27 Cheap Ways to Have Fun in St. Louis

Experience the Mississippi

Check out the Chain of Rocks Bridge
Intersection of Schillinger and Chain of Rocks roads, Granite City, Illinois

Other than a trip back in time to join a riverboat crew alongside Mark Twain, the old Chain of Rocks Bridge directly north of St. Louis offers perhaps the most memorable encounter with the mighty Mississippi in the world. The structure first opened to automobiles in 1929 and was once the bearer of heavy Route 66 traffic — but now it's a picturesque byway reserved for pedestrians and cyclists. And whether you access the bridge via the Riverfront Trail extending all the way from downtown or the parking lot adjoining the Illinois side, the mile-long, quirkily bending span does not disappoint. Lean over the railing and watch the swirls of water and driftwood below. Imagine a life inside one of the charming intake towers that stand nearby, solid and historic above a fast-moving current. Take a stroll just before sunset and ponder the great river's unfathomable vastness — and take some great pictures while you're at it. Even if your photography skills are next to nil, the setting is so gorgeous that any latergrams you post are sure to make your feed light up with virtual love. —Evie Hemphill

Photo courtesy of Kelly Glueck

Snag a kitty cuddle

Mauhaus Cafe
3101 Sutton Boulevard, Maplewood, 314-384-CATS

You really, really want to adopt a cat, but it's just not in the cards right now. Maybe your landlord doesn't allow animals. Maybe your honey is allergic. Maybe you're not sure that you're responsible enough to fully care for another life. But, man, you need some feline friendship STAT. Luckily, Mauhaus is here to let the fur fly. As one of the only cat cafes in the Midwest, Mauhaus offers kitty lovers a safe space to snuggle with a dozen purrrrfectly sweet cats. Get to know Taylor, Lorelai and other new friends while enjoying coffee, pita and hummus, artisan cheeses and cupcakes. And though the cafe welcomes human buddies, the socializing area really caters to the cat crowd with its high kitty walkways and floor-to-ceiling climbing tree. To experience Mauhaus, book an hour online for just $10, or drop in (and wait quite a while for your turn) for $5. For those who can't host cats at home, Mauhaus certainly scratches an itch, but if you happen to fall in love with one special sweetheart and live in a space where kitty can thrive, you're in for a treat — you can apply during your visit to adopt a fur baby. All feline friends come from Stray Haven Rescue and are spayed/neutered, microchipped and up to date on their shots. Paws up for that! —Allison Babka

Photo courtesy of Kelly Glueck

Partake in free pool

Ryder's Tavern
4123 Chippewa Street, 314-899-9343

Comedian Patrick Monahan recently tweeted, "Bars with pool tables are good because you get to drink and watch very serious people ask people to move aside so they can miss pool shots." His point: Bars with pool tables are often annoying. Many times the hardcore pool sharks camp out at the lone table in the bar, taking far too seriously a game meant to be enjoyed by drunks. These billiards bullies will not abide a group of tipsy amateurs knocking around the balls for the evening. And even if a table is available, someone is going to have to dig up four quarters, which in the days of Apple Pay and Square is an almost impossible feat. Ryder's Tavern on Chippewa eliminates the downsides of most public pool tables with a low-key atmosphere and free pool table welcoming to groups of pool noobs who fear the judgment of the elite poolerati. Between games you can treat yourself to a burger and cheese curds served from the kitchen just feet from the pool table, and keep the hits coming on the nearby jukebox. Just don't forget — loser buys the next round. — Jered Schneider

Photo courtesy of Mabel Suen

Get lost at a bookstore

Dunaway Books and Subterranean Books
3111 South Grand Boulevard, 314-771-7150
6275 Delmar Boulevard, University City; 314-862-6100

St. Louis is blessed with a treasure-trove of great bookstores, but two of them are truly underappreciated gems: Subterranean Books in the Loop and Dunaway Books on South Grand. In keeping with their evocative names, they're each filled to the brim with hidden depths and adventures just waiting to be discovered — simply wander the stacks and see. You may think you're just stopping by for one specific work only to find yourself wondering where the last hour has gone. Meanwhile, from the moment you arrive, a palpable sense of gladness emanates from kind staff members who never seem put off when a visit becomes lengthy (and less than lucrative). The two operations are also the respective domains of very good bookstore dogs Teddy (at Subterranean) and Blue (at Dunaway). And both operations celebrate local writers in generous ways. But don't get them confused; their wonderful assortments for St. Louis bibliophiles are as distinct as the architectural spaces and neighborhoods they inhabit. While Dunaway's several floors are bursting with a wide array of rare, used and out-of-print books, the volumes cleverly tucked inside Subterranean's storefront along Delmar Boulevard are all brand new. —Evie Hemphill

