Summer is a great time to visit St. Louis, when the Cardinals are playing and it’s warm enough to stroll around the city’s parks, zoo and historic sites. VinnieVanGO offers these tips on where to go and what to do when you get there. Gateway Arch Completed in 1965, the 630-ft. arch built on the west bank of the Mississippi River has become the iconic image of St. Louis. Visitors can stroll or picnic on the surrounding park grounds or visit the nearby Jefferson Memorial. They can also take a four-minute tram ride up the Arch to the observation deck, enjoy the view and then take a three-minute ride back down. Tram tickets are available online or by calling 877-982-1430. St. Louis Zoo Located in Forest Park, St. Louis, the zoo is a recognized leader in animal management, research, conservation and education. It currently has about 17,995 animals and more than 700 species, most of which were born in captivity. The zoo is divided into five sections. Favorites include the River’s
Edge, where you will see Asian elephants, hippos, red river hogs, cheetahs, hyenas, Andean bears and more. Historic Hill is home to the Primate House, Peabody Hall with its birds, monkeys, lemurs, amphibians and reptiles. At Red Rocks you’ll be greeted by, lions, tigers, jaguars, leopards and pumas as well as zebras, giraffes, gazelles and other animals.Admission to the St. Louis Zoo is free. Busch Stadium If the St. Louis Cardinals are out of town, or you can’t get a ticket to see a game, never fear. Busch Stadium tours are offered year-round and provide a unique look at this Major League facility. You’ll visit the broadcast booth, Cardinal’s dougout, Red Club and Cardinals Club. Tours are offered at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. out of season (except for Thanksgiving, Christmas eve and day, New Year’s eve and day). In-season (April-September) tours are at 9:30 and 11 a.m. and 12:30 and 2 p.m., except for home day games or special events. On dates when games start at 6:15 p.m., there are no 2 p.m. tours. City Museum A cross between a fun house and a playground, the City Museum (Where Imagination Runs Wild) encourages visitors to feel, touch, climb on and play in its quirky exhibits, constructed of salvaged architectural and industrial objects. Among the most popular exhibits are the Puking Pig; Skateless Park, a collection of skateboard ramps that are traversed by rope swings rather than skateboards and MonstroCity, which features two aircraft fuselages suspended in the air, a fire engine, a castle turret and four-ft. wide slinkies (among other oddities). Children two and under are admitted free; $12 for all others or $10 after 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
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