Top 15 Fun Things To Do in St. Louis

Are you moving to the St. Louis area soon? Congratulations! You will soon be learning why St. Louis has been deemed one of America’s most livable cities and how historically rich the city and the area around it are!

Whether you’re already living in the area, have lived here for a little while or several years, or are moving here soon, you don’t have to worry about ever being bored! While St. Louis is relatively small compared to other cities like Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles, you’ll find a plethora of activities and events to enjoy with friends and family alike. Check out our favorite 15 things to do in the Lou below!

1. Go to the Top of the Arch – When you think about the city of St. Louis, you will more than likely picture the Arch towering majestically over the cityscape. Why not bring yourself up to the top and check out the city at a bird’s eye view? Take a 630-foot ride to the tip-top of the Arch, and you will see lines and lines of buildings and lights. Once you’re done, go below the Arch to check out the museum, which recounts the settlement in St. Louis and the explorations of the west.

2. Cheer For the Home Team – St. Louis is definitely a city that’s passionate about its sports. During the spring and summer months, buy a ticket to a Cardinals baseball game in Busch Stadium, and check out the St. Louis Rams in the Edward Jones Dome during football season. You can’t enjoy St. Louis to the fullest, though, without going to a St. Louis Blues hockey game at the Scottrade Center. There’s nothing quite like hearing someone honk 3 times and hearing everyone shout, “LET’S GO BLUES!”

3. Visit the Zoo – The St. Louis Zoo is one of the nation’s top zoological parks and houses thousands of animals. Take the Emerson Zooline Railroad for a ride around the park. Check out fun areas including Big Cat Country, Penguin & Puffin Coast, the Interactive Stingray Pool, and so much more. The best part? It’s free! Just be sure to grab a fun souvenir or two before you leave.

4. Embrace the Night Life – Nighttime in the city is always hopping and fun in the Lou. Check out Laclede’s Landing or Washington Avenue for blocks and blocks full of awesome bars and dance clubs. Visit Soulard, the oldest neighborhood in the city, for your music fix. If you’re into swing dancing, be sure to stop by Grandel Theater every Tuesday night and dance the night away with Lindy Hop St. Louis.

5. Check Out Forest Park – Perhaps one of the best parts of St. Louis, Forest Park encompasses 1,371 acres of land situated right in the center of the metropolitan area. In fact, it’s about 500 acres larger than New York City’s Central Park! Enjoy all that Forest Park has to offer including its scenic walking and biking trails, the St. Louis Art Museum, Missouri History Museum, the St. Louis Science Center, the zoo, the Muny, and the Jewel Box, a flower conservatory that’s a popular venue for special events!

6. Feel the Rush of Adrenaline at Six Flags – Just to the west of St. Louis is Six Flags! Zip around loops on The Batman, face harrowing curves and dips on the Screaming Eagle, go on a water adventure on Thunder River or at Hurricane Harbor. You can also see live shows and concerts, meet your favorite cartoon characters, and so much more! Go with a group for a discount or grab season tickets for you and your loved one.

7. Sample Some Beer at the Local Breweries – Beer is a big part of the city, so be sure to take time to visit the historic Anheuser-Busch Brewery where you can sample a variety of premium brands of beer and even visit with the Budweiser Clydesdales! Another place to stop is Schlafly Bottleworks; you’ll get a free brewery tour, and you can enjoy sampling different styles of beer, listening to live music, and eating delicious food at the Schlafly Tap Room.

8. Run Wild at the City Museum – Before you skip to the next activity, you should know that the City Museum isn’t actually a boring, ho-hum museum. It’s a unique location that’s pretty much an absolutely enormous playground for people of all ages. Filled with caves, slides, and lots of things to climb on, the City Museum is full of wonderful activities to do, including interacting with over 10,000 sea creatures, venturing through the Museum of Mirth, Mystery, and Mayhem, and wandering through tons of fun mazes and exhibits. Make your own work of art in Art City, play on equipment at the very top of the towering building, or feel the rush of adrenaline as you zip down a three-story high slide.

9. See the Animals at Grant’s Farm – Can’t get enough animals? Visit Grant’s Farm for an up-close and personal experience like no other! You’ll see African elephants, tortoises, bald eagles, deer, cattle, fennec foxes, buffalo, ostriches, and so much more when you stop by for a visit. See shows, take tours, and don’t forget to check out the carousel!

10. Discovery Something New at the Science Center – Located in Forest Park, the Science Center is a definite must-see to add to your list. Find out about animals, see a life-sized animatronic T-Rex and other dinosaurs, and marvel at the wonders of our solar system! You can even build your own arch! Don’t forget to check out the Omnimax Theater for unforgettable shows shown in a manner like no other!

11. Feast on the Foods of St. Louis – You can’t live in or near St. Louis without having tried some signature foods. Go to restaurants on The Hill to try delicious toasted ravioli. Visit a local pizza parlor to savor St. Louis style thin-crust pizza. Swing by Dooley’s Beef N Brew House for mouth-watering bbq. Top it all off with scrumptious frozen custard at Ted Drewes at the end of the night.

