Top Things to do in Saint Louis
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What to do and see in Saint Louis, Missouri (MO): The Best Things to do Good for a Rainy Day
The history of St. Louis has been heavily influenced by Westward expansion and blues music. The big "must-see" in this region is the Gateway Arch, while other important sites include the Museum of Westward Expansion, the St. Louis Cathedral and the Anheuser-Busch factory tour. The city offers plenty for the whole family. Children will enjoy the local zoo and the Magic House, while family members will also want to unwind at Forest Park, home to the World's Fair almost a century ago.
Restaurants in Saint Louis
1. Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3,034 reviews
The Mother Church of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis, the superstructure of the Cathedral was built between 1907 and 1914. The Cathedral's 100th Anniversary is being celebrated in 2014. It is known for its' beautiful interior mosaics, which took nearly 80 years to create using more than 41 million pieces of glass tesserae. The Cathedral is known for having one of the largest mosaic collections in the Western Hemisphere.
Reviewed By Kat26S - Plainfield, United States
The craftsmanship, the history, the reverence of the Cathedral is so very impressive. Take the free tour! We did go to the museum downstairs, and that helps put in perspective the talents, the time, and the vision that created the mosaic masterpieces you see in the cathedral. It's an amazing place to see no matter your faith is. I've been to St. Louis multiple times and never knew about this place.
2. Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 11 reviews
One of the largest collections of flying antique planes in the country.
3. Central Public Library
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 189 reviews
Reviewed By stlflygirl99
Once voted in the top 12 architecturally significant libraries in the world. Yes, the world. A beautiful masterpiece, a must see when visiting St. Louis.
4. Powell Symphony Hall
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 162 reviews
Reviewed By 66cathyh - Saint Louis, United States
Powell Hall is a wonderfully ornate hall built to enhance your attendance at a performance of a Symphony. Attended during the daytime and was pleasantly surprised to have complementary coffee and donuts available. I need to arrive earlier the next visit there just to admire the building!
5. Campbell House Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 152 reviews
Since opening on February 6, 1943, the Campbell House Museum has served the greater St. Louis area as one of America's premier historic property museums. The Museum not only preserves the Campbell's house, but also their collection of original furniture, fixtures, paintings, objects and thousands of pages of family documents. Included in these documents is a unique album of 60 photographs of the interior of the house taken in about 1885. In 2005 the Museum completed a meticulous five-year restoration that returned the building to its opulent 1880s appearance, when the house was one of the centers of St. Louis society.
Reviewed By stlflygirl99
I just love the elegance and charm of this Victorian mansion. All of the rooms are renovated and decorated in the period. Also, love the garden area. A lot of history, a must see.
6. The Fabulous Fox Theatre
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 864 reviews
The Fabulous Fox Theatre first opened in 1929 as a movie palace in William Fox's motion picture empire. The theatre was reopened in 1982, and today it is one of the most exquisite venues in the country to enjoy live touring Broadway shows, concerts, and comedians. We hope you'll visit us for an upcoming show or one of our guided tours!
Reviewed By LDHtraveler - Belleville, United States
We went to the Fox Theatre to see Diana Ross. I hadn’t been to the Fox Theatre since I was a kid, so I was a little excited about going and taking my wife for the first time. If you have never been, you’re missing a beautiful venue. The Fox is old style glamour at it’s finest. The Diana Ross concert was great as she sang all the favorites from her career. Now granted she’s not 30 anymore and she had to accommodate for the lack of range, but she did put on a show. Seeing people of every ethnic group having a good time was fun. Now we sat down on the left side on roll G and were a little disappointed in the sound quality. I think we were to close to the speakers. But still had a great time. Traffic before the concert was a mess as road construction played havoc with people trying to get close. All in all as guy from St Louis I’m proud to have the Fox Theatre as part of my home.
7. Holocaust Museum and Learning Center
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 85 reviews
Reviewed By williamsC709BO - Belleville, United States
As generations succeed one another, a knowledge and reverence of the Holocaust is paramount, less history repeats itself. As an advocate that has toured Dachau (later learned my Grandfather was the 2nd wave in liberation of Dachau), and visited other Holocaust Museums in Europe and the US, this Museum and Learning Center is vibrant with research, first hand accounts, and exhibits. What I like best is, it's just not about the past. They also have an ethos to educate about their causes and illustrating how what happened during this tragic period relates to our lives today. They way the see it, while learning Holocaust history is the key to understanding its roots, they have another duty: to empower visitors to make the world a kinder, safer, more tolerant place by rejecting all forms of hate, intolerance, racism, and bigotry. Amen.
8. Jefferson Barracks Telephone Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 104 reviews
The Jefferson Barracks Telephone Museum is housed in a beautifully restored 1896 building that is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is located in the 426-acre historic Jefferson Barracks Park which is a 15-minute drive south of downtown Saint Louis. The self-guided, accessible museum has many hands-on, how-things-work displays. In addition to the extensive collection of telephones manufactured from the 1800s through 2000s, the museum also contains: • A working Central Office Step Switch. • Operator switchboards. • Military telephones from WWI through the Gulf War. • Hundreds of pieces of telephone-related equipment and tools. • Hundreds of pieces of telephone-related memorabilia from the 1880s through the 2000s. • A large variety of novelty telephones. Admission: $5 Adults, $4 Seniors; $3 Children ages 5 to 12; Free Children ages 4 and under. Free parking is available directly behind the museum.
Reviewed By curiouser1228 - Cahokia, United States
We love going to smaller museums that are more focused in their presentation. It is small but packed with artifacts and documentation. Carol, the volunteer docent, gave us a marvelous guided tour and explained everything is a really entertaining and understandable way. She was patient with all of the questions that my husband had and spent quite a lot of time with us. She is super knowledgeable and obviously loves being there. The other woman who was volunteering (I unfortunately didn't get her name) was also wonderful and friendly. It was a wonderful way to spend the morning and I am sure that we will go back. Highly recommended!
9. City Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,515 reviews
Don't take the name so literally. We're about fun. Not your white walls, walk around, and be quiet museum. If you want to climb around, get active with your kids or are a big kid at heart, we're the place. If you get freaked out easily, you might not want to come. We're four floors filled with miles of tunnels, a full cave system, over 30 slides, a circus, an arts area, a large outdoor climbing space, Architectural Museum, a Cabin that serves adult beverages, a Museum of Mayhem, Mirth and Mystery, and a ton more. Also, there's the roof with a Ferris Wheel and a bus hanging off its edge.
Reviewed By dachellek
City Museum is a must for anyone traveling to St. Louis! It's great for all ages and everyone!! Make sure you rest up and plan on spending the majority of your day here so you can explore the caves, the slides, the aquarium, the indoor skate park, the circus, the oddities, and everything else the museum has for you! There's plenty to do here all times of the year but you can really experience the fun of the outside attractions during the warmer months. This really is one of the best attractions in St. Louis. Oh, and if you're planning to really be active, wear jeans and maybe bring some knee pads.
10. The Magic House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,283 reviews
This fun-filled attraction offers kids many hands-on learning activities and provides a special area for younger children.
Reviewed By sgisme
Took my grandson to the Magic House and we had a great time! He had a ball, loved playing with digging equipment, playing in the bubble room, putting on the Blues gear and well he loved everything. Can’t wait to go back, we purchased a yearly pass and he now asks his parents to go all the time. Great time for kids and family.
