Equal parts baseball, history, and really good food, St.Louis is a riverside city certainly worth exploring!
Student groups heading to the Gateway to the West will have seemingly endless options for recreation and education while here, but when it comes to having the most fun possible while looking around, these are the tour opportunities you need to look into first!
Each option provides something uniquely St.Louis with it, from outrageously popular gag gifts to local baseball legacy, and all the gooey butter cake and toasted ravioli you can eat along the way. Get ready, get set, get to St.Louis!
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Vat19
Welcome to Vat19, one of the hippest gift and toy producers in all of Missouri. With an astounding Youtube presence, amazing cross-country following, and abundantly stocked HQ warehouse, this spot makes for one of the most fun, and most memorable tour experiences for students in St. Louis. Explore the factory by walking around with a worker, owner, or videographer for about 45-60 minutes and see the various studios, warehouse, stores, and more popular gifts such as the 'gummy couch'. Tours are provided each Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
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Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company
Your students will become kids in a candy factory, literally, at this stop, one of St. Louis' sweetest tour spots! This state of the art factory, candy kitchen, and retail store offers free tours that allow you to 'see, hear, smell, and taste' all the behind the scenes chocolatey goodness, the experience lasting about 15-20 minutes total. See the chocolate enrobers at work just as over 50,000 other guests do each year, and learn all about the process of a cocoa bean from conception to ingestion. You can buy additional tickets to the tasting room, as well (which, of course, you will).
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Busch Stadium
Open for tours year-round and known as one of the most impressive baseball stadiums in the U.S, it's always a good idea to bring your group into Busch Stadium for a tour. Take a close look at the home of the St. Louis Cardinals here as you catch the view from the broadcasting booth, see their world series trophies, and even see the team dugout. With your tour comes a discount at the team store, as well, so pick up all your Cards gear before you go! Tours happen 11 am and 12:30 pm October through April, 9 am, 11 am, 12:30 pm, and 2 pm April-October. See what's new and get a quick look at the field below!
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St. Louis Zoo
One of the most fun spots in St.Louis also offers one of the most fun tours in St.Louis, the St. Louis Zoo providing guests of all ages with multiple behind-the-scenes tour options at the park. Become a Zookeeper for a day, feed the animals, train the critters, or just meet a few of the park favorites as you choose from tours such as the Animal Tours, Animal Care Tours, or Geek Tours. The Animal tours allow you to get up close and personal with wildlife in such themes as penguin, safari, cheetah, sloth, and reptiles. Each tour lasts about 45 minutes to an hour and comes with optional additions such as a ride on the railroad or visit to the Children's Zoo.
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Savor St. Louis
In our opinion, there is almost no better way to tour a city than by doing so culinarily, and this option will let you do just that! Explore downtown St. Louis with your taste buds as you hop around to 6 of the most iconic eateries in the neighborhood, the tour totaling at about 3.5 hours long. See local, sustainable, and award-winning chefs create such local classics as risotto balls, toasted ravioli, and gooey butter cake each Friday and Saturday at 11 am. What better way to explore the city's culinary past and present?
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City Cycling
Looking for a good way to let your students see the city and get out some pent-up energy at the same time? Then head to City Cycling Tours, a local St. Louis tour company that will take your group around Forest Park, one of the top urban parks in the country and certainly the most popular in the city. Cycle around to 18 different stops, a total of about 10 miles of riding, and see iconic attractions like the memorial, zoo, and historic World Fair site. The tours last about 2.5 to 3 hours and are also customizable to particular group sizes, ages, and interests. *Parents must sign a waiver before this tour.
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Gateway Arch Riverboat
See the sparkling city of St. Louis in one of the most unique ways possible: by water! Aboard the Becky Thatcher or Tom Sawyer 19th-century era steamboats you will get to see the river city's history up close and personal, from one Mississippi River shore to the other. Take the one-hour sightseeing cruise, Skyline Dinner Cruise, or any other holiday/special event cruises happening during your visit.
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Renegade STL
Bus tours, walking tours, and private tours are all options with Renegade STL, one of the most laid back and informative tours around the area! Take a leisurely stroll, or ride, with your local St. Louis city guru and see all of the most historic, iconic, educational, and unique spots the city has to offer. Tour options include such things as Downtown History and Architecture Extravaganza, Central West End for Nerds, and Forest Park, Renegade Style.
Super Fun Spots to Mention:
Jilly's Cupcakes - All the very best in sweets and treats, plus catering and group event options, await at Jilly's, one of St.Louis' most tasty tour stops!
City Museum - Unending fun for all ages awaits at the St.Louis City Museum, a massive playground meant for exploring, discovering, and having the time of your life!
Ted Drewes - Here's the scoop: this St.Louis original concrete shop is unmissable for those with a sweet tooth!