12. Enrich Your Life with the Arts – Love the arts? You’ll love St. Louis! Visit the Art Museum in Forest Park and wander through the many halls and coves of the museum. You can find numerous amounts of famous paintings, sculptures, and so much more! If music is more up your alley, then you’re in for a great treat. Grab some tickets to one of the many shows at the St. Louis Symphony for a breath-taking show.

13. Jam to Some Live Shows – There’s always happening in St. Louis on the live band scene. Check out some live music at places like The Pageant or the Scottrade Center. See outdoor acts at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater or catch touring acts at the famous Blueberry Hill.

14. Get Lost in the Missouri Botanical Gardens – For plant and outdoor lovers or just those seeking some peace or a new kind of adventure, the 79 acres of lush gardens, landscape architecture, greenhouses, and conservatories that make up the Missouri Botanical Garden are just what you need! The oldest botanical garden in the nation, the Missouri Botanical Garden features a Climatron, which recreates a real rainforest experience for you to talk through, peaceful Japanese gardens, and fun and educational Children’s Garden. There’s always something fun and new to do here!

15. See Live Theater – Love drama? Don’t start it – just go watch it in St. Louis! You can get your Broadway fix at the Fabulous Fox Theater when you see plays, concerts, and dance troupes perform. For an enjoyable outdoor experience, come to The Muny, the nation’s largest outdoor amphitheater dedicated just to musical theater!

Need to find your dream home close to St. Louis? We can help! Just call us at (618) 791-5024 or at (618) 791-9298, and we can help you find the perfect home for you! Be sure to also check us out online at www.dianamasseyhomes.com to see what we can do to help you find that one perfect place for you!

First-Time Home Buyer? 10 Must-Know Tips to Buying Your First Home

Are you getting ready to stop renting and to buy a home for the first time? That’s fantastic news! You will no doubt love being a homeowner and enjoying all the freedom that comes with owning your own property; however, you definitely need to do your homework before you just pick a house.

Think about your dream home for a minute. What does it look like? Where is it located? What about your dream community? What is it like? These are actually very serious questions to consider before you go out there and try to find a home. But where do you start?

Below are 10 tips outlined to help you get started and help you along your way to finding your very first home!

1. Know Your Credit Score – Before you do anything else, check your credit score! This is the most important factor in getting your mortgage qualifications assessed. Lenders will connect your credit score to the interest rate you will have to pay, so ideally a score between 720 and 800 is what you should aspire to have in order to pay the lowest mortgage rates. If your score is 620 or below, you might not even qualify for mortgage at all until you improve your score.

2. Set a Budget – When it comes to buying a home, a budget is essential. It will be your guideline to what you can and cannot afford, and it will help keep your searches in check. Create an easy budget for yourself with income and spending to figure out how much you want to spend on house payments, and definitely set it before you go house hunting. There’s nothing worse than falling in love with a house that’s way out of your budget range.

3. Stop Spending and Start Saving – As soon as you set your budget and have figured out how much your potential mortgage payments will be, start saving the difference between that payment and your current rent every month. This will help you save money and will help you get more accommodated with paying higher payment amounts.

4. Find a Lender – Before you start looking at houses, get pre-qualified for a mortgage loan! Make sure that you ask your lender about all the different loan options and figure out an idea of how much money you’d need for a down payment and for closing costs.

5. Find a Trustworthy Realtor – There’s nothing more vital to buying your first home than finding a reputable realtor. This realtor should be experienced, knowledgeable, and familiar with where you want to live. You will need someone who will be reliable in representing your interests during times of negotiation – and that’s what we do!

6. Nail Down Your Top Priorities – We know that there are a lot of things on your first house wish list, but sometimes you won’t be able to afford or find all that you want with your first home. Time to make some compromises! Ask yourself, “Is it more important to live in a particular type of home or in a particular section of town?” You will need to hone in on your top priorities before you can discern for yourself what you truly want.

7. Select Your Desired Neighborhood – Remember in your house searches that some neighborhoods hold onto their value more than others if the housing market is rocky. You should work with your realtor to find a neighborhood that meets your needs and that will keep you happy and make you feel safe. Your safety is of utmost importance, so please choose wisely before settling!

8. Make an Offer – Found a home you love and adore and simply can’t live without? Time to make an offer! Don’t place your offer at too low of an amount, though; many sellers are willing to negotiate, but many others simply won’t. Have your realtor walk you through the process so that you can be assured that you will receive fair treatment.

9. Get It Inspected – This is one of the most important items on this list. Never, ever, EVER buy a home without an inspection! A professional home inspection will help identify the weak spots and flaws in the home and will help identify which systems and appliances will need to be replaced.

10. Seal the Deal – Congratulations! The contract is signed! After the contract is signed, be sure to be in frequent contact with your realtor and your lender to make sure your financing is taken care of. A good realtor will keep a checklist handy to ensure that everything is completed in time for settlement.

Are you ready to find your first home? Then give us a call at (618) 791-5024 or at (618) 791-9298, and we can help you find the best house out there for you! Visit us online at www.dianamasseyhomes.com to see all of the services we provide!