I'll be in St Louis Wed-Mon March 17-22, mostly for the NCAA wrestling championships Thu-Sat, but also to fit in as much low-budget sightseeing as I can. Any recommendations? I love rivers. Is there a good place to sit and watch the Missouri/Missippi flow together? Are there any interesting old historical neighborhoods or nice places to just walk around and soak up the local vibe? Gay neighborhoods / bookstores? I'm not particularly interested in bars or nightlife, but if anyone could recommend a good hole-in-the-wall blues club I'd be greatful. What should I be sure to eat? Is there a St Louis equivalent of Maine's lobstah or Boston's "scrod" or Philadelphia's cheese steak or Maryland's crabcakes? Barbecue maybe? Any Mom'n'Pop recommendations? And, how do you pronounce St Louis? And do they have "r"s there? Thanks...

[ March 01, 2004, 09:48 AM: Message edited by: Roy Robertson ]

I'm sure some of our St. Louis guys will chime in, but until they do...

I don't know about a spot to see both the Missouri&Mississippi, but the Gateway Arch is right on the river front, and is a very pleasant area to hang out. You really should ride to the top of the arch. It's a great spot to view the city and the river. Right next to the arch on the river front is Laclede's Landing, a historic warehouse district, now an entertainment district - night clubs, restaurants, etc.

For low-budget sight-seeing, go to the downtown Union Station for free. It was (and maybe still is) the largest adaptive re-use project in the country. The building is beautifully restored, and huge historic train shed is nicely adapted as a shopping mall and hotel, with a park-like setting.

Another free thing (at least it was free 10 years ago) if you have the time, is Grant's Farm. You should make a reservation, and plan a few hours. It's a mini-zoo and tour of the historic farmstead, owned & operated by Anheuser-Busch. They have a stable of Clydesdales there.

St. Louis has great parks. One of them, I think it was Tower Park, has several historic, fanciful architectural "follies" throughout. Then there is the huge park (can't remember the name) where the 1903 World's Fair was held.

Have fun!

[ March 01, 2004, 09:23 AM: Message edited by: maxallen ]

Thanks maxallen, those all sound great. I've marked them on my map.

I was born there. Saint Louisans say "SAIN LEW-IS." (No "t," and the English, not the French pronunciation of the Patron Saint.) Some people add the extra "r's"--("Warshington", etc.).

The Ed Jones and Pat Jones Park (I'm not sure if it's open yet) is where the Mississippi and Missouri rivers connect--north of the Missouri is St. Charles, south is St. Louis County (and the city of Florissant, which has lots of old French and Catholic sites to see), east is Alton, Illinois.

St. Louis used to be known for "shoes, blues, and booze." Well, the booze--beer--part is still happening, so you could sample beer from Anheuser-Busch's brewery, as well as the Schlafly Tap Room (not Phyllis Schlafly's son, but the family is very prominent in the area), which is a highly-regarded microbrewery. It's near or at Union Station, which is another historic spot.

More sites in the Lou:

• -BUSCH STADIUM, home of the St. Louis Cardinals (need I say more???)
  -The SAINT LOUIS ARCH (you probably already considered this one--it's a natural)
  -Forest Park (where so many of the things below are located, including the Jewel Box)
  -The St. Louis Art Museum (exceptional collection of Asian, German and American art)
  -Soulard District (the still-standing French quarter of the city--they just had Mardi Gras--a real one--area dates from around 1780 or so)
  -Missouri Botanical Garden (oldest in the US and one of the best in the world)
  -Tower Grove Park (pretty Victorian-style park)
  -Pulitzer Foundation (incredible modern art collection in a beautiful avant-garde museum--but the hours are very restricted)
  -Central West End (lots of bars, clubs, etc.--this was the gay district when I was growing up)
  -Delmar District & the famous LOOP (in University City, not far from Washington University--lots of bars, clubs, etc.--St. Louis Walk of Fame is here, with all kinds of famous St. Louisans having stars, from T. S. Eliot to Shelley Winters to Redd Foxx to Chuck Berry)
  -Scott Joplin House
  -The Old Cathedral of St. Louis (the oldest west of the Mississippi)
  -Washington University (one of the best in the world, with a great art museum, and especially if you're an architecture buff, since some its main buildings were part of the 1904 World's Fair (100 years ago!)
  -Opera Theater of St. Louis at Loreto-Hilton, Webster University (since you're an opera buff)
  -Historic Chatillon-de Menil House (one of the old French homes from the early colonial period)
  -Laclede's Landing (the entertainment district right down on the river, and you can hear live music and have a good time)
  -Contemporary Art Museum of St. Louis (I've never seen it but heard the praise--it's brand new)
  -Laumeier Sculpture Park (if you have a car and can drive out to St. Louis County, it's worth seeing)
  -Missouri wineries (in Augusta, Hermann and St. Genevieve, Missouri--the wine is pretty good)
  -various gambling casino boats on the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers
  -Tony's (outstanding restaurant)
  -Ted Drewes in South St. Louis (delicious frozen custard)
  -Bevo Mill (famous German restaurant in South St. Louis)

And if you're so disposed, you could also try many of the other French and early Missouri historical sites, as well as the religious sites (since St. Louis is a major Catholic region, and has some of the oldest Lutheran and Episcopalian churches west of the Mississippi), as well as the Bowling Hall of Fame, Grant's Farm (owned by the Busch family, but probably really for kids), the St. Louis Zoo, McDonnell Science Center, the MUNY Opera (which features lots of schlock, but outdoors in the summer), the American Kennel Club Museum (if you're a dog lover), the Transportation Museum (in the county), Faust Park (which has historical homes from Missouri's colonial history, the incredible Butterfly House, and other attractions), Bellefontaine and Calvary Cemeteries (if you're into cemetaries--lots of famous people are buried there), the Meramec Caverns, and so much more....

[ March 01, 2004, 10:26 AM: Message edited by: fantomas ]