The first person I thought about, when I accepted a travel assignment in St. Louis, was the rapper Nelly, and his song Country Grammar. That song repeatedly cycled through my mind and my playlist, as I ventured off to my top favorite things to do in the Lou….
Now let’s tRavel iN style!
1. The Gateway Arch
It would be a disservice if you do not visit the iconic Gateway Arch while in St. Louis! The Arch is a whopping 630 feet high, with a Tram Ride that takes you all the way to the top, in which you are able to enjoy amazing views of the city. It also has an inside museum and outside riverboat cruises. The Old Courthouse, where the enslaved Dred Scott sued the federal court twice for his and his wife Harriet’s freedom, was located directly across the street from the Arch. Unfortunately, it was temporarily closed during my stay in St. Louis. You should definitely check out these historical sites.
2. Cafe la Vie
Let me tell you, I could not stop going to this restaurant! The food, cocktails, and service (loved my waitress Ms. Angela) were the best! The food was made to order and was soooo delicious; you could truly tell they took their time preparing each meal. I recommend that you try the Choc-hazelnut gelato for dessert….mmmmm so good!
3. City Foundry
Stop by the City Foundry food hall to enjoy shopping and some fun entertainment, such as Thursday Night Trivia. My favorite restaurants in the food hall were: 1) Patty’s Cheesecake – The best cheesecake I have ever tasted! I preferred the cheesecake petites. I popped those things in my mouth like they were ibuprofens. 2) 4Hens Creole Kitchen – My favorite go-to-dish was the shrimp and grits. The shrimp and grits were creamy and perfectly seasoned. 3) Chez Ali – If you have an appetite for curried chicken and oxtail cuisine, this Afro-Caribbean restaurant had it all. The curry cuisines were well seasoned, and the portions of food were plentiful. 4) Fordo’s Killer Pizza – This wood-fired pizza was fresh, tasty and always made to order. The pizza and crust had the perfect balance of crispiness and softness.
4. Sauce on the Side in The Grove
Sauce on the Side had great calzones that were made from scratch. The customer service was great, as well. The staff was very helpful and informative, particularly as I tried to decide which calzone to choose…believe me, that was not easy. Sauce on the Side was located in the Grove District where there were an abundance of shopping, dining, art and festivals.
5. Saint Louis Zoo
The Saint Louis Zoo, home of 10k+ animals, is located in the Forest Park. It is known as one of the leading zoos in the U.S. that is dedicated to saving all species. Another plus is that the admission is free!
6. Saint Louis Art Museum
This art museum is another jewel located in the Forest Park, and the admission was also FREE! It housed a plethora of high quality art pieces collected across centuries and cultures. However, there was a special exhibit room, in which there was a small fee to enter. During this particular visit, the special exhibit theme was “Medieval Times”. Themes vary and could change throughout the year.
Have you visited St. Louis? Let me know down in the comments if you have and what were your favorite activities to do?!