Tower Grove Park, Saint Louis (must see)

Tower Grove Park is a 289-acre municipal park. The park's surroundings include the neighborhoods of Southwest Garden, Shaw, Tower Grove East, and Tower Grove South. The park was donated to the city by 19th-century businessman and botanist Henry Shaw, who also owned the neighboring Missouri Botanical Garden.

The park is known for its 32 picturesque pavilions, which date back to the Victorian era, and its gardenesque landscape design by James Gurney Sr. The park features a lily pond, formal plantings, the Piper Palm House, a bandstand, tennis courts, a wading pool for small children, open green spaces, softball diamonds, soccer fields, and paths for walkers, joggers, and cyclists. The park is home to nearly 400 species of trees, bushes, and flowering plants and is a popular birdwatching area, particularly during the spring and fall bird migration seasons.

The park also features several statues, including full likenesses of Alexander von Humboldt and William Shakespeare, both sculpted by German sculptor Ferdinand Freiherr von Miller. Around the bandstand, there are white marble busts of famous musical composers, including Mozart, Rossini, Beethoven, Wagner, Gounod, and Verdi.

Tower Grove Park hosts a variety of events throughout the year, from picnics to weddings, and is the site of several large festivals during the summer. A farmers' market is also held in the park every Saturday morning from May through October, featuring local and organic farmers, as well as craftsmen and artisans.

Designated a National Historic Landmark as one of the nation's finest examples of a late 19th-century public park, Tower Grove Park offers a beautiful and diverse recreational space in the heart of St. Louis.

Why You Should Visit:
Whether you're cycling, walking or just enjoying the views this park is a slice of historic St. Louis at its very best. Tons of neat little shops and restaurants nearby, as well.

Tip:
Make sure to check out Festival of Nations in late August - full of activities & food from all around the world, plus live entertainment for the whole family to enjoy!