ExplorE The Westward Expansion
Special St. Louis Attractions & Activities
Below is an emoji guide for quick reference of different types of activities:
Below is an emoji guide for quick reference of different types of activities:
🌟 Must see & unique St. Louis attractions
🧒 Kid- or family-friendly
🍻 Adult focused
🏨 Near the wedding hotel
✅ Wedding weekend activities (optional)
The St. Louis Cardinals + Busch Stadium + Historical Baseball
No matter who you root for, baseball is a deeply-rooted historical and cultural phenomenon in St. Louis. If the Cardinals make the playoffs, you might be able to catch a game while you’re in town. There's also Busch Stadium Tours available or you can explore Baseball Village next to the park and several historical baseball fields around St. Louis.
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Forest Park
About 500 acres larger than New York’s Central Park, Forest Park was home to the 1904 World’s Fair. It is home to the St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis Art Museum, Missouri History Museum, Jewel Box greenhouse, Science Center, and the Muny Opera, and serves as a sports center.
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The St. Louis Arch
Explore the Museum of Westward Expansion with an extensive collection of historical artifacts, then ride a train of giant egg cars to the top and look down upon the mighty Mississippi River.
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The St. Louis Zoo
One of America's best zoos -- which also happens to be free -- is home to more than 18,000 exotic animals, many of them rare and endangered.
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Explore more than 700 exhibits, the OMNIMAX Theater, James S. McDonnell Planetarium, and special traveling exhibitions.
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The Magic House
A hands-on children’s museum that offers something for everyone, no matter your age. This fun-filled attraction offers kids many hands-on learning activities and provides a special area for younger children.
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Budweiser Brewery Tours
The free guided tour through the 169-year-old brewery features the historic Budweiser Clydesdale stable and extraordinary architecture. Anyone 21 years of age or older can sample A-B products after the tour.
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Built as the Fine Arts Palace of the 1904 World’s Fair, collections include works of art from virtually every culture and time period.
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Ride or die in this museum honoring 2-wheeled choppers featuring a collection of rare & vintage European motorcycles.
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Jazz St. Louis
An intimate jazz performance space with cabaret seating, as well as a full restaurant with an American menu with Southern accents. During the wedding weekend, the 17-time Grammy nominated, Yellowjackets, will be performing.
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Ellen Clark Sculpture Park
This hybrid sculpture park and dog park was voted St. Louis' Best Dog Park in 2020 and is a must-see if you're bringing your 4-legged friend with you.
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Pulitzer Center for the Arts
Presenting contemporary and historic art in dialogue with its celebrated Tadao Ando building, PCAF exhibitions and programs inspire new ideas and perspectives.
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Missouri Botanical Garden
Founded in 1859 with 79 acres of scenic landscaping and historic structures, don’t miss the Climatron tropical rain forest, the Japanese Garden, Seiwa-en, and founder Henry Shaw’s Victorian home.
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Laumeier Scuplture Park
This 150-acre, open-air museum park features more than 80 contemporary sculptures and lush wilderness in the city.
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Circus Flora
A local circus troupe that hosts themed performances in the vein of Cirque du Soleil will host, "The Trial of the Century" performance scheduled to open in October --just in time for the wedding! It's going to be a court-themed mystery performance and not to be missed!
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Left Bank Books
Founded in 1969, Left Bank Books is a long-standing, community hub for events and bibliophile addictions in the buzzing Central West End neighborhood.
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The World Chess Hall of Fame
A really interesting and unique secret in St. Louis offering world-class exhibitions that explore the connection of chess to art, culture, and history.
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Turtle Park
On the Southside of Forest Park there's a playground of giant turtles sculpted by Bob Cassilly, the sculptor and founder of Tthe City Museum (our wedding venue).
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Cherokee Antique Row
Explore dozens of funky antique and specialty shops spanning a six-block area.
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Laclede's Landing Wax Museum
Check out more than 250 live-size wax figures. If 250 wax figures weren't scary enough, there's a "Chamber of Horrors" section.
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City Garden
An urban sculpture park located in downtown St. Louis offering an oasis of more than 20 pieces of free interactive art, fountains, and gardens.
