In a city known as the headquarters of Budweiser beer and for its rampant Cardinals baseball fans, St. Louis, Missouri, may not conjure images of romance. The sleepy sounds of the Mississippi River, lavish architecture and renowned cultural landmarks, however, make the “Gateway to the West” an appropriate spot to celebrate a wedding anniversary.
Enjoy a view of the majestic Gateway Arch with your sweetie via a unique point of view – from the water. Take a two-hour cruise down the Mississippi River with the Skyline Dinner Cruise. Enjoy views of the city, listen to live jazz ensembles and dine from the buffet spread. For added romance, request a bottle of Champagne or wine. The cruise is offered from April through October. Celebrate your anniversary with a trip in a romantic carriage ride. The St. Louis Carriage Company has an assortment of vessels available for rent, including limo, vis-a-vis and Cinderella carriages. Tours depart from Laclede’s Landing, just steps from the Mississippi River, and travel throughout downtown St. Louis. Rides are booked in 15-minute intervals.
Spend the day in Forest Park, a nearly 1,300-acre park in the heart of the city. During the winter, the park is home to the Steinberg Skating Rink, where lovers can skate under the stars or warm themselves by a bonfire while sipping on a cup of hot cocoa. The Boathouse is a year-round, lakeside restaurant with an extensive wine list and a large stone fireplace for snuggling. During the summer, you can also enjoy private time on the lake by renting pedal boats by the hour. Take a stroll through the Jewel Box, the park’s art deco-style greenhouse filled with colorful flowers and large fountains. Set out for a leisurely walk through the 79-acre Missouri Botanic Garden. Cross over bridges and under cherry blossom trees in the Japanese Garden, take in the sights and smells of more than 7,000 orchid plants and lose yourself in the Victorian Garden’s labyrinthine maze. Pack a picnic and enjoy a night of music, including jazz and blues, during the 10-week summer Whitaker Music Festival.
Dress up in your finest duds and set out for a night of high-end theater in downtown St. Louis. The Fox Theatre is an opulent 1929 movie palace that now hosts touring Broadway productions and dance performances. Erected in 1934, the 3,100-seat Peabody Opera House is an ornate marble building with red velvet seats and art deco chandeliers. The theater stages a series of events throughout the year, including ballets, concerts and musical productions. Powell Hall, a lavish 1925 theater with massive stained glass windows and gold trim ceilings, is home to the St. Louis Symphony. The symphony showcases everything from piano concertos, to full symphonic performances, to arias.
Find romance at the Saint Louis Art Museum, an enormous 1904 palace filled with more than 33,000 works of art. Peruse pieces by such luminaries as Rembrandt, Degas and Picasso as you walk hand in hand with your sweetie. The museum also hosts special events, such as afternoon chamber concerts, monthly gourmet dinners with guided tours of the complex and Friday night after-hour parties with live music. Watch a film in a unique setting at the Moolah Theatre and Lounge, an upscale single-screen movie theater with ornate Moorish decor. The lobby bar sells cocktails and wine, all of which are permitted in the theater. Snuggle with your honey on the theater’s love seats as you settle in to watch the latest independent title. There’s also an eight-lane retro bowling alley in the basement.
