Drive Through Holiday Lights in St Louis City

Winterfest at Kiener Plaza

As of now, it seems like the details for Winterfest at Kiener Plaza are still being hashed out. It appears that this is going to be a drive through holiday lights event hosted by the Gateway Arch Foundation in downtown St Louis. There is conflicting information that mentions walking in Kiener Plaza and seeing lights and holiday photo ops, but other places clearly mention driving around the plaza to see lights. This is going to be one of our first drive through holiday light stops this year, so as soon as I know more I will report back. Here’s what we know so far…

When?: November 20th, 2020 – January 3rd, 2021. Every night of the week from 5pm – 9pm.

Where?: Kiener Plaza. 500 Chestnut Street, Downtown St Louis, 63101

How Much?: Free!

To learn more about Winterfest at Kiener Plaza hosted by the Gateway Arch Foundation, check out their website here.

To read the conflicting information about the walk-through lights event, check out this link for the Festival of Lights in Kiener Plaza. I will be attending Winterfest as quickly as possible to try and get some clarity on what’s going on at this event at the Arch. Check back soon for more information.

Brewery Lights Drive-Thru at Anheuser-Busch

I was a little worried this light display wasn’t going to happen this year. The Brewery Lights at Anheuser-Busch have always ben a quintessential part of my festivities in St Louis. They really churn up quite the crowd at the Brewery Lights (how can they not, there’s free beer involved…) There is no way they could host this event the same they have in years past. It made me sad to think we might miss out.

Instead of doing things the usual way, this year they’ve converted the Brewery Lights Experience into a drive through holiday light event! Enter the Brewery from Arsenal Street and they’ll tell you where to go from there. While there might not be free beer this year, you’re guaranteed to see some of the same light displays you’ve grown to love (like the tunnel of lights!) and Clydesdales wearing their green and red coats.

When?: Thursdays – Sundays, November 27th, 2020 – January 3rd, 2021. Lights are on display every night between 5pm and Midnight. Brewery lights are closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Years Eve, but instead will be open Monday – Wednesday before Christmas.

Where?: Anheuser-Busch Brewery. 1200 Lynch Street, Soulard, 63118. Enter on Arsenal Street!

How Much?: Like every year, this event is free to attend. Reservations are encouraged but not required. Anyone who makes a reservation in advance is entered to win a prize pack! They are also accepting donations for the St Louis Area Foodbank, so please consider bringing a few packaged food items with you on your visit.

For more information or to make advanced reservations for the Anheuser-Busch Brewery Lights Drive-Thru experience, please check out their website by clicking here.

Candy Cane Lane

Candy Cane Lane isn’t exactly an official drive through holiday light display. It’s hosted by a neighborhood who has collectively agreed to love Christmas decorations. The first time I visited Candy Cane Lane, I was expecting to see a bunch of houses all decorated for the holidays. Instead, what we got were archways of lights across the streets, and coordinated light displays between neighbors. It’s a truly beautiful thing to see.

Candy Cane Lane is likely going to be packed this year. It usually is. More than most years, I think people will be flocking to this spot. Roads are narrow, traffic is (mostly) one way, and everyone is driving by slowly to enjoy the holiday lights. But keep in mind this is a neighborhood. These are people’s houses, not a public park. Be respectful of the hosts of this beautiful event so they keep bringing it back every year.

There are a few other blocks that host their own holiday lights near Candy Cane Lane, so spend some time driving around the neighborhood to see all the lights that are set up.

When?: No official start date. It might be up right now, if not it will be there very soon. They’re on every night of the week. Maybe don’t bombard these neighborhoods on the holidays so they can have some peace with their families.

Where?: 6500 Murdoch Avenue, The Hill, 63109 (right by Ted Drewes)

How much?: Free! This event is free to attend, but they usually collect donations for a local charity. Don’t be a scrooge. Bring some cash and help spread some cheer.

Drive Through Holiday Lights in St Louis County

Winter Wonderland at Tilles Park

The holiday lights at Tilles Park are a staple of the drive through light displays. Odds are, you’ve visited this one before. It’s one of the best in St Louis. The light displays are synced up to the radio for a fully immersive and totally festive experience.

When?: November 20th, 2020 – January 2nd, 2021 from 5:30pm to 9:30pm. It is only opened to carriage rides on Saturday nights, and is closed on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve.

Where?: Tilles Park, 9551 Litzsinger Road, Ladue, 63124.

How much?: $10 per car. Pay with cash (exact change only, please!) at the entrance, or book online in advance. But if you book online, there will be a service fee tacked on. If you’re driving an abnormal vehicle (like a tour bus) they’re going to charge you more.

For more info or to buy advanced tickets, visit the Winter Wonderland at Tilles Park Website.

Holiday Fun at Grant’s Farm

Grant’s Farm opened their property to personal vehicle traffic for the first time ever during Halloween of 2020, when they hosted a spooky drive through experience. They brought back the same drive through concept for a holiday lights display at the farm, where visitors drive their own vehicles through the park. This experience is synced up to a holiday radio feed, and each vehicle is given a bag of treats when they arrive to enjoy during the drive.

When?: November 27th – December 31st, Thursday – Sunday. Closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and instead opened on Monday – Wednesday the weeks of Christmas and New Years. (Check out their ticket calendar at the link for some clarity here.)

Where?: Grant’s Farm. 10501 Gravois Road, Crestwood, 63123.

How much?: $40 per car, plus a $4 service charge. If you want to add on their “Fa-la-la-la Bundle” which includes four bottles of water, kettle chips, cookies, and a pair of stuffed clydesdales, it will set you back an additional $40.

Learn more about the Holiday Fun at Grant’s Farm or buy your tickets now on their website.

Santa’s Magical Kingdom at Jellystone

Santa’s Magical Kingdom at Jellystone is a family tradition for a lot of St Louisans. When I first moved to St Louis, I was invited to join in with a friend and her own family’s tradition of visiting the drive through lights at Jellystone. Her entire family rented a wagon where everyone piled in and we all got to enjoy the beautiful holiday lights together from the open air carriage. It was a magical experience and I quickly learned why so many people make this a yearly tradition.

This year brings new restrictions, and Santa’s Magical Kingdom looks a bit different than return visitors might be used to. There are no photos with Santa this year, and the gift shop is limited to a reduced capacity. But the drive through light experience is promised to be just as magnificent as ever before.

When?: November 20th, 2020 – January 10th, 2021. Available every day, including holidays. Open 5:30pm – 10:30pm on weeknights, or 5:30pm – 11pm on weekends. They recommend if you would like to avoid the crowds to stop by after 9pm.

Where?: Jellystone. Right Next to Six Flags. 5300 Fox Creek Road, Eureka, 63069

How Much?: $25 per car. Admission is cash only and paid when you enter. Vehicles larger than an SUV will pay an additional fee. There are also carriage rides available.

The website for Santa’s Magical Kingdom is really well thought out and full of everything you need to know about visiting this event. I recommend you check out the website before visiting.

Drive Through Holiday Lights in St Charles County

Lot of Lights at the Family Arena

The Family Arena in St Charles has transformed its parking lot into a giant light display for the holiday season. They boast a drive through light tunnel and millions of lights on display. Plus holograms, a laser lights show, and a dedicated holiday music station.

When?: November 27th, 2020 – January 2nd, 2021. Every night from 5:30pm through 10pm weekdays or 11pm weekends and holidays. It will be closed on December 7th for a private event.

Where?: The Family Arena. 2002 Arena Parkway, Saint Charles, 63303

How much?: $25 per car, plus $4.50 in fees.

Learn more about the Lot of Lights at the Family Arena or buy tickets by clicking here.

Celebration of Lights at Fort Zumwalt Park

The Celebration of Lights display at Zumwalt Park in O’Fallon Missouri is a particularly unique drive through holiday light experience. Instead of being one, collective display of lights, there are small sections of light displays each set up by a different organization. The Teamsters, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, libraries, and schools all set up their own light displays, competing for first place. Because of this competition style, the displays get more and more creative every year. Sometimes depicting holiday movies, pop culture events, or more traditional displays of Santas and reindeers.

There are two nights dedicated to foot-traffic only if you’d rather walk through the outdoor displays. Please be advised, there is no mask mandate in St Charles County, and based on personal experience you will likely not see a lot of masks being worn at this outdoor event.

New this year, all reservations must be made in advance through booking on their website or in person by purchasing tickets at the Renaud Center. These advance tickets also apply to the walk through events.

When?: November 27th – December 30th, 2020. Daily from 6pm to 10pm on weeknights, and 6pm to 11pm on weekends. Closed on December 25th.

Where?: Fort Zumwalt Park. 1000 Jessup Lane, O’Fallon, MISSOURI 63366

How Much?: $12 per vehicle, $5 for foot traffic on December 7th or December 8th only. There are additional nights where sleigh rides, carriage rides, and train rides are offered. Please see their website for more information on these additional ways to experience Celebration of Lights.

