Your Ultimate Guide to an Unforgettable Time Near Washington University in St. Louis
Hey there! So, you're hanging out around Washington University in St. Louis, huh? Whether you're a new student trying to figure out what's beyond the campus grounds, a proud parent visiting your kid, or just in the neighborhood, you've landed in a pretty awesome spot. St. Louis is one of those cities that might not scream the loudest, but it's packed with hidden gems, incredible history, & a vibe that’s all its own.
I’ve spent a good amount of time exploring the ins & outs of this city, especially the areas right around WashU. & let me tell you, there’s SO much to do. Forget being bored. From world-class free museums to quirky neighborhoods & some of the best food you'll ever have, you're in for a treat.
This isn't going to be your typical, sterile travel guide. We're going to dive deep, like a friend giving you the real scoop. We'll cover the big-ticket items, the local secrets, & everything in between. Let's get into it.
Right on Your Doorstep: Forest Park & The Delmar Loop
Honestly, you could have an amazing time without ever straying more than a mile from campus. WashU is lucky enough to have two of St. Louis's most vibrant areas as its neighbors: Forest Park & the Delmar Loop.
Forest Park: Your Giant Backyard
First things first, let's talk about Forest Park. This place is an absolute treasure. At nearly 1,300 acres, it's bigger than New York City's Central Park, & it’s located right next to the Danforth Campus. You can literally just walk over. It's not just a big patch of grass; it’s the heart of the city's cultural life, & the best part? So much of it is completely FREE.
Saint Louis Art Museum (SLAM): Perched on a hill with a stunning view of the park, SLAM is a must-visit. It has a massive collection spanning continents & centuries. You can see everything from ancient Egyptian artifacts to works by Monet & Picasso. It's the kind of place you can wander for hours & still not see everything. & did I mention it's free? Because it is. It's a perfect spot for a thoughtful afternoon.
Saint Louis Zoo: Consistently ranked as one of the best zoos in the country, the Saint Louis Zoo is another free gem in Forest Park. It’s home to thousands of animals in beautifully designed habitats. The sea lion exhibit is a personal favorite, & the primate house is always a lively visit. It's a full-day adventure in itself.
Missouri History Museum: Want to get to know St. Louis on a deeper level? This is the place. They have fascinating exhibits, including a permanent one on the 1904 World's Fair, which was held right here in Forest Park. It's wild to think about the massive event that once stood where you're now walking.
The Muny: The Muny is America's oldest & largest outdoor musical theatre. If you're here in the summer, catching a show is a quintessential St. Louis experience. The atmosphere on a warm evening, with the stars overhead & a Broadway-quality production on stage, is just magical.
The Jewel Box: This art deco greenhouse is as pretty as its name suggests. It costs a dollar to get in, but it’s worth it to see the stunning floral displays inside. It's a peaceful, beautiful escape.
Beyond these big attractions, Forest Park is just a great place to be. You can rent a paddleboat, go for a run on the numerous trails, have a picnic, or even play a round of golf. It’s a huge part of the WashU experience.
The Delmar Loop: Where the Action Is
If Forest Park is the city's living room, the Delmar Loop is its eclectic, high-energy playroom. It's a six-block stretch of entertainment, restaurants, & shops that's an easy walk from the north side of campus. The Loop has a unique energy, with its own star-studded walk of fame honoring famous St. Louisans.
Foodie Paradise: The Loop is a culinary melting pot. You've got iconic spots like Blueberry Hill, a restaurant & music club that’s a St. Louis institution. It's packed with pop culture memorabilia & has a great menu. Go for a burger & stay for a game of darts. Then there's Salt + Smoke, serving up some of the city's best barbecue. If you're craving something different, you can find amazing Korean tacos at Seoul Taco, authentic Thai food, or delicious Chinese at Corner 17.
Live Music & Entertainment: The Pageant is one of St. Louis's premier music venues, hosting a wide range of artists. Pin-Up Bowl is a cool, retro-style bowling alley that's perfect for a night out with friends.
Shopping & Browsing: You'll find quirky boutiques, vintage clothing stores like Avalon Exchange, & a fantastic record shop in the Loop. It's a great place to just wander around & see what you find.
Here's the thing about the Loop: it's popular. & that means parking can be a real headache, especially on a weekend night. If you're driving in from a bit further away or meeting friends, circling for a spot can be a frustrating start to your evening. This is where a service like Prked can be a lifesaver. It connects you with local homeowners who are renting out their driveways for parking. You can book a spot in advance & know exactly where you're going. It's a simple, smart solution to a common problem, letting you skip the parking stress & get right to the fun.
Exploring St. Louis's Signature Attractions
Once you've explored your immediate surroundings, it's time to venture a little further & see the sights that define St. Louis.
The Gateway Arch: An Iconic Experience
You can't come to St. Louis & not see the Gateway Arch. It's the nation's tallest monument & an incredible feat of engineering. Taking the tram ride to the top is a must-do. The little pods you ride in are a bit futuristic & a little retro, & the view from 630 feet up is breathtaking. You can see for miles in every direction, with the city on one side & the mighty Mississippi River on the other.
The museum at the base of the Arch is also fantastic & was recently renovated. It's free to enter & tells the story of westward expansion in an engaging way. Downtown St. Louis, where the Arch is located, is a short drive from WashU. Again, parking can be a bit of a challenge, especially on a nice day when everyone has the same idea. Planning your parking ahead of time with an app like Prked can make the whole experience smoother. You just pull up, park in your reserved spot, & walk over to the Arch without a care.
