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GLBT Travel Top 10

For the sake of time and space, here’s a Top Ten List of not-to-be-missed St. Louis sites, activities and events:

Art and Architecture: The Gateway Arch is St. Louis’ internationally recognized symbol, and you can visit Eero Saarinen’s stainless steel wonder for a 630-foot-high tram ride to the top. St. Louis architectural "firsts" include the Wainwright Building, Louis Sullivan’s original skyscraper; the Eads Bridge, the first steel truss bridge to span the Mississippi River; and the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Climatron, a geodesic dome developed by R. Buckminster Fuller that houses a tropical rainforest. You can wander by the Victorian "painted ladies" homes in the Lafayette Square neighborhood or tour a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed dwelling in West County. Explore the historic homes of turn-of-the-century railroad magnates, fur traders and beer barons or marvel at the world’s largest collection of mosaic art within the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. Visit City Museum, an old shoe factory transformed into an artsy warehouse of recycled wonders, and view the contents of the Beaux Arts-style Saint Louis Art Museum. There’s also the ultra modern Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis and the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts, which sharp-eyed readers of GQ magazine will recognize as one of GQ’s Top 25 Guide to The Most Important and Beautiful Structures in America. And Laumeier Sculpture Park offers a pastoral, outdoor setting for works by top international contemporary artists.
Fabulous Food: St. Louis’ resurgent restaurant scene serves up treats for the taste buds and a host of hot new eateries and classic dining spots. Foodies can find everything from St. Louis’ classic Italian fare to Nuevo Latino to New American cuisine. With hundreds of one-of-a-kind restaurants, you’re sure to find just what you’re craving. Choose a cozy sidewalk café in the chic Central West End neighborhood or enjoy a freshly micro brewed beer and some high-end pub grub on Laclede’s Landing. Classic French cuisine is often served with a side of cabaret style drag shows at Chez Leon and breakfast, lunch and dinner can be had at the "Oh, My Darlin’ Café" located at Clementine’s. Clementine’s is a Soulard neighborhood hot spot that is the oldest gay bar west of the Mississippi. Check our restaurant section for more dining options.
Incredibly Good Theatre: St. Louis has a variety of live theater options, ranging from edgy, contemporary works to traditional classics. The hottest Broadway touring shows shine at the elaborate Fox Theatre, and the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis’ stages an inventive season mixed with shows like "Take Me Out" and "Witness for the Prosecution." The renowned Opera Theatre of Saint Louis performs famous works like "The Barber of Seville" sung in English, and the annual St. Louis Shakespeare Festival serves up The Bard’s best in the lush environs of Forest Park. The St. Louis Black Rep electrifies audiences with an eclectic assortment of comedy, drama and musicals, while the Muny Opera in Forest Park showcases Broadway revivals under a starry summer sky. Hot City Theatre and New Line Theatre spice up their seasons with provocative, adult, alternative musical theatre. Check out the Calendar of Events to see what’s on the boards during your visit. And, check the Tickets & Deals page for a link to "Big Thank You," a site that offers discounted tickets to various arts and culture attractions.
Nightlife: Gotta’ dance? There are plenty of places to strut your stuff in St. Louis. Head to The Grove neighborhood for karaoke and live bands at Novak’s Bar & Grill, Spot or Rainbow’s End. The Complex is the largest dance club in town and Magnolia’s features a dance floor, leather bar and cabaret drag show. In Soulard, check-out Clementine’s and The Bastille, or venture into one of the neighborhood’s numerous blues music clubs. Head to BB’s Jazz, Blues and Soups, the Broadway Oyster Bar, Hammerstone’s, 1860s Saloon and other hot spots for the soulful sound popularized in this river city. For more info on GLBT night spots visit www.gaystlouis.com.
Neighborhoods: Explore our distinct neighborhoods, including The Hill, St. Louis’ Little Italy. The Hill abounds with Italian eateries, bakeries, and specialty shops brimming with olive oils, cheeses and pastries; bocce clubs and gelaterias. Shop for furniture, vintage clothing and home décor items in the quaint shops along Cherokee Antique Row, or visit the South Grand neighborhood and its many GLBT-owned shops and eateries, ethnic groceries and restaurants. South Grand is also home to Tower Grove Park, a National Historic Landmark Victorian strolling park, which serves as the site of St. Louis’ annual Pridefest parade and events.

Wander the produce and flower stalls at Soulard Farmers Market where St. Louisans have shopped since 1779. Soulard, St. Louis’ oldest neighborhood, is home to mansard roofed brick row houses that contain private residences, music clubs, pubs and courtyard restaurants. The neighborhood celebrates its French heritage each year by hosting one of the nation’s biggest Mardi Gras celebrations and spirited events to commemorate Bastille Day.

