Entertainment

St. Louis is a vibrant Midwestern city that is always on the move. The city's people work hard, and they take their leisure time just as seriously. Devoted fans pack the sports arenas, eating hot dogs on warm summer days and sipping hot chocolate on chilly fall nights as they cheer for their favorite pro teams. Theaters and nightclubs provide diverse nighttime entertainment options, while parks, museums and other attractions fill the daytime roster with activities for the whole family.

Sports

Professional sports teams entertain fans on a year-round basis, forming an integral part of the city's fiber. The St. Louis Cardinals baseball team has been a longtime favorite with the home crowd and plays throughout the summer at Busch Stadium. The St. Louis Rams football team, winners of 2000's Super Bowl XXXIV, packs the Trans World Dome downtown, while ice hockey enthusiasts flock to Savvis Center to cheer on the St. Louis Blues, who have called the city home since forming in 1967.

Racing fans will find two tracks featuring professional events across the Mississippi River in Illinois. The Gateway International Raceway, situated 10 minutes from downtown in Madison, plays host to NASCAR, NHRA and Indy Racing events.

Nature and Parks

Nature lovers and outdoors enthusiasts can head to the child-friendly Grant's Farm, with its 160-acre animal preserve, which is always a family favorite. The world-class St. Louis Zoo offers free admission and features 650 species of animals. For a gentle wildlife encounter, head to the Butterfly House and Education Center, where nothing stands between the spectator and the myriad colorful butterflies in flight.

St. Louis' city parks offer a collective oasis of calm in the midst of all the urban hustle and bustle. The 1,300-acre Forest Park not only provides a home for the zoo and art museum, it also offers boat rentals, tennis courts, a skating rink and a track for biking, jogging and inline skating. Tower Grove Park, a 300-acre retreat, recreates an old English garden, complete with gazebos and castle "ruins."

Theater

St. Louis offers a variety of theater experiences, from open-air performances at the Muny to old-fashioned grandeur and opulence at the restored Fox Theatre. Dinner theaters such as the Bissell Mansion and the Lemp Mansion invite guests to join in the fun as participants in comedy and mystery performances.

Opera, Ballet and Symphony

If musical theater is the ticket you're after, St. Louis also offers plenty of opera, ballet and symphony performances. The nationally recognized Opera Theatre of St. Louis features different shows each season, which are performed in English and accompanied by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. This orchestra also presents its own season of classical, pop and jazz concerts at the historic Powell Symphony Hall. Meanwhile, the St. Louis Ballet touring company has assembled talent from around the globe for its well-staged performances of such productions as The Nutcracker.

Museums and Galleries

St. Louis' museums and galleries offer something for everyone. If you're looking for something offbeat, check out the life-like figures of the Beatles and Henry VIII at Laclede's Landing Wax Museum. The St. Louis Art Museum features 30,000 pieces, including works by Rembrandt and Picasso.

If an afternoon in the museums inspires a yen to take some art home with you, there are plenty of excellent galleries in the city to satisfy you. Kodner Gallery has a fine exhibit of 18th to 20th Century art, including pieces by Picasso and Jasper Johns.

Landmarks

St. Louis is also home to several sites of interest for history buffs. The Old Courthouse (site of the Dred Scott slavery trial), the architecturally impressive Wainwright Building and the famous St. Louis Gateway Arch are three popular attractions that are located downtown. Visit the lavish Samuel Cupples House, a 42-room mansion built in 1889 or, if you find yourself humming a ragtime tune, the St. Louis home of Scott Joplin, who popularized that musical genre in the early 1900s.

Nightlife

A night on the town can offer lively entertainment, whether it entails catching an up-and-coming act at the Funny Bone Comedy Club or spending a quiet evening at AESOP'S Coffee House. Live music goes on nightly in the city. Chuck Berry performs occasionally at Blueberry Hill, while jazz is featured at Brandt's Market & Cafe. Live folk and rock acts are featured at Off Broadway, a favorite spot with locals, who fill the dance floor nightly. Finally, with its cocktail bar and cigar lounge, Velvet is a dance club with a sophisticated twist.

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