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Two square-shaped, golden-brown fried items with a crispy texture, sprinkled with green herbs, on a white plate. 1
A historic brick house with a wrought iron fence. 2
A tall building with ornate street lamps in front. 3
A man gesturing towards a building with ornate architecture and a street lamp in the foreground. 4
A group of people posing in front of the World Chess Hall of Fame. 5
By TourCWE

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
Free cancellation available
Price is $129 per adult* *Get a lower price by selecting multiple adult tickets
See tickets

Features

  • Free cancellation available
  • 3h
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation

Overview

  • Join a neighborhood local in the Central West End and enjoy “A Taste of Two Cities”, a curated sampling of hidden gems and only-in-STL eats like toasted ravioli, gooey butter cake, and the perennially controversial Provel cheese. Most guests skip dinner.

    In between, you'll enjoy an easy 2-mile walk accompanied by sights and tales of two distinct eras of St. Louis' (and American) history.

    The first, one of opulent Gilded-Age wealth culminating in a globally-attended showcase of human achievement in 1904 - a World's Fair we still won't shut up about.

    And the second - a less-spoken-of chapter of self-inflicted wounds that would create the Delmar Divide and come to a head when the Black Lives Matter movement is born in nearby Ferguson in 2014.

    “A balanced view of history. No punches pulled. Every part is human, beautiful and ugly.” — ahunkins, Minneapolis MN

    “I always book a walking history/food tour in every city I visit, and this was hands down the best.” — Kelly E.

Activity location

  • McPherson Avenue & North Euclid Avenue
    • 63108, St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • Dressel's Pub
    • 419 North Euclid Avenue
    • 63108, St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Check availability

History + Culinary Tour - 3hrs

  • Earn $3.87
  • Activity duration is 3 hours3h
    3h
  • English

Hidden Gems and Must-Try STL: We'll enjoy an unsung Guy Fieri fave and many quintessentially “St. Louis” flavors + water and soft drinks throughout..

Language options: English
Starting time: 2:00PM
Price details
$129.00 x 1 Adult$129.00
Total
Price is $129.00
Until Wed, Sep 16

What's included, what's not

  • Inclusions
    Cooling towels when the heat is a factor.
  • Inclusions
    Soda/Pop
  • Inclusions
    Bottled water
  • Inclusions
    A full spread of dishes sampled from pub tables to park benches along a lovely CWE stroll. A lot of guests skip dinner afterward.
  • Exclusions
    Drinks are not included in the tour price. Travelers can purchase beverages (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) on their own at restaurant stops along the route.
  • Exclusions
    Metered parking is available at the meeting site, and free street parking is available one block away.

Know before you book

    • Wheelchair accessible
    • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
    • Service animals allowed
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
    • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • This tour runs about 3 hours, covers roughly 2 miles of walking on city sidewalks, and happens mostly outdoors. On hot days we bring cooling towels and build in shaded breaks. History and food get roughly equal weight — if you're looking for strictly food-focused stops with short narration between, this isn't that tour.

Activity itinerary

McPherson Avenue & North Euclid Avenue

  • 30m
We'll meet up near Writer's Corner at a brewpub that has been a favorite haunt of Central West End locals since 1980 and sample a one-of-a-kind sandwich Guy Fieri once took two bites of before telling the executive chef to "Tear up the rest of the menu - you don't need it!". While you partake in your first nibbles, your guide will give you a background of St. Louis' early history, leading up to the time that the Central West End becomes the epicenter of concentrated wealth in the fourth largest city in America during her illustrious Gilded Age - culminating in a global event that would celebrate all of human achievement right next door in Forest Park - the 1904 World's Fair.

Holy Corners District (Pass by)

Within a literal stone's throw of the Delmar Divide sits some of the most impressive architecture from the World's Fair era that still remains, and it's completely outside of Forest Park. Hear hidden history and see artifacts from the early days of this "Valley of the Giants" listed in the National Register of Historic Places. We'll discuss the dichotomy of living in St. Louis, including the long term effects of the 32 of our 79 neighborhoods collectively referred to as the "Northside" that sit north of Delmar Boulevard and have borne witness to many generations of disinvestment and abandonment.

The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza St. Louis (Pass by)

We'll walk past mansions where future presidents once slept, brewing heirs enjoyed their fortunes, and where the "Spirit of St. Louis" was born. After enjoying a couple of local snack staples, we'll discuss the star-studded history of the iconic Chase Park Plaza hotel and enjoy one of St. Louis' most delicious mistakes.

Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis (Pass by)

St. Louis' European chapter began with the settlement of French Catholics, bolstered by the arrival of thousands of Irish Catholics throughout the 19th century. One can barely speak of any element of the history of St. Louis where the presence of the Catholic community was not felt, and the enormity of St. Louis' importance to the church was eventually made manifest in one of the great churches of North America.

Maryland Plaza

  • 15m
  • Admission ticket included
See the most important venue in American chess, see where the "cocktail party" was invented, and taste some of our most storied cuisine including a cheese you'll only find in St. Louis. We'll wrap up the tour with a final nibble in homage to our sister city, where the founders of St. Louis had previously called home, while hearing of St. Louis earliest days at a locally famous bistro and music venue known for great food and great jazz.

Mahler Ballroom

  • 30m
We'll return to St. Louis' roots with a final culinary tribute to our fabulous, much more French sister city downstream. But not before seeing a historical landmark that dates its roots in the city to 1860, and would become the launchpad for one of the most famous dance troupes in the world.

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIES
    McPherson Avenue & North Euclid Avenue
    • 63108, St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    Dressel's Pub
    • 419 North Euclid Avenue
    • 63108, St. Louis, Missouri, United States

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