As a student who attends a school in Saint Louis, I am saddened (to say the least) that the only thing people think that Saint Louis has to offer is the Arch. Yes, the Arch is beautiful, shiny, and enormous, but as someone with a view of the Arch from his dorm, I’ll be the first person to say that it has the same effect whether you are up close or viewing it from afar. Maybe my opinion will change once I actually go inside. But my point here is that Saint Louis is a vibrant, attractive city with so many things to do, and quite frankly, it doesn’t get enough credit. I’ve lived here for a little over five months now, giving me a fair amount of time to explore my new home. These are some of my favorites!

1. The Central West End

The Central West End is probably my favorite area of Saint Louis. It’s an area of town full of restaurants and shops. On a nice day, you can walk through and see a bunch of people eating outside, and if you haven’t had lunch or dinner yet, your attention will be drawn in every single direction, since there are Sushi, Mexican, Thai, and every other genre of restaurant available, not to mention the coffee and ice cream shops. Shout out to Drunken Fish, El Burro Loco, and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams for being my personal favorites of this area. 10/10 would recommend all three (maybe in the same night).

2. The Grove

The Grove is a fun area of Saint Louis, especially during Grove Fest. My friends and I went this year to watch a free Saint Motel concert during the first weekend of October, which we deemed the most fun weekend of first semester because we explored the city without spending much money, which is always considered a success. Aside from Grove Fest, there are restaurants, shops, and my personal favorite, the murals on buildings and the giant bicycles.

3. The Loop

I think the Loop is an ideal place to spend a Friday night with your parents when they come to town. Grab dinner at Salt and Smoke, and then head over to Fitz’s for rootbeer floats after. They’re gigantic and delicious, not to mention the fact that they’re made from Fitz’s own delicious soda.

4. Forest Park

Forest Park is huge—over 1,000 acres—and is home to multiple museums, several memorials, running trails, and even the zoo. The best part is that most of these attractions are free or relatively inexpensive. My personal favorite area is Art Hill, which is where the art museum is located, because it’s simultaneously peaceful and impressive, which makes a great spot for a picnic or any relaxing Saturday, granted the weather is nice.

5. Lafayette Square Park

I went to this park recently and I fell in love. The French style row homes are art alone. If you’re into photography, this is a great place to stop by and take pictures and then get something to drink from Park Avenue Coffee before heading home.

6. Soulard—Mardi Gras

If Saint Louis is known for anything aside from the Arch, it’s our Mardi Gras parade through Soulard. Mardi Gras weekend is eventful to say the least, and if you’re in the mood for some greasy, fried food, drop by one of the food vendor tents. It’s easy to get caught up people watching, given the thousands of people there, but don’t forget to watch the parade, too, and catch some beads while you’re at it.

7. The Hill

The Hill is the Italian neighborhood in Saint Louis, which means lots of pasta. Wherever you go in The Hill, you’ll surely find a tasty Italian meal. This is another place I’d recommend for a weekend when your parents come to visit, mostly because then dinner can be their treat!

8. Midtown

Midtown is outside of the downtown area of Saint Louis, and home to SLU, which makes me like it a lot, mostly because there’s a ton of stuff that’s only a short walk from campus. Watch a musical at the Fox and then grab something to eat at the City Diner. Go to a SLU basketball game and then eat some toasted ravioli at Humphrey’s afterward.

So there you have it. There’s a ton of stuff to do in Saint Louis aside from looking at the Arch. I mean, you should go look at it, but it probably won’t take more than an hour, so here’s what else you can do to fill your time whether you’re in Saint Louis for a weekend or a semester. While writing this, I’ve learned that I eat a lot, but it’s cool because nobody can survive on dining hall food alone. If you’re wondering how to get to these places, since I imagine there aren’t many college students with cars, use the Metrolink ($2.50 each way), take an Uber or a taxi. Saint Louis is such an interesting city with so much to offer, so make sure you take advantage of it!