Photo courtesy of Kelly Glueck

Get a glimpse of the future

The Fortune Teller Bar
2635 Cherokee Street, 314-776-2337

As a bar, Fortune Teller could stand on its own, but the raised window booth on site for tarot card readings was a master stroke. Every night, a revolving cast of readers takes its perch behind a small table and welcomes the curious to peer into the future. Screw pool or darts. This is by far one of the best drinking activities in the city. You don't even have to get a reading to appreciate it. Just grab a cocktail, position yourself with a decent sight line, and enjoy the before-and-after view of people who partake. Sure, a lot of people climb those stairs on a lark, but more than a few exit the tiny, semi-private stage with the look that comes from wrestling with some heavy business. (Our favorite might be the couples; now that they know what they know, should they run for the hills?) You could search a long time and never find people-watching this compelling. But be prepared to go from spectator to participant by the end of the night. It's nearly impossible to watch the parade and not wonder what's really going on up in that booth. —Doyle Murphy

Photo courtesy of Mabel Suen

Drive up to the drive-in

The Skyview Drive-In
5700 North Belt West, Belleville, Illinois; 618-233-4400

By far the worst part of going to the movies is the exorbitant prices you're expected to pay at the concession stand. The robber barons at the AMCs and Wehrenbergs of the world want you to spend some $30 on chicken feed and sugar water, leaving you with no choice but to line your pockets with more reasonably priced snacks purchased on the way to the theater. It is not fair or right that you are reduced to the status of a common smuggler just for daring to watch a movie on a huge screen. Luckily there's another option, a better way. Belleville's Skyview Drive-In has been entertaining moviegoers in their own cars since 1949 — no smuggling required. Want some popcorn? Go ahead and bring a whole tin. Soda? A cooler full in the backseat will quench your thirst. Go big and get some brown liquor to go with that too; just make one of your more sober companions drive you home. Not that we have any first-hand knowledge about this or anything, but it's reasonable to think you could smoke blunts back to back in your car all throughout the show, as long as you're sly about it. Ditch the pricey concession stands in the typical theaters. It is time to put the dignity back in the moviegoing experience. It is time to visit the Skyview Drive-In. —Daniel Hill

Photo courtesy of Denis Dixson / Flickr

Live your HGTV dreams

Refab
3130 Gravois Avenue, 314-357-1392

If your idea of a good time involves lounging in front of shows like Fixer Upper and Property Brothers, you need to pay a visit to Refab ASAP. Step inside this warehouse, and you'll immediately find yourself surrounded by rooms overflowing in furniture, housewares, lumber, decor and other odds and ends to make your renovation dreams come true. But don't think of this as IKEA 2.0. The nonprofit creates jobs by providing training in deconstruction and refabrication to people who can then safely disassemble buildings and remove useful items that would otherwise be demolished by machine. As a result, the perfectly good materials from these buildings can be sold for reuse rather than being sent to a landfill. As an added bonus, the warehouse offers plenty of unique extras to complete your home or contribute to your renovation project, whether that's a funky doorknob, a toilet, a front door, a vintage chandelier or even something as random as a (fake) Christmas tree. You can further get involved in the effort by dropping off or asking Refab to pick up products you'd like to donate, or volunteer to help with deconstruction. It's a true treasure hunt that also saves the earth and creates employment. And that's something sure to get any HGTV host's approval. —Elizabeth Semko

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Photo courtesy of charlie vinz / Flickr

Engage in drunken gamesmanship

Skunk'd Ping Pong Parlor at Brennan's
4659 Maryland Avenue, 314-497-4449

Brennan's seems like a natural fit in one the city's most upscale neighborhoods. High-end spirits and a wide variety of fine cigars attract a certain clientele. But just beyond the blue haze of cigar smoke and the business casual crowd, not-so-distant cheers can be heard rumbling up from the basement below. In the grotto beneath Brennan's sits Skunk'd Ping Pong Parlor, a marvelous den of sport. To say that the environment at Skunk'd is a stark contrast to the bar's upstairs persona is an understatement — the quirkiness of the ping pong parlor seems more suited for the Grove or Cherokee Street than the Central West End. As the bar's website proclaims, the parlor is a tribute to the Chinese paddle master Wang Liqin. The shrine features three glossy red ping pong tables, a mural of Muhammad Ali, a collage of photos of ping pong royalty, and various vintage video game consoles set up on the TVs along the perimeter. And the best part? It's all totally free. When is the last time you heard that in the Central West End? —Jered Schneider

