Cheap Rental Car Deals in St. Louis

Book Cheap Car Rentals in St. Louis, MO

St. Louis is a frontier city known for its trailblazing inventions and historic feats. As the first American city to host the Olympics, it boasts quite a few claims to fame. From the invention of ice cream and 7-Up, to gooey butter cake and toasted ravioli, the city’s eclectic resume is reason enough to visit. Not to mention, St. Louis hosts the second-largest Mardi Gras celebration outside of New Orleans. Excited yet? With so much to do in The Lou, you should be. You’re here, so that means you’re probably planning your getaway last-minute. Hey, no worries. Hotwire’s here for down-to-the-wire travelers who still plan on having a grand time.

Here are some essential expeditions to include on your St. Louis itinerary:

Drop What You’re Doing and Skip to The Lou

Get Tours-y in Missouri: The best way to take full advantage of the area is to tour its most distinctive staples. Big Muddy Adventures offers a variety of outdoor expeditions sure to “wet” your appetite for adventure. Spend an evening under the stars paddling along the river in a 29-foot adventure canoe on the Full Moon Float excursion. If you prefer to set sail in daylight, book the Missouri River Trip excursion to row along 17 miles of the Missouri River.

For a slightly unsung adventure, book a Budweiser Brewery Experience. The Beermaster tour, available to ages 12 and up, offers an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the art of Budweiser brewing. You’ll tour the Schoolhouse Beer Museum, Clydesdale Paddock and Stables, Beechwood Aging Cellars, and more.

Off-the-Wall Bar Crawls: St. Louis is home to a host of prohibition-era speakeasies perfect for a Friday night bar crawl. The Thaxton Speakeasy is a unique password-protected bar. Located in the historic Thaxton building, the only way to get in is via the back alley, after providing the secret password, of course. If you’re lucky enough to visit the Thaxton on a Thursday, you can join in with regulars to dress in prohibition-era attire. Get into the swing of things by busting a move on the dancefloor while a live band plays old-timey tunes. Whether you visit on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, you’re sure to enjoy a variety of spirited beverages.

Located just ten minutes from The Thaxton, Blood & Sand boasts a similarly impressive speakeasy theme. To round off your early 20th century bar crawl, try The Bullock Room at Planter’s House, an award-winning bar with historic recipe-inspired foods and hand-crafted seasonal cocktails.

Explore the Family Fundom: The Gateway to the West is loaded with a ton of family-friendly attractions. Discover the offbeat, 10-story, 600,000 square-foot playground that is the City Museum. The museum is a surrealistic architectural marvel made of leftover industrial “junk” like concrete, bricks, tile, beams, limestone, rebar, wheels, and more. Look closely enough and you may find elements of fire trucks, buses, and doors.

For more fun, stay near the Saint Louis Science CenterSaint Louis Science Center to explore over 750 exhibits and a massive planetarium. Children will have a blast experiencing the energy stage, discovery room, and life science lab. If your travel clan is wound up (bouncing off the walls) and needs a relaxing vacay filler, the St. Louis Zoo is just the place. With over 12,000 animals across 500 specials, the STL zoo is a great place for the entire family to walk off some wound-up energy.

River City Eats ‘n Treats: Take a bite out of St. Louis at Russell’s on Macklind, a neighborhood café and go-to dinner spot, for some of the best-buttered brunch and dinner entrees The Lou has to offer. Sip on a Flor de Caña Aged Rum cocktail over La Jolla toast for brunch or have a beer on tap with your bacon-wrapped meatloaf for dinner. Put your sweet tooth out of its “Missouri” with a St. Louis signature butter cake, a richly moist and flavorful dessert native to St. Louis and known for its light and fluffy texture.

Another original Saint Lou delicacy is deep-fried toasted ravioli, prepared with a local culinary science best-executed by the likes of Anthonino’s Taverna, an eatery that hand-makes the beloved dish. Anthonino’s also serves up some of the most authentic Italian and Greek food in the city—from Saganaki and baked goat cheese to island mussels and crispy artichoke heart bottoms.

Frequently Asked Questions About St. Louis