St. Louisans are often proud of their home turf. Whether it's cheering for our teams, celebrating Fair St. Louis or participating in Food Truck Friday, St. Louis is full of fun times. There are, however, places in St. Louis that are less well known or less well loved. Those places are just as important and are a part of the great city. Next time you are wanting to enjoy a unique St. Louis experience (without breaking the bank), consider these six options:

1. Kennedy Forest.

My favorite way to get there is by going through the sculpture garden of Saint Louis Art Museum (also free!) and finding the trail through the trees. However, Kennedy Forest is easy to overlook, but hard to actually miss, as it takes up 60 acres of Forest Park. With 3.5 miles of trails, it is a great place to get out in nature, and see some of the unique wildlife in the area. This forest is also home to the Savanna in Kennedy Forest, which is an 8-acre restoration project. For more information on Kennedy Forest.

2. Chess Hall of Fame.

Sorry, World Chess Hall of Fame. Home to both the World and United States Chess Halls of Fame, this place contains trophies and sets, and plaques commemorating members. If that doesn't interest you, they do have chess-themed exhibitions which are quite interesting. This is also home to Q Boutique, an eclectic shop full of great gifts both chess related and not. Still not interested? Just go to the building and take a free picture by the World's Largest Chess Piece. For more information on the World Chess Hall of Fame,

3. MoKaBe's.

A personal favorite, this coffee shop showed itself to me by a late Yelp lookup when I was still in high school. It has since become a favorite spot to return to with kind staff and great coffee. However, it's not the cute coffee shop you may expect. Located off Arsenal, just west of South Grand, MoKaBe's is filled with political posters, fun bumper stickers and is home to urinal wearing a sombrero. Open late, it is a great stop for when it's too cold for Ted Drewes. For more information on MoKaBe's.

4. Concordia Seminary.

Don't be afraid to wander the ground of this seminary, because Concordia's grounds are home to more than just the school. Old architecture takes you back in time as you walk around the campus, and there are a lot of great picnic spots. Stop at the Schnucks across Clayton Rd and pick up a rotisserie chicken (or whatever your favorite picnic food is) and enjoy it on the seminary grounds. For more information on Concordia Seminary.

5. St. Louis Public Library.

Located downtown, the library is an easy place to drive past and not care about. However, a simple step inside will lead you into a beautiful building with a story of it's own. You can meander in and out of rooms as you like, or – if you're anything like me – find a few books that interest you (their oversized art books collection is incredible) and sit down and enjoy the cool air. For more information on the St. Louis Public Library.

6. St. Louis Cathedral Basilica.

Decorated with 83,000 square feet of mosaics, the St. Louis Basilica is a true gem. One chapel, to the left when you first enter, was done by Tiffany & Co., and is in a clearly different style than the rest. Walk forward and you can stand on a number (143, I believe) that marks the height of the dome directly above you. At the very front you can find the bell and umbrella that mark the Basilica as such. Filled with beauty, the St. Louis Basilica can be enjoyed by all. For more information on the St. Louis Cathedral Basilica, click here.