Explore

A hole in the wall in South City, Sinkhole Bar is the best spot for punk in town.

Six Flags and their sister waterpark. Go for Fright Fest in October for additional scares in the form of haunted houses. Pro Tip: If you want to avoid the lines and support St. Louis Children’s Hospital, go for Children’s Hospital Night — tickets for the event are pricey, but you get dinner, a t-shirt, and unlimited, lineless coaster rides (they only sell 3,600 tickets).

Held in downtown Clayton each September, just off the Clayton MetroLink stop. Buy some drinks and local eats at the food tents before strolling the 170 tents exhibiting independent and emerging artists from around the country.

Don’t miss out when the acclaimed St. Louis Symphony leaves their post downtown at Powell Hall to play a free concert under the stars on Art Hill each September. Pack a picnic, wine, and a blanket, and cozy up with your friends while the sunsets on an early September evening. Last year, the evening culminated in fireworks. Pro tip: Rent a paddle boat from the Boathouse and paddle down the reservoir to the stage, enjoying the show from the water (bring a camping light).

At Powell Symphony Hall to see the jazz great Wynton Marsalis and his Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra perform their holiday set.

A beautiful white, gold, and red velvet concert hall (a former vaudeville theater), Powell Hall is home to the internationally recognized and Grammy Award-winning St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (the nation’s second oldest orchestra!). Classical music not your thing? Consider bringing your date to one of their movie nights (The Empire Strikes Back and Harry Potter have been recent showings); they project the movie on a large screen and the orchestra plays the score as the movie progresses. The building is rumoured to be haunted by a ghost named George, who plays with the lights and elevators. Don’t miss their free concert in Forest Park, held every September since 1968 — it’s an incredible event.

Visit the otters and sharks at the St. Louis Aquarium.

Zip line through the Ropes Course.

Ride the St. Louis Wheel.

“Once one of the busiest railroad stations in the country, Union Station has gone through a renovation to become a shopping and entertainment complex. It now houses our brand new St. Louis Aquarium (13,000 animals, 257 species, and a 250,000-gallon shark tank), a minigolf course, mirror maze, ropes course with SkyRail, carousel and a 200-ft., climate-controlled ferris wheel! Starting in 2022, the new Major League Soccer arena will be located right next door.” 

Looking to splurge on a getaway while still sticking around? Here are some hotel options worth checking out (keep a lookout for discounts because prices swing widely): Moonrise Hotel, The Cheshire, the Four Seasons, Lumiere Place, the Chase Park Plaza, Hotel St. Louis, the Inn at St. Albans, the Ritz-Carlton.

Bands, musicals, and nationally touring stand-up comics appear at the newly renovated Stifel Theatre downtown.

Originally located downtown, the Black Rep now performs in the Edison Theater on WashU’s Danforth Campus. It is the largest professional African-American theatre company in the nation!

This outdoor venue in the back of Atomic Cowboy brings in a wide variety of quality acts (reggae, jam bands, folk, bluegrass, rock, and electronic), and the backyard ambiance can’t be beat.

Patrick W.’s pet golden retreivers take a break on the Arch grounds.

“Situated along the west bank of the Mississippi River is the Gateway Arch, a 630-foot tall catenary arch that symbolizes America’s westward expansion. The Museum of Westward Expansion, located at the base, features displays on the construction of the Arch and life in the 1800s. Also, take a four-minute tram ride (which includes a short documentary film) up to the top — you can see 30 miles away on a clear day! The museum is free and the Tram Ride to the Top is $12-16.” 

The St. Louis Municipal Opera Theatre, aka The Muny (pronounced “myoo-knee”), is a beautiful outdoor amphitheater in the heart of Forest Park. It seats 11,000 people, and offers 1,500 free seats at each performance (show up early to take advantage of that first come, first served offer, though ticket prices range from expensive to quite affordable). Each year, the season of musicals they perform runs from June to August. Pack a picnic to enjoy in the side yard before the performance, which starts at dusk. Check their website for musical schedule and ticketing.

Independent and locally owned venue bringing in both national and local acts.

The Pageant

The Pageant is the largest of a variety of Joe Edwards’ Loop-based music venues. They bring in big music acts and well-known stand-up comics. Popular shows sell out, so get on their mailing list if you don’t want to miss out.

The Ready Room attracts many touring indie acts as well as some smaller pop artists.

Don’t miss this. There are a number of winery regions on the outskirts of St. Louis, some with a higher winery density than others. If it’s your first visit, the Augusta area wineries are the easiest to get to and are usually quite lively, but the Hermann wineries are also worth checking out (and reachable by Amtrak for $20; once you get there, take the Hermann Trolley to the wineries for $20/day). It’s best to go any time the weather is tolerable, as most wineries are predominantly an outdoor experience, with pretty views and live music (check their websites for music schedules). Plan ahead and pick wineries that are near each other. Some recommendations include: Blumenhof, Chandler Hill, Montelle, Noboleis, Augusta Winery, Cedar Lake Cellars, and Stone Hill.

Live cover bands and a debaucherous scene. Close to Ballpark Village, so it’s an ideal option for pre- or post-Cardinals game.

Think bowling but golf. A bit of a drive to the western edges of West County, but totally worth it.

Held in front of the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park on Tuesdays in September. Bring food and seating, or buy food at the local food trucks. Music styles vary but usually include some jazz and Motown.

This interesting, eclectic bar is covered top to bottom in mosaics, and features funky art and sculptures. Rotating local acts of varying music styles play almost every night of the week. The schedule is available on their website. If you’re a Grateful Dead fan, check out local favorite Jake’s Leg.

Enjoy local bands under the stars, surrounded by the smells of summer flowers. Held at the gorgeous Missouri Botanical Garden every Wednesday from May to August. Music begins at 7 p.m. and the last entry is 8:30 p.m. You can pack a picnic and blankets, or purchase food and drinks there (just limit glass).