St. Louis is among the most famous cities in the state of Missouri. And many of you’ve probably heard about its famous tourist attractions, like the Missouri Botanical Garden, Forest Park, Gateway Arch, and others, which make the trip to St. Louis predictable for anyone.
However, knowing the famous spots also helps some lesser-known destinations remain hidden from a wide audience. If we talk about the hidden gems in St. Louis, you will be shocked to see that so many destinations that could’ve easily been the city’s highlight are so secret that some locals rarely know about them, which include restaurants, galleries, neighborhoods, and different natural attractions.
Table of Contents
1. Third Degree Glass
Address: 5200 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108
If you are a fan of glass art and would like to purchase or make it, then you should visit Third Degree Glass Factory. This hidden gem in St.Louis is a place you shouldn’t miss.
Upon entering the studio, you will see different types of glass art all around you; it’s like a world made of glass inside the studio. You will see every kind of piece, from glass jewelry to large sculptures, and especially the showpieces that visitors love to purchase for home interiors.
But among the most astonishing features of this studio are the glassblowing demonstrations, where you will see artists melting and shaping these pieces in front of you. The artists and staff will also provide a helping hand in case you have any questions related to glass art.
Moreover, if you are a real glass art fan, you can also make your own piece here (my favorite thing here). There is also a section where you can arrange different events.
The best time to visit this place is during the “Third Friday” open house events when you will see fellow visitors making glass art on their own with the assistance of a professional.
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2. Emmenegger Nature Park
Address: 11991 Stoneywood Dr, St. Louis, MO 63122
Emenegger Nature Park is for those who want to take a break from their routine and escape to nature. This hidden gem is located on I-44 along the Meramec River.
Start your visit with hiking. This nature park has well-maintained trails that are perfect for hiking and vary in difficulty, which makes them accessible to every kind of individual. This park’s main loop is between 1.5 to 2 miles.
It’s not only the hiking side that is unique, but most families love visiting the picnic area of this park, as restrooms, tables, benches, and other areas make this place family-friendly. There is also a big area covered with grass where visitors, especially kids, can play around and appreciate the natural scenery. It’s a very well-maintained and clean park.
Moreover, Emmenegger Nature Park is also dog-friendly, so you can bring your dog with you. And before going back, head to the Meramec River, which is close to this park, to give your picnic or drive break a unique end with stunning views of the river.
3. The Moto Museum
Address: 3408 Locust St, St. Louis, MO 63103
Every motorbike lover has dreamed of visiting a place like the Moto Museum, which is a private motorbike collection of its founder, Steve Smith.
Upon entering, you will be welcomed by vintage motorcycles that will take you back to the 1900s. This museum’s entire collection has a history of over 100 years, with information plaques describing the historical context of each bike.
This trip will be fun, and you will also learn about the improvements and evolution in modern-day engineering, design, and style in motorbikes. It’s not only a national collection, but you will also see a wide variety of vintage bikes from over 20 countries, including England, Germany, and Italy.
Among the best things about this museum is the hands-on display where you can touch and even sit on the bike, which is great, especially when you want to click pictures.
4. Soulard Art Gallery
Address: 2028 S 12th St, St. Louis, MO 63104
If you genuinely love local artistic work, you should definitely check out the Soulard Art Gallery, which is often overlooked in the historic Soulard neighborhood.
Upon entering, give yourself time to check out every artistic piece there. It’s not a very big gallery, so give yourself time to appreciate each piece. The best thing about this gallery is that almost every piece is affordable, as it is made by local artists in the neighborhood.
What many tourists love about this place, apart from being affordable, is the rotating exhibits. Whether you want a painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, photography, or jewelry, you will get it, as there is something for everyone.
The gallery also schedules monthly meetups, during which you can meet various local artists, ask them about their art and journey, and have a formal discussion about modern art.
5. Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum
Address: 14301 Creve Coeur Airport Rd, St. Louis, MO 63146
Just outside St.Louis in Maryland Heights, the Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum is a hidden gem at Creve Coeur Airport. If you are interested in learning about historical aircraft, head to this rare museum.
Here, you will see displayed aircraft as early as from the 1920s and 40s (Golden Age of Flights). You will see how airplanes used to look in the beginning and will be amazed by how modern aviation has developed so many advanced technologies in such a short time.
This museum has four active display hangers, each with a better collection than the other. The entire collection of aircraft in this museum is 49, which the museum plans to increase by constantly working on restoring vintage aircraft.
