St. Louis Must-Sees

There are a few places in St. Louis that absolutely must be viewed during any visit to the city. You can probably visit all of them in one action packed day, but spreading these attractions out throughout your vacation will give you a chance to enjoy them more. Some tours stop at these attractions, but self guided tours should visit each one.

The Gateway Arch
The Gateway Arch is undoubtedly the most popular attraction in all of St. Louis. It is also the tallest national monument in the United States, standing an amazing 630 ft. tall. Constructed between February of 1963 and October 1965, building the Arch was no easy task. All surveying work was done at night to avoid discrepancies caused by the sun. Accuracy was very important because there was a 1/64 inch margin of error when building the Arch. Traveling to the top of the Arch is the most popular thing to do while visiting, but there are plenty of other activities available at the Riverfront Gateway Arch. You could tour the Museum of Westward Expansion or take in a movie about America's history inside the base of the Arch. When you are through there you could grab a ride on one of the riverboats located right outside the Arch on the Missouri River. The Arch is not an activity to be rushed through, with all of its myriad activities you could easily spend an entire day there.

St. Louis Zoo
With 90 acres and over 5,000 animals in residence, the St. Louis Zoo is huge facility! Another wonderful perk of visiting the zoo is that it is completely free. With animals ranging from bats to elephants, you can safely be assured that your favorite critter is probably in residence. The zoo is also full of fun activities for the kids. They can take a ride on the Mary Ann Lee Conservation Carousel or grab a ride on the Zooline Railroad. And make sure to save time to see the hilarious sea lion show, it will knock your socks off!

Anheuser-Busch Brewery
Another of St. Louis' well known attractions is the large Anheuser-Busch Brewery. It is, in fact, the largest of Anheuser-Busch's 12 breweries. Tours are free and take place almost daily. Through the tour you can visit several different buildings and even take part in taste tests (if you are of age, of course!). Some buildings that you will see include historic buildings from the original brewery, the brewhouse, aging cellars, and finally, the packaging plant. On the tour you will also be able to view the world famous Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales in their stables and paddock. Be sure to check out the gift shop at the end of your tour for tons of Anheuser-Busch memorabilia!