Purchase tickets to Celebration of Lights Here.

Drive Through Holiday Lights in the Metro East

Way of Lights at Our Lady of the Snows

Our Lady of the Snows Shrine hosts a drive through light display every year. In addition to drive through lights, they’re also hosting a Christmas Tree Display (available to view in person or online), a petting zoo, and carriage rides. These holiday lights do have a religious focus, and feature a nativity scene. If you’re looking for a secular light display, this might not be the one for you.

When?: November 20th – December 31st, 2020. Open daily from 5pm – 9pm.

Where?: 442 South DeMazenod Drive, Belleville, 62223

How Much?: The lights are free to view, but donations are requested.

For more information, visit the Way of Lights website.

WonderLight’s Christmas at World Wide Technology Raceway

This professionally designed light display is hosted at the Indy Car Racetrack in Madison, Illinois. Visitors get to drive through two full miles of synchronized holiday lights at this display, making it the longest synchronized light show in St Louis. The matched up soundtrack is 50 minutes long, so you’ll never run out of holiday music to listen to during your drive. We are looking forward to experiencing this one for the first time this year. More details (and photos) coming soon!

When?: November 20th, 2020 – January 3rd, 2021. Visit any night of the week, including holidays. Open from dusk until 10pm every night, rain or shine.

Where?: World Wide Technology Raceway. 700 Raceway Blvd, Madison, IL 62060

How Much?: Unlike most other light displays, tickets are sold to each individual person in your vehicle. Tickets are $7 per person, or $30 for up to seven people.

Check out this website for more information about the WonderLights at World Wide Technology Raceway.

Lebanon’s Winter Wonderland at Horner Park

When?: The drive through lights begin on November 20th. There is currently no end date posted, but as soon as one becomes available, I will update. If you’re worried about missing these lights, be sure to stop by before December 25th. They’re open 5pm – 9pm on weekdays, or 5pm – 10pm on weekends. Weather permitting.

Where?: Horner Park. 11113 Widicus Road, Lebanon, IL 62254. There is also a Horner Park in the Chicago metro area, using the address is likely the easiest way to be sure you find the right place.

How Much?: Free! These lights are free to attend. This event is put on completely by volunteers. They ask for donations at the entrance to help them bring back these lights year after year.

Check out Lebanon’s Winter Wonderland website for more information about visiting.

Christmas Wonderland at Rock Springs Park

Rock Springs Park in Alton, Illinois has been transformed into a winter wonderland with a drive through lights experience returning this year. They boast four million lights on display and an exclusive radio station streaming all your favorite Christmas tunes.

When?: Christmas Wonderland Opens November 27th, 2020 and will be up “through late December.” Check this one out early if you don’t want to miss it!

Where?: Rock Springs Park. 2100 College Avenue, Alton, IL 62002.

How much?: These lights are available for a donation. They suggest $7 per car, or $1 per person for vehicles that hold more than ten people.

There isn’t an official website, but check out this article from Enjoy Illinois to learn more about Christmas Wonderland.

The post The Best Drive Through Holiday Lights in St Louis first appeared on Greetings From Kelly.

Each photo is linked up with the restaurant or bar’s website. Further down the page, I’ve added a feed of all the original posts on Instagram so you can explore each post without ever leaving this page! Pretty cool, right? Scrolling through this feed of the very best cocktails and dreaming up which ones you’re going to order next.

Explore St Louis Curbside Cocktails

Click any photo below to be taken to the website for the featured restaurant or bar. Each of these photos were taken by me and originally appeared on my Instagram feed. If you’re not following me on Instagram yet, click here to view my profile and hit that follow button.

Explore the St Louis Donut Feed

I’ve saved all my posts from Instagram over here too. Check them out below without ever clicking off this page!

@GreetingsFromKelly:

Last week in my insta stories I had a poll asking what content you wanted to see hit the feed next. Curbside Cocktails was the clear winner. So, over the next couple of weeks you’re going to be seeing stories about all my favorite curbside cocktail spots in STL (and if you voted for camping pics, don’t worry, they’re next!)

My love of Old Fashioneds isn’t new, but the time spent in quarantine has kick-started a new obsession. So when Juniper started offering curbside Old Fashioneds, you know I couldn’t stay away. Their cocktails are sold in a single-serving pouch. Slice it open when you get home and pour over ice (or stick it with a straw and sip it like a Capri Sun. No judgements.) 

@GreetingsFromKelly:

Tag your favorite place offering curbside cocktails

I’ve got a good list of curbside cocktails coming your way, but there’s always room for more. Drop a comment and let me know your favorite place offering curbside cocktails. 

Despite how it may seem, I DO drink other things besides Old Fashioneds, and this drink from Juniper is one of my favorites on their menu, so when they made it available curbside, I was all for it! Pick up one of these Tennis With Hemingways curbside, pour it in a fancy glass, pretend you’re still hanging out at the bars. Repeat.

@GreetingsFromKelly:

It’s been a three cocktail kind of day.
Which of these three cocktails from @juniperstl are you trying first?

Tomorrow I’m breaking out some new photos from some new places, I swear. I was just most excited about Juniper because they were my first carry out cocktail experience and the novelty still hasn’t worn off just yet. 

@GreetingsFromKelly:

Alright, y’all. These 1220 curbside collaborations are no joke. It’s a mash up between @1220spirits and @elmwood.stl that will seriously knock your socks off. And it’s still available on 4hands’s online order platform so you can order online and walk off with one of these bad boys curbside. And I know perspective in photos can be a bit deceiving, but don’t be fooled, this is a full 750ml bottle of fun. New collaborations are released weekly, limited numbers available. Check it out right now!

The Host of Ghosts is made with 1220 bay leaf and pink peppercorn gin, 1220’s Flora aperitif, lime, and salted strawberry syrup. A little bit tart and not too sweet, I promise you’re going to love it. 

@GreetingsFromKelly:

One of the trips we had to cancel this year was our second annual trip to bourbon country. 

Last year we took a trip to Louisville and had an absolute blast, and this year we had planned to repeat the trip…but then everything got shut down. On the same weekend our trip was supposed to happen, we bought a few new bottled of bourbon and did our own at-home Louisville weekend. It was fun, but not quite the same. You know how it goes.

One of the things you miss out on by not being able to visit distilleries is the tastings. Really, the best part of any distillery visit is being able to taste the goods. Plus they usually break out a real expensive bottle, and that is one experience that can’t (feasibly) be recreated at home.

So when Small Batch started offering bourbon tasting flights as part of their cocktail carry out menu…well, you didn’t exactly have to twist my arm to make me buy one.

I know I sound like a broken record, but our ability to adapt to the new circumstances truly blows my mind. With every missed opportunity, there’s something new that comes to take its place. No, it’s not the same. But this is our new reality, and I for one am still glad it contains plenty of sips of bourbon. 

: @smallbatchstl

@GreetingsFromKelly:

Planter’s House recently reopened their doors for the first time since the shut down. And thank god for that because I was really lost without them.

They’ve got a handful of their most popular cocktails on their carryout menu (yes, In a Pickle is one of them, calm down) and a whole new menu of palindrome cocktails available for enjoyment on their patio. No word yet on if they’re going to expand their carryout menu to include these new drinks, but @plantershouse if you’re reading this, I’d like a Taco Cat to go, please!

Happy Monday! Where are you carrying out from this week? 

@GreetingsFromKelly:

Two magical words for you:
Cocktail Delivery.

These carry out cocktails aren’t quite carry out…because they’ll deliver them right to your door!! (As long as you’re in the STL area.)

Silver Lining Cocktails is the genius group behind this cocktail delivery service. Not only do they make some of the best cocktails, but proceeds go to new charities each week. AND they’re made with local ingredients as often as possible. There are a few “base” cocktails to choose from: an old fashioned, a fizz, a punch, and each week they add a new spin to them. Like making all their drinks with a peach twist, a blackberry twist, or even tiki themed! This Tiki Old Fashioned was their featured old fashioned a couple weeks ago, this week, they’ll be delivering me an Herbal Honey Old Fashioned and I. CAN’T. WAIT. !!

You may not be familiar with @silverliningcocktails, but you’ve likely heard of their parent company, @barkeep.us, formerly known as @stlbarkeep. If you’ve ever been to an event hosted by these guys, you already know the drinks are . So believe me when I say you’ve gotta get your hands on your favorite creation from this team. 

@GreetingsFromKelly:

If you’re loving finding out about carry out cocktails in St. Louis…you should head on over to the link in my bio to read my blog post giving you the dish on all my favorite to go cocktails right now. 

In all honesty, the information available about carry out cocktails has been kind of lagging (if you’ve got a great resource, send it my way, ASAP!) It seems all the usual go-to places with articles written about to go cocktails are dated way back in March and April. So many new options and old favorites have emerged since then. You deserve better than the original cocktails of quarantine. The time has come to get back to the same old cocktails you know and love but in pouch form. It’s time to get back out there (curbside, of course) and try new places. 

Click that link to get started!

@GreetingsFromKelly:

New glassware, new icecubes, new cocktail

This curbside cocktail from vicia is best described as a mint explosion! There are subtle ways to twist an old fashioned, but I’ve never had one quite like this before. The mint hits you on the front and the old fashioned flavor comes after. Incredibly unique flavor and if you like mint and old fashioneds (like I do) you’re going to want to try this one out. 

Curbside pick up at Vicia starts at 5:30pm. But I’m going to clue you in on a lil secret…I picked this one up from their sister restaurant Winslow’s Table. Use the link in my bio for more info on how to order this one.

@GreetingsFromKelly:

The weekends used to be anything but restful in our house. Between moving into our home, attending events, trying new bars, trivia nights, game nights, family dinners, and travel there wasn’t much time left for unpacking boxes or cleaning the never ending piles of clutter. Which means there was zero time left to actually relax. And we loved living like this. We loved going out with friends, loved seeing the city, loved exploring new places and having stories to tell. But it wasn’t exactly sustainable. 

While I never in a million years could have imagined having time to just play a board game in the middle of a Saturday afternoon, the slower pace feels nice. 

Looking forward to another weekend of sleeping in late, watching movies, playing board games, laying on the rug watching the clouds through the skylights. Looking forward to a weekend that feels restful. Looking forward to another weekend of staying in and staying safe. 

What do you have planned this weekend?

@GreetingsFromKelly:

Cocktails so nice, I ordered them twice.

Last week I made a repeat order from Silver Lining Cocktails because the drinks they’re making are out of this world good. Plus, I love that they’re delivering right to your door so we can stay home. When they arrived, the cocktails were placed at my door, then I got a text to let me know they were outside. When I went out to grab them, the friendly faces of @silverliningcocktails were waving to me from the end of my driveway. No contact delivery and some of the best cocktails in town? Yes please!

And, yes. I am getting a third delivery from them this week. They’re hosting a virtual cocktail making class and I can’t wait to show you all the cocktail goodness they’re delivering to my door tomorrow. Keep an eye on my insta stories tomorrow to see what treasures they bring.

@GreetingsFromKelly:

Manhattans and I have a love/hate relationship. (It may or may not have something to do with over doing it on the Manhattans at a work holiday party. …no comment.) But every once in a while I feel brave enough to try one again and when I do, I’m always delighted by them all over again. 

This bottled Manhattan comes from @smallbatchstl, where we also picked up our bourbon flight from a few posts back.

One of the problems I’m having with curbside cocktails is that I’m more cautious with my drink selection than usual. I’m drinking a lot of old fashioneds because I know they’re a safe bet. I know I’m going to love them because me and old fashioneds go together like peanut butter and jelly. I’m worried if I try something new I won’t like it but I won’t get the chance to order something new off the menu. So I stick with the familiar. Ordering a Manhattan was a baby step for me. Next time maybe I’ll be more adventurous.

@GreetingsFromKelly:

I know I say this all the time, but the way that the people and businesses of St Louis have adapted to our new circumstances has seriously blown me away!

On Wednesday we attended a 100% virtual cocktail class. There have been a ton of virtual cocktail classes going around the last few months (I’m even hosting one for a local dog rescue!) This one was different, though. Every ingredient you needed to follow along with the class (including your bottle of alcohol) was hand delivered to you the day of the class. We had so much fun making these drinks and can’t wait for the next one (your move, @barkeep.us)

I am grateful for the businesses that have created new ways to have fun in the face of lockdown. Who have encouraged safe activities at a distance. Who have given us opportunities to connect with new people when we can’t meet face to face. I’m grateful to you @silverliningcocktails 

@GreetingsFromKelly:

When I find something I like, it’s hard to get me motivated to try something new. It’s a divisive personality trait. People who get it really get it. People who don’t get it really don’t get it. To my adventurous people out there, let me explain myself…

I love doing research and I love finding new places, not unlike yourself. But once I find something that fills the void, I’d rather put that energy into an entirely new category of research. Why work hard to fix something that isn’t broken? 

I am driven by a fear of being disappointed. If I find something I love, what if I don’t love something new as much? I 100% understand that I might also love the new thing when more, but why risk it?

Decisions are hard. I like to make as few decisions as possible. When you stick with the familiar, there are less factors to weigh. There are less unknowns. The decision is easier. 

That being said, I’ve locked in on my favorite cocktails of the covid era. I’m not as motivated to find something new because now I’ve found something I love. So today is the last day of my carryout cocktail series. I’ll still try new cocktails to-go, I’ll still share the good ones with you, but I’m done with my research phase. I’m done deciding and I’m just going to start enjoying the ones that I love.

What’s your personality trait? Are you comfortable in the familiar or do you rarely try the same thing twice?

@GreetingsFromKelly:

This weekend we were cranking on some serious DIY and home improvement projects. Some small, like fixing some tread that has been missing since we moved into our house (…in September ) and some a bit larger like repairing a step that we mighhhhhht have broken trying to move a refrigerator into our basement by ourselves. Did you guys know that fridges are like, really heavy? Guess we didn’t get the memo

But we are now the proud owners of a basement fridge to hold all of our beer and simple syrups and fancy ice cubes. Recently I was told that basement fridges are a Midwestern thing. So to all my non-midwestern friends I would like to ask: do you enjoy warm beer or…?

We’re also working on a really cool project for our deck that I’m really excited to share and subsequently enjoy with a to-go cocktail in hand. 

Needless to say, this weekend of sawing and hammering and lifting has left me quite exhausted. I could use a weekend from my weekend. 

Looking for even more info about the best St Louis Cocktails to-go? You’re in luck! I wrote an entire post that goes more in-depth into the best places around town. You can check that out using the button below.

ST LOUIS
TO-GO COCKTAILS

The post The Best St Louis Curbside Cocktails first appeared on Greetings From Kelly.

Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour

Locals will likely turn up their nose at the suggestion, but no matter what your thoughts on Anheuser-Busch are, there’s no denying they serve a role in the history of beer in St Louis. Anheuser-Busch not only survived prohibition, it thrived post-prohibition. The tour guides will tell you all about the history of beer in Saint Louis, and will give you two free samples to go with it.

With the In-Bev takeover, Anheuser-Busch has more beers under their umbrella than you may realize. If you don’t like their flagship, Budweiser, perhaps you’ll enjoy Elysium, Golden Road, Land Shark, or Goose Island, all of which you can find at Anheuser-Busch.

Must-Try Beer at Anheuser-Busch Bier Garten

Likely, you’re already familiar with what you like from Anheuser-Busch. Stick with the classic Budweiser, or if available, try Golden Road’s Tart Mango Cart. All the usual Anheuser-Busch classics are available, and the craft beer menu in their beer garden rotates.

Schlafly

Schlafly is best known as the David who took on Goliath. In 1991, when Schlafly opened their doors in the Downtown West neighborhood of St Louis, they were the first new brewery to open their doors since Prohibition. Furthermore, they were a micro brewery moving into neighborhood which, at the time, was almost completely vacant. This in the city where Budweiser was king. Anheuser-Busch took care of the city of St Louis through hefty donations and Clydesdale appearances, residents weren’t exactly looking for a new beer company. Given all this, would you be brave enough to open a brewery of your own?

No. Definitely not. But Tom Schlafly did just that. And his company grew to be the largest, locally owned craft brewery in our City and in our State. His story is impressive, and the beer is delicious too, among some of the best beer in St Louis. Schlafly now has three locations in St Louis: their original location, known as Taproom, in Downtown West. A larger brewery, known as Bottleworks, in Maplewood. And their newest location in St. Charles, called Bankside.

Must-Try Beer at Schlafly

You really can’t go wrong with anything you drink at Schlafly, but my favorite is their Kolsch. If you’re visiting in the Summer time, ask for their seasonal brew, the Raspberry Hefeweizen.

Schlafly Curbside

All three Schlafly Breweries have curbside pickup available. Place your Schlafly Curbside orders online or call in your order. They are offering growler or crowler fills of any of the beers they have on tap, but are only filling newly purchased growlers. They’re also doing what they refer to as “Adopt-a-Keg,” which is much like renting a Keg, only way more fun to say.

Urban Chestnut

With so many great options for beer in St Louis, it’s really hard to pick a favorite. But I’m going to go out on a limb and say that Urban Chestnut is my favorite beer in St Louis. They brew mostly German Styled beers with lots of German-Styled names, but don’t let the menu intimidate you if you’re not familiar, they’re happy to explain and sample any beer you’re curious to try.

