St. Louis is widely known for its rich historical significance, especially the iconic Gateway Arch. However, it boasts of surprising attractions beyond these popular landmarks. Mixed up in the city’s vibrant environment are plenty of hidden gems and lesser-known delights that can only be discovered by curious visitors. Whether you want to visit, plan a wedding, or intend to relocate to St. Louis, below are surprising attractions you never thought could be found in this city.
1. The City Museum
The presence of a City Museum in St. Louis might be surprising to most people, including those who were born there. Unlike your regular museums, the City Museum is an artistic reuse, as it was once a shoe factory. Most of the exhibits found here are made from reclaimed materials like salvaged planes and old bridges.
Apart from the traditional exhibits, this museum also features modern installations. You can crawl through the tunnels or slide down chutes, find hidden passageways, and more. The space encourages a lot of creativity and play for visitors of all ages. The city museum also routinely hosts special events and workshops. With this, you’ll always find something exciting going on at the museum.
2. The Magic House
The magic house is ideally a children’s museum with plenty of exhibitions. Families touring or living in St. Louis should consider visiting it for the following reasons.
- Interactive exhibits: Most museums have fixed exhibits that tourists can’t touch or interact with. However, the magic house has over 100 interactive exhibits that engage children and encourage learning through play.
- An outdoor play area: Besides the indoor exhibits, the museum also has a spacious outdoor area with a playground full of interactive sculptures.
- Accessibility and inclusivity: The museum strives to ensure its exhibits and programs are accessible to all children. They also have modifications to accommodate children with special needs.
- Educational programs: Children of all ages also benefit from educational programs in the museum. These programs cover diverse learning areas, ranging from chemistry and arts to robotics.
Generally, the Magic House is a one-stop shop for endless children playing and learning activities. It is a perfect place for children to play, learn, and explore.
3. The Loop
The Loop is a perfectly located cultural and entertainment district on St. Louis Boulevard. Like the City Museum and the Magic House, there’s a lot that makes this place very interesting to visit. To begin, the Loop essentially comprises independently owned shops. This means visitors can explore various clothing stores, bookstores, and other shops in this place.
The attraction is also every foodie’s paradise. Apart from shops that stock all manner of things, the Loop also has several restaurants and eateries that offer cuisines from around the world. Most eateries also have live music venues for music lovers. You can catch performances from local artists, upcoming musicians, or touring artists.
You’ll also enjoy the regular cultural events and festivals at the Loop. The place hosts various cultural events with different themes throughout the year. This attracts visitors from other countries and cities.
Endnote
St. Louis is certainly a city of boundless surprises and unexpected delights. Apart from the iconic landmarks, visitors get to experience the city in many other ways, including hotels and parks. These little-known attractions help showcase the city’s creativity and reflect its commitment to fostering educational and cultural explorations.