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Cathedral Basilica
See the world’s largest collection of glass mosaics. And Jesus.
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Contemporary Museum of Art
This internationally recognized museum features changing exhibits of today’s most innovative art.
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The Miniature Museum
of St. Louis
What is this, a Museum for Ants? Yes, yes it is. Very small things are here.
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The Delmar Loop
A century ago, streetcars from downtown “looped around” to return to the city, which gave the area its name. The Loop is home to Blueberry Hill, Tivoli Movie Theatre, The Pageant, and the St. Louis Walk of Fame.
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Grant's Farm
This Busch family estate was once owned by Ulysses S. Grant. See animal shows, a petting area, and take a tram ride through the wildlife preserve.
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Lemp Brewery Haunted Neighborhood Tour
It will be October, so how could we not include something haunted or scary? Join the St. Louis Paranormal Research Society exploring one of "America's Most Haunted Neighborhoods" with paranormal investigator, Dr. Mark Farley, as he shares the lesser-known history of the haunted Lemp Mansion and Brewery.
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Lumiere Place
If you're into gambling, Lumiere Place is on the Northside of downtown. They don't have the 'loosest slots' like some other places in STL, but they will happily take your money for a shot at the jackpot.
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Explore St. Louis' Unique Cuisine + Dining Options
Below we've highlighted a handful of unique St. Louis foods, as well as a range of restaurants at different price points for you to explore. There's also more dining options near the hotel called out in the next section below.
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Imo's Pizza
Who would have thought pizza would be contentious, but Imo's "St. Louis Style" pizza is. It's very non-traditional: thin crust (like cracker thin), square cut with a unique processed cheese called Provel. It's worth a try for the St. Louis experience!
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Toasted Ravioli
Breaded. Deep fried. Ravioli. This is a St. Louis staple and it's served at many different locations throughout the city (here's 5 great ones). If you love fried, breaded, meaty, cheesy things, T-Ravs will be your jam. They're served with tomato jam also (aka marinara sauce).
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Blackthorn Pizza
Serving Chicago-style deep dish pizza with a spicy sauce in a classic neighborhood family-friendly pub setting. This is a genuine family neighborhood pizzeria-pub experience.It takes an hour to cook, so call in your order ahead of time or plan to relax and stay a while.
(BTW: This is Will's favorite pizza in the world. If wedding registries allowed pizza, it would be on it.)
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Pi Pizzeria
Chicago native and former President Barak Obama, picked Pi as his favorite deep dish pizza even though it's from St. Louis (and even had the head chef come to The White House to prepare it) and it kinda sent Chicago residents into a tizzy. (Will: It's good, but it's not Blackthorn good.)
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Gooey Butter Cake
A flaky, sweet, buttery, fudge-y, brownie-like dense yellow cake, GBC is a St. Louis original that comes in many flavors and is available many places. Park Ave Coffee is an excellent local option with a few locations and has more than 70+ flavors.
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Sen Thai
Asian fusion and sushi on Washington Ave Downtown serves magically delicious drunken noodles and cashew nut noodles.
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Ted Drew's
St. Louis' most famous frozen custard stand serves "concrete" which is called that because it's so thick and can be flipped upside down and not spill out. It's a bit gimmicky, but delicious.
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St. Paul Sandwich
A weird St. Louis original: crispy-brown fried egg foo yong patty served between slices of white bread, with a slathering of mayonnaise, a leaf of iceberg lettuce, sliced tomatoes and dill pickles. Served at the original Fortune Express.
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A local BBQ group that has expanded rapidly focusing on smoked meats and sauce with an impressive line of options for the Bourbon-type sauce behind the bar. Try the jalapeño bologna, it's tasty if you like spicy, meaty, cheesy food.
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St. Louis Bread Company
Founded in St. Louis in the 1980s, the St. Louis Bread Company is known the larger world as the brobdingnagian bread bowl bakery, Panera Bread Company. The fast-casual hipsters declare that they broke asiago cheese bagels first in St. Louis.