Urban Chestnut has two locations, the first in Downtown West, and the second in The Grove neighborhood. Their Grove brewery is known for being dog friendly. You can’t bring your dogs inside the brewery itself, but their outdoor patio has a doggy entrance. Not to mention they host Dog Days of Summer events where they pop up some tents and serve beer on the adjacent empty grass lot. Bring a lawn chair and listen to some live music while enjoying their Urban Underdog brew, where a portion of sales go to local animal rescues.

Must-Try Beer at Urban Chestnut

The Winged Nut is by and large my favorite brew at Urban Chestnut. They call it a Chestnut Ale, not sure if it is made with real chestnuts or not, but it is delicious regardless. If you’re looking for something lighter, try the Schnickelfritz. For something more hoppy, try STLIPA (Pro-Tip: despite the fact that it looks like it should be said “S.T.L.I.P.A,” the brewery pronounces it “sta-lee-pah.”) Personally, I think Urban Chestnut is overall the best beer in St Louis, but don’t tell the other breweries I said that.

U.R.B.

While you’re visiting the Grove location of Urban Chestnut, be sure to swing by the Urban Research Brewery. This is a quasi-third location for Urban Chestnut. As the name implies, this is a smaller venue where they do research. What kind of research, you ask? The tasting kind!

For a $2 fee, you will receive 3 to 4 samples of beer, roughly 4 ounces each. That is what essentially equates to a pint of craft beer for $2. Awesome! In exchange, you must fill out a survey on your phone answering questions about what you smell, taste, and feel while drinking their experimental beers. Most of the times they don’t tell you what you’re tasting (aside from clues like “these samples are all citrus.”) This makes for a great place to hang out with friends and discuss what you think you’re tasting.

Must-Try Beer at the U.R.B.

There isn’t a menu here, and the tasting they offer is the only draught beer available. Live adventurously and try what they’re offering, then head across the street to their Bierhall and have anything your heart desires. They do offer a small selection of cans or bottles at this location, but stick to trying the survey brews here.

Curbside Pickup at Urban Chestnut or the U.R.B

Urban Chestnut is doing Curbside pick up at their location in The Grove only. They are offering everything they have at their Bierhall menu as well as pizzas from the U.R.B. They’re currently offering an Urban Underdog Dinner Pack that includes a pizza, a four-pack of Urban Underdog, koozies, and treats for your pup!

Rockwell

A new Brewery to the St Louis beer landscape, Rockwell is quickly rising to the top. Their brewery is built out of shipping containers and features a large patio. Rockwell is great because they’ve got a beer for everyone. While there are lots of tables available, you won’t often find someone coming around to serve you (although on a busy day, they’ll stop by and offer up a glass of water, or take away empty food baskets.)

One surprising thing that people are also saying about Rockwell is that their food is amazing. Their menu is typical, burgers and fries, but if you’re looking for the most heavenly shoe-string fries in town, Rockwell is the place for you. They’ve also got a veggie burger on their menu. The founders have an eye for design, so you’re likely to walk out of here with a t-shirt or a pint glass with tiny llamas on it (yup!).

Must-Try Beer at Rockwell

Order the Oxford Llama because it is served in a glass with llamas on it and also because it tastes good. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, try one of their beer cocktails.

Curbside at Rockwell

Instead of ordering online, Rockwell is using a drive-thru model to make curbside available to visitors. They’re open noon – 8pm and have drive-thru tables available if you want to drive up and then sit outside without coming into contact with anyone.

Earthbound

One of the reasons beer, and particularly German lagers were so popular in St Louis was because St Louis sits on top of miles of caves! Caves were the perfect place in the days of no refrigeration to brew and store lagers. Most breweries aren’t using caves to brew beer anymore…but Earthbound isn’t like most breweries. Earthbound rehabbed what was once the Cherokee Brewery and returned beer to the building, and to its caves. They offer tours of their caves on Saturdays. Learn a bit more about the history there, and learn more about the restoration process here: Earthbound Beer’s Renovation of the old Cherokee Brewery.

To summarize Earthbound as briefly as possible, they’re a brewery that likes to sway towards the peculiar. They’ve been known to brew up “Chicken and Waffles” or “Fuzzy Pickle” and love to incorporate herbs and spices into their brewing process. While they have a few “normal” beers on their menu, too, that’s definitely not what they’re known for. If you have a taste for the obscure, you’ll find that Earthbound has the best beer in St Louis.

Must-Try Beer at Earthbound

Practically everything Earthbound makes is a limited release. That’s one thing that makes them very unique. Their Irish Red always seems to be available and is a safe bet, but this is a good place to try something you’ll never taste anywhere else. Never had beer with coriander in it? Now’s your chance.

St Louis Beer Date Night?

I created a list of 60+ St Louis Date Ideas that you’ll absolutely love! Earthbound is just one of the breweries mentioned on this list. Find out the best breweries for a date night, and so much more!

Curbside at Earthbound

Earthbound has a to-go window. Place orders online, pick up in the window. They’ve recently created a small outdoor patio area for enjoying your beers outdoors as well. They specifically call out that you can not order to-go beers and then sit and drink them on their patio. They’ll sell you a single can if you want to hang out, or take your beers and run.

Heavy Riff

Heavy Riff is a great spot if you’re going to be doing any exploring of Forest Park while you’re in town…which you absolutely should do! It’s a very short drive (or Lyft ride) away from Forest park, which is even larger than Central Park and has so much to be explored! Heavy Riff is perhaps the smallest of all the breweries on this list, but is one of the best options if you’re looking for a bite to eat. I love the food at Heavy Riff, and the vegetarian options are great!

The bar area is spacious, but the dark interior gives it somewhat of a hole-in-the-wall feel, which I find to be very cozy. Heavy Riff is a middle-ground brewery. They offer a wide selection of brews, but their most talked about is their Velvet Underbrown. I love that this brewery focuses on fruit influenced and wheat beers, and their Squeeze Box Lemon Wheat is right up my alley.

Must-Try Beer at Heavy Riff

Squeeze Box Lemon Wheat, Bohemian Raspberry, and Velvet Underbrown are all winners here.

Curbside at Heavy Riff

Heavy Riff’s Curbside online ordering is available for beers. Place your order online, pull up to the green cones, text them with your last name when you arrive, and show your ID to pick up your beer.

O’Fallon Brewery

The name O’Fallon Brewery is a place that is more confusing to the locals than it is to people from out of town. That is because St Louis sits right on the border of Missouri and Illinois, and both states have a city named O’Fallon, both approximately 30 minutes in either direction of downtown. When the city O’Fallon is mentioned, it is quickly followed by the question, “Which O’Fallon?” To add to this confusion, O’Fallon Brewery is named after both O’Fallon, Missouri AND O’Fallon, Illinois, but is not located in either city. See where things can get confusing? I suspect they did this on purpose.

O’Fallon Brewing is another one of those breweries that does a lot of things really, really well. If you order your usual go-to beer style, you’ll likely agree you’re drinking the best beer in St Louis.

Must-Try Beer at O’Fallon Brewery

The O’Fallon Weach is a great place to start. Part wheat, part peach, all beer. Their St Louis Red is another great brew, and is almost as red as the name suggests it should be. If you’re looking for something different, O’Fallon also has their own line of hard sodas. They partnered with a local soda maker, Fitz’s to make a delicious Hard Root Beer.

Curbside at O’Fallon Brewery

O’Fallon offers curbside pick up of everything they sell. Everything everything. Beer? Yes. Merch? You bet. Food? Definitely. Hand Sanitizer? That too! Please your orders online and pre-select the time you’ll be picking up.

Center Ice Brewery

As the name implies, Center Ice is a Hockey bar! This a great place to watch a Hockey Game, as long as you’re cheering for the Blues that is. They have hockey stick shaped tap handles, hockey themed beer names, and even hockey boards that line the walls so you can truly feel like you’re on the ice while you’re here.

There isn’t any food at Center Ice, but that shouldn’t stop you from stopping by for dinner. They’re outside-food friendly, and are right next door to a few St Louis dinner favorites: Southern, Pappy’s, and Vito’s.

Must-Try Beer at Center Ice

They have a few limited release beers that, if you can get your hands on them, you should absolutely try. They are really great at making lagers and pale ales. Their American Golden Ale and their Old Arena Lager are my favorites.

Curbside at Center Ice

Curbside is available at Center Ice any time during their taproom hours. Place orders online, and either run into the taproom to pick up, or call them and they’ll run it out to you.

Old Bakery Beer Co

Old Bakery Beer Co is left off of the lists of the best beer in St Louis far too often. It’s likely because they are actually located in Alton, Illinois, right across the Mississippi from St Louis, but that shouldn’t stop anyone from visiting. Old Bakery Beer Co is a force in the craft beer scene in St Louis. They truly have a great beer for every taste, no matter what your favorite beer style is.

