Barbecue, blues, baseball and beyond — there’s plenty for groups to love about St. Louis.
Located just south of where the Mississippi and Missouri rivers meet, this vibrant, historic city was the site of the 1904 World’s Fair. Today, its world-class attractions, thriving culinary and arts scenes and abundant green spaces make it an ideal destination for groups, said Brian Hall, chief marketing officer for Explore St. Louis.
“Here, we’re creative and eclectic, with a strong sense of community,” said Hall, citing the architecture behind the current $259 million expansion at the America’s Center Convention Complex. “The concave shape was built to resemble the open arms and Midwestern hospitality you experience when you come to St. Louis.”
With direct flights from 80 U.S. cities to Lambert International Airport, and with one-third of the country’s population within a day’s drive, logistics are a breeze — and so is getting around, Hall added.
“We have a fabulous app-based light rail system, MetroLink,” he said. “From the convention center, I could hop on a train and be at the airport in 30 minutes, for $2.50.”
It’s easy to plan an itinerary that includes faith-based attractions, such as the Black Madonna Shrine and Grottos, the circa-1830 Historic Trinity Lutheran Church, and the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows — one of America’s largest outdoor shrines.
For sports-obsessed groups, the city offers year-round action.
“The St. Louis Blues play at the Enterprise Center, there’s Busch Stadium for the Cardinals, and a brand-new Major League Soccer startup team — plus 8,000 downtown hotel rooms at all price points,” Hall said.
A short walk from Busch Stadium, Ballpark Village features a wealth of entertainment and dining options for groups of 20 up to 8,000. Valley Sports Live is a supersized sports pub, and Cardinals Nation is a clubhouse for fans and foodies. The Crown Room at Budweiser Brew House is an elevated nightlife venue that delivers direct sight lines to the field.
Here are four more ways groups can explore and enjoy the Gateway City.
Gateway Arch National Park
Discover the country’s smallest national park and tallest human-made monument in the country — the 630-foot-high Gateway Arch, which symbolizes the westward expansion of settlers in the United States. The park’s recent $380 million makeover includes a new underground museum with free admission and redeveloped park land. At the museum, groups can watch a documentary, “Monument to the Dream,” before taking a four-minute tram ride to the top of the arch for panoramic city views. Visitors can tour the newly restored Old Courthouse to stand in the footsteps of American heroes or book a private sightseeing cruise along the Mighty Mississippi.
St. Louis Union Station
Built in 1894, St. Louis Union Station was the busiest train station in the United States during the 20th century. Now, it has been reimagined as a 567-room hotel and indoor-outdoor entertainment complex with a wide array of experience options. It is home to the St. Louis Aquarium, known for its interactive, “hands-wet” touch tank experiences and more than 13,000 animals, including sea turtles, rays, sharks and otters. From the 200-foot-high St. Louis Wheel, visitors fly high over the city skyline in one of 42 gondolas. Thrill-seekers can try the high ropes course and zipline. Groups can take in a 3D light show, which runs hourly every evening in the Grand Hall, or enjoy a lakeside fire and light show set to music and featuring a 100-foot-tall glowing waterfall.
City Foundry
Once a working foundry that fabricated electric motor parts in the 1920s, the sprawling City Foundry now houses St. Louis’ first European-style food hall. Populated by chef-driven restaurants and eclectic boutiques stocking locally made products, craft beer and more, this dynamic venue offers a wristband option so guests can choose from 19 eateries. There are also fun group activities, including Puttshack, an upscale, high-tech, two-level mini-golf facility and restaurant; the Museum of Illusions; Alamo Drafthouse, a 10-screen movie theater and restaurant; City Winery, which hosts live concerts and comedy shows; and Sandbox VR, where groups can participate in one of six immersive worlds for some friendly competition.
Missouri Botanical Garden
Home to more than 51,000 plants, the Missouri Botanical Garden is also one of the world’s top three scientific research institutions, working with 140 countries to discover and propagate new plants. The 79-acre facility features many educational programs and workshops for groups. Known for its spherical Climatron greenhouse — the first geodesic dome used as a conservatory — and its unique Japanese garden dotted with bridges around a four-acre lake, the botanical garden welcomes 1 million visitors annually. It hosts special events throughout the year, including Garden Glow from November to January, the Orchid Show in February and Chinese Cultural Days in May.