Photo courtesy of Kenneth Reitz / Flickr

Engage in sober gamesmanship

Great American Human Foosball
3227 Morganford Road, 314-882-6191

Some people might suggest that friendly competition is best accompanied by a drink or two. Hey, there's a reason games like volleyball, pool and ping pong are often found at bars. But at Great American Human Foosball, you won't have time for that — or even a hand free to take a sip. At this family-owned business, the classic tabletop soccer game is expanded to life-sized proportions, and you and your friends become the players on the field. Teammates grab onto handles attached to rods and move side-to-side in an effort to get the ball and score. Previously the home of Future Antiques, the venue now hosts fitness classes, parties, Boy and Girl Scout programs, neighborhood nights, fundraisers and even human foosball leagues. Foosball isn't the only attraction — other life-sized games include foot pool, tic tac toe, Connect 4, checkers, Yahtzee and chess. Great American Human Foosball understands that all that activity is bound to make you thirsty: Gatorade, water, light snacks and popcorn are for sale, and the company has specials worked out with nearby restaurants. Alcohol is not allowed, but who needs it? You'll be on to your next game before you even notice its absence. —Elizabeth Semko

Photo courtesy of SARA BANNOURA

Buy some clothing by the pound

Goodwill Outlet
3728 Market Street, 314-531-0671

You really messed up this time. You got greedy and got caught, and now your significant other is out of patience and has thrown you out on your ass. The entire contents of your closet were left on the lawn for the neighbors to pick through; you have been left with nothing. What to do? Easy. Head on down to the Goodwill Outlet and buy yourself a whole new wardrobe — by the pound. You see, the Goodwill Outlet is no ordinary Goodwill store, with such amenities as "racks" and "shelves." No, here you will instead find blue bin after blue bin, priced as cheap as can be (the "expensive" stuff goes for 99 cents per pound; the cheap stuff a mere 29 cents) and ripe for the picking. "Ripe" is an appropriate word here: This is a Mad Max Thunderdome free-for-all affair of completely unsorted goods — gloves and maybe even a painter's mask are highly recommended. Deck yourself out in hand-picked secondhand duds at unreasonably cheap prices and get ready to strut your stuff for the next poor sucker foolish enough to fall for your crap. The Goodwill Outlet is here to help. —Daniel Hill

Photo courtesy of kariedawayy / Instagram

Get your skate on

Peter Mathews Memorial Skate Garden
4415 Morganford Road

The Peter Mathews Memorial Skate Garden has just seen a major upgrade. The Bevo-area skate spot earned a $25,000 grant from the Tony Hawk Foundation in August, triggering a flurry of construction and improvements. Hawk himself even touched down in mid-September to grant his blessing to the three-year-old outdoor park — as strong a co-sign as you can possibly find in the skating world. The park was initially constructed in 2014 after the guerrilla alternative beneath the Kingshighway Bridge found itself on the chopping block owing to a massive construction project. That park had technically been an illegal affair — the skaters responsible for its construction had poured concrete and built the park without permits, asking for forgiveness rather than permission — but it was allowed to operate by the city, which was pleased that the spot's new inhabitants were diligent about cleaning up trash and removing graffiti. When the time came to move on, the Skate Garden was constructed by that same group with the city's blessing, making it St. Louis' first fully legal outdoor skate park. Three years later, thanks to the hard work of volunteers and some cash from one of skateboarding's patron saints, that park is still open for business — and better than ever. —Daniel Hill

Photo courtesy of Daniel Hill

Get away from it all

John F. Kennedy Memorial Forest
Forest Park, southwest corner, forestparkmap.org/kennedy-forest

We love our Forest Park standbys — landmark spots like the Muny and the Saint Louis Zoo are truly priceless (never mind their "free" price tag). But among your go-to destinations should be a less recognized, but no less wonderful, destination: the John F. Kennedy Memorial Forest. This forest preserve is a free oasis in the midst of the hustle and bustle of Skinker Boulevard and Highway 40. You can leave the din of traffic in the distance as you head down one of the bike trails or gravel paths winding through these 60 acres of beautiful of trees, flowers and wetland. Kennedy Forest became the first part of Forest Park reserved for environmental conservation when it was dedicated in 1964. Today, it's a prime spot for bird watching and serves as home for a number of frog species in addition to being a favorite spot for hiking and biking. Whether you want to explore, work out or simply enjoy a few moments of solitude, this bit of tranquility is a great place to go. Sure, you already have plenty of places you love in Forest Park — but Kennedy Forest should definitely be one. —Elizabeth Semko