What makes Old Bakery Beer Co even more impressive is they crush everyone else on this list when it comes to food. Old Bakery Beer Co has the best food of any brewery in St Louis. They are inclusive of all dietary restrictions, with gluten free, vegetarian, and vegan options. And I say options as in plural. Anyone who’s diet falls into any one of those categories will know how hard it is to have choices when going out to eat. Old Bakery has your back!

Must-Try Beer at Old Bakery Beer Co

Old Bakery makes really solid beers no matter what you like. Their classic options are their Citrus Wheat, Centennial White, or Porter. If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, you might want to try out their Rosemary IPA or their Basil Pale Ale (the Basil Pale Ale is my favorite, but when I say “adventurous,” I mean it.

Curbside at Old Bakery Beer Co

Old Bakery Beer Co has been hit the hardest by restrictions in the past few months. Because they’re in Illinois, they live by Illinois’ rules. They’re only open for curbside and patio seating currently and could really use your support. To order Old Bakery Beer Co Curbside place your order online, and call when you arrive. Old Bakery also has a pandemic page on their website. Check that out for the most up-to-date information.

Beer Lover’s Weekend Itinerary

If you’re visiting St Louis for the weekend and want to check out some of the best Breweries our city has to offer, follow this itinerary to get the most out of your weekend. Like all my weekend itineraries, this one starts on Saturday morning…because you worked all day Friday and you need to actually have time to pack before hopping on a plane! Making travel possible is what I do. To check out more of my weekend itineraries, click here: Weekend Itineraries.

Don’t miss out on any of the best beer in St Louis. Grab your free “A Beer Lover’s Guide to a Weekend in St Louis” by clicking the button below. This completely free guide comes with a map of the breweries in the guide, too!

Visiting St Louis for the weekend but want more than just beer? I’ve got you covered! Check out these other posts about things to do in St Louis and start planning your weekend right away!

21 Things for Adults to do in St Louis

Where to get the Best Cocktails in St Louis

How to Have the Best 48 Hours in St Louis

The Best Donuts in St Louis

The post The Ultimate Beer Lover’s Guide to a Weekend in St Louis first appeared on Greetings From Kelly.

Quick Facts about Cahokia Mounds

At first glance, Cahokia Mounds might look like a large, steep hill with a hundred stairs leading to the top. But there’s so much more to it than that. Here are a few quick facts to get you excited to visit.

• There are 104 known mounds at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site.
• The largest mound, Monk’s Mound, stands at over 100 feet tall and has 160 stairs to get to the top. The Mound was completely man-made.
• Cahokia was home to the Mississippian people and at its peak in the 1100s, it was home to over 20,000 people. This made it one of the most densely populated cities in the world at that time.
• By 1300, Cahokia was abandoned for an unknown reason.

Getting to and Parking at Cahokia Mounds

Cahokia Mounds is located near Collinsville, Illinois. It is easy to get to by car and has one main designated parking lot and a few smaller lots near landmarks. It is free to park in any of these lots and there is no admission fee to enter the park.

Touring Cahokia Mounds

Cahokia Mounds is a perfect place for outdoorsy travelers to spend the day exploring. It is perfect for someone who loves museums. And it is a great place to compromise when your group is split right down the middle. There is a beautiful museum inside the visitor’s center, a guided walking tour of the main grounds, and over ten miles of hiking trails around the park. No matter what you’re in the mood for, you’ll find it here.

Hiking at Cahokia Mounds

When you visit Cahokia Mounds, you’ll notice a lot of people wearing athletic clothes. That’s because Monk’s Mound is a favorite outdoor workout amongst locals. With over 160 steps to get to the top, you’ll see plenty of people running as quickly as they can up the stairs and descending down just as fast.

Even though Monk’s Mound is the clear favorite, there are over 10 miles of hiking trails around Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, so don’t limit yourself to just one trail. You could easily spend an entire day exploring the grounds of this park.

My favorite spot is a look out spot on top of Monk’s Mound. On a clear day, you can see all of downtown St Louis from here. It’s a great spot for a photo.

Historic Walk of Cahokia Mounds

If you want to get outside and explore, but also want to learn a little something about what you’re looking at, take a trip to the Visitor’s Center before you start. Inside the Gift Shop, you can reserve iPods with audio tours of the park grounds to give you a better idea of what exactly you’re looking at. There is also the option to take a guided tour from one of the tour guides. With 104 mounds on site, it is easy to overlook one. But the audio tour will help you identify mounds, and other key factors in the park like borrow pits, and the grid lines that the entire city was built off of.

Currently the audio self-guided tour is not available due to Covid-19 restrictions. Instead, they are offering a paper guide book that has a written narrative to help guide you through the park.

Visiting the Museum at Cahokia Mounds

I’m ashamed to admit, the first time we visited Cahokia Mounds, we skipped the Museum entirely. It was a beautiful day, and we stopped by for a hike. It was a hugely missed opportunity. The museum inside Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site is very well made. It helps you truly get a better understanding for both the people who lived here and the archeologists who have helped to interpret it.

I highly recommend you at least take a quick lap around the inside of the Museum. At the very center, there is a recreated village. Here they have life-sized statues of the Mississippian people who lived in Cahokia illustrating what life was like. If you want to understand the historic site better, this is the perfect place to start.

Admission to the Museum is completely free, but there is a suggested donation of $7 per person. Donations like these help preserve these historic sites and keep them accessible to everyone.

No matter what kind of exploring you’re in the mood for, Cahokia Mounds will deliver. Whether you are hoping to get in a 10 mile jog, take a historic walking tour, or spend hours pouring over the museum exhibits, you’ll find what you’re looking for here. Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site might be somewhat of a hidden gem for now, but it won’t be for long! Go explore all that it has to offer soon!

More to do Nearby

The area immediately surrounding Cahokia Mounds is an under-developed area and is not the best place to start exploring. However there are quite a few really cool places just a short drive away.

Nearby in Collinsville, Illinois, there is a brewery and distillery serving up some delicious food. Check out Old Herald Brewing & Distilling for a bite to eat after a day of hiking.

Edwardsville, Illinois is about a 20 minute drive away but is home to my favorite coffee shop in the St Louis Area. Check out Goshen Coffee for your favorite espresso drink or a pastry off their 100% vegan menu. While you’re in Edwardsville, you may also want to grab a beer at Recess Brewing.

If you’re willing to venture out a bit further, you might want to check out Old Bakery Beer in Alton, Illinois. It’s one of my favorite stops on this side of the Mississippi. Even though it is a little bit of a drive, it is well worth it.

Explore More of St Louis

If you’re looking for even more nearby places to explore, be sure to check out St Louis’ National Parks. We have two great national parks to check out: Gateway Arch National Park and Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site. I have an entire post dedicated to the National Parks of St Louis, as well as posts written for each individual site.

There’s more to St Louis than the Gateway Arch, and to prove it, I’ve written a few other posts about St Louis that are worth checking out!:

60+ St Louis Date Ideas that You’ll Absolutely Love!

21 free things for Adults (21+) to do in St Louis

9 Best Historic Home Tours in St Louis

How to have the Best 48 Hours in St Louis

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The post The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Cahokia Mounds Historic Site first appeared on Greetings From Kelly.

Quick Facts about Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site

Here are a few quick facts about the Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site before you visit:

• Ulysses S Grant was our 18th President. He was best known for the role he played in helping the Union win the Civil War
• He’s originally from Ohio, but he lived in St Louis while he was stationed at Jefferson Barracks
• At the time when Grant lived here, the property was 850 acres. Today, the house is in the middle of a quiet St Louis suburb
• Grant’s In-Laws originally owned the house. This is where Grant fell in love with his wife, Julia, and he later purchased the home for her.

Getting to and Parking at Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site

Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site is located in Crestwood, Missouri, a suburb of St Louis. While even some locals couldn’t tell you where to find this site, many could point you in direction to the major St Louis attraction that is just across the street: Grant’s Farm. Despite its name, Grant’s Farm is actually owned by the Busch Family (the same ones of Anheuser-Busch fame.) Grant’s Farm was at one time the property of Ulysses S Grant and has its own historic home, too.

Appropriately, Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site is off of Grant Road, easily accessible from either Watson or Gravois. There is a large parking lot on site that is more than enough space for anyone visiting the park. If it’s a nice day, you might consider biking to the Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site by way of the Grant Trail.

No matter how you choose to get here, one thing is painfully clear. If you see a sign that says “Grant” you’re headed in the right direction!

