For those staying at the Congress's official host hotel, the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark, these must-see attractions are located at your doorstep:

Gateway Arch The nation’s tallest monument at 630 feet, the Gateway Arch will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2015. The vision of renowned architect Eero Saarinen, the iconic, awe-inspiring Arch has beckoned visitors for decades. A visit to St. Louis isn’t complete without standing at its base and playing professional photographer and the view from the outside is only half of the experience. At the time of the Congress, work will still be underway to complete “CityArchRiver 2015,” a massive redevelopment project aimed at connecting downtown St. Louis with the national monument and the Mississippi River and infusing more accessible, thriving green space for visitors to enjoy. But the construction will in no way diminish the experience. Citygarden Located adjacent to the Hilton is Citygarden. This urban oasis is a vibrant and serene blending of lush landscaping and internationally renowned sculptures intermingled between elements of water, stone, architecture and design. Open and accessible year-round, until 10 p.m. daily. St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Catch exciting Major League Baseball action and cheer for the St. Louis Cardinals, 11-time World Series Champions. Be advised: Wear red! Old Courthouse Experience a significant part of U.S. history during a visit to the Old Courthouse, the site where an enslaved husband and wife, Dred and Harriet Scott, sued for their freedom and Virginia Minor sued for a woman’s right to vote in 1872. Embrace history in restored courtrooms and view exhibits and murals depicting historic events. The Mighty Mississippi River Discover a new perspective of St. Louis on a riverboat cruise. Replica 19th-century paddle steamers ferry the Mississippi, inviting you to travel to the mouth of the Missouri River and pass through the epic Mississippi lock system, or enjoy a romantic dinner on a twilight cruise.

From top: Citygarden, Busch Stadium, Old Courthouse, Riverboat on Mississippi River. Top two photos courtesy Explore St. Louis. Bottom two photos courtesy Gateway Arch.

 

City Museum
Housed in the former International Shoe building in Downtown’s Loft District, this one-of-a-kind museum is hugely popular among both residents and tourists. Billing itself as an “eclectic mixture of children’s playground, funhouse, surrealistic pavilion and architectural marvel,” the City Museum has been named one of the “great public spaces” by the Project for Public Spaces, and has won several local and international awards as a must-see destination. Fun for big kids, too!

Anheuser-Busch Brewery
Visit this iconic and historic St. Louis brewery to experience the King of Beers first-hand. Complimentary tours are offered year-round, inviting you to peek inside the Brew House, sample a beer, meet the world famous Clydesdales, and stop by the recently opened Biergarten.

Forest Park
At more than 1300 acres, Forest Park is one of the largest urban parks in the U.S. It contains some of the city's major cultural institutions, all of which are free to the public: the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Missouri History Museum, the Saint Louis Science Center and James S. McDonnell Planetarium and the Saint Louis Zoo.

Additional Forest Park attractions include an amphitheater, an art deco greenhouse and boat rentals. It also houses golf courses, tennis courts, ball fields, biking and walking trails and an ice-skating rink. Natural areas include forest, prairie, savannah and wetlands. Counter-clockwise from top: City Museum, Anheuser-Busch Brew House, Saint Louis Science Center and World's Fair Pavilion in Forest Park. Photos courtesy Explore St. Louis except Anheuser-Busch Brew House photo, which is courtesy Mike King.

 

On Monday and Tuesday, you’re on your own for dinner. You’ll find that St. Louis is a city of neighborhoods, each with its own distinctive style and characteristics. If you want to experience a little of St. Louis away from downtown, plan to join us on either or both nights for dinner with a group.

After a long day of learning and networking, we’ll leave from the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark and walk two blocks to the MetroLink station, which will take us to our destinations. (The cost of MetroLink is $5 round trip.) When we arrive at our designated neighborhood, we may all decide to go to one restaurant, or we may prefer to split off and go in different directions. We’ll plan to meet at a specific spot, at a specific time, to head back to the hotel as a group. For those who may be having way too much fun, just let the group leader know that you’ll take a cab back to the hotel.

There’s no need to plan ahead now. There will be a “sign-up” sheet at the Delegate Relations Desk at the Missouri Botanical Garden on Monday and Tuesday. You can decide the morning of, if you like.