12 Best Non-Touristy Things To Do In St Louis, Missouri - Updated 2024

non touristy things to do in st louis
Melanie
Melanie 
Updated
| 4 min read

Located along the banks of the Mississippi River, St Louis is the second most populated city in Missouri. Because of the number of tourists they receive each year, it’s also easy to find vacation rentals, hotels, and other accommodations. Visitors can also visit known tourist attractions, including but not limited to the Gateway Arch, Saint Louis Zoo, The Magic House, and the Saint Louis Science Center. Being located where the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers meet, the place also has a lot of options for those who want to see nature or go on a calm getaway preferably in a cabin with a hot tub. If, however, you want to go somewhere that’s a little different from where the crowds usually go, you can take a pick from this list of the best non-touristy things to do in St Louis, Missouri.

1. Go on a tour of Anheuser-Busch St. Louis Brewery

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Source: Photo by Flickr user Bev Sykes used under CC BY 2.0

Looking for cool things to do in St. Louis? Home to Budweiser, the Anheuser-Busch St. Louis has opened its doors for tours since the 1890s. The Day Fresh Tour will take you around the property and show you how they produce their beers, from the raw ingredients up to the bottling process! Guests 21 years and older are given a Fay Fresh beer as a souvenir.

Want to taste freshly brewed beer? Join the Finisher Tour! Take a look at the fermentation cellars and treat yourself to a taste of freshly brewed beer. If you’re like most people and love Budweiser, the Beermaster Tour is the tour for you. It showcases how Budweisers are brewed.

Anheuser-Busch St. Louis Brewery

Address: 1200 Lynch St, St. Louis, MO 63118, United States

Website: Anheuser-Busch St. Louis Brewery

Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 11am - 6pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 4pm (closed on Thu & Fri)

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2. Go shopping at Soulard Farmer's Market

Soulard Farmers Market Welcomes You!
Source: Photo by Flickr user Paul Sableman used under CC BY 2.0

With 147 stalls in the market, there’s surely something for everyone! This historic market is a must-see place in St. Louis and has almost 250 years of history, having been founded in 1779. You can find a variety of fresh produce such as fruits and vegetables, bread, seafood, meat, spices, flowers, and other merchandise for sale.

Located in Carroll St., the market can be one of your stops as you explore all that St. Louis has to offer. It is located within a mile of other popular attractions such as the National Blues Museum, Busch Stadium, Anheuser Busch Brewery tours, Gateway Arch grounds, and Gateway Riverboat Museum.

Soulard Farmer's Market

Address: 730 Carroll St, St. Louis, MO 63104, United States

Website: Soulard Farmer’s Market

Opening hours: Wed - Thu: 8am - 5pm; Fri: 7:30am - 5pm; Sat: 7am - 5pm (closed on Sun, Mon, & Tue)

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3. Enjoy a hot dog at Woofie's


Hotdog lovers should not miss out on visiting Woofie’s, one of St. Louis’s best-kept secrets. Must-tries include the Chicago-style and the Coney - one bite from either one will make you feel as though you have been transported to their namesakes. If you want something on the side, the fries are not to be missed as well. Do note that the space here is pretty small, so you may want to come in early to beat the crowds or order your hot dog to go.

Woofie's

Address: 1919 Woodson Rd, St. Louis, MO, USA

Website: Woofie’s

Opening hours: Mon to Wed: 11am - 5:30pm; Thurs to Sat: 11 am - 6:30 pm; closed on Sundays

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4. Watch a movie at the Skyview Drive-In


If you’re looking for activities to do in St. Louis, watch a movie at Skyview Drive-In. Opened in 1947, it is the only remaining drive-in that is in operation within the vicinity. Open between the months of April and September, this venue provides guests the opportunity to watch a film under the stars. Visitors are welcome to bring their food and drinks, although there are concession stands in the area if they need to buy some snacks. The audio is played via FM radio, so make sure that you have a sufficient charge on your car battery or bring a portable radio.

Skyview Drive-In

Address: 5700 N. Belt West, Belleville, IL

Website: Skyview Drive-In

Opening hours: Sunset

Price: 11 USD

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5. Go bowling at Pin-Up Bowl


If you’re looking for a late-night hangout spot in St Louis, be sure to check out Pin-Up Bowl, which is open until 3 am daily. The establishment has its own bar with a fairly extensive food and drinks menu. There’s plenty of seating on the bar area and even by the lanes, so you don’t have to worry about where to put your food or drink when it’s your turn to bowl.