What to do at Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site

Take a Ranger-led Tour of the Historic Home

One of my favorite things to do at the Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site is take a Ranger-led tour of the home. I have taken this tour many times and I can promise you it is different every single time! That’s because there is no script for these tours. Each Park Ranger writes their very own tour based on their own research. Some Rangers focus on Grant’s time in the Civil War, some focus on his time in St Louis, some his life as a whole. My favorite “version” of the tour was one that focused on his love story with his wife Julia, who he met for the first time at this house when it was her childhood home.

No matter what kind of tour you get (and as far as I can tell, it’s completely random) you’re going to enjoy the stories these Rangers tell. If you have any interest in seeing the inside of the home, you will have to take a Ranger-led tour. The only way to go inside the house is with a Park Ranger.

Ranger-led Tours of US Grant National Historic Site happen every 30 minutes at the top and bottom of the hour. The Park is open from 9am – 5pm every day, and the last tour leaves at 4pm. Tours last between 30 – 45 minutes.

Take an Outdoor Self-Guided Tour

If you don’t have time to take a tour or would prefer to do something more self-guided, the sites on the outside of the house are open to the public without a Ranger. There is also a 0.25mile walking trail that circles part of the park grounds with signs to read along the way.

Take a Virtual Tour of Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site

You can also now take a virtual tour of the house! Follow two of the Park Rangers on a virtual tour embedded below. Even if you have been to the historic home before, or plan to take the tour, this video is still worth coming back to. There are three floors to the building, but due to the age of the building, tours are only allowed on the first floor. In the virtual tour, the National Park Rangers take you on up to see what’s on the other two floors!

Visit the Museum

Ulysses S Grant designed the large horse stable on the property himself. Grant wrote a series of letters during his presidency that specifically called out elements of the barn’s design.

Today, the National Park Service has converted this barn into a museum. The museum isn’t just full of things from the Grant family, but is used as a way to tell the story of the time period. It is a good place to check out immediately before or after your tour of the house to get a better sense of what life would have been like in St Louis while Grant lived here.

The museum can be accessed for free at any time the site is open without a guided tour.

Visit the Gift Shop

While a gift shop isn’t usually the highlight of a historic site, I am particularly fond of this one because it is less a gift shop and more a book shop. It is full of many great books on the Grants, and other influential people of this time. The Park Rangers are always willing to make suggestions on books to read, and if you’re really excited about reading more, you can join the book club that they host quarterly!

Here are a few of my favorites that you can pick up at the Visitor’s Center when you visit:

Watch an Orientation Film

The Park offers a 20-minute orientation film that gives you a brief overview of the life of Ulysses S Grant. If you don’t know much about Grant, I highly recommend watching the video before touring the park to get a better understanding of him.

If you don’t have time on the day of your visit to watch the video but still want to know more about Grant, the History Channel recently released a really great mini-series about Grant that I highly recommend you check out. You can watch it here:

Take a Historic Bike Ride

The Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site is conveniently stationed off Grant’s Trail. This is a favorite bike trail of locals and is often fairly busy on the weekends. It is a level, paved trail that spans 8.25 miles one way, or 16.5 round trip. To learn more about biking Grant’s Trail (including information on where to find the Trail Heads), head on over here.

Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site hosts events along this trail that they call “Bike Through History.” Bike with a Park Ranger along the Grant’s Trail to the nearby Sappington House and learn about the history that connects these two St Louis Families. They also host a “Run Through History” event that is the same concept.

Be sure to check their calendar of events, their Instagram, or their Facebook Page before visiting to scout out events like this when you visit.

Find More to do Nearby

While you’re so close, it would be worth visiting Grant’s Farm directly across the street. It is owned by the Busch family, and each visit guarantees two free beers to anyone who is old enough. The park works similarly to a safari. You board a tram and are driven around the park to hopefully spot some animals. The tour ends with a petting zoo, a food court, and those free beers I mentioned.

If you’re eager to continue learning more about Ulysses S Grant, visit nearby Jefferson Barracks Park. This is where Grant was stationed once he left West Point, it is where he met Julia’s brother, and its what brought him to St Louis. This is the place to continue your journey into Grant’s life.

For a longer walk in nature, check out Laumeier Sculpture Park nearby. This park has almost two miles of walking paths, both paved and dirt trails. Large sculptures line the trails along the route. This park is perfect for all ages and is dog friendly.

The Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site is one of my favorite places to visit in St Louis. You will love the passion and knowledge that each of the Rangers at this park possess. Their enthusiasm is contagious, and you’ll leave the park a huge fan, too!

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Check out these other posts for even more to do in St Louis!

A Complete Guide to the National Parks of St Louis

The St Louis Arch: Your Ultimate Guide To Gateway Arch National Park

60+ St Louis Date Ideas That You’ll Absolutely Love

21 Free Things for Adults to do in St Louis

National Parks Passport Program: Why National Park Visitors Love it!

The post The Complete Guide to Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site first appeared on Greetings From Kelly.

Gateway Arch National Park

Perhaps the most notable St Louis National Park is the Gateway Arch National Park. Up until 2017, this park was known as Jefferson Expansion National Monument, but was renamed to Gateway Arch National Park after earning it’s National Park status.

The Arch grounds underwent huge renovations over the past five years that leave locals in awe of what it has become. If you have been to the Arch before but haven’t visited in a while, it’s time to return to this magnificent structure and see how far it has come.

The Old Courthouse

The Gateway Arch National Park has beautiful park grounds that connect it to the Old Court House, which is also a part of this National Park. It is best to start your visit at the Old Courthouse, which is where the Park Rangers are most prominently stationed to answer questions about the park. It is also home to a museum of the history of the building, most notably of the Dred Scott case that originated at the Old Courthouse, where a slave sued his owner for his freedom.

The building itself is worth the stop. It is beautifully constructed and pieced together over multiple expansions. And, if you stand directly under the rotunda, you can whisper into the dome and hear yourself loud and clear. Take some time to explore this part of the park before continuing on to the Arch Grounds.

The inside of the Old Courthouse is currently closed, please check their website for the most up to date information on their reopening plan.

The National Park Grounds

At one point, the Old Court House and the Arch were divided by an Interstate! It will be hard to believe after you see what it looks like today. But, at one point, all that connected the two was a small pedestrian bridge over top eight lanes of traffic. Today, the entire interstate passes under green grass, walking paths, and tall trees. Hints of the traffic below are nowhere to be found.

You can walk the grounds as far North as Laclede’s Landing (although I wouldn’t recommend doing so after dark) and as far east as the Mississippi River. There are plenty of carriage rides and bike tours around this park. My favorite tour that you can take is the Riverboat Tours! Hop aboard a steam boat that will chug up and down the Mississippi for some great skyline views. Check their schedule and find a ride that interests you. They offer sunset tours, dinner tours, and are more than happy to host private events.

The Gateway Arch Museum

Once you enter the doors under the Arch, you are greeted by our completely renovated Arch Museum. Pass through security on the right, and descend into the belly of the museum. Each section of the museum is organized by era, telling a full story of the region’s history, from the first settlers all the way to today.

At the very back of the museum is where you’ll find the entrance into the elevator pods that will take you up to the top of the Arch. There is no time limit on how long you can stay inside the Arch, but please be considerate of other visitors and share the windows so everyone can see the view!

Learn more about Gateway Arch National Park

If you want to know even more about visiting Gateway Arch National Park, I’ve created a whole guide full of more information about everything you need to know before visiting! You can jump over to that guide below!

Things to do Near the Gateway Arch

Fortunately, the Arch is in the middle of all things downtown St Louis, and there is plenty to visit nearby.

Places to Eat Near the Gateway Arch

• Sugarfire Smokehouse (St Louis Style Barbecue)
• Sauce on the Side (Calzones)
• Sliced Pint (Pizza, and a great place to try Toasted Raviolis)

Where to Grab a Drink Near the Gateway Arch

• Hair of the Dog
• The Thaxton Speakeasy
• Planter’s House
• Schlafly Taproom

Things to do Near the Gateway Arch

• Explore the City Museum
• Catch a game at Busch Stadium
• Visit the National Blues Museum

Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site

On the opposite side of town, you’ll find the second of the National Parks in St Louis, the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site. This small historic site shares information about our 18th President and his connections to St Louis. You can take the completely free tour of the home or visit the museum while you’re here. The museum is housed in a barn that Grant himself wrote the plans for while he was serving as President.

One thing this park does very well is that it gives a lot of focus to Grant’s wife, Julia Dent. The home originally belonged to the Dent family and it was where Grant and Julia first met. They had lived there with the in-laws for a short period of time, and Grant eventually went on to buy this home just before becoming President in hopes of returning to it after his presidency.

The tour is different every time you visit because each Park Ranger writes their own narratives of the house themselves. So one Ranger could give a tour that focuses on Grant’s time at Jefferson Barracks, about ten miles south of this home. Another Ranger could focus on the views on slavery during this time. This is a divide that was strongly felt between Grant and his father-in-law, Fred Dent. A third Ranger could focus on the love story between Grant and Julia.