This place is not only about displaying aircraft; it also restores old aircraft and prepares them for display on one of the four hangers. Moreover, this museum mainly displays aircraft built in this area or have local or historical value.
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6. James S. McDonnell Planetarium
Address: 5100 Clayton Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110
James S. McDonnell Planetarium is something that you shouldn’t miss while exploring the gigantic St. Louis Science Center, which covers over 300,000 square feet. While entry to this section is free, you may have to pay for parking.
This planetarium has exhibits and shows to educate visitors in a way that people of all ages appreciate. The laser light show, star show, and public telescope viewing are among the famous exhibits and activities, where you can go under a gigantic artificial sky and see different planets around, with one of the best setups and projectors in this planetarium, making it look natural.
Other famous sections in this planetarium include the Liftoff Gallery, where you will see 2 actual capsules that were used in the 1960s. The Mars Gallery displays how astronauts will probably live their life on Mars in the future; and the Boeing Space Station if you are interested in learning about life in space and how astronauts spent their time there. There are also different exhibits and a gift shop.
7. James S. McDonnell Prologue Room
Address: 9000 Airport Rd, Berkeley, MO 63134
The James S. McDonnell Prologue Room is in Boeing headquarters, a 20-minute drive from the St.Louis Science Center. It is a museum that tells stories of the past about spacecraft and aerospace. The only limitation of this museum is that it’s only open for visitors in June, July, and August.
Upon entering, you will be surprised to see the models and replicas of airplanes, spacecraft, capsules, and other space-related equipment. The most notable models are the F-15E Strike Eagle, F/A-18 Super Hornet, and AH-64D Apache.
In this museum, you will see the evolution of the airplanes that Boeing has been making for years. The most famous display is the Mercury and Gemini spacecraft, a replica of the spacecraft used by the first astronaut to go into space.
Moreover, you will also see a wide variety of fine art by R.G. Smith, who is among the most significant space and aviation artists.
8. Laclede’s Landing
Address: 104 N Leonor K Sullivan Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63102
Laclede’s Landing is a historic district often overlooked in modern times. It was founded in 1763 and once was the heart of St. Louis. Apart from its historical relevance, the Mississippi River is also close to this area, making this hidden gem a two-in-one spot for visitors.
In this downtown area, you will walk on cobblestone streets. However, the main attraction of this area is the historical architecture around it. As you walk, you will see brick warehouses, buildings (some even date back to the 1800s), and other structures used for trade and storing goods when this area was the hub of port supplies.
Apart from the historical value, this downtown has different shops, restaurants, and different galleries that contribute to making it a tourist destination. However, some of the shops and restaurants have been closed, and now this place isn’t as crowded as it used to be, but it’s surely a destination worth visiting.
Before leaving, head over to the Mississippi River, which is approximately 10 to 20 minutes away from this place. The Mississippi River has its own beauty, but try to go to the Martin Luther King Bridge side, which itself is a lovely little tourist destination and combined with the Mississippi River, is a perfect spot for photography.
9. Jefferson Barracks Telephone Museum
Address: 12 Hancock Ave, Saint-Louis, Missouri 63125
Once in our lifetime, we have been fond of using the old telephones featured in almost every other movie back in the day. The Jefferson Barracks Telephone Museum, which is in a beautifully restored building built in 1896, takes us back to the early days of telecommunication.
Upon entering, you will be welcomed by a vast collection of telephones, including wooden wall phones, colorful rotary phones, phones used by presidents, and, most notably, military phones used in the World War. Overall, the entire collection of telephones is 100 years old.
Among the biggest highlights of this museum is the switchboard and operator equipment, where we learn how these telephones were manually used to connect in the early days of telecommunication.
This museum keeps updating its collection and artifacts. Each telephone has a description card that tells us its model, how, and why it was used. Don’t forget to visit the museum’s gift shop to purchase different telephones and their accessories.
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10. Cherokee Antique Row
Address: 1900-2300 Cherokee St, St. Louis, MO 63118
If you truly want to witness the historical and cultural side of St. Louis, head to Cherokee Antique Row, a six-block street perfect for history and architecture enthusiasts.
As you enter the street, you will be blown away by the antique shops galore. Here, you can purchase/window shop a wide range of items, like vintage furniture, rare books, old vinyl records, historic artifacts, retro home decor, and much more.
But the most fascinating thing in this area is the art galleries, where you can see different types of art, like paintings, sculptures, and mixed-media pieces.