Pin-Up Bowl

Address: 6191 Delmar in The Loop, St Louis, MO

Website: Pin-Up Bowl

Opening hours: Mon to Thurs: 3pm - 3am; Fri to Sun: 12pm - 3am

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6. Enjoy watching a sailboat race at Creve Coeur Lake

Creve Coeur Lake Boating
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Pp391 used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Creve Coeur Lake is one of the largest lakes in Missouri and it is big enough to allow boat races, ranging from sailboats to vessels as large as dragon boats. Kayaks can be rented here. The park where it is located also features a number of walking trails if you want to explore the woods there. If you want to take your dog for a walk, you can do so here, since pets are welcome.

Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park

Address: 13236 Streetcar Dr, Maryland Heights, Saint Louis, MO 63043-4710

Opening hours: 8am - 8:30pm (daily)

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7. Unwind at Forest Park

Forest Park 032
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Ohsteven used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Forest Park is the place to head to if you want to take a break from the urban sprawl of St Louis by going on a nature walk. You can easily while the day in the park, which features forests, lakes, and streams among its sights. Besides its many natural wonders, Forest Park also serves as a venue for a variety of shows and events in the city throughout the year, so be sure to check the calendar if you want to know what to expect when you visit here.

Forest Park

Address: Concourse Drive, Saint Louis, MO

Website: Forest Park

Opening hours: 6am - 10pm (daily)

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8. Visit Vintage Vinyl


Vintage Vinyl should definitely be among the places to go in St. Louis for music aficionados! As the name suggests, this is the place to go to if you’re looking for vinyl records, although they also sell CDs, DVDs, Blu-Ray, and even cassettes. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable, so if you’re looking for a record, don’t hesitate to ask them if they have it on hand.

Vintage Vinyl

Address: 6610 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, MO

Website: Vintage Vinyl

Opening hours: Sun to Thurs: 10am - 8pm; Fri to Sat: 10am - 10pm

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9. Enjoy a show at The Muny

Muny 2017
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Dalstadt used under CC BY-SA 4.0

The St. Louis Municipal Opera Theatre, more popularly known as the Muny, is the oldest and largest outdoor musical theater in the country. Shows are held between June and September. Broke? Don’t worry, because approximately 1,500 seats, located on the last nine rows, are for free. All you need to do is to show up and grab a seat. Be warned though, because seating is available on a first come, first served basis.

The Muny

Address: 1 Theatre Dr, St. Louis, MO

Website: Muny

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10. Wander through the St Louis Delmar Loop (from USD 59.0)

Foodies, this is the tour for you! This guided tour, which runs for approximately three hours, takes guests on a walking tour of Delmar Loop. As they stroll through the area and see the historical and cultural landmarks in the neighborhood, tourists can enjoy samples of food from local restaurants and pastry shops. Make sure to wear comfortable clothes and shoes if you join the tour!

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St Louis Delmar Loop 3-Hour Small-Group Food Tour with Guide

Duration: 3 hours

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11. See the animals at Suson Park

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Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Kbh3rd used under CC BY 3.0

Suson Park is a family-friendly destination in St Louis- pets are welcome here as well. Those traveling with children who are animal lovers may want to visit the working animal farm on the site. For those who want to experience the wilder side of nature, fishing is allowed here. There are also nature trails that visitors can explore and catch sight of the local wildlife.

Suson Park

Address: 6073 Wells Road, Saint Louis, MO

Opening hours: 8am to 30 minutes past sunset (daily)

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12. Go to the archaeological site of Cahokia Mounds

Cahokia Mounds World Heritage Site, Illinois 01
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Stephanie A. Terry used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Located less than an hour’s drive away from St Louis is Collinsville, home of the Cahokia Mounds, which provides visitors a glimpse of the life of the Native Americans who once lived in the area. Both the film and the museum feature artifacts and exhibits for educational purposes, while the mounds themselves can be explored by visitors.

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site

Address: 30 Ramey Dr, Collinsville, IL

Website: Cahokia Mounds

Opening hours: 8am to dusk (daily)

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Unlimited attractions to choose from

St Louis is one city that never fails to offer something new to visitors. Whether you’re looking for the standard fare for tourists or want to go down the road less traveled, you’ll surely not find yourself wanting when you visit this place. Plan your trip to St Louis now and see its many different sides.

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Frequently asked questions about non-touristy things to do in St Louis, Missouri


Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Melanie is a freelance travel writer. She considers freelancing for Trip 101 to be a combination of two of the things she loves: writing and traveling. She has gone sightseeing with family,...Read more

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