Bommarito Chevrolet South County

Blog / Local Activities

3 Unusual Museums in St. Louis

Close view of the face on a giant sculpture of a man. | St. Louis, MO
Museums play a valuable role in preserving society's history, art, and culture. There are museums dedicated to serious subjects like science and technology, and there are some that capture the more entertaining side of life. Quirky and oddly-themed museums offer a glimpse into the more whimsical side of life today. It is these we'd like to introduce to you now.
  1. Laclede's Landing Wax Museum

Wax museums fit the profile of quirky. Creating life-like representations of famous figures, both past and present, is wildly entertaining to look upon. The Laclede's Landing Wax Museum has done a tremendous job of reproducing some of your favorite movie stars, presidents, and mythical creatures. They've also captured some of the scariest monsters and villains throughout history and legend. Located in the center of Laclede's Landing, the museum covers over 5,000 square feet in five levels of wax creations. You can view the Life of Christ exhibit chronicling the man responsible for Christianity, or you can wander through the Chamber of Horrors and see the gruesome work in animatronic action of torture throughout history. A Movie Monsters exhibit brings to life your favorite monsters from the big screen in a terrifying fashion. War history enthusiasts will enjoy the World War II exhibit, while those comic book lovers can gaze upon their childhood heroes in the Superhero exhibit. With over 250 life-size figures to see, Laclede's Landing Wax Museum offers a truly unique museum experience anyone can enjoy.
  1. The Awakening Sculpture

While not technically a museum, The Awakening Sculpture is a fantastic piece of art and an absolute must-see attraction. It was originally cast in aluminum by artist J. Seward Johnson, Jr. in 1980 for an art exhibition in Washington, D.C. This second casting is a permanent fixture in Chesterfield's Central Park. The sculpture is of a giant in distress trying to free himself from the ground. A small portion of his right leg and left hand protrude from the ground while his right arm is fully extended and his left knee and leg are exposed. Yet it's the agonizing face of the bearded giant that captures the imagination.
  1. The Lemp Mansion

The Lemp Mansion provides a unique look back at one of St. Louis' oldest buildings. Once the home of the Lemp family, one of the Beer Barons of St. Louis, it is now an inn and restaurant where you can have dinner and spend the night. Just be warned, the building is considered one of the most haunted buildings in the world. Ghost hunters flock to the Lemp Mansion to experience other-worldly activity daily. Tours are available throughout the week, and they host a Mystery Dinner event and ghost hunting adventures for those who want an up-close and personal view of paranormal activity at its finest. If you love a good scare, you can book a night in one of the original family bedrooms, though it might be difficult to sleep. There are some truly unique museums in the St. Louis area. The next time you feel like exploring the weirder side of life you should check out one of these three places. Image via Pixabay.
Posted in:

Related Posts

An orange tent and a camper in the middle of the woods. | St. Louis, MO

4 Great Spots for Camping Near St. Louis, MO

Camping is a great way to spend a weekend in the great outdoors, and for residents and visitors of St Louis, MO, there are plenty of nearby campgrounds where everyone can get away from the city for a few days. Whether you prefer the ruggedness of a tent or the comfort of an RV, you'll find your new favorite spot on this list. 1. Washington State Park This hidden gem on the Missouri River to the west of St Louis is perfect for hiking, fishing, boating, and swimming. The park is also an area of high historical importance, with the largest collection of ancient petroglyphs in the state, as well as buildings constructed by the Civilian Construction Corps in the 1930s. The park's campground has something for everyone, offering both basic and developed sites with electrical outlets, and a special-use area. There is also a dedicated family campsite that includes roomier pitches, with enough space for everyone. The campsite is open year-round, but facilities are more limited during the off-season, from November to March. 2. Cuivre River Campgrounds Located just under an hour's drive from downtown St Louis, the campground at Cuivre River make an excellent base for exploring the rugged mountains of northern Missouri's Ozarks. The park is full of natural beauty, despite its proximity to the city, and its wilder nature means it's one of the parks most beloved of hikers. The nearby Lake Lincoln is perfect for swimming, boating, or fishing, or visitors can observe the teeming wildlife in the miles of woods and mountains that make up the park. Campsites vary from simple dirt plots to full RV hookups, with access to sewage, electricity, and water. more 3. Horseshoe Lake Located across the river in Illinois, Horseshoe Lake is situated in a low floodplain and is a shallow oxbow lake formed by the overflowing Mississippi that averages just three feet in depth. Despite this, the lake still offers incredible fishing; visitors can enjoy casting for catfish, bass, and crappie. There are 26 campsites in the park that can accommodate trailers or tents, and the campground itself is open from May to September, and campers can stay for up to 7 days in any 30 days. 4.  Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial Named after a famous St. Louis surgeon, known for his service to the less fortunate of the city, this state park stretches for over 800 acres of beautiful green space amongst the rapidly expanding suburbs. The park's old-growth forests are particularly noteworthy, with century-old white oaks, red oaks, and maples, and can be explored via the miles of hiking trails that snake through the park. The park's campground is open all year round, and campsites can be reserved online up to 12 months in advance. These are just some of the many incredible campsites within a short drive of the city. Looking for a new vehicle to take you on your next adventure? Head on down to Bommarito Chevrolet South County today, where you're sure to fall in love with our incredible range of quality cars.