Relax and dine in Laclede’s Landing, St. Louis riverfront entertainment district, or visit art galleries, fine restaurants and boutique shops in upscale Clayton. The Central West End, former home of playwright Tennessee Williams, has sidewalk cafes, friendly neighborhood taverns, art and antique galleries, and high-end specialty shops.

The Loop neighborhood is an eclectic area that features a cornucopia of ethnic restaurants, vintage clothing stores, used book and record shops, and a host of galleries boutiques and coffee shops. The Tivoli Theatre, an elegantly restored 1920s-era vaudeville house, specializes in art films and special-run movies, and there is always live music playing somewhere nearby. Other entertaining options include The Pageant concert nightclub, Pin-Up Bowl - a martini bar/bowling alley - and Blueberry Hill’s Duck Room, where legendary rocker Chuck Berry plays each month. The St. Louis Walk of Fame honors more than 100 favored sons and daughters with bronze stars and informational plaques embedded in the sidewalk. Famous names include such luminaries as Bob Costas, Vincent Price, John Goodman, Nelly, Kevin Kline, Phyllis Diller, Lou Brock, and Ike and Tina Turner.

Gardens and Grandeur: Opened in 1859, the Missouri Botanical Garden is the oldest public garden in the U.S., and was named one of the Top Three Public Gardens in the world. Horticultural delights include the Climatron geodesic dome’s tropical rainforest, two rose gardens, a Victorian garden complete with walk-through maze, the largest authentic Japanese garden in North America, a Chinese garden, Boxwood garden and English woodland garden. Each year, a variety of beautiful homes and gardens in St. Louis’ historic neighborhoods open their gates to visitors during area house tours. Explore the Victorian beauties of the Lafayette Square neighborhood, mansions in the Central West End, downtown’s newest loft district and the mid-19th century gems in Soulard. Check the calendar of events for dates.
Free and Easy: Did you know that St. Louis is home to more free, world-class attractions than any place in the U.S. other than Washington, DC? It’s true - many of the area’s top cultural sites are open with no general admission. The Saint Louis Art Museum, Science Center, Missouri History Museum, and the Saint Louis Zoo can all be experienced for free, along with tours of the Anheuser-Busch Brewery, and Grant’s Farm, home of the Budweiser Clydesdales’ breeding farm, two homes of President Ulysses S. Grant. There’s no charge to trace history at the Museum of Westward Expansion beneath the Gateway Arch or at the Old Courthouse, or to view the world’ largest collection of mosaic art at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. Click on the Tickets & Deals link for more savings.
Shop, shop and shop some more: With so many free St. Louis attractions, you’ll have more cash to spend on the No. 1 tourist activity: shopping. From antiques and artwork to kitschy souvenirs, there’s sure to be a shop full of it here. Visit museum stores like those at the Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis Art Museum, City Museum, and the Missouri Botanical Garden, or pay a visit to the shopper’s paradise Plaza Frontenac, the Saint Louis Galleria, St. Louis Mills, St. Louis Union Station and the Warrenton Outlet Center. Explore specialty shops and boutiques in the Kirkwood, Maplewood, Webster Groves and the Central West End neighborhoods, as well as the antique stores along Cherokee Antique Row
Pillow Talk: After a whirlwind day touring The Lou, you’ll need a comfy place to rest your head. There’s no shortage of hotels, motels, inns and B&Bs to choose from, so check out the Great Getaways deals or online room rates offered on this site. With a simple click of the mouse, you can book your room on-line, and many of the special packages include tickets to events, souvenirs or other amenities.
Offbeat St. Louis: Explore the unusual at our many offbeat sites. At the epicenter of the downtown Loft District sits City Museum, a wacky warehouse filled with recycled art, its own circus troupe, a funky aquarium, five-story indoor slides, man-made caverns, architectural artifacts and so much more. Go on "strike" at the International Bowling Hall of Fame, home to a bowling pin car and vintage bowling lanes, or go to the dogs at the American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog, which is devoted to man’s best friend. The Museum of Transportation showcases historic locomotives, aircraft, streetcars and automobiles, and you can still get your kicks on the Route 66 at the Ted Drewes Frozen Custard stand, or check out "Mother Road" memorabilia at Route 66 State Park. Adventure seekers can dive into Bonne Terre Mine, an attraction National Geographic named one of its "Top Ten Adventures." This former lead mine is flooded with clear water and operated for scuba tours by West End Diving.

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