Bella Villa MissouriATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Bella Villa, Missouri.
1. Gateway Arch
ICONIC NATIONAL MONUMENT
The Gateway Arch is a 630-foot stainless steel monument that stands as the iconic symbol of St. Louis and represents the city's role in the westward expansion of the United States. Visitors can take a tram ride to the top for stunning panoramic views of the city and the Mississippi River. The Gateway Arch is part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial and features a museum that chronicles the history of westward expansion.
2. St. Louis Zoo
AWARD-WINNING FREE ZOO
The St. Louis Zoo is consistently ranked among the best zoos in the nation and offers free admission to all visitors. It houses over 12,000 animals representing 500 species in beautifully designed habitats spread across 90 acres in Forest Park. The zoo features popular attractions including the Penguin & Puffin Coast, Sea Lion Sound, and the River's Edge exhibits.
3. Forest Park
URBAN OASIS SINCE 1876
Forest Park is a magnificent 1,326-acre urban park that hosted the 1904 World's Fair and remains one of the largest urban parks in the United States. The park contains many of St. Louis' major cultural institutions including the Zoo, Art Museum, History Museum, Science Center, and the Muny outdoor theater. Visitors can enjoy walking trails, boat rentals on the park's lakes, golf courses, tennis courts, and beautiful gardens throughout the grounds.
4. City Museum
PLAYGROUND BUILT FROM SALVAGE
City Museum is a unique attraction housed in a repurposed 10-story warehouse featuring an eclectic mixture of architectural salvage, caves, slides, and climbing structures created by artist Bob Cassilly. This interactive museum includes a 10-story spiral slide, an enchanted forest, a massive outdoor playground called MonstroCity, and even an operational rooftop Ferris wheel. City Museum defies traditional museum expectations by encouraging visitors to touch, climb, and explore everything within its walls.
5. Busch Stadium
HOME OF CARDINALS BASEBALL
Busch Stadium is the beloved home of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team, one of the most successful franchises in Major League Baseball history. The open-air stadium offers spectacular views of the downtown St. Louis skyline including the Gateway Arch. Visitors can take guided tours of the stadium, view the team's extensive collection of World Series trophies, and experience the Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum adjacent to the ballpark.
6. Missouri Botanical Garden
HISTORIC URBAN GARDEN OASIS
The Missouri Botanical Garden, founded in 1859, is the oldest continuously operating botanical garden in the United States and a National Historic Landmark. The 79-acre garden features a stunning 14-acre Japanese garden, a tropical rainforest inside the Climatron geodesic dome, and numerous themed gardens showcasing plants from around the world. The garden hosts popular annual events including the Japanese Festival, Chinese Culture Days, and the holiday Garden Glow light display.
7. Saint Louis Art Museum
WORLD-CLASS FINE ART
The Saint Louis Art Museum houses one of the most comprehensive art collections in the Midwest with more than 34,000 objects spanning 5,000 years of history and cultures. Located in Forest Park in a grand Beaux-Arts building constructed for the 1904 World's Fair, the museum features works by numerous masters including Monet, Picasso, and van Gogh. The museum offers free general admission daily, making world-class art accessible to all visitors.
8. Grant's Farm
HISTORIC BUSCH FAMILY ESTATE
Grant's Farm is a 281-acre historic farm that was once owned by Ulysses S. Grant and later became the ancestral home of the Busch family of Anheuser-Busch fame. The farm is home to more than 900 animals representing over 100 different species, including the iconic Budweiser Clydesdales. Visitors can enjoy tram rides through the property, animal encounters, and historical tours of the Busch family mansion.
9. The Magic House
CHILDREN'S HANDS-ON MUSEUM
The Magic House is an interactive children's museum housed in a beautiful Victorian mansion with over 55,000 square feet of exhibit space designed to engage young minds. Children can explore hundreds of hands-on exhibits focused on creativity, problem-solving, and learning through play. Popular attractions include a three-story slide, an electrically-charged ball that makes hair stand on end, and a miniature town where kids can play different adult roles.
10. Saint Louis Science Center
INTERACTIVE SCIENCE EXPLORATION
The Saint Louis Science Center offers over 700 interactive exhibits that make science accessible and engaging for visitors of all ages. The center features a four-story OMNIMAX Theater, a planetarium with one of the largest domes in the United States, and an outdoor GROW agricultural exhibit. Visitors can explore topics ranging from space exploration and dinosaurs to energy and the human body through hands-on experiences.
11. National Blues Museum
CELEBRATING BLUES HISTORY
The National Blues Museum celebrates the blues as the foundation of American music and explores its historical and cultural significance. Interactive exhibits allow visitors to follow the evolution of the blues from its roots to its influence on rock and roll, jazz, and hip-hop. The museum features artifacts from legendary blues musicians, a performance space for live music, and a recording studio where visitors can create their own blues song.
12. Laumeier Sculpture Park
OUTDOOR MUSEUM OF ART
Laumeier Sculpture Park is a 105-acre open-air museum featuring over 60 large-scale outdoor sculptures integrated with the natural landscape. The park offers walking trails through woods and meadows where visitors can discover monumental works by internationally renowned artists. Laumeier hosts special exhibitions, educational programs, and the annual Art Fair, making contemporary art accessible in a unique outdoor setting.
13. Anheuser-Busch Brewery
HISTORIC BEER PRODUCTION FACILITY
The Anheuser-Busch Brewery offers free tours of its historic brewery complex which has been operating since 1852. Visitors can see the famous Budweiser Clydesdales in their stables, observe the brewing process, and explore the historic Brew House with its ornate copper kettles. The tour concludes with complimentary beer samples for guests of legal drinking age in the hospitality room.
14. Missouri History Museum
REGIONAL HISTORY SHOWCASE
The Missouri History Museum chronicles the rich history of St. Louis, Missouri, and the American West through engaging exhibits and an extensive collection of historical artifacts. Located in Forest Park in a building constructed for the 1904 World's Fair, the museum features both permanent and rotating exhibitions. Highlights include displays on Charles Lindbergh, the 1904 World's Fair, and the Lewis and Clark expedition which departed from St. Louis.
15. Cahokia Mounds
ANCIENT NATIVE AMERICAN CITY
Cahokia Mounds is the site of an ancient Native American city that flourished around 1050-1350 CE and was once the largest pre-Columbian settlement north of Mexico. The 2,200-acre UNESCO World Heritage Site features more than 80 earthen mounds including Monks Mound, the largest prehistoric earthen construction in the Americas. Visitors can explore the interpretive center with artifacts and exhibits explaining the sophisticated culture of the Mississippian people who built this remarkable city.