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Red Hot Riplets
Hot barbecue potato chips with ridges that are a St. Louis favorite. They gained global notoriety with the iconic Pulitzer Prize winning tear gas throwing photo from Robert Cohen taken during the 2014 Ferguson protests.
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Tin Roof
A lively live-music party bar and restaurant in the shadow of the St. Louis Cardinals Stadium serving Southern style food.
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Eleven Eleven Mississippi
Bistro serving Californian cuisine with a wine emphasis in a stylish renovated-factory space.
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The Lucky Apprentice
One of St. Louis' new, hot restaurants featuring an innovative menu and a boisterous and convivial atmosphere.
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Brasserie by Niche
French brasserie fare at dinner/weekend brunch in classic digs with a wall of windows to the street.
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Sidney Street Cafe
A fine dining melting pot of innovative New American cuisines in an elegant Benton Park space.
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Food & Drink Near the Angad Hotel
All these restaurants and bars are located within about a mile of the official wedding hotel in St. Louis' "Grand Arts District" or Midtown
👩🍳 or🍹 Scale of deliciousness from 1-5 emojis 🏨 Near Angad hotel
City Foundry Food Hall
A brand-new, airy and eclectic venue offering dozens of different cuisines from African to Waffles. Not far from the official wedding hotel too!
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Vito's Sicilian Pizzeria & Ristorante
Italian and Sicilian classics -- including an STL ori Toasted Ravioli -- in a welcoming family atmosphere. Also featuring a great outdoor patio space.
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The Fieldhouse
Dozens of beers on tap wash down a cornucopia of apps and sandwiches in a sporty atmosphere. Take on "Jefe's Seriously Hot Wing Challenge" eating 10 ghost pepper wings in 5 minutes to win a t-shirt. bragging rights, and intestinal trauma!
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Bulrush
Creative "Ozark" cuisine offering a 7-course tasting menu exploring food and techniques of the late 18th century and early 19th century with locally-sourced ingredients.
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Pickleman's Gourmet Cafe
Quick and easy gourmet sandwiches, salads, soups, and pizza, not far from the official wedding hotel.
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The Fountain on Locust
A bold, bumping retro diner with art deco flair, boozy (and regular) ice cream concoctions, and high-quality comfort food.
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Egg
Egg-cellent brunch featuring unborn chickens served all ways in a relaxing atmosphere in Midtown near the Angad Hotel.
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Pappy's BBQ
A world-renowned BBQ joint that's been on every Food Network show. Arrive early in the day for the best selection, as once they sell out, it's gone. Bonus: They also have a smoker named after Pokey LaFarge, an excellent St. Louis folk blues singer. Go early, or for a less-crowded option, try the sister location, Bogart's in historic Soulard.
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Small Batch Whiskey & Fare
A 1930s-chic bar & restaurant featuring a wildly long list of American whiskeys, cocktails & creative vegetarian dishes.
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Triumph Grill
American fare next to the MOTO Museum, celebrating the history of European choppers. (Not to be confused with what the insult comic dog does to celebrities.)
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Turn
A breakfast and lunch joint focused on fresh, healthy, local food to start your day nearby the Angad Hotel
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The Best Steak House
Domain-squatting, SEO geniuses founded this boastful restaurant that offers a no-frills, cafeteria-style experience. It's cheap and reviews aren't too bad.
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Retreat Gastropub
New American gastropub featuring craft beer and cocktails served in a cozy restaurant with an adjoining sunroom and sidewalk patio.
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BLK MKT Eats
Gigantic burrito-sized sushi rolls, wonton nachos, and poke bowls await you at this funk Asian-inspired fast casual restaurant.
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Narwhal's Crafted
Refreshing frozen cocktails available for sipping or to-go located near the hotel in in the Grand Arts District.
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BluePrint Coffee / High Low
Artisanal coffee served in a relaxing artistic space at the Kranzberg Art Foundation's literary arts cafe.
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St. Louis Libations, Pt. 1: Cocktails
🍹 Scale of deliciousness from 1-5 emoji cocktails
Hair of the Dog
Classic dive bar with games and good, cheap drinks in the heart of the Washington Ave district downtown.
