St. Louis

Anheuser-Busch Brewery

The place where all Anheuser-Busch beers are made for the mid-west U.S. Free tour, with free beer samples for those 21+, of one of the world's largest breweries and bottling factories, housed in beautiful red-brick buildings. The Clydesdale horses and their historic truck and stables are one of the biggest attractions on the tour, as are the brew house and packaging facility. The adjacent beer garden serves really good food and offers cheap samples of most Anheuser-Busch branded beer, from Goose Island to Hoegaarden.

Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis

This Roman Catholic church contains the most mosaic art in one site in the world—83,000 square feet, installed by a family of artists who used more than 41 million tiles with more than 7,000 colors.

7AM-5PM, daily. Mosaic Museum: M-Sa 10AM-4PM, Su noon-4PM

City Museum

For the young, the young at heart, or anyone who thinks a five-story playground made of salvaged materials sounds awesome. Don't let the name fool you; this place is a blast! The City Museum is a huge playground built in an old 11-story warehouse made largely out of architectural artifacts from around St. Louis collected by an eccentric millionaire. There are concessions inside the museum as well as bar service by local brewery Schlafy. While there are plenty of artifacts on display, it's not so much a museum as it is a collection of mazes, obstacle courses, tunnels, airplanes suspended in midair, and chutes and ladders. There's a Ferris wheel on the roof, a ten-story spiral slide, an enormous pipe organ, and lots of ways to get lost. Take care when parking; lots of nearby lots tout the "City Museum" on their signs, but only the one on the east side of 16th street (guarded by huge snake sculptures) is officially associated with the museum. Expect to stay here for 3-4 hours.

Mon-Thu 9AM-5PM, Fri Sat 9AM-midnight, Sun 11AM-5PM; closed Mon Tue in winter·$12+tax ($10+tax F-Sa after 5PM), under 2 free; roof access +$5 (weather permitting)

Citygarden

Citygarden gives kids fountains to play in and sculptures they can related to (Pinocchio, big heads, etc.); art lovers the chance to experience 24 sculptures by some of modern art's great masters (Leger, Herring, etc.); and everyone an award-winning garden in the midst of the city where you can relax and beat the heat. If you'd like to eat in the gardens, there is a cafe that is open for lunch or you can pick up something from the many takeout places nearby.

Sunrise to 10PM·Free

Contemporary Art Museum

Shares a courtyard with the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts.

Wed Sat Sun 10AM-5PM, Thu Fri 10AM-8PM, Mon Tue closed·Free

Eads Bridge

This bridge was the first to cross the Mississippi at St. Louis, the first primarily steel structure in the world, and the longest bridge in the world at completion in 1874. This overlooked landmark is worth checking out for the Eiffel Tower-like steel lattice that still holds up cars and the MetroLink. It connects to Washington Avenue, and is directly adjacent to Laclede's Landing, both are centers of St. Louis nightlife. The easiest way to access Eads Bridge is via the Laclede's Landing MetroLink stop. Well worth a walk across as one of the best places to see the sun setting with the Gateway Arch and city providing a very artistic view of the area.

Forest Park

One of the nation's largest city parks, with 1,293 acres, is open to the public for golf, tennis, baseball, bicycling, boating, fishing, handball, ice skating, in-line skating, jogging, cricket, rugby and more. The park is also home to the St. Louis Science Center, the art museum, the zoo, and a history museum, all with free admission. Forest Park is really at the heart of St. Louis. It was also the site of the 1904 Louisiana Purchase World's Fair, which lays claim to serving the first hot dogs, hamburgers, and ice cream cones. You cannot visit St. Louis without hearing about, driving by, or exploring Forest Park.

Gateway Arch

Designed by Eero Saarinen and built in 1965, this is the world's tallest national monument, built to be a symbolic gateway to the West. The icon of the city, the Arch is right on the bank of the Mississippi and offers an inspiring sight to travelers coming in from Illinois. There's a gift shop and a confectionery, as well as an inspiring film called "Monument to the Dream," about the building of the Arch; it is an exceptionally well-made and memorable tribute to how a vision was made tangible. But the main attraction is the Journey to the Top; you'll ride a unique tram/elevator—essentially a cross between a cable railway and a Ferris wheel—up either the north or south leg to the top of the arch, where you can see for dozens of miles into Illinois and Missouri. The cars are very small; they hold five very close friends or relatives each, and are not suitable for the claustrophobic. Tickets sell out during peak season; expect a long wait on major summer holidays to go to the top.

Summer: 8AM-10PM daily; fall, winter, spring: 9AM-6PM daily (last tram 1 hr before closing)·Entry only (incl film): adults $3, under 16 free; Journey to the Top (incl entry and film): adults $10, ages 3-15 $5

Gateway Arch National Park

A large park with plenty of big lawns, wooded areas, and a few ponds. The park and the nearby parking garage are closed for renovation; however, the arch remains open.

Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum

It has been voted the best museum in St. Louis by the Riverfront Times. One of the world's finest university art collections, it is also the oldest art museum west of the Mississippi River—it was founded in 1881. It is now housed in a new facility designed by Pritzker Prize winning architect, Fumihiko Maki. Among the permanent collection are pieces by Pablo Piccasso, Rembrandt, Max Ernst, Jackson Pollock, Robert Rauschenberg, Juan Gris, Alexander Calder, and a separate department dedicated to currency called the Newman Money Museum.

Mon, Wed-Sun 11AM-5PM, Tue closed·Free

Missouri Botanical Garden

You will never believe that you are in the middle of a very urban scene when you step behind the walls of this site. A place of serenity, beauty, and relaxation amid the bustle of the city, the Missouri Botanical Garden is open every day except Christmas Day (Dec 25). Stroll the grounds, explore the home gardening resources, or enjoy one of the many events throughout the year. This is a "must see." One of the main features is the Climatron, a very large geodesic dome that houses a good portion of the Garden's 80 acres of horticultural offerings. 2006 featured hundreds of glass sculptures around the park by glass artist Chihuly.

9AM-5PM daily·$8; children 12 and under free

Missouri History Museum

Features a life size replica of Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis. Permanent exhibits include the 1904 Worlds Fair which celebrates the Louisiana Purchase Exhibition held in St. Louis; Collected, an ever evolving exhibit showcasing the holdings of the Missouri Historical Society; and St. Louis Sound Reprise which shares St. Louis' history in the evolution of music.

Tue-Wed 10AM-5PM, Thu 10AM-8PM, Fri-Sun 10AM-5PM; Closed Mondays·Free

National Museum of Transportation

Train and trolley rides, guided tours, boxcar boutique. Rail and transit collections encompass more than 190 major exhibits, ranging from an 1833 Boston & Providence Railroad passenger coach and the largest successful steam locomotive ever built to a 6,600-hp, two-engine Union Pacific diesel #6944 (“Centennial”) built in 1971. Other collections include road and air travel.

Sep-Feb: Wed-Sun 9AM-4PM, Mar-Aug: daily 9AM-4PM·Adult $16, senior/military $14, child 2-12 $8 (includes trolley rides when operating)

Old Cathedral

Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France

The first cathedral built west of the Mississippi River (1834), this is the only building that was spared when the park was constructed. It's still an active Roman Catholic basilica.

Old Courthouse

The site of the historic Dred Scott slavery case which was one of the seeds of the Civil War. While the Park is under construction, you can buy tickets to the arch here. The Courthouse also holds exhibits from the now-closed Museum of Westward Expansion, which used to be underneath the Arch.

Free

Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts

Experience modern art in a stunning avant-garde structure. A permanent installation titled Joe by Richard Serra is large enough for visitors to walk through and experience first-hand. The uber-modern concrete building was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Tadao Ando.

Wed Sat 10AM-5PM, Thu Fri 10AM-8PM·Free

Saint Louis Art Museum

SLAM

It's one of the leading comprehensive art museums in the nation. It hosts visiting displays which in the past have included such exhibits as the Angels of the Vatican and the Royal Tombs of Ur. Admission to main ticketed exhibits are free on Fridays.

Tue–Thu, Sat-Sun 10AM–5PM, Fri 10AM-9PM; Closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas·Free

Saint Louis Science Center

SLSC

A fun, hands-on science museum. Equipped with an IMAX Dome theater, a planetarium, floors of interactive activities, and several traveling exhibits, the Science Center has something for everyone (though the majority is geared solidly toward the under-12 set; older teens and adults will find the exhibits somewhat elementary). The museum is actually just south of Forest Park; the planetarium, however, is within the park itself, and an enclosed walkway above I-64 connects the two.

Mon-Sat 9:30AM-4:30PM, Sun 11AM-4:30PM·Base admission is free; parking $10; extra fee for planetarium, IMAX shows, and special exhibits

Saint Louis Zoo

Recognized as one of the top five zoos in the nation. The zoo has both indoor and outdoor exhibits. There are several centers for in depth exploration and learning.

9AM-5PM daily·Free; fees charged for certain attractions

St. Louis Union Station

This 110-year-old National Historic Landmark has been restored and redeveloped as a dynamic mixed-use project that includes shopping, dining and entertainment. For history buffs, this is where the classic photo of Harry Truman holding the incorrect "DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN" newspaper was taken.

Wainwright Building

Designed by Louis Sullivan and built in 1890, it is one of the world's first skyscrapers. Its current occupant is the Missouri Secretary of State.

Chain of Rocks Bridge (pedestrian and bicycle)

Clark Bridge

sometimes called the "Super Bridge"

Jefferson Barracks Bridge

MacArthur Bridge (railroad)

Martin Luther King Bridge

informally the "MLK Bridge"

McKinley Bridge

Merchants Bridge (railroad)

New Chain of Rocks Bridge

Poplar Street Bridge