Photo courtesy of Paul Sableman / Flickr

Eavesdrop on the revolution

MoKaBe's Coffeehouse
3606 Arsenal Street, 314-865-2009

If you ever wanted to feel better about the Resistance, spend a few nights camped out in MoKaBe's. The Tower Grove South institution unabashedly mingles its business with a progressive social conscience. When St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch announced in 2014 that ex-Ferguson cop Darren Wilson would face no charges for killing Michael Brown, 70 to 80 people watched a broadcast of the announcement inside the coffee house and later took shelter there when city police dropped canisters of tear gas just outside the doorway. It's not usually that dramatic. On any given night, you're likely to spot people of all ages addressing envelopes to politicians as part of letter-writing campaigns, customers dropping off packages of socks to be handed out to the homeless and volunteers creating assembly-line operations on a back table, stuffing tampons, toiletries and informational fliers into care packages for young women in need of help. Far from the alt-right fantasy of a shadow network of mercenary protesters paid by a bogeyman George Soros, the activists quietly at work in MoKaBe's embody a reassuringly genuine example of grassroots organizing. Plus, the sandwiches are pretty good. —Doyle Murphy

Photo courtesy of Laura Ann Miller

Open your ears

Listen to the crows of Forest Park
Forest Park

There was a time when parents pulled their small children inside when University City's crows appeared in the trees. Standing two feet tall (and appearing larger, depending on your own physical size), the birds weren't so much aggressive as they were menacing. Then came the summers of avian flu, and by 2004 you rarely saw any crows. It's been a long road back, but after more than a decade of sparse sightings, gangs of sizable birds again wing east through the late-afternoon skies. They're all croaks and caws as they pass over the Delmar Loop's buffet of dumpsters, but by the time they end up in the tippy-tops of Forest Park's big old trees, they've settled down for the night. There's something in corvids though that makes them incapable of remaining still even when sleeping. If you find yourself in Forest Park near sundown you'll hear the susurration of their wings as they mutter wickedly in their sleep. It's chilling, but also comforting; these are the everyday sanitation engineers, picking up edible garbage from the streets and over-full dumpsters. And besides that, they're simply beautiful creatures, intelligent and playful. Honestly, some of us prefer them to children.—Paul Friswold

Photo courtesy of Paul Sableman / Flickr

Give yourself a sugar rush

The Donut Stop
1101 Lemay Ferry Road, 314-631-3333

Depending on your appetite and imagination, you could probably spend weeks — and more — trying to devour every possible variety of donut available at the Donut Stop. How many varieties, precisely? The store touts 103 combinations of cake donut alone, but that estimate is likely outdated. On a recent morning, an employee just laughs at the question. "We've stopped trying to count," she says. To be fair, the folks behind the counter at this south-county pastry temple have better things to do than play donut accountant. The options are dizzying. For instance: Start with the base cake (vanilla, devil's food or blueberry) and then choose icing or glaze, and of course then you have to decide what kind of icing or glaze. Maybe you're in the mood for sprinkles, nuts, cream filling, powdered sugar — or then again, you may be aiming for that which can't be classified as a donut at all, like the lumpen pleasure of the "Cinnamon Glob." The aforementioned glob, nationally recognized several times over, is a fried hunk of pastry with the visual appeal of a sat-upon muffin and the taste of buttery heaven encased in crispy fried dough. Now on its fourth set of owners and continuously in business since 1953, the Donut Stop is proof positive that quality and quantity can coexist, and in this case, in the sweetest of harmonies. —Danny Wicentowski

Photo courtesy of Brittani Schlager

Have a Disney moment

The Book House
7352 Manchester Road, Maplewood; 314-968-4491

Disney's Beauty and the Beast blasted back into the zeitgeist this year when Harry Potter star Emma Watson took on the role of Belle in the live action version of the fairy tale. But bookworms and tried-and-true Disney aficionados having been obsessing over the Beast's impressive library long before Watson brought his comely paramour back to the big screen. Fans can get their own real-life dose of that magic by stepping inside the Book House, an independent bookshop where customers are greeted by a room with floor-to-ceiling shelves of books and gliding book ladders not unlike the ones in the movie. Don't get us wrong, this new and used bookstore is nowhere near the size of the castle library on screen — but when you experience its cozy vibe, you'll realize you wouldn't have it any other way. You'll also have a children's section and a lower level to explore, with genres ranging from fiction to cooking to books by St. Louis authors, plus rare and out-of-print books. Big-box chains can keep their fancy e-readers and in-store coffee shops. For a truly enchanting experience, the Book House is the place to go. —Elizabeth Semko

