The St. Louis Gateway Arch. If you only have time to visit one attraction, do the Arch. Built in 1965, the Arch stands 630 tall and the top is accessible by tram. Hint: Get your tram tix in advance; they tend to sell out early in the day. For hours and reservations, click here. (Also, the Riverfront provides access to riverboat cruises, riverfront bike rentals, restaurants and shops.) Visit: www.gatewayarch.org

The Mississippi Riverfront. A fun tourist area where you can bike, dine, shop, take old-time riverboat cruises down the Mississippi River, visit the National Video Game and Co-op Museum (ever heard of Pac Man?), the Museum of Westward Expansion and the Laclede's Landing Wax Museum.

Forest Park. These beautiful 1,371 acres house the St. Louis Zoo, the St. Louis Art Museum, the St. Louis History Museum, the St. Louis Science Center, The Muny Amphitheatre and the Jewel Box Greenhouse - not to mention a golf course, tennis courts, a skating rink, and trails for biking, rollerblading and more. Visit: stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/parks/forestpark

Grand Center. The arts district of St. Louis, Grand Center is home to an array of theatres, museums, restaurants, coffee shops and more. Watch a touring Broadway musical. Listen to the world-class St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Enjoy a contemporary art exhibit. A cultural playground — just steps away from the Saint Louis University campus. Visit: http://www.grandcenter.org

Busch Stadium, the Edward Jones Dome and the Savvis Center. These venues provide homes to the Cardinals, Rams, Blues (and your very own Billikens) respectively.

The City Museum. Located in downtown St. Louis, The City Museum is an interactive museum appealing to "children of all ages." Featuring kinetic exhibits - like MonstroCity, a "montage of monkey bars," Slinkies, a five-story climb through transparent tubes, and the City Museum Caves - this is one museum you'll never forget. Visit: www.citymuseum.org

Missouri Botanical Gardens. The 79 acres of the Missouri Botanical Gardens provide wonderful opportunities for leisurely strolls through rose gardens, the Japanese Garden and the historic homes that dot the grounds. Visit: www.mobot.org

Anheuser-Busch Brewery. Tour the historic building where Adolphus Busch manufactured the "King of Beers." Visit: www.budweisertours.com

Old Courthouse. The Greek Revival-style courthouse now serves as the home to historic exhibits and the film, The Gateway to the West. Also it was here that the Dred Scott slavery case was heard. The Courthouse is part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. Visit: www.nps.gov/jeff/courthouse.html

Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. The "New Cathedral" is about a mile from the Saint Louis University campus and contains the largest collection of mosaics in the world, some 83,000 square feet of encrusted domes, ceilings, arches and walls. Take a tour. Or attend mass. Visit: www.cathedralstl.org

Union Station. On the National Landmark of Historic Places, St. Louis Union Station was once one of the largest and busiest train stations in the world. Today it houses a Hyatt Regency hotel and shops and restaurants like the Hard Rock Café. Visit: www.stlouisunionstation.com

Great neighborhoods for dining, shopping and people watching that include The Hill, the Central West End, the University City Loop, where you'll find the St. Louis Walk of Fame, and the Historic Soulard neighborhood-home to the country's second largest Mardi Gras celebration and an open air farmer's market.