As one of the largest cities in Missouri, St Louis is home to some big cultural attractions as well as great live music venues. When you rent a car at St Louis Airport, you’ll also have the chance to head further afield and explore some of the highlights in the surrounding region.
Iconic landmark
The most famous symbol of St Louis is its Gateway Arch, which symbolises the city’s historic role as the ‘Gateway to the West’. Standing over 620 feet high, it’s made from thousands of tons of concrete and steel, forming an elegant arc soaring majestically over the skyline.
Take a tram ride to the observation deck and enjoy panoramic views of the city and surrounding area. On a clear day, you can see for around 45 kilometres.
At ground level, there’s a museum where you can learn all about the pioneers of America. There’s also the option to take a cruise on a replica 19th-century riverboat - a great way to see all the sights of the city.
Park life
Just a short drive from Gateway Arch is another of the city’s most famous sites - Forest Park. This 1,300-acre green space in actually home to some of the area’s top cultural institutions. These include the St Louis Art Museum, a vast and varied collection of great art works, and Missouri History Museum, where you can learn about the state’s storied past.
Other highlights include the Jewel Box, an Art Deco greenhouse with hundreds of exotic flowers and plants. Events take place in the park all year round, from free outdoor concerts in the summer to ice-skating on the Steinberg Rink in the winter.
Rhythm and blues
For music fans, a trip to the National Blues Museum in St Louis is a real must. It houses fascinating exhibits exploring the history of the genre and its early pioneers, as well as the Lumiere Place Legends Room, where you can see live performances every week.
St Louis has an incredible musical heritage so, as you might expect, there are an array of concert halls, clubs, venues and lounges all over the city to take in blues, jazz and more.
For live outdoor music, head to the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre. Or try Hammerstone’s, in the historic Soulard neighbourhood, where you can see local and regional talent performing seven nights a week.
Back to nature
As well as exploring all the best bits of the city, St Louis Airport car rental also allows you to get on the open road to discover some of the highlights in the surrounding region of Missouri.
Just a 90-minute drive south of the city is Mark Twain National Forest, located within the Missouri Ozarks. It’s home to open grassy woodlands and savannahs, with plenty of trails for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking. The forest also plays host to hundreds of wildlife species, from bald eagles to black bears – be sure to bring along your camera.
There are lakes and streams suitable for kayaking and canoeing, as well as camping grounds where you can spend a night under the stars.
With car rental from St Louis Airport, all this and more is within easy reach.