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Polite Society
Fancy cocktails and food at a low key joint near Lafayette Square.
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Start Bar
Adult drinks and games near the baseball stadium. Kind of a college party type joint.
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Thaxton Speakeasy
Reservation-only Friday & Saturday speakeasy downtown that has a 1920s-via-the-1990s vibe.
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Planter's House
Lafayette Square creative cocktails and cuisine not far from Downtown.
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Lazy Tiger
Cozy, intimate venue for funky cocktails with emulsions, sours, and egg-based options served along with a light food menu.
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Clementine's Naughty & Nice Ice Cream
Oprah declared it the "sexiest ice cream alive! This hand crafted, small-batch creamery is known for it's booze-infused concoctions and eclectic flavors.
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Blood & Sand
Super fancy, speakeasy-feel, cocktail bar and restaurant that was formerly members only, now open to the public. Most excellent.
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Taha'a Twisted Tiki
St. Louis’ only established Tiki Bar, located in the heart of The Grove neighborhood.
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The Royale
Classy cocktails and libations in a purple neighborhood public house with a welcoming back patio.
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Taste
One of St. Louis' finest cocktail bars that also serves exceptional food.
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Flamingo Bowl
Bowling, pool, cocktails, and creative bar food await in this retro neon space on Washington Ave downtown.
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St. Louis Libations, Pt. 2: Microbreweries
After hometown brewer and cultural icon, Anheuser-Busch, was bought out by the global gargantuan juggernaut, InBev,
St. Louis exploded with microbreweries. Here are some of the best and most interesting.
🍺 Scale of deliciousness and interestingness from 1-5 beers
After hometown brewer and cultural icon, Anheuser-Busch, was bought out by the global gargantuan juggernaut, InBev,
St. Louis exploded with microbreweries. Here are some of the best and most interesting.
🍺 Scale of deliciousness and interestingness from 1-5 beers
2nd Shift Brewery
Located in the historic Italian neighborhood, The Hill, 2nd Shift offers a wide range of more than 20 beers in their taproom.
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Square One Brewery
& Distillery
A historic building in Lafayette Square that once housed an Anheuser-Busch–owned tavern and dance hall has been turned into one of the most charming brewery-distilleries in St. Louis.
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4 Hands Brewery
In the Soulard neighborhood, this brewery is commonly associated with its City Wide pale ale and pilsner, which are go-to tallboys for many locals.
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Bluewood Brewery
Located in the former stables of the historic Lemp Brewery, Bluewood is known for its high-ABV beers and barrel-aged stouts.
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Side Project Brewery
This Maplewood establishment has received high acclaim for it's oak barrel-aged lineup of saisons and wild ales.
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Rockwell Beer Co.
Composed of brightly colored shipping containers, this modern Botanical Heights brewery serves favs including Passing Clouds witbier, Byrd Up! dry-hopped rye ale, Stand By hoppy pilsner among others with a 80s retro vibe.
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Civil Life Brewery
Under renovation and expansion during the pandemic, this Tower Grove brewery should be fresh and newly open by the Fall with more space and fermented products for civil consumption.
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Modern Brewery
Best known for its popular Citrapolis, a super Citra-hopped IPA full of citrus and tropical notes
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Urban Chestnut Brewery
German-style beers and beerhall experience fill this bike-friendly microbrewery in The Grove and Midtown. Visit their Urban Research Brewery to be a beer-tester on their newest batches.
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Center Ice Brewing
This St. Louis hockey-themed brewery features wood made from the Blues former arena, local hockey fan art, and hockey stick shaped taps that serve their ales, lagers, IPAs, as well as seltzer and some seasonal experiments.
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Earthbound Beer
Funky names, flavors, and designs -- such as Midnight Mass chocolate stout or Jeff Goldplum sour -- pepper this newer microbrewery in an old space; the Cherokee Brewing building and lagering tunnels were originally founded in 1875.
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Schlafly Bottleworks
One of the oldest St. Louis microbreweries, Schlafly also has the widest distribution outside of the region. The tour walks through the brewery and every step of the brewing process. This free tour ends with complimentary samples of several styles of Schlafly beer.
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