Best Time to Go
Every season in St. Louis has something special on offer --- in spring the St. Patrick’s Day Parade is eagerly attended. In the summer, Six Flags St Louis attracts tourists and area residents with thrill rides and an extensive water park. Fall brings Halloween events at the Bissell House Museum and the Mountain Man Rendezvous. Around Christmas the Anheuser Busch Brewery puts on a spectacular display of lights.

Of course, if you are a sports fan you’ll want to schedule a visit to take in the Cardinals or the Rams. The best time to visit if you want to tour the local historic areas and do a bit of shopping ranges from June through September when it’s easy to be outdoors.

Average Weather
St. Louis experiences four distinct seasons. January is usually the coldest month with an average temperature range from 37 degrees Fahrenheit down to 20. January also sees the smallest amount of precipitation with less than two inches. July is the hottest month when highs average in the upper 80s and lows average in the 70s. Year-round St. Louis receives over two inches of rain every month except January. May is the wettest month with average annual precipitation of four inches.

Transportation
From St. Louis International Airport, Airport Express shuttle vans (tel. 314/429-4950) will get you to most downtown hotels for $10. The MetroLink light rail (tel. 314/231-2345) connects the airport with downtown for only $3. Taxis cost about $20 to $25. Amtrak also serves St. Louis. St. Louis is proud of having solved the traffic problem, and locals swear you can get around most of the attractions by car in 20 minutes; they also point to plentiful downtown parking in high-rise parking decks.

If you are in St. Louis strictly for downtown business it makes sense to take a shuttle or cab from the airport and walk around the compact downtown area, but if you want to check things out further afield, it’s best to drive to town or rent a car during your stay.

In-Season Costs
St Louis offers dining and accommodations to suit any budget. You’ll find all the familiar national chain restaurants and hotels along with some unique independent ethnic restaurants in all price ranges. Downtown accommodations can get pricey in the $100 and up range for starters, but some bargains do exist in outlying areas. The important thing to know is that St. Louis is a fairly busy business and convention hub so if you want a specific property it’s best to book early --- often hotels have room blocks committed to special events.

Day Trips
Just across the river in Collinsville, Illinois, you’ll find the Cahokia Mounds Museum and Interpretive Center. The Cahokia Mounds is a World Heritage Site with the largest collection of Native American Burial Mounds in the USA. Cahokia was the largest city in the Midwest during ancient times.

Only 10 minutes from downtown St. Louis sits Horseshoe Lake Park in Granite City, Illinois. Artifacts found near the lake suggest human habitation as far back as 8,000 years. Horseshoe Lake Park has an amazing variety of wildlife.

Lake of the Ozarks State Park is a two-and-one-half-hour drive from St. Louis. The State Park has two public beaches with areas for boating and swimming.