Welcome to St. Louis:
This is not really a story about what to see and do in St. Louis. It is an attempt at getting you around this interesting city without destroying your budget. As with most places, St. Louis offers plenty of easy ways to pay top dollar for things that won't really enhance your experience. Get a
Rand McNally St. Louis Street Map.
When to Visit:
Spring and fall are the best times, because summer tends to be very hot and humid, and winter can be very cold. A lot of people love to visit when the St. Louis Cardinals are playing baseball. Lovers of the game consider this one of America's best baseball towns. Even if you're not a big baseball fan, the atmosphere is worth experiencing. Find flights to St. Louis.
Where to Eat:
St. Louis has a strong Italian community. Many of the early Italian settlers populated a neighborhood known simply as "The Hill," where you will find a collection of outstanding Italian restaurants. Laclede's Landing, a restored warehouse district downtown, features a variety of fine dining and trendy watering holes, sometimes with prices to match.
Where to Stay:
Because the St. Louis light rail "MetroLink" runs from Lambert Airport terminal to downtown, some people prefer staying near the airport and catching a cheap ride downtown without parking hassles. Others use motels on the Illinois side (Fairview Heights and Belleville) the same way. Four-stary hotel for under $150: Omni Majestic on Pine Street. Priceline users can score three- and four-star rooms downtown for as little as $45 USD, if there are no major events in the area. Find St. Louis hotels.
Getting Around:
MetroLink light rail runs from Lambert Airport to Shiloh, Illinois in a single line, passing the cultured Central West End, Downtown, and Gateway Arch. It is not convenient to other attractions like Busch Brewery or The Hill. Buses will get you closer to most places. One-day passes for MetroBus and MetroLink are $4 USD, and a book of tickets for 10 rides is $15. Parking for 24 hours at Union Station's lot is $12 USD, with no in-and-out privilege. You might also want to explore car rentals.
St. Louis Nightlife:
The chamber of commerce boasts there are more working Jazz and Blues musicians in St. Louis than any other city on earth. Scores of clubs, large and small, dot the city. The Soulard district, south of downtown, is a place to find many styles of live music. It's a restored 19th century working-class neighborhood. You can get the latest on what's going on where by picking up a free copy of The Riverfront Times at the Visitor Information Center on Kiener Plaza.
St. Louis Parks:
This city has a world-class network of greenspace. The first and most visible hosts Gateway Arch, which sits on a national park property reclaimed from nasty industrial decay to honor American pioneers who settled the West. Order tickets for movies and a ride to the top of the Arch online to avoid lines or sellouts. Also worth seeing is Forest Park, accessible from the Central West End MetroLink stop. It is home to the Science Center, an ice skating facility, and other attractions.
More St. Louis Tips:
