A Hidden Jewel in St. Louis - Don't Miss the Magic Chef Mansion!…read more What a historic gem! The Magic Chef Mansion is one of St. Louis' most stunning and best-kept secrets. If you haven't taken a tour, you are truly missing out. This architectural treasure offers a glimpse into another era--where craftsmanship, elegance, and timeless beauty meet. What makes it even more special is the incredible care and devotion of Shelly, the current owner and resident. It's amazing how she has lovingly restored the entire interior, tracking down original furniture, lighting fixtures, and period-appropriate details to bring this mansion back to its former glory. What an act of love--and one that every visitor can feel the moment they walk through the doors. Every room is a story, and the guided tour is filled with fascinating history, local lore, and exquisite details. Whether you're a St. Louis native or a visitor, this is an experience that belongs at the top of your list. The Magic Chef Mansion isn't just a tour--it's a living, breathing piece of art and history. Don't miss the chance to be a part of it.

This is a wonder!!!! Beautifully maintained and decorated mansion. Owner guided tour for our…read moregroup. Charge for tours but well worth seeing this amazing turn of the 20th century mansion.

Ok heights terrify me !…read more Somehow I managed to convince myself after watching a you tube video that I could do the tram ride to the top and I'm so happy I did ! Everything is pretty organized overall. We purchased our tickets , went through security , visited the museum and the gift shop before or tram started to load . It's does take about an hour for this whole process on a weekend . The tram itself isn't scary at all - the small window doesn't face anything that'll freak you out and your time at the top is limited ( so others can have their moment) so you're not up there long at all. This place is huge and yes there's also a cafe you can grab a bite at while waiting . Restrooms are extremely clean and The entire experience from start to finish was fantastic. Highly recommend.

Whether you're a tourist or a local, the arch never gets old. Make sure you book your tickets in…read moreadvance because they sell out pretty fast. The tram ride up is one of the most unique experiences. It's weird but also a cool sensation where you're moving sideways and upward at the same time, around 3 mph. The ride down feels slightly faster for some reason. Each tram fits a maximum of 5 people (or 6 with a baby in lap), so it is a snug little pod. If you or someone in your group has claustrophobia, I wouldn't let it stop you. Some of my friends have mild claustrophobia and they were fine. The tour guides while you're waiting in line are enthusiastic and keep things fun. I appreciated them. Once you get to the top, you have about 8 to 10 minutes to take in the view through these little windows that kind of make you feel like you're looking out of a plane. The view of the river is nice and you can spot planes and ships from up there. While you're waiting for your time slot or even after, there's a really nice Missouri history museum section at the entrance worth browsing through. Don't skip the gift shop, it's worth a quick stop. The grounds under the arch are a full park, so it's a great excuse to just be outside and enjoy the space. Perfect for families, friends, or anyone who wants a fun and easy way to spend some time in the city.

It's worth noting that there are two Basilicas in downtown Saint Louis and this is the one that is…read moreadjacent to the Gateway Arch Park at the riverside. Officially named the "Basilica of St. Louis, King of France", this was the first cathedral west of the Mississippi River, built between 1831 and 1834. It is one of the only buildings that was not demolished to make way for the Arch and the park. That proximity makes it quite a popular tourist destination. Built in Greek Revival style, the church is noted for its marble altars, a painting of Saint Louis venerating the Crown of Thorns given by Louis XVIII, King of France and Navarre, and an accurate copy of the painting of the Crucifixion by Diego Velázquez installed in the church in the latter half of the twentieth century. Note: The parking lot here is specifically for cathedral visitors and can not be used for parking to see other stuff in downtown. [Review 17230 overall - 138 in Missouri - 747 of 2022.]

I was here for a wedding. The cathedral is beautiful, old world elegance. Large windows letting a…read moretremendous amount of light in. The service was excellent and the priest was kind, gentle and funny with the bride and groom. It was a delightful wedding.

Very nice setting and atmosphere . , nice people. Food / is so so, but good enough. Selection not…read moregreat. Food appeared old at lunch , not crisp & fresh

Docent lead tour of an amazing and well loved house. So well maintained with commitment and love…read more Our docent was so knowledgeable! No doubts about her love of this house and keeping this beauty around for all to enjoy!

I went here for a Friday night concert over the summer. It was very relaxing and entertaining all…read morein one. I forgot the name of the artist, but her performance along with the live band was so captivating. This place gives date night, solo date, and family trip all at the same time. I love events such as these. Also, I know downtown parking usually isn't the best. However, because of the time and people getting off work to head home, parking was quite easy to find. I was able to park within reasonable walking distance near the Hooters across the street.

Tours met here but we came over to get a picture of the old City Hall through the Arch. There's a…read morevisitor center here and a sculpture of a runner. The very interesting shrubbery caught my attention as well as the intricate playground here. There were people working in the garden that was very informative about the types of trees & told me the exotic Pagoda Tree is from Japan.

We joined a group of people to do a group tour of the Frank Lloyd Wright house in Kirkwood, MO. It…read moreis well worth the $20 tour fee. Anne was our docent. She was very knowledgeable about Wright and Russell and Ruth Kraus who the house was built for and the only residents. The Kraus house is one of the very few Wright houses that have not been remodeled and contains the original furniture designed by Wright. It has a cozy feel from the time you walk inside. I was intrigued by the esthetic design throughout the home.

I've been to about 150 Frank Lloyd Wright homes and have been lucky enough to have been inside…read morearound 30. We didn't know if we could get on the tour that day so we first stopped by to see it and take some pictures. We met an intern and found out that we could get in on a tour about 2 hours later. So we paid our fee and went to see Frank Lloyd Wright's mentor, Louis Sullivan's Wainwright Building in downtown St. Louis. I believe this is one of Sullivan's best work still standing. When we returned for the tour I was stunned. This is a great, late house by Wright that has many magical and playful elements to it. It's has most of the original furnishings and something totaling unexpected in a Usonian house--art glass windows. The tour guide was new and did an excellent. Everyone involved in this project should be very proud of the work they've done, and continue to do.

As I stroll up to the World's Fair Pavilion in ForestPark, just one of my routines before another…read morememorable show at TheMuny! There's just something about those luscious lavender blooms that keep me returning. I mean, who knew a Victorian-era bandstand would be my weekly hit of natural scent in the summer? This spot was built for the 1904 World's Fair and it's still as beautiful as ever! I recommend going prior to a Muny show or it's a nice digestive walk after eating at the Boathouse.

Ive been to many events at this large pavilion in Forest Park. Most recently, Veg Fest. Electricity…read morefor live music and/or speaker. Clean, maintained public restrooms. Plenty of spaces outside of pavilion for tents, vendors, etc. Parking throughout the park. Beautiful view over the park and fountain. Love this place!

If you love all things dark, spooky, and STL, than St. Louis Paranormal Research Society's Lemp…read moreHaunted Neighborhood Walking tour. Despite being married at Lemp in 2021, almost everything I learned was completely new information. I especially appreciated the balance between history and legend and how the walking tour extended well beyond the Lemp. This made for a fun date night and I'd love to return in the future with friends!

What a spooktacular tour! Filled with history, lore and spirits! Our guide was super informative…read moreand passionate. Ghostly tales are one of the best way to keep our history alive and minds captivated. Keep it spooky!

This is a smaller movie theater, located within Plaza Frontenac. Please note there are several…read moresteps to get into the theater but they do offer a wheelchair elevator, but that may require assistance from a staff member. One thing unusual about this theater is there is not a concession stand. Bring your own snacks and fill up your water bottle before you go in because the bathroom and water fountain are not within the theater complex. Many of the movies that are shown here are independent films and more of the art house variety.

I can no longer recommend this cinema until the current renovation is done, (which they are open…read moreduring this process). Considering ticket prices, hard, flattened out seats, uneven sound, no fresh popcorn and a bathroom across the mall is not a desirable movie going experience. In the past this was a pretty good place to see some of the non mainstream movies but my recent visit here Dec 2023 made up my mind, I'll pass until thing get resolved.

The historic Hi-Pointe Theatre opened in 1922. It has had many renovations over the years, but it…read moremaintains a retro atmosphere. Independent and classic movies are showcased here. The widescreen picture is sharp, and the auditorium is wired for Dolby Digital surround sound. The parking map from the Hi-Pointe Theatre website shows multiple parking areas. You can park in the Lindell Bank parking lot after 6:00 p.m. Monday to Friday, after 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, and all day on Sunday.

It really is a massive bummer that stupid weed shop took over the whole parking lot... they have…read moresomeone who sits there and makes you move your car across the street to the bank... hateful.