Several trees and a man-made pond in a park. | Parks in St. Louis, MO

4 Great Parks in and Around St. Louis, MO

The magnificent parks in and around St. Louis, MO, offer visitors an endless amount of sports and recreational activities, art, culture, and history. The city boasts one of the best and urban open spaces in the country and scenic trails that meander through forests, meadows, and along the banks of lakes and streams where wildlife is in abundance. 1. Forest Park The 1,300-acre oasis, the city's greatest civic treasure, is considered one of the country's best urban spaces. The park boasts various historic landmarks, statues, and monuments, and the region's most important cultural institutions: The Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis Art Museum, Saint Louis Science Center and James S. McDonnell Planetarium, Saint Louis Zoo, and The Muny, an outdoor musical theatre. In addition to the wide range of cultural and sports activities, the lakes and lagoons offer excellent fishing opportunities, and scenic paths that wind through forests, nature reserves, over meadows, and past lakes and streams. 2. Castlewood State Park The park runs for 5 miles along the Meramec River that cuts through majestic white limestone cliffs, oak and hickory forests on the north side, and past a rare indigenous bottomland forest on the south side. On the hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails that wind through the park, nature lovers often spot white-tailed deer, kingfishers, great blue herons, and wild turkeys. The river is popular with paddlers and anglers who regularly hook largemouth bass, bluegill, and catfish. The World Bird Sanctuary in the park showcases a range of bird species and interpretive displays on birds of prey. more 3. Creve Coeur Park Discover the park's history and indigenous fauna and flora on miles of trails that wind through the park. Hike on the six-mile Water Trail across the lake and up the creek, or take a scenic stroll to the Dripping Springs waterfall. The park's 320-acre lake is the perfect place to fish, boat, paddle, and soak up the sun on the sandy beach along the northeast shore. The lake is teeming with fish and regularly stocked by the Missouri Department of Conservation and one of the prime fishing destinations in the region.  Play tennis, disc golf, swing among the trees on a Go Ape Tree Top Adventure and test your skills at the archery range.  Enjoy a scenic picnic at one of the many shelters or dine at the Lakehouse Restaurant. 4. Carondelet Park The historical park was established in 1875 and is the city's third-largest park. It's a popular destination for sports enthusiasts and offers a wide range of recreational activities, from baseball, soccer, softball, and tennis to horseshoes, swimming, fishing, and boating. There is a recreational center, pool, boathouses, playgrounds, lovely paved walking and jogging paths, and picnic areas with pavilions. While you are enjoying the activities in the park, visit Lyle House, a Civil War mansion that belonged to the family who was the original owners of the land. You don't have to wander far to enjoy beautiful scenery, view wildlife, and participate in a wide variety of recreational activities. It's all right here, on your doorstep. Visit Bommarito Chevrolet South County today and our factory-trained technicians will ensure that your vehicle performs optimally.

Golf course with lots of greenery. | St. Louis, MO

4 of the Best Golf Courses Near St Louis, MO

St Louis, MO is known for its iconic gateway arch that rises 630 feet from the ground. The area also has attractive golf courses, and if you fancy playing the gentleman's sport, here are a few places to check out. Glen Echo Country Club The Glen Echo is one of the oldest golf clubs west of the Mississippi because it was opened in 1901. Another historic and unique fete the club is known for is being the only one to have hosted the Olympic golf games in the US. Held in 1964, this was the third Olympic games tournament after the event launched in 1896. Currently, you can join via regular, corporate, junior, social, or gold medal membership to enjoy the pristine golfing facilities. There's also a swimming pool, tennis court, a wide variety of dining options, and grounds for weddings or private events. Forest Park Golf Course This facility is only 10 minutes from downtown St. Louis, and it is the only public golf option in the area. It is located in the gently rolling hills of Forest Park, which is the second-largest municipal park in the country. The actual golf course is named Norman K. Probstein, and it boasts of being one of the best in mid-America. It has three par-35 9-hole layouts (27 in total) that you can play in different combinations. This makes it ideal for fun or competitive playing for golfers of all ages. At the same time, you get a beautiful backdrop with mature trees, natural water features, and undulating greens. more The Highlands Golf & Tennis Center The Highlands Golf & Tennis Center is also located in Forest Park, but on the southeast corner (opposite Forest Park's Norman K. Probstein). It boasts of zoysia fairways, Bermuda roughs, A-4 bentgrass greens, and nine par-34 holes stretching for 2,700 yards. This configuration is a bit challenging for scratch golfers, which is why they offer four sets of tees for each hole. Combined with strategically placed bunkers, this makes it easy for golfers of all ages and skill levels to enjoy the course. As the name suggests, there are also tennis facilities, plus dining options and special events services. Tower Tee Golf Inspired by famous par-3 holes from around the world, Tower Tee features an exciting 9-hole par-3 course. It was redesigned recently by Art Schaupeter, and now it has greens that match USGA specifications. Additionally, it has minimal hazards, no water features, and well-placed bunkers so that you can enjoy less intimidating rounds with few lost balls. Newbies and pro players can only expect the challenge of undulating greens and gauging the wind. Apart from the course, other amenities include: Golf instruction Golf driving range Toptracer range Short game precision and practice areas Footgolf Bocce ball Putting course Batting cages Inviting spaces for family and corporate outings There are a lot of acres of greens to check out in St. Louis. While at it, visit Bommarito Chevrolet South County to get your Chevy serviced, get new parts for it, or trade-in for an instant cash offer.