Annual Conference
NASIG 26th Annual Conference |
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Publications to help you navigate what the city has to offer.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Local and national news, weather, sports and anything else you can imagine in a newspaper.
St. Louis Magazine
Looking for “The Best?” This site features many “best of” lists, many of which are geared to particular types of restaurants or cuisines.
Sauce Magazine
Sauce Magazine is all about dining in St. Louis. Their “Find a Restaurant” search allows you to search by name, features such as awards won and accessibility, type of cuisine, or location (city or neighborhood); an alphabetical search that allows you to browse. There is also an advanced search that allows you to search several categories and includes average price as an option. Highly recommended!
Riverfront Times
This is the online equivalent of a street paper. Lots of information on local happenings, including a great calendar with tons of things to do that puts St. Louis locals in the spotlight.
Local Transportation
The Metro Transit website has maps of local bus and Metrolink routes.
Here's a small selection of apps available for your mobile phone.
Wikihood
Available for iPhone and iPad. This app takes data from Wikipedia and organizes it around a city or region. It offers enhanced maps, images, articles, with an offline mode that works on iPod Touch or in regions with poor cell coverage.
Yelp
Available for Blackberry, iPhone and iPod Touch,Android, Palm Pre, Windows Phone, plus a mobile version of its website. A great way to find and review local businesses.
UrbanSpoon
Available for iPhone, iPad, Android, and Blackberry. Great tool to find local restaurants. With an account, you gain the ability to add to the database and participate in the site socially.
Gateway Arch Riverfront and Riverfront Park
Riverfront Park, just minutes from the Ballpark Hilton on foot, is home to the Gateway Arch, the Museum of Westward Expansion, the Old Courthouse, riverboat cruises, and other touring options. *Please note that the observation deck of the Arch and the top level of the Old Courthouse do not offer access for wheelchairs, scooters or strollers.
Missouri Botanical Garden
The Missouri Botanical Garden is located in downtown St. Louis, about a ten minute drive from the hotel. Special sections of the Garden include the Climatron conservatory, Children’s Garden, Japanese Garden, and Ottoman Garden. An indoor/outdoor café and large gift shop are located on premises. Includes free daily tours.
Forest Park and its many attractions
Forest Park, officially opened to the public on June 24, 1876, is one of the largest urban parks in the United States. At 1,293 acres, it is approximately 500 acres larger than Central Park in New York. It was also the site of the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. It is the home to the region's major cultural institutions—the Zoo, Art Museum, History Museum, Science Center and the Muny Opera.
Saint Louis Science Center
Rated one of the top 5 science centers in the nation by the Association of Science and Technology Centers, the Saint Louis Science Center is a place for science education for people of all ages. Admission is free, tickets for optional attractions range from $9 for the OMNIMAX theater to $3 for the Lego Mindstorms.
Saint Louis Art Museum
The Museum was constructed as the Palace of the Fine Arts for the 1904 World’s Fair. Currently undergoing a major addition that will add 224,000 square feet, the museum remains open to visitors. Admission is free. Some featured exhibitions charge, but are free on Fridays. Public parking is free, and tours are available. Exhibitions during our stay include: Conservation Project: Panorama of the Monumental Grandeur of the Mississippi Valley, a student intern restoration project where visitors can learn about the conservation work and Currents 105: Ian Monroe, featuring the work of London-based artist Ian Monroe.
Missouri History Museum
The Missouri History Museum, operated by the Missouri Historical Society, is located in the Jefferson Memorial Building. General admission is free, exhibitions may have separate charges. During our stay, their special exhibitions will be America I AM: The African American Imprint and The Americans with Disabilities Act: Twenty Years Later. Continuing exhibitions include: Lindbergh, Seeking St. Louis, and The 1904 World’s Fair; Looking Back at Looking Forward. Bixby’s, the museum restaurant, is open 11-2 for lunch, with express fare from 10-4:30. Sunday Brunch is from 11-2. It has a spectacular view of Forest Park and features American food with a local twist.
Saint Louis Zoo
The Saint Louis Zoo celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2010! In January 2011 a 4-month-old Amur leopard cub, Anastasia, first debuted to park visitors, and a new black rhino calf was born. Come see the animals, learn about zoo history, and, most importantly, visit the penguins and puffins! General admission is free. Some individual attractions have a separate fee.
Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tours
Located south of downtown, the Brewery offers free tours every day. Learn about the craft of brewing beer, visit the Hospitality Room for free tasting (over age 21, please) along with soft drinks and snacks, then visit the gift shop. Also located at this site are some of the famous Budweiser Clydesdales, who can be visited in their stables.
Schlafly Beer Bottleworks Tours
Tour the Schlafly Bottleworks in Maplewood (7260 Southwest Ave.) on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays! Enjoy the tour and samples, shop in the gift shop, and then stay for a delicious meal. Tours are filled on a first come, first served basis. There are only 25 tickets available for each tour (on the hour from noon-5pm), so arrive early. Close toed shoes required.
St. Louis Union Station
Once the largest and busiest passenger rail terminal in the world, this 114 year old National Historic Landmark has been restored and redeveloped as a mixed-use project that includes great shopping, delicious dining and fabulous entertainment. An excellent place to find that unique St. Louis gift to take home with you with a number of unique boutiques and St. Louis specialty stores.
Things to explore beyond the city limits.
Historic Kimmswick
Located about 30 miles south of St. Louis, Kimmswick dates back to 1859 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a small town with many shops and restaurants, the most well known of which is The Blue Owl Restaurant & Bakery. Kimmswick is a short drive, but is also available as a destination from the Gateway Arch Riverboats.
City of Saint Charles
Located on the Missouri River, just minutes from Lambert-St. Louis Airport, St. Charles offers a variety of attractions in a historic setting. Founded in 1769, the area features antique ships and cozy restaurants, as well as the Historic Frenchtown District and several museums.
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
The remains of the most sophisticated prehistoric native civilization north of Mexico are preserved at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site. Just eight miles from downtown St. Louis near Collinsville, Illinois, off Interstates 55-70 and 255, and Illinois 111, on Collinsville road.
The St. Louis Visitors & Convention Bureau has a number of suggestions for exploring the city and beyond. A few highlights:
Wineries
The Missouri River Valley is home to many wineries. Several are located an hour or so away from the city and offer live music, tours, tastings, and dining. If this is of interest, check out this listing as well (http://www.historicstcharles.com/Attractions/Wineries.aspx?ID=6).
Casinos
If a fun evening of gaming, music, and dining is what you’re looking for, St. Louis has several casinos in the area, including one a short trip from the hotel.
More Museums
From the Museum of Transportation to the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis (New Cathedral), there are museums to suit interests of all sorts in St. Louis.
LGBT Community Center of Metropolitan St. Louis
St. Louis Cardinals Official Site
There are several independent bookstores in St. Louis:
Left Bank Books (2 locations: downtown and the Central West End)
Founded in 1969, their mission has always been to offer an intelligent, culturally diverse selection of titles with a focus on politics, contemporary arts and literature, high-quality children's books, African American interest, GLBT titles, and more!
Subterranean Books (University City/Delmar Loop)
Opened October 2000. Focus on the independent book store best sellers, cult classics, quirky samll presses, timeless literature, and anything else they think is really interesting.
So get out and explore St. Louis!!
Last updated 5/19/11
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2013 CONFERENCE