Learn more about Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site

To learn more about visiting the Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site, head over to my more in-depth post that will be your complete guide to visiting the park and its surrounding area. Click the photo below to check it out!

Things to do Near the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site

The Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site is further on the outskirts of the city, so you will need to drive to nearby places. Here are some things to see and do nearby.

Places to Eat Near the U.S. Grant National Historic Site

• Dewey’s Pizza (Webster Groves or Kirkwood)
• Billy G’s (Kirkwood)
• Balkan Treat Box (Webster Groves)

Where to Grab a Drink Near the U.S. Grant National Historic Site

• Helen Fitzgerald’s Irish Grill & Pub (Crestwood)
• Frisco Barroom (Webster Groves)
• Olive & Oak (Webster Groves)

Things to do Near the U.S. Grant National Historic Site

• Jefferson Barracks
• Laumeier Sculpture Park
• Grant’s Farm

Cahokia Mounds

This Historic Site is currently petitioning Congress to be designated a National Park. These large Mounds were built by the Mississippian people that once called this area home. Their Mounds used to be all over St Louis, but many of them had been destroyed. This park is found just over the Mississippi River into Illinois.

Once you arrive, stop by the gift shop and borrow one of their Audio Tours devices. (With new restrictions, they are not offering Audio Tours. Instead, they now have a text version of this tour. You can grab a printed copy at the gift shop.) It is hard to know what you’re looking at while you’re out, but the audio tour makes it much more clear. This is a great place to get out for a hike. Once you make it to the top of the largest mound, you’ve got a great view of St Louis.

Things to do Nearby

While the Cahokia Mounds Park is beautiful and safe, some areas immediately surrounding it are not the best place for visitors. I would recommend exploring a few of these favorite stops on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River a bit further away.

Places to Eat Near Cahokia Mounds

• Old Bakery Beer Co (Alton, IL)
• Recess Brewing Co (Edwardsville, IL)

Where to Grab a Drink Near Cahokia Mounds

• Aerie’s Winery (Grafton, IL)
• Old Herald Brewery (Collinsville, IL)
• Goshen Coffee Co (Edwardsville, IL)

Other Missouri National Parks

While the Gateway Arch National Park is the only park that is a part of the “big 61” in Missouri, there are four other parks in Missouri that are a part of the National Park System.

• George Washington Carver National Monument (Southwest Missouri)
• Ozark National Scenic Riverways (Southeast Missouri)
• Harry S. Truman National Historic Site (Near Kansas City)
• Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield (Southwest Missouri)

Visiting National Parks doesn’t have to be limited to a far-off vacation. There are tons of National parks hiding right in your back yard. Take a moment to play tourist in your home town (or mine!) and explore the National Parks in St Louis.

More Places to Visit in St Louis

If you’re looking for even more places to explore, check out my other St Louis guides.

• Your Ultimate Guide to Gateway Arch National Park
• 60+ Unforgettably Fun St Louis Date Ideas
• A Beer Lover’s Guide to a Weekend in St Louis
• How to Have the Best 48 Hours in St Louis
• 21 Free things for Adults to do in St Louis

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The post A Complete Guide to the National Parks of St Louis first appeared on Greetings From Kelly.

Sure, I love a trip to the free St Louis Zoo just as much as the next person, but there is so much more to St Louis than that. If you’re looking for a list of adult-friendly things to do for free in St Louis, well then my friend, you finally found it!

Places to get Free Alcohol

Let’s start with the most important adult activity there is: drinking! St Louis is no doubt a drinking town. The history of beer in St Louis runs deep. I barely scratch the surface on that in my post A Beer Lover’s Guide to a Weekend in St Louis. But enough about learning, let’s get to drinking! Here are five places to get a free drink in St Louis!

1. The Anheuser-Busch Brewery

On the Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour, you get one free beer on the tour, one more at the end! This tour focuses on the early days of the brewery, including how it survived prohibition. There are a few upgraded tours that you can take to learn even more about the beer making process or their facility, but their basic tour is completely free. These spaces fill up fast on the weekends, especially during the summer, so be sure to arrive early if you want to get a tour in during the day.

2. Grant’s Farm

Owned by the Busch Family, still serving up free beers. While you will find a lot of kids here, you’ll also find two free beers, including one that is a Grant’s Farm exclusive. You don’t have to pay to get in, but you will have to pay to park. Try getting dropped of or parking at the trailhead down the road.

3. Liquor Stores (on a Saturday)

Almost every Liqour Store offers free tastes on Saturdays. It’s the perfect opportunity to find something new you love. Check out Friar Tucks or Clayton Wine Cellar for (lots of) free sips on Saturdays. When we don’t have something planned, this is usually our go-to. We’ve met many “regulars” at these tastings and really enjoy the company.

4. Schlafly

Check out their bottling facility in their Maplewood location, known as Schlafly Bottleworks. At the end of the tour, split a free pitcher of beer with some new friends.

If you’re ready to dive into even more great places to grab a beer in St Louis, check out A Beer Lover’s Guide to a Weekend in St Louis for all the must-see stops!

5. The Wineries

If you’re up for a day trip, venture out to Missouri wine country. Blumenhof, Noboleis, and Balducci all offer free wine tastings and some beautiful views of wine country.

Free Museums in St Louis

One of the best things about St Louis is that we have tons of free museums! If there is ever a day when you can’t find anything going on in St Louis, which is rare, there are a few world-class museums to turn to for help.

6. The Saint Louis Art Museum

It will be hard to get through all of the Saint Louis Art Museum in one day, so don’t rush it! There is one exhibit in the contemporary wing that is paid, the rest is completely free. Don’t miss the sculpture park!

7. The Missouri History Museum

These exhibits change rapidly, so even if you’ve visited before, it’s time for another visit! While the Missouri History Museum focuses on, well, Missouri History, don’t let that keep you from visiting. The curators at this museum do an excellent job at storytelling to grab visitor’s attention no matter where you’re from.

8. The World Chess Hall of Fame

If you’re not interested in chess, don’t let the name deter you. The World Chess Hall of Fame Museum is a really awesome collaboration between artists and the chess community. And features anything from chess inspired artwork to chess pieces made out of unexpected things. They do ask for donations if you’ve enjoyed your visit, but there is no cost of admission to get inside.

9. The Museum at Gateway Arch National Park

The newly redone museum under the Gateway Arch is filled with history of the region and of the westward expansion. Since the 2018 remodel, the museum gained 46,000 square feet of museum exhibits!

10. The Contemporary Art Museum

There is no limit to what you will find at a Contemporary Art Museum, and at this one, not only will you find free admission and great exhibits, but you’ll also get delicious food and a peaceful sculpture garden.

Jump on a Free Tour

If you want to learn more about the City of St Louis and it’s history while you’re here, look no further than these amazing tours that you can go on absolutely free!

11. Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site

The Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site is part of the National Park Service and was home to our 18th President while he lived in St Louis. Here you’ll learn about the history of Grant and of his wife Julia Dent, a St Louis native.

12. Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate

Take a free tour of St Louis’s Chocolate Factory. What’s not to love? This tour of Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate and four more sweet tooth date night ideas in my post 60+ St Louis Date Ideas That You’ll Absolutely Love.

13. The Old Courthouse

The Old Courthouse is part of the Gateway Arch National Park. This three-story Courthouse is filled with beautiful architecture and artwork. It’s also a place of our nation’s darker past because it was a place where slaves were bought and sold, and where the Dred Scott decision was made. Check with the visitors desk to schedule a free tour with a Park Ranger to learn more about this spot.

For more information about the Old Courthouse and the rest of Gateway Arch National Park, check out my complete guide to this St Louis park!

14. Forest Park Self Guided Walking Tours

Forest Park is the perfect place to get lost. You’re welcome to just wander the park at your leisure, but if you’re ready to learn more about the park, check out one of their free walking tours!

Other Places to Explore for Free in St Louis

Like St Louis, some of the places on this list can’t be made to fit into a clean category. This is the catch-all spot for other things in St Louis you do not want to miss!

15. The Farmers Markets

Soulard, Kirkwood, Tower Grove, and Schlafly all host their own Farmer’s Markets, and I’m sure many more that I’m not even aware of. If you’re looking to get to know the local entrepreneurs and support local business, here’s a great place to start!

16. Cahokia Mounds

You’re going to want to visit Cahokia Mounds very soon! If all goes according to plan, this destination just across the river is about to become a National Monument. Hike the area around the mounds and enjoy the views from up top, check out the museum, or take the guided tour.

17. Lone Elk Park

A very unique park out in St Louis County. As the name Lone Elk Park suggests, this park is home to a large herd of elk! There are also bison and deer that roam the park. The best part is, cars are welcome to drive through and look at the creatures, sort of like a safari for the Midwest!

