Fall in St. Louis is the season of pumpkin spice lattes and playoff pushes at Busch Stadium. It’s also an opportunity to get outside, enjoy the changing colors, and explore the region’s attractions before the cold of winter keeps us at home, cuddled up with a partner underneath a cozy blanket. Before things get too chilly, be sure to take advantage of all of the ways to make date night (or date afternoon) in St. Louis more active, healthy, and exciting. Here are a few ideas that promise to be both memorable and, for the most part, affordable.
Get out in Forest Park
First: Rent paddle boats at the Forest Park Boathouse
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After: Picnic on Art Hill
Create your own experience in the park by renting paddle boats at the Forest Park Boathouse (6101 Government) or having a picnic on Art Hill—or doing both. Pick up snacks and fancy cheeses from Parker’s Table (7118 Oakland) or grab a vegan to-go meal from Seedz Cafe (6344 Rosebury). For the ultimate fall Forest Park experience, plan a date around the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s annual performance and fireworks show on Art Hill on Wednesday, September 14. The concert is free, and no tickets are required. The Missouri History Museum is also hosting a series of free concerts on the final three Thursdays in September, with planned tributes to Aretha Franklin, Kool & The Gang, and Prince.
Defy gravity
First: Go climbing at Climb So iLL
After: Enjoy dinner and a view at The Bellwether
If being earthbound has you down, you and your date can take to the sky (or the wall) with a double-dip of gravity-defying experiences near Lafayette Square. At Climb So iLL (1419 Carroll), you and your date can scale the gym’s brightly colored walls. A day pass is just $18, and the gym rents a full set of climbing gear for $10.
You don’t even need to leave the building to continue your airborne ways. For dinner, walk upstairs to The Bellwether (1419 Carroll) for a variety of thoughtfully-executed entrees, salads and cheese plates. The restaurant’s west-facing patio offers a great view of the sunset.
Enjoy the fall colors
First: Stroll through the Missouri Botanical Garden
After: Relax with a seasonal beverage on a patio
You might have to wait until late October for the colors to be especially bold and vibrant, but a trip to the Missouri Botanical Garden (4344 Shaw) is certain to provide a stunning view of fall’s foliage no matter the occasion. Grab a ticket ($6 for St. Louis residents, $14 general admission) and go Tuesday through Sunday during the day. Events like the Best of Missouri Market (Oct. 7–8), The Fest-of-Ale (Oct. 14), Spirits in the Garden (Oct. 28), and especially Garden Glow (starting Nov. 19) are more fun with a special someone by your side.
Afterwards, grab a coffee or gelato—pumpkin spice or otherwise—on the patio at Gelateria Coffee Company (3197 S. Grand). It’s one of the few coffee shops around that stays open late, doing business until 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and until 9 p.m. on Thursday through Sunday. If you prefer to have a coffee before your visit to the Botanical Garden, you and your date can stop at nearby Fiddlehead Fern Café (4066 Russell) to get a coffee and a light, locally-sourced meal. The cafe is open 7 a.m.–3 p.m. daily.
Move and learn
First: Take a walking tour of St. Louis
After: Reflect on what you learned while sipping a refreshing, healthy beverage
A walking tour of St. Louis is a great way to get your steps in while getting to know the city a little better. Landmarks Downtown Walking Tours offers a variety of options, including $10 Saturday morning tours of both the East and West areas of downtown. Those tours run until the end of October. The Missouri Historical Society also offers 19 tours for $20 per person. Those tours can be done either with a group or as a couple.
For a healthy drink afterward, head to Hello Juice and Smoothie Bar (with locations in The Grove and Kirkwood) or UKRAFT (with locations in downtown, Clayton and Chesterfield). Both spots offer juice, smoothies, and small bites perfect for a cool-down session after the walking tour.
Get creative and culinary
First: Take a cooking class
Or: Take a cocktail-making class
Kitchen Conservatory (8021 Clayton) offers cooking classes catered to all flavors, including a variety of fall-themed classes. The Great Harvest Dinner Party on Sept. 30 is specifically designed for couples who are looking to make a fall-themed meal. Other seasonal courses include cookie decorating, gourd-centered meals, plant-based autumnal cooking, a costumed “fang-tastic bites” class and even a class focused on repurposing Halloween candy. The classes fill up quickly, so you might want to get a reservation while you can. The Center for Plant-Based Living (131 W. Jefferson) also offers health-conscious classes both in person and via streaming. You’ll want a membership for those.
If you’d prefer to focus on the after-dinner aspect of cooking, Intoxicology (4321 Manchester) in The Grove offers its series of Hands-On Workshops in November. Class sizes are very small and there are only a few days to choose from, so you’ll have to hurry to book these.
