 2,400-acre Shaw Nature Reserve in nearby Gray Summit. Be sure to check out its Whitmire Wildflower Garden.
In Chesterfield, the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House doesn't disappoint with its 60 species of butterflies, from the more common Orange Julias to the exotic electric-blue Morphos from Centraland South America. While you're in Chesterfield, don't miss the Kemp Auto Museum's collection of rare European cars. Another must-Lou: The Laumeier Sculpture Park in south St. Louis County displays 80 contemporary sculptures on105 acres of trees and fields. Arts, Etc.
Prefer your arts indoors? A restored art deco gem, the "fabulous" Fox Theatre hosts Broadway musicals and special events (Wicked plays through July 11). And the intimate,763-seat Virginia Jackson Browning Theatre is home base for the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, the region's
premier live theater company since1966. Established a decade later, The Black Rep ranks as one of the top African-American theater companies in the country -- and it's also
the nation's largest.
During the summer months, spend an evening with St. Louis' symphony and opera companies. Enjoy a catered picnic and cocktails during the Opera Theatre of St. Louis' Picnics, which are available for any performance. Summertime at the Symphony (the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, of course)is a casual affair, playing popular orchestra pieces such as Bach's Brandenburg Concertos. Touring musicians voted the Sheldon Concert Hall one of the top10 in the U.S. for its acoustics. And live blues and jazz can be heard at small clubs all over town, including the cobblestone streets of Laclede's Landing, just north of the Arch.
Quirky has a home here, too. The 600,000-square-foot City Museum is a playground for all ages, made from recycled materials such as chimneys, bridges, and two airplanes. Another playground for all ages? Six Flags St. Louis, with eight rollercoasters and the Glow in the Park Parade. A few miles west in Gray Summit, spend a day with the kids at Purina Farms. Everyone will love the interactive exhibits in the barn (milka cow!), and don't miss the dogs and cats that live at the farm's Pet Center.
In Kirkwood, The Magic House children's museum amazes with its hands-on exhibits such as the BubbleRoom, where kids can enclose themselves in a giant bubble, or the Star Spangled Center, where they can sit at the president's desk, sign the Declaration of Independence, and ring a replica of the Liberty Bell. And if you've got the magic touch, play the slots at numerous area casinos (River City is the newest).
No doubt, there's always something to do in The Lou.