Additionally, a simple walk around the area is also refreshing. After all the shopping and walking, sit in a cozy cafe, bakery, or restaurant in the area and enjoy your meal before returning.
11. Graffiti Wall
Address: Victor St, St. Louis, MO 63104
Another hidden gem in St.Louis that often gets underappreciated is the Graffiti Wall. It’s not just another tiny wall with murals; it’s over two miles full of artistic beauty.
The talented local artists are the real heroes who create the stunning art on these floodwalls. As you walk along the floodwall, you will see a wide range of styles, like bold, abstract designs and photorealistic portraits.
The murals have different themes, such as political messages, tributes to pop culture, and purely aesthetic designs. This street is an accurate representation of what global street art culture looks like.
Pro Tip: Make sure to have your snacks with you so you can eat your snacks while watching these masterpieces.
12. Turtle Playground
Address: Oakland Ave at 6128 Tamm Ave, St. Louis, MO 63139
If you are with your family, especially if you have kids, do visit Turtle Playground. It is a nice little escape to a relaxing atmosphere and has opportunities for kids to play as well.
You will see lush green grass and different trees around you, making this section even more beautiful. But the main attraction here is the sculptures of turtles, which, from some distance, look real.
The playground features turtles of different sizes. Some of these sculptures are gigantic, while some are smaller. And these sculptures are not just for seeing but for climbing on, touching, and playing around them, which children always want. Overall, this is a nice little break for children to play and have fun.
Hidden Gems Restaurants In St.Louis
13. Nixta’s Secret Supper Club
Address: 1621 Tower Grove Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110
After visiting some hidden gem destinations, it’s time to visit the hidden gem restaurants in St. Louis.
If you like your food a bit spicy with Mexican flavors, Nixta’s Secret Supper Club is the perfect spot for you. This place has a specialty in providing authentic Mexican food with good serving, whether you want tacos, quesadillas, chicken, or any other Mexican dish.
Additionally, they have an excellent command of seafood as well, serving dishes like crispy Octopus, fish tacos, tuna tostada, and shrimp ceviche. And in drinks, their pomegranate ginger margarita is something you can’t miss.
And just because they specialize in Mexican food doesn’t mean they don’t have anything for vegan-friendly customers. They offer specific vegan food options as well. Overall, this is an ideal restaurant, whether you are with your family or alone, as the restaurant is clean and cozy.
14. Gooseberries
Address: 2754 Chippewa St, St. Louis, MO 63118
Another hidden gem eatery in St.Louis that should be on your list is Gooseberries. Whether you want breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner, or even beverages during a walk, this place offers everything.
This place will give you an authentic local vibe, with brick-designed walls filled with different art pieces that electrify the atmosphere inside. Everything is made fresh, so whether you want bread, bagels, cookies, omelets, sandwiches, or even lunch and dinner food like pizza, sandwiches, or sweet items, everything will be served freshly cooked.
One of the most significant specialties here is that they have a special section in their menu for vegan customers, which includes vegan pizza, sandwiches, fries, tofu scramble, and even donuts. So, whether you are vegetarian or non-vegetarian, this piece is a perfect match for everyone.
15. Café la Vie
Address: 7730 Bonhomme Ave, St. Louis, MO 63105
If you want to visit a cafe with stylish decor and a seating area where you can enjoy a variety of cafe items, then Café la Vie is a hidden gem that you shouldn’t miss.
This cafe features a stylish and modern interior that is both inviting and relaxing, with decor and art pieces hanging on the wall, making this cafe more attractive, whether you are coming for breakfast, brunch, or a light dinner,
This cafe has been divided into different sections so that you can come here for a light meal or to host a private event away from the general seating area.
The best thing about the food items here is that they don’t only serve traditional cafe items but also have salmon, lamb, and beef options available for different food.
FAQ’s
1. Are these hidden gems family-friendly?
Yes, every hidden gem mentioned above is equally joyful, even if you are with your family.
2. How do I get to these places?
You can rent a car if you like more privacy and want to explore different places while traveling, but public transport is also a good option. Choose what suits you best.
3. Is there a cost to visit these destinations?
It depends on which location you are visiting. Like museums and galleries (most indoor destinations are not free), while public destinations like the Graffiti Wall are free to visit.
4. Can I take photos at these locations?
Yes, you can. However, if you visit museums and galleries, always check for any restrictions or something (which you will not see often).
5. Are there any special events at these spots?
Almost every destination hosts different special events, but it’s better to check the schedule on their website or social media handles.
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