If you’re from St. Louis, you’ve probably seen the staples of the city our citizens are most proud of: The Zoo, Busch Stadium, The Brewery, The Art Museum, Forest Park, the Arch and so on. While these places are lovely and amazing in their own regard, they are nevertheless places that you probably grew up going to. But the next five places to treat yo self to this summer in St. Louis (regardless of whether or not you need a staycation) are probably ones that aren’t as well known as the aforementioned attractions. However, they are exceedingly worthwhile and not overrun by insane amounts of people.
1. The Mudhouse
The Mudhouse, a quaint coffee shop and breakfast spot on Cherokee St. near the Lemp Mansion, is the perfect place to start a Treat Yo Self Day. The little place has great vintage vibes blended with trendy décor. Tea and coffee are well presented and quite delightful. Take a detour and see what the street has to offer in terms of various other shops (my personal favorite is the record store) afterwards.
2. Subterranean Books
This is my favorite place to indulge in judging books by their covers. Located in the Delmar Loop, Subterranean Books is a great place to find your next favorite author. The independent bookstore has spectacular vibes, great merchandise, really nice workers and a small second level filled with delightfully creaky floors and full bookshelves.
3. Tower Grove Park
The absolute perfect place for an afternoon in the sun is Tower Grove Park, off of Grand. The charming old gazebos and stone structures, coupled with the open fields of green grass and the not-so-far-off sounds of the city is probably one of my favorite places to relax in the Lou. Grab a blanket and watch the clouds, read a book, play guitar, meditate, do yoga, or just hang out.
4. Kingship Diner
Serving kale and quinoa while you can play chess, Kingship Diner is the cutest little diner on Maryland Ave. The overall atmosphere of the diner is pretty chill. I personally enjoyed it a lot because of the fact that it is very sharp and classy, minimalistic and clean with monochromatic colors and accent reds. The food is fresh and healthy, which I appreciate a whole lot. It’s often really difficult to find places that serve such fresh and healthy foods. I personally recommend their Kale and Feta Salad, because their vegetables taste freshly picked.
5. The Old Rock House
The Old Rock House is the greatest little concert venue ever. I have only been to outdoor concerts here, which were honestly amazing because the crowd is just the right medium between feeling crowded yet personal with the band that’s playing. Any good Treat Yo Self Day ends with great tunes, so go to their website below and find a concert you want to go to. I don’t think it matters if you’re really familiar with the band - I just think it’s worth the experience to go to a small concert.
http://oldrockhouse.com/concert-calendar/
Happy Staycation!
