After a long summer in the Midwest, it’s time to take a refreshing getaway to St. Louis in the crisp, cooler year end.
From now through the end of December, St. Louis’ hotels, restaurants and attractions are offering a colorful collection of special activities, packages and delights for visitors.
You can plan your couples, family or best buddies getaways and make hotel reservations online at http://www.explorestlouis.com/ where you’ll also find a complete calendar of events. Or, call 800 916-0040 for personal assistance from St. Louis’ travel counselors.
If your plans include visiting St. Louis in October, check out the American Arts Experience. For 17 days and nights beginning October 5, concert halls, museums, theaters and outdoor spaces in St. Louis will be filled with performances by renowned American artists, musicians and theatrical companies. Get details on this annual event at http://www.americanartsexperience.com/.
Theater fans should head to the Grand Center arts and entertainment district just minutes from downtown. That’s where a whole season of on-stage action is waiting at the fabulous Fox Theatre, St. Louis’ elaborate 1929-era venue. Check the schedule, which includes Les Miserables, Blue Man Group and Wicked at http://www.fabulousfox.com/. Across the street, the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra performs. Back from a critically acclaimed performance in London, the orchestra soars under the direction of maestro David Robertson. The last quarter of 2012 is filled with classical works by Mozart, Brahams, Tchaikovsky and Beethoven. Get schedule and ticket information at http://www.stlsymphony.org/.
At the Black Rep in Grand Center, Anne & Emmitt tells the story of Anne Frank and Emmett Till who meet in a magical place called Memory to share their stories, their pain, and their hopes in this unforgettable new work. Details are at http://theblackrep.org/. In nearby Webster Groves, Mo., the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis continues its season with the award-winning musical, Daddy Long Legs, Oct. 10 through Nov. 4, and the wild and wacky comedy The Foreigner takes the stage Nov. 28 through Dec. 23. Tickets and more information can be found at http://www.repstl.org/.
Movie fans will find love in St. Louis this season too. The 21st Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival screens 400 feature films, shorts, documentaries and independent movies from around the world, and presents a series of special events with fellow fans and filmmakers. For a complete screening schedule for the Nov. 8 – 18 festival, click on http://www.cinemastlouis.org/.
Outdoor activities are pleasant in the cooler days of fall. Visitors can rent bicycles in Forest Park or along the St. Louis Riverfront to take advantage of the great system of trails and bikeways that cut through St. Louis City and County. Pedal boats instead of bikes at the Forest Park Boathouse where the lakes lead to beautiful vistas in the urban oasis. The annual migration of birds along the Mississippi Flyway can be witnessed from three spots along the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers -- the Audubon Center, Ted and Pat Jones Confluence Point State Park or the Columbia Bottom Conservation Area. Get their special event schedules and hours at http://riverlands.audubon.org/, http://www.mostateparks.com/ and http://mdc.mo.gov/node/298.
Shopping for fall and winter clothing is a fun pastime for the fashionistas in your group. St. Louis’ neighborhoods are filled with locally owned boutiques and shops that feature items you won’t find at home. Try The Loop, Clayton, Webster Groves or Maplewood for plenty of hip options. Antique lovers will enjoy Cherokee Street antique row where they will find items from St. Louis’ Victorian past or retro cool Mid-century Modern clothes, furniture and accessories. Get a jumpstart on holiday gift lists or supply yourself and your family members with new togs at the upscale shopping malls in St. Louis County, including The Galleria and Plaza Frontenac. The shopping section of the Official St. Louis Visitors Guide will lead you in the fashion forward direction at http://www.explorestlouis.com/.
Dining delights visitors to St. Louis in all seasons, but toward the end of the year, chefs display their talents with bounty from the local harvest. Check the dining section of the Official St. Louis Visitors Guide at http://www.explorestlouis.com/ for restaurant suggestions and call for your reservations. Food festivals and events include Greater St. Louis Restaurant Week, October 12-21 when fixed-price menus are offered for lunch and dinner in a variety of local establishments throughout the region. The details are at http://www.restaurantweekstl.com/.