Saint Louis – Unusual Attractions & Day Trips

Saint Louis Off the Beaten Path

St. Louis Missouri offers a wide variety of attractions, including these off-the-beaten-path attractions.

Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site

Visit the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site at 7400 Grant Rd. in St. Louis. Enjoy free interpretive visits throughout the day until 4 pm. Tickets are free; however, reservations are recommended due to space constraints.

Grant, his wife Julia Dent Grant and up to 30 slaves lived at White Haven. Today, five historic structures remain on the property. Explore the grounds and enjoy the animals, including raccoons, rabbits, the red fox and woodchucks.

Plenty of activities keep children occupied, including kid-friendly tours and activities. Before leaving, the kids are sworn in as Junior Rangers.

Art on the Square in Belleville

Just 15 minutes east of Downtown St. Louis is the town of Belleville. Belleville hosts Art on the Square, which Art Fair SourceBook 2010 lists as the #1 art show in the country.

Purchase art by various artists, enjoy restaurants or historic sites in Belleville.

Elephant Rocks State Park

Explore Elephant Rocks State Park, home of giant, elephant-shaped boulders. The gigantic boulders are actually formed from 1.5 billion year-old granite. The park website says the formations intrigue geologists and history buffs. The boulders fascinate children. Enjoy a picnic or exploring the rest of this Missouri Park. One of the elephant rocks, affectionately dubbed “Dumbo,” weighs in at approximately 680 tons.

Explore the one-mile long Braille Trail designed for visitors with vision issues and other disabilities.

Kimswick – 20 Miles South of St. Louis

Venture just 20 miles south of St. Louis and discover the small town of Kimswick.

Enjoy meals at great local restaurants and the crafty shops throughout town.

Editor’s Note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about Saint Louis off-the-beaten-path locations.