St Louis, Missouri

St Louis, Missouri, United States

Sitting near the confluence of two great North American rivers — the Mississippi and the Missouri — the St. Louis region has been a favored destination since Lewis & Clark began their historic westward discovery here in 1804.
Dubbed the “Gateway to the West,” St. Louis welcomes its visitors with the world’s tallest arch (630 ft.) which was completed in 1965 as a monument to Thomas Jefferson and the westward expansion of the United States.

Population:

308, 626

Currency:

US Dollar, $1 = 100 cents

Emergency Numbers:

911

Opening Hours:

Most stores are open all week 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. or later.
Most bars and clubs close around 1:30 a.m.

Newspapers:

St. Louis Post Dispatch - www.stltoday.com

The City

St. Louis is a vibrant metropolitan city with unique entertainment and shopping districts in its various neighborhoods including The South Grand, The Delmar Loop, Laclede’s Landing, Soulard, Cherokee Street, Lafayette Square and others.

Consistently ranked among the nation's most affordable and best places to live and raise families, “The Lou” offers many opportunities to watch or participate in a wide range of sports, recreational activities and cultural events. Named for Louis IX of France, the only canonized King of France, St. Louis is home to major league sports teams (Cardinals, Blues and Rams), the world famous Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales, a world class zoo and much more.

Do & See

St. Louis boasts more major free visitor attractions than anywhere in the U.S. outside of the nation’s capital. The Saint Louis Art Museum, Science Center, and Zoo, History Museum, Museum of Westward Expansion, Anheuser-Busch Brewery, Laumeier Sculpture Park, Citygarden and many other sites are open free of charge.

The Saint Louis Zoo, considered one of the finest in the world, was a pioneer in the use of open enclosures, placing animals in natural environments without bars. Marlin Perkins was the Zoo’s most famous curator.

The Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales were originally a gift from August Busch to his father marking the end of prohibition. He presented his father with an eight-horse Clydesdale Hitch and a Budweiser beer wagon in April 1933. The team was sent to Washington, D.C. to deliver the first case of Budweiser beer brewed after prohibition to President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Dining

St. Louis boasts a wide range of eating options from fine dining to the downright funky. Whichever diner, café or restaurant you choose, you don’t want to miss these local specialties.
A Slinger is a savory combination of eggs, hash browns, meat, chili and cheese. This Midwest specialty is a St. Louis diner standard and can be served in classic or creative styles.
The popular Gooey Butter Cake was created in the 1930s when a local baker unknowingly switched the types of butter used in his cake recipe. This unique sugar-laden mix of butter, cream cheese, eggs and yellow cake is now a namesake dessert.
Experience the other white meat with a St. Louis barbecue favorite, Pork Steaks. Whether you prefer it rubbed, brined, marinated or slathered in barbecue sauce, pork steaks are a must-eat when dining in St. Louis.
Another top-choice of the locals is St. Louis-Style Thin Crust Pizza. Topped with Provel cheese (a special blend of provolone), Swiss and a rare white cheddar; the Lou’s special pizza pie will stand up with the best of them.
Toasted Ravioli is an undisputed St. Louis favorite. Filled with meat or cheese, this breaded and deep-fried version of the classic is best enjoyed sprinkled with Parmesan and a side of marinara.

Cafes

St. Louis may be known as a beer town (hard not to be with such a strong Anheuser Busch presence) but it’s also building a reputation as a stellar coffee town. This city, rich in beverage history, has gone through some great changes in the world of coffee the last few years.
Hometown roasting company Ronnoco Coffee is a $60 million company that is looking to double in size over the next few years. The St. Louis micro-roasting scene is also taking off. The Lou is home to a dozen or more local roasters including Kaldi’s Coffee, which has been producing top-pot coffee since 1994.
A distinct variety of local brew and goodies can be found in of the city’s neighborhoods.