St. Louis
The “Gateway to the West” is a thriving metropolitan area of 2.8 million people that retains the friendly character of the Midwest. The fun and culture of a big city are readily available, but living here is easy and affordable.
Here is St. Louis from Grain Inc. on Vimeo.
Forest Park
Forest Park, located adjacent to the Medical Center, is a haven for students. Home to St. Louis’ Zoo, Science Center, Art Museum and the Missouri History Museum, the park also offers public tennis courts and golf courses, an outdoor ice rink, a 12-kilometer paved trail, picnic areas, athletic fields and a system of scenic lagoons and waterways.
Sports and arts
St. Louis is a sports-minded city that enthusiastically supports Cardinals baseball and Blues hockey and a number of semi-pro teams. Many other types of entertainment also are available. The Missouri Botanical Garden offers beautiful displays year round. The St. Louis Symphony is among the country’s best, and several first-rate theater companies practice their art here. The Fox Theatre presents Broadway shows, dance performances and concerts. Blues, jazz and rock bands are hot attractions in local clubs, and a large outdoor venue draws major concerts.
Getting around
Washington University helps make getting around St. Louis easier: Full-time students are eligible to receive a free Metro pass that provides unlimited access to the entire transit system, including buses and light rail (MetroLink) that serve St. Louis City and County as well as Madison and St. Clair counties in Illinois.
Outdoor activities and travel
Outdoor activities can be found within and around the metropolitan area; bike trails line both the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, and the Ozark mountains and river valleys are perfect for backpacking, camping, fishing and canoeing. St. Louis’ central location makes exploring nearby cities easy and inexpensive.
Annual festivals
- Bark in the Park (May)
- Best of Missouri (October)
- Brewers Heritage Festival (May)
- Earth Day Festival (April)
- The Great Forest Park Balloon Race (September)
- Japanese Festival (October)
- St. Louis African Arts Festival (May)
- St. Louis Arts Fair (September)
- St. Louis International Film Festival (November)
- St. Louis Mardi Gras (February)
- St. Louis Wine Festival (September)
- Scottish Games and Cultural Festival (October)
- Shakespeare Festival (May)
- Strassenfest (August)
- Tulip Festival (April)
Attractions
Central West End: the Medical Center’s vibrant, urban and eclectic neighborhood.
City Museum: an eclectic mixture of children’s playground, funhouse, surrealistic pavilion and architectural marvel made out of unique found objects.
Forest Park: among the nation’s largest parks, with a multitude of cultureal venues and outdoor sporting facilities
Fox Theatre: offering a variety of live entertainment since 1929
Missouri Botanical Garden: the nation’s oldest botanical garden in continuous operation and a National Historic Landmark.
Muny Theatre: an outdoor musical theatre venue in Forest Park, in operation since 1917
St. Louis Symphony: among the nation’s leading symphonies, offering students $10 tickets for select performances.
St. Louis news media
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Founded in 1878 by Joseph Pulitzer, the Post-Dispatch is St. Louis’ major daily newspaper
Riverfront Times: Weekly print/online newspaper with an urban vibe, heavy on entertainment coverage
Sauce Magazine: St. Louis’ award-winning metro-area culinary and entertainment magazine and guide.
St. Louis sports
St. Louis Cardinals: St. Louis’ professional baseball team
St. Louis Blues: St. Louis’ professional hockey team
More information
St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission website