SUMMERTIME SAVINGS IN ST. LOUIS
ST. LOUIS -- June 19, 2009 -- St. Lou is economical - and a great place to spend a summer getaway. In addition to having more free attractions than any city outside of Washington, DC,
St. Louis is home to a variety of fun and free events and activities. The annual "Fair Saint Louis" and "LIVE on the Levee" (celebratestlouis.org) concert series features four weekends of live music by top name national headliners. A grand fireworks display caps off every show, which takes place under the Gateway Arch along the Mississippi River beginning July 3.
The Saint Louis Zoo (314-781-0900, stlzoo.org) always has free admission, but there's another reason to visit this summer. From 5 - 8 p.m. on Friday nights, it's Jungle Boogie concert night at this animal house - and admission to the special event is free. The Missouri Botanical Garden (314-577-9400, mobot.org) offers free Wednesday night concerts each week through August 5. The Whitaker Music Festival is an ideal spot to enjoy local jazz, blues, and fusion artists while picnicking on the Garden grounds.
Five world-class St. Louis attractions have partnered together to offer the "Five Star Pass," an all-inclusive way to make the most of a visit to St. Louis. The Pass, available via the special offers section of www.explorestlouis.com/beAtourist/, offers the opportunity to enrich a visit to the Zoo's special exhibition, "Stingrays at Caribbean Cove;" parking at the Saint Louis Science Center (slsc.org) and admission to the Space Show at the James S. McDonnell Planetarium; discounts in the Saint Louis Art Museum Shop (slam.org) and Puck's Restaurant; admission to the special exhibition "Katherine Dunham: Beyond the Dance" or "Mary Lee Bendolph, Gee's Bend Quilts and Beyond" at the Missouri History Museum (mohistory.org) and dessert in Meriwether's Restaurant; and admission to the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Children's Garden, and a discount in the Garden Gate Shop.
The Magic House, St. Louis Children's Museum (314-822-8900, magichouse.org) offers free admission to families on the third Friday of every month, from 5:30 - 9 p.m. Recently expanded to include even more hands-on fun, The Magic House has activities for kids of all ages. The remaining "Free Fridays" for 2009 are: July 17, August 21, September 18, October 16, November 20, and December 18.
There's something going on every day of the week at Westport Plaza (314-576-7100, westportstl.com). Along with free outdoor lunch concerts on Mondays and Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Westport Plaza presents free outdoor blues and jazz concerts on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-7 p.m. "Party IN the Plaza" (not the parking lot!) is back with live music and entertainment from 5 - 8 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month through September, and "Free Movie Night" takes place on Tuesday, July 12 ("The Notebook) and Tuesday, August 11 ("Pursuit of Happyness"). The show starts at sundown, so bring a lawn chair and enjoy some free pre-movie popcorn.
The Contemporary Art Museum (314-535-4660, camstl.org) is offering a number of free events throughout July and August. In addition to free admission on Wednesdays and Saturdays, there will be a free "Preview Party with the Artists" on Tuesday, July 21, from 5:30 - 9:30 pm. On, July 25 -July 26, it's "Open Studios Weekend" from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., where visitors can enjoy an opportunity to discuss art with the artists themselves while exploring the creative spaces where art is made. On Saturday, August 1, at 1 p.m. the museum offers the "Last Chance Tour," which is the last opportunity to walk through the exhibitions, "Chantal Akerman: Moving Through Time and Space," and "Carey Young: Speech Acts." A member of Contemporary will be on hand to provide insight and answer questions about the works.
Every Saturday and Sunday through Labor Day, the World Bird Sanctuary (worldbirdsanctuary.org, 636-225-4390) offers a unique opportunity to learn about the critters that call WBS home. The free Amazing Animal Encounters presentations take place in the facility's amphitheater and features live snakes, birds of prey and parrots. The lively shows take place at 11:30a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturdays and 1:30 p.m. on Sundays. During August, Thursday nights mean Birds in Concert beginning at 7 p.m. The free event features WBS' in-house band "The Raptor Project," who sing fun and educational environmental songs aimed at kids, while birds - real birds, not the band - fly just inches over the audience's heads. Yikes!
St. Louis Union Station hosts the "Sounds at the Station Concert Series" every third Thursday of the month. The free, all ages event, which runs through September 3, starts at 8:30 p.m. Film fans will enjoy the "Twilight Under the Train Shed Free Movie Series" that takes place on the first Friday of the month. The flicks roll through September and they start at 8:30 p.m. History buffs can check out the free St. Louis Union Station Memories Museum, and free guided tours of the station are available by appointment. Call (314) 421-6655 for information, or visit stlouisunionstation.com.
Or, get the gang together and make tracks for The Beall Mansion (beallmansion.com, 866-THE-BEALL) in Alton, Illinois. Bring a group of 12 or more and save 50 percent off the regular tour price.
Accommodations
Take advantage of the great deals and packages being offered at St. Louis area hotels and lodges. All of these special offers are available through www.explorestlouis.com/beAtourist/.
Hyatt Regency St. Louis Riverfront is offering a variety of discounts and special packages, including: a special grand opening rate available through September 1; a 21-day advance purchase discount of 15 percent off the daily room rate; and a Classic Family Vacation package that includes full breakfasts, a kids-themed amenity at check-in, discounts on food, beverages and shopping, and a 50 percent discount on a second room though September 7. The hotel is also offering a number of summertime "retreats," like the Balance Retreat, the Explore Retreat, and the Amour, which includes champagne and truffles. The Cardinals Ticket and Rawlings Bat Package is a hit with baseball fans, complete with game tickets, a complimentary Rawlings bat, and a discount on food and beverages. All are available to book at 314-655-1234 or http://www.stlouisriverfront.hyatt.com/.
What a way to make it a long weekend. From now until December 31, guests who stay two consecutive nights can get a third night free at the Four Seasons Hotel. In addition to the luxurious accommodations, guests can enjoy pool services - complete with chilled towels and frozen fruit - and shuttle and car service in the local area. Visit http://tinyurl.com/onh9pa for details.
It's family fun time at the YMCA Trout Lodge (314-241-9622, ymcaoftheozarks.org), and they've got some summer specials to share. Throughout June, July and August, kids 12 and under stay free every Sunday through Thursday evening. Camp Lakewood parents can save 50 percent off of one night's stay at the Trout Lodge on "Drop-Off Weekend Sundays, and the camp's Session 3 is now available at a reduced rate.
Millennium Hotel St. Louis (314-241-9500, millenniumhotels.com/stlouis) gets into the special deals and packages act with an assortment of "getaways," like the Homerun Package, Savor St. Louis, Romantic Rendezview, the St. Louis Adventure package, which includes passes to area attractions, and three ways to stay and enjoy the 4th of July weekend. Guests can take part in a number of themed pool parties this summer, with each one featuring cookout food favorites and chilly cocktails. Pool party dates are: June 26-27; July 17-18; July 25-26; and July 31-August 1.
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