City Museum: A Playground for All Ages
Okay, how do I even begin to describe the City Museum? It's not a museum in the traditional sense. It's more like a massive, surreal, industrial playground built by artists. It’s made almost entirely from reclaimed architectural & industrial objects. Think secret passages, a 10-story slide, outdoor climbing structures, a rooftop Ferris wheel, & an aquarium.
It’s a place that unleashes your inner child. You WILL get lost, you WILL climb on things, & you WILL have an absolute blast. It's a truly unique St. Louis experience that you won't find anywhere else. A word of advice: wear comfortable clothes & closed-toe shoes. This is an active adventure.
A Note on Storage & Space
Living in a dorm or a small apartment near campus often means one thing: a lack of space. Maybe you're an out-of-state student with stuff you don't want to drag home every summer. Or perhaps you've accumulated more textbooks, clothes, & gear than you know what to do with. This is another area where thinking outside the box helps. Instead of a traditional, often expensive, storage unit, you can use Prked for storage solutions too. People rent out their empty garages, basements, or attics for a fraction of the cost. It's a secure, local, & affordable way to store your belongings, whether it's for a few months over the summer or for a longer term. Pretty cool, right?
A Deep Dive into St. Louis Culture
Beyond the big, flashy attractions, St. Louis has a rich cultural fabric that's incredibly rewarding to explore.
Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis: Whether you're religious or not, you will be awestruck by the Cathedral Basilica. It houses the largest collection of mosaics in the world outside of Russia. The sheer scale & beauty of the artwork are breathtaking. It took decades to complete, & every inch of the interior seems to shimmer. It's a peaceful, awe-inspiring place to spend an hour.
The Hill: This historic neighborhood is the heart of St. Louis's Italian-American community. It's a charming area with fire hydrants painted to look like Italian flags, family-owned bakeries, & some of the best Italian food you'll find anywhere. Go to a place like Zia's or Charlie Gitto's for a classic meal, & don't leave without grabbing some cannoli from a local bakery.
Laumeier Sculpture Park: A bit of a drive, but totally worth it. Laumeier is a 105-acre open-air museum with over 60 large-scale sculptures. It's a beautiful blend of art & nature, & it's a great place to walk around on a nice day.
The Fabulous Fox Theatre: This opulent theatre is a restored 1920s movie palace that now hosts touring Broadway shows, concerts, & other events. The interior is absolutely stunning, with a blend of Siamese & Byzantine styles. Just seeing a show there feels like a special occasion.
Getting a Taste of the Local Flavor
St. Louis has a unique culinary scene with some signature dishes you have to try.
St. Louis-Style Barbecue: We've already mentioned Salt + Smoke, but St. Louis is a serious barbecue town. Pappy's Smokehouse is another legendary spot with ribs that fall off the bone. The key to St. Louis-style is the sauce – it's typically sweet, tangy, & a little bit spicy.
Toasted Ravioli: This is a St. Louis original. It's exactly what it sounds like: breaded, deep-fried ravioli, usually served with marinara sauce for dipping. You'll find it on appetizer menus all over the city, especially on The Hill.
Gooey Butter Cake: A dense, flat cake with a gooey, buttery topping. It's a St. Louis dessert staple & it's ridiculously delicious. You can find it at bakeries & coffee shops across the city.
The Food Truck Scene: St. Louis has a thriving food truck scene. Keep an eye out for Food Truck Fridays in Tower Grove Park, where dozens of trucks gather to serve up everything from gourmet tacos to wood-fired pizza.
Day Trips & Further Adventures
If you have access to a car & want to explore a bit beyond the city limits, there are some great options.
Missouri Botanical Garden: This is one of the top botanical gardens in the world. It's a stunning 79-acre oasis with a Japanese garden, a tropical rainforest conservatory called the Climatron, & beautiful Victorian gardens. It's a perfect place for a peaceful, beautiful day.
Meramec Caverns: About an hour's drive from St. Louis, you can explore this massive underground cave system. The guided tours take you past incredible rock formations. It's a cool (literally) escape on a hot summer day.
Six Flags St. Louis: If you're a thrill-seeker, Six Flags is about 45 minutes away & has all the roller coasters & water park fun you could ask for.
For any of these trips, you'll obviously need a car. & if you live on or near campus, you know that having a car can be a double-edged sword. You have the freedom to go wherever you want, but you also have to deal with the constant question of where to park it. Campus parking passes can be expensive & limited. This is another scenario where thinking about peer-to-peer solutions like Prked makes a lot of sense. You might be able to find a homeowner near campus who is willing to rent out their driveway or garage space for the semester or the year for much less than a university permit. It gives you the convenience of having your car nearby without the official-lot hassle.
Wrapping It All Up
So there you have it. A whirlwind tour of all the amazing things to do near Washington University. From the free, world-class institutions in Forest Park to the vibrant energy of the Delmar Loop, the iconic Gateway Arch, & the wonderfully weird City Museum, St. Louis has something for everyone.
The key is to get out there & explore. Walk through different neighborhoods, try new foods, & soak in the culture. Don't be afraid to venture off the beaten path. And when it comes to the practical stuff, like a figuring out where to park your car or store your extra belongings, remember that there are smart, simple solutions like Prked that can make life a whole lot easier.
Hope this was helpful & gives you a great starting point for your St. Louis adventures. It's a truly special city with a lot to offer. Let me know what you think, & what your favorite spots are once you discover them
