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Your readers should call 1-800-916-0040 (USA and Canada) or 1-314-421-1023 for a free copy of the Official St. Louis Visitors Guide or point, click and explore St. Louis online at www.explorestlouis.com
With apologies to television host David Letterman and his popular Top Ten list, the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission has compiled its own list of fun and free things for visitors to do in St. Louis. For a free copy of the official St. Louis Visitors Guide, call 1-800-916-0040.
Come face to face with two life-size dinosaurs and build a replica of the Gateway Arch at the Saint Louis Science Center. There are over 600 free hands-on exhibits in the Science Center, located at 5050 Oakland Avenue.
Watch cute and cool penguins at play in their "Penguin and Puffin Coast" home at the world-famous Saint Louis Zoo. More than 5,000 creatures, great and small, reside at the Zoo which is renowned for both its naturalistic animal habitats and free admission.
Make like Indiana Jones and explore the archeological wonders of Cahokia Mounds, the site of the largest prehistoric Indian city north of Mexico. Climb the ancient mounds and visit the extraordinary interpretive center that details the lives of the ancient Mississippian culture which, at it's height had approximately 20,000 ancient St. Louis area residents. Cahokia Mounds is a United National World Heritage Site.
Return to a more serene time with a stroll through historic Tower Grove Park, the elegant 19th century Victorian walking park adjacent to the Missouri Botanical Garden. Goldfish and lily ponds, whimsical pavilions and a bandstand, and mock classical "ruins" delight the eye in this tree-filled, 289-acre retreat.
Take part in a courtroom drama at the historic Old Courthouse in downtown St. Louis. The famous Dred Scott slavery trials began in the venerable building where today National Park Service rangers give tours and stage reenactments of famous cases held in the green-domed building.
Celebrate St. Louis' French heritage and laissez le bon temps roullez (let the good times roll) at St. Louis' colorful Mardi Gras special events which includes the nation's largest pet parade - the howlingly fun "Mystic Krewe of Barkus" Pet Parade.
Walk through the shady, wooded paths at Laumeier Sculpture Park where you'll find surprising modern art at every turn.
Stand under the 630 foot tall Gateway Arch and walk to the south overlook for a magnificent view of paddlewheel excursion riverboats and the mighty Mississippi River framed by the nation's tallest monument.
Window shop and marvel at what your grandmother really shouldn't have thrown away as you stroll along six blocks of Cherokee Street in St. Louis' most famous antique district.
Count the mosaics at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. You won't finish - there are millions of the tiny glass fragments forming hand-constructed religious art inside the 1909 structure's domes - but it couldn't hurt to try.
MEDIA NOTE: For more information or photography of St. Louis, send an e-mail to pr@explorestlouis.com or call Becky Sharp at 1-314-992-0652. For up-to-date information about St. Louis, your readers should call the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission at 1-800-916-0040 or check out our website at www.explorestlouis.com. This news release is also available in electronic form. To obtain an electronic version, e-mail your request to pr@explorestlouis.com or go to St. Louis’ online media center at www.explorestlouis.com/media.