Photo courtesy of Harlan McCarthy

Take a trip down Memory Lane

Cruise Night at Chuck-a-Burger
9025 St Charles Rock Road, St. John; 314-427-9524

Fifties nostalgia is hot right now. While in some cases that amounts to a rather soul-crushing national effort to make our country Great Again™, at Chuck-A-Burger it's more about golden oldies, flattened burger patties and classic cars. For some 60 years the north-county drive-in has been a hub of such time-tested delights, serving up soda pop and Elvis in equal measure while customers in the lot outside debate the merits of Ford versus Chevy. And on the last Saturday of each month the nostalgia gets kicked into overdrive, when the eatery hosts its monthly Cruise Night, bringing dozens of ancient automobiles out from the safety of their garages to be ogled and gawked at by strangers. With a bacon cheeseburger in one hand and a hand-dipped milkshake in the other, you can stride throughout the lot and behold these carefully restored beauties in what is truly their natural habitat. Just make sure you don't spill anything on the cars, or you just might find yourself on the wrong end of an old-fashioned ass-kicking. —Daniel Hill

Photo courtesy of The Lamb Family / Flickr

Tie one on at a great throwback bar

Mike's Ten-Pin Lounge
18 East Broadway, Alton, Illinois; 618-465-6565

As we arrive at Mike's Ten-Pin, the bartender scrambles away from her perch near the bar's entry. First, it's to button up her flowing shirt; before long, she's scooting to the back room, from which she emerges wearing ... pants. (As in, yes, pants, and no, they were not part of her earlier ensemble.) These are clues that Mike's Ten-Pin Lounge is a critical link, tying the current day to Alton's not-so-distant life as a nightlife zone with a touch of extra, unexpected, random excitement. A pool table stays active throughout our stay and the drinks are appropriately priced; a Three Olives Rangtang cocktail and bottle of American lager are $5.50. The room, an unusual hue of light green, is lit primarily by televisions and beer signage, including a glowing Spuds McKenzie, the backbar's appropriately decorative centerpiece. Despite a handful of large rubber rats that seem to be a thing here, every surface is strangely pristine (like, eat-off-the-floor clean), even though a deep nicotine funk hangs heavily in the air. Combined, these are all vivid reminders that Mike's Ten-Pin is only two blocks removed from Alton's downtown bar district and a good two decades removed from that area's wilder past. Or, its present, if you know where to visit and happen by on just the right night. —Thomas Crone

Photo courtesy of RFT file photo

Get your picture taken with celebrities (wax version)

Laclede's Landing Wax Museum
720 North Second Street, 314-241-1155

Your life is boring, and your friends are starting to catch on. Your social media feeds betray your secrets (or lack thereof). The only photos you've uploaded in the last year are of your dinner (for one, sigh) and your dog (cute, but also bored of you). What do you do? You fake it for the 'gram, of course! Head on down to the Laclede's Landing Wax Museum and snap some selfies with the stars. Pull up that seat next to Barack Obama on a park bench and smile for the camera. Cower beneath Michael Jordan's mighty dunk and get an employee working there to take a convincing picture of your lack of sports prowess. "#SLAMDUNK" you'll tweet to your followers, and no one will be the wiser. "Oh my god, you met Shrek? The real Shrek?" your friends will ask you enviously, and you will click "like" and all will be fooled. With more than 200 life-size figures in its collection, from presidents to movie stars to super heroes to monsters, you're sure to find something at the Laclede's Landing Wax Museum capable of tricking the gullible into thinking your life is interesting. If not, at least they have an ice cream shop where you can drown your sorrows. —Daniel Hill

Photo courtesy of Sara Bannoura

Get your picture taken with celebrities (real version)

Eclipse at the Moonrise
6177 Delmar Boulevard, 314-726-2222

The kingdom of Joe Edwards is vast. It sprawls throughout the Delmar Loop, including many of the retail shops and buildings on both sides of the busy street. Notably, it includes all of the district's major music venues now that Cicero's has closed its doors. Blueberry Hill's smaller Duck Room, the mid-sized Delmar Hall and the world-class Pageant stage are all firmly under Edwards' dominion. How do you think he achieved that bonkers wall of photos with celebrities inside Blueberry Hill? Seeing all the stars he has shared photos with is enough to make anyone jealous. But fret not, dear reader, because here's a little tip: Edwards owns the Moonrise Hotel as well, and oftentimes when musicians perform at one of his venues they also stay at his inn. The Moonrise has a terrific rooftop bar sitting atop it, meaning that, if you're smart about the timing (and a little lucky) there's a decent chance you can catch some of those musicians putting back a few following their concerts just down the street. Say goodbye to your envy and start your own celebrity wall of photos! —Daniel Hill

Photo courtesy of Paul Sableman / Flickr