10 Things to Do in St Louis in Winter

The city of St Louis was built on a strategically important site on the banks of the Mississippi River. Its landmarks include the Gateway Arch, the tallest arch in the United States, which represents the westward expansion of the country. Visiting the city in winter is one of the most fun things to do in St. Louis, as you can enjoy the snow and its varied cultural offerings.

Saint Louis is one of the most important stops along Route 66, where, despite its low temperatures, you'll find lots of fun, activities for the whole family, a rich history and exquisite cuisine, in a sophisticated and cosmopolitan place.

As a city steeped in history, St. Louis offers interesting walking tours that you can take to learn about the mysterious events that have taken place in the city. These are ideal walks to do in winter, as the cold and grey weather helps you to get into the mysterious, haunted places or listen to stories of ancient crimes.

For example, you can take a walking tour through the Soulard neighbourhood, known for being the scene of spooky events. There you can visit dozens of historic houses where everything from bank robberies and election riots to bloody duels have taken place.

You can also visit the haunted neighbourhood of Lemp, home to the Lemp family mansion, considered one of the 9 most haunted houses by Life magazine.

If you like horror stories and mysteries, these experiences are some of the most interesting things to do in winter. Just keep in mind that you should dress warmly and be prepared to walk, wearing comfortable shoes.

Thanks to the city's cold weather, visiting the ice rinks is one of the most fun activities you can do, whether you're travelling alone, with friends or with your family. Whether you are an amateur or a professional, visiting the ice rinks is always an unforgettable activity.

This is a sport you can do at any time of the winter. There is an excellent outdoor rink in the city, the Steinberg Skating Rink, located in Forest Park. If you've never skated before, you can also take lessons to learn, as well as use the rink for free.

Steinberg is one of the largest rinks in the region. It is usually open around noon and closes in the evening. There you can spend some time by the fire, enjoy the view, have a hot chocolate at the bar next to the rink or have a snack to recharge your batteries. You can also rent skates, bumper cars or any other skating equipment you may need.

More info on the rink

• Location: Forest Park 400 Jefferson Drive St. Louis, MO 63110
• Hours: between 1pm and 10pm.
• Entry fee: about 10 EUR, plus skate rental.
• Skate rental: about 5,50 EUR.

When visiting St. Louis at the coldest time of the year, know that the city is famous for its unique restaurants, where you can enjoy rich Southern cuisine as well as cuisine from around the world. Typical delicacies include toasted ravioli, Gooey Butter Cake, St. Louis-style ribs and pizzas.

If you're looking for a social and interactive dining experience, I recommend you take advantage of The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show at the Hilton St. Louis Frontenac, a police comedy show where you'll solve a crime while enjoying a delicious 4-course dinner. Definitely one of the best things to do in St. Louis at night.

As a city with an energetic nightlife, there are plenty of bars where you can sample a good beer. Doing a St. Louis bar crawl is one of the best ways to explore the city's most popular spots on a fun scavenger hunt that will take you to the best bars and watering holes in St. Louis.

From mid-December through early February, you can see bald eagles in St Louis, as these birds build nests along the Mississippi River at this time of year. If you want to see them perched in the trees near the river, it's best to head out early in the morning.

Every winter, this national animal returns to build nests, so it's easy to spot them flying and fishing along the river. In addition, during the winter season there are many close-up viewing and photography events.

A prime spot for bald eagle watching is a former military base, Fort Belle Fontaine, 30km from downtown St Louis. Here you can take a 6km trail through meadows and wetlands.

You can also visit the Chain of Rocks Bridge, which crosses the Mississippi. It is one of the longest bridges in the world and you can walk or cycle across it to spot these birds.

In the Soulard neighbourhood, from Twelfth Night through Fat Tuesday (the day before the start of Lent), the second largest Mardi Gras celebration in the USA takes place. The culmination of the celebration is the Bud Light Grand Parade.

The festival features grand events, including a parade of more than 100 floats, a costumed mascot parade, and a wide variety of food and drink for you to enjoy on your stroll. The festive season also includes smaller parades and charity events.

As it lasts for weeks, you'll have the chance to take part in many activities, such as the family winter carnival, which includes many experiences for the kids, such as creating masks or learning magic tricks. It's ideal if you're visiting St Louis with children.

One of the most fun activities is the treasure hunt, whose clues will lead you to the highlights of the Soulard neighbourhood. You can also take part in a Cajun cooking competition, where skilled chefs compete, while enjoying a traditional Cajun lunch. Cajun cuisine is a sort of fusion of French-Canadian and local cuisine, as well as influences from other world cuisines.

The snowy slopes are a great place to have a good time. You don't have to be an expert to enjoy the snow. Whether you're skiing, snowboarding, sledding or just throwing yourself into snow tubes, the fun is guaranteed.

A good place for beginners and families with children is Hidden Valley. It's within easy reach of the city (about 50km) and has a wide range of food and drink in the surrounding area, making it an ideal place to enjoy the snow. There you can ski or snowboard, rent equipment or take lessons.

Another fun winter activity in St Louis is sledding or tobogganing, taking advantage of the slopes of the city's snowy hills. Be aware that some places can't rent sleds so you'll have to bring your own.

Where to sled in St Louis

• Art Hill in Forest Park is also home to many cultural activities. You must bring your own sled.
• Blanchette Park: has the highest slopes in the region.
• Lake St. Louis: you can combine sledding with skating.
• Bluebird Park: it has a long and steep hill ideal for speed lovers.

During the Christmas season, west of the county, you can enjoy Winter Wonderland, one of the largest Christmas light displays in the region.

It's held every year at Tilles Park. The season begins the week before Thanksgiving and ends just after New Year's Day. The park is dressed up with thousands of twinkling lights and holiday scenes. Desserts, hot chocolate and other beverages are available in a variety of holiday-themed food offerings.

The display takes place nightly, and can be enjoyed on foot or by car. Remember to have your camera handy. On the other hand, bear in mind that this is an all-weather event, come rain or shine.

More information about the event

• Location: Downtown Tilles Park in West St. Louis.
• Hours: 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• Admission: from 9.50 EUR; children under 2 years free. Cars pay between 15 and 125 EUR, depending on their size.
• Recommendations: it's best to get your ticket well in advance because they sell out fast.

During the winter season, baseball fans can enjoy the annual event organised by the St. Louis Cardinals called Winter Warm-up. This winter event is ideal for fans to meet their favourite players, buy souvenirs and get autographs. There are also auctions, where you can bid on memorabilia, and question-and-answer sessions with the players.

Among the activities you can do, the most attractive are the autograph sessions, which give you a chance to meet the team, former players and Hall of Famers. Some players sign autographs for free, while for others you will have to pay a fee. The money raised goes to the St. Louis Cardinals, a charity to help local children.

This event is held every January during the holiday weekend around Martin Luther King Jr. Day at the Hyatt Regency, located a few blocks from Busch Stadium.

Read more about the event

• Location: Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch, 315 Chestnut Street.
• Ticket sales: at the Cardinals Stores at Busch Stadium, or at the Cardinals Clubhouse Stores at Union Station, The St. Louis Galleria, St. Louis Outlet Mall, St. Clair Square, South County Center and West County Center. Also on the St. Louis Cardinals website.

It's safe to say that a trip to St. Louis in the winter season wouldn't be complete without a trip to the Enterprise Center to cheer on the local professional ice hockey team, the St. Louis Blues. Games are played from October through April.

Enterprise Center, with a seating capacity of around 19,000, is the home of the St Louis Blues and one of their National Hockey League home arenas. In addition to ice hockey, you can enjoy other activities such as concerts, ice shows, wrestling and other sporting events.

If you are thinking of experiencing the excitement of cheering on a hockey team, watching an action-packed game and sharing a moment with other fans, don't hesitate to get your ticket. At half-time, you can enjoy the plentiful food at the in-stadium restaurants, which include barbecue, burgers, fries and more.

Read more about the stadium

• Location: 1401 Clark Ave St. Louis, Missouri 63103
• Ticket sales: Tickets are available on the Ticketmaster website, at the Enterprise Center box office or through the Blues + Enterprise Center app.
• Recommendations: There are three entrances to the Enterprise Center, most of which open 90 minutes before games.

The winter season is an ideal time to experience St. Louis' extensive cultural offerings. The city is home to one of the most important museums in the United States, the St. Louis Art Museum, which opened in 1909 and boasts some 30,000 works and a unique outdoor sculpture park and museum, Laumeier Sculpture Park, with more than 60 sculptures along 1.5 miles of walking trails.

There are also many other great cultural options in St Louis: the Gateway Arch National Park Museum, with its exhibits and interactive multimedia displays, and the Missouri History Museum, which explores the history of St Louis since its founding, are both great options to visit in the winter months and are free to enter.

In the winter season, the crowds are more limited, which benefits those who want a more intimate experience. In addition, there are often themed exhibitions geared to those particular months, bringing the artworks and the weather into dialogue.

Free museums in St. Louis

• St. Louis Art Museum: Forest Park 1 Fine Arts Dr. St. Louis. MO 63110
• Laumeier Sculpture Park: 12580 Rott Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63127
• Gateway Arch National Park Museum One: near Rt. 44 and Chestnut St., St. Louis.
• Memorial Drive: Suite 730. St. Louis, MO 63102 Missouri
• History Museum: 5700 Lindell BLVD St. Louis, MO 63112

If you travel to St. Louis, be prepared for cold and snow. The average temperature varies between -6 °C and 4 °C. And every few weeks there is often a snowfall or freezing precipitation. And every few weeks there is usually a snowfall or freezing precipitation.

Because of the temperature difference between indoors and outdoors, it's best to dress in layers so you can take your coat off inside or dress warmer when you go outside. And don't forget waterproof clothing and boots, especially if you will be playing sports in the snow.