Seasonally Available Free Events in St Louis

This list only scratches the surface of all of the free things there are to do in St Louis! Keep an eye on the events calendars for even more free events that happen annually.

18. The Muny

The Muny is a beautiful outdoor theater that has become a staple of Summertime in St Louis. Performances run every year between June and August, and sometimes attract some well-known actors to the stage. The Muny offers a whole section of free seats to every performance. If you want to catch the show for free, you’ll have to come prepared to stand in line for a while. For a popular show, I recommend showing up two hours before the show time or earlier to have a shot at getting seats. But if you can score the coveted free seats spot, it is so worth it.

19. St Louis Symphony Concert on Art Hill

Every year the St Louis Symphony hosts an outdoor concert on Art Hill completely for free. The Symphony sets up at the bottom of the hill, and the hill gives a sort of stadium seating feeling, there’s no bad seat in the house! Bring a picnic, a bottle of wine, and enjoy the show! This event happens annually in September.

20. The Brewery Lights at Anheuser-Busch

Every year around the holiday season, Anheuser-Busch turns on thousands of lights across their entire brewery. They open their gates after dark and allow guests to walk through and enjoy the lights. While this is a family friendly event, only adults 21+ will get to take advantage of the free beer available at the event. Their generosity fluctuates every year, we’ve gotten as many as 5 free beers and as few as two. But either way it is completely free to attend and the lights are truly breathtaking.

21. Art Outside in Maplewood

A huge art festival that the city of Maplewood hosts every fall. There is live music and it is completely free to walk around and enjoy the artwork. If you’re okay with spending a little cash at the event, you can purchase food, drinks, and beautiful pieces of artwork available for sale.

If you want to learn more about this St Louis suburb, you can learn more about it in my post: St Louis Neighborhood Guide: Maplewood

No matter when you visit St Louis, there will always be something free for you to enjoy, making this beautiful city one of the most affordable vacation spots in the United States. You can’t miss it!

If you’re looking for even more things to do in St Louis, check out my other posts on my favorite city!

60+ St Louis Date Ideas That You’ll Absolutely Love!

A Beer Lover’s Guide to a Weekend in St Louis

How to have the Best 48 Hours in St Louis

A Complete Guide to the National Parks of St Louis

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The post 21 Free Things for Adults (21+) to do in St Louis first appeared on Greetings From Kelly.

Quick Facts about the Gateway Arch

Like many National Parks, so much history is captured here. There is so much to see and learn during your visit to the St Louis Arch, but here are a few quick facts to get you started:

• The St Louis Arch is 630 feet Tall! It is also 630 feet wide.
• It first opened to the public in 1967
• The Arch is open daily from 9am – 6pm
• You can ride to the top of the Arch!* A tram ride to the top will cost adults $12. It takes 4 minutes to get to the top of the Arch. (*The tram ride to the top is currently closed due to Covid-19 restrictions.)

Face masks are required to enter the Gateway Arch. If you do not have a mask, please buy one before arriving.

Getting to and Parking at the Arch

The Arch is perhaps one of the easiest places to find in the St Louis metro. That’s because the Arch towers over the rest of the city and can be seen for miles in any direction. The arch sits right at the border between Missouri and Illinois. Most of the city’s major interstates (44, 55, 64, and 70) all meet here.

If you’re visiting the Arch on a Sunday, you do not need to pay for street parking in Downtown St Louis. All street Parking is free on Sundays! Parking is also free on the street weekdays and Saturdays after 7pm. (Please check all signs before parking to be sure rules have not changed. I will not be responsible for any parking tickets you may receive by not reading signs.) If you would still like to pay for a parking garage, my favorite garage to park in is located at 200 South Broadway. This garage is a quick 5-10 minute walk from the Arch grounds (depending on where in the large garage you are able to park.)

Touring the Park Grounds

The St Louis Arch grounds got a serious facelift that finished in 2018. The five year, $380 million project brought some beautiful and much needed renovations to the Gateway Arch. With this makeover came a new 150,000 square foot museum that is stunningly beautiful and perfectly tells the history of St Louis.

In addition to the renovation within the Arch, there was also a 91-acre landscaping project that revamped the entire area. If you haven’t been to the Arch in a while, things will look quite different. You might remember the small pedestrian bridge that passes over the highway to get to the Arch grounds. Now, the highway passes under a beautiful green space. This connects the Arch to the Old Court House and Kiener Plaza, making the whole stretch one cohesive park.

With all this newly added green space, the Gateway Arch National Park grounds is the perfect place for a walk with beautiful riverfront views.

Visiting the Old Court House

The Old Court House used to be an independent historic site. It officially joined forces with the Arch once the renovation completed in 2018. This building now serves as the visitor center for the National Park. It houses it’s own gift shop and museum.

The Old Court House puts a spotlight on historic court cases that happened in the area. Most notably, the Old Court House features extensive information about the Dred Scott case from the 1850s. Dred Scott was a black man who sued for his freedom at this very court house. His case was taken all the way to the supreme court. Although he ultimately lost, Dred Scott’s case is known for being one of the main breaking points that started the Civil War.

The Old Court House is currently CLOSED due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Going inside the St Louis Arch

Most visitors to the Arch are unaware of everything there is to do inside of the park grounds. Once you enter the Arch at ground level, you are able to visit the museum, watch documentaries in the theater, visit the gift shop, and take a tram ride up to the top of the Arch.

Visit the St Louis Arch Museum

One of the biggest improvements to the park grounds during the renovation was the Museum. It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of visiting museums while traveling, and this Museum at the Arch is truly one of a kind. The entire museum is set up as a timeline. It takes you from the indigenous people of the St Louis through modern times.

The Museum under the Arch is free to visit and has the same hours as the rest of the Arch. Currently due to Covid-19 restrictions, a free timed-entry ticket is required to visit. You can grab your tickets on this website.

Watch a Documentary at the Arch

While you’re at the Arch, you can check out a 35 minute documentary on the building of the Arch and the obstacles they faced. If you have time to watch it, I highly recommend checking it out. It really gives you an additional appreciation for the structure you’re visiting.

Admission to the documentary is $7, and the run time is 35 minutes.

The documentary theater is currently CLOSED due to Covid-19 restrictions.

If you’re interested in checking out the documentary from home, you can buy it here:

Visit the Gateway Arch Gift Shop & Food Court

With the new expansion of the Arch comes a new gift shop and a food court where you can buy a taste of St Louis favorites like gooey butter cake or toasted ravioli.

One of my favorite things about the gift shop (if you can have a favorite thing about a gift shop…) is the expansive collection of books they have available for purchase. I love visiting the gift shop after finishing up a section of the museum to browse for books that further expand on the exhibit.

Below are a few of my favorite books that are available in the bookstore at the gift shop in the Arch.

Take a Tram Ride to the Top of the Arch

The most popular attraction at Gateway Arch National Park is, of course, the tram ride to the top of the Arch. Tickets to the top of the Arch are $12 per person for adults. The ride to the top takes approximately 4 minutes. Once you’re at the top, you can stay as long as you’d like. On a clear day, you can see up to 30 miles in either direction, both into Missouri and into Illinois.

If you are not able to ride the tram to the top, there is a new simulation room near the entrance to the tram. You can enter the simulation room and see screens with live cameras from the top of the Arch. You can see exactly what you could see from the top of the Arch without ever leaving the ground. For a quick visit, or a free visit, a view from the simulation room is almost just as good as the views you get from the top of the Arch.

The tram to the top of the Arch is currently CLOSED due to Covid-19 restrictions.

The Riverboat Tours at the Arch

Want a unique view of the Gateway Arch? Take a ride on the river boat tours! The Mississippi was once considered to be a “highway” for trading and commerce. Boats traveled south to New Orleans, following the current of the mighty river. Once steam boats came along, boats were also able to travel against the current and up the Mississippi River. St Louis was a huge hub for steam boat merchants. Holding on to this piece of history, there is a company that operates Riverboat tours of the Mississippi River, which includes a great view of the Arch!

Tickets for the Riverboat cruise vary in price depending on which type of cruise you take. Expect to pay right around $25 for a Riverfront cruise. You can make reservations online by clicking here.

For more information about what the Riverboat Cruises are doing to insure safety, check out their Covid-19 Protocols.

Finding More to do in St Louis

The Arch is at the center of most St Louis itineraries, but there is so much more to do in St Louis! Below are a few more weekend guides that feature visiting the Arch and beyond.

A Complete Guide to the National Parks of St Louis

How to Have the Best 48 Hours in St Louis

17 Completely Free Things for Adults to do in St Louis

Traveling to St Louis during a Pandemic

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The post The St Louis Arch: Your Ultimate Guide to Gateway Arch National Park first appeared on Greetings From Kelly.