St. Louis – More than just some pretty sights

This post was most recently updated on August 9th, 2017

St. Louis was never on the top of my list of places to visit. However I was given the opportunity to attend a conference and spend some much needed girl time there this month. Therefore, I happily booked my ticket.  Now I confess that St. Louis was so much more than pretty sights and fun with my girlfriends.  This trip empowered me to be obsessively grateful and to become a defender of innocence.  I write this not just to give you some tips on what to see and do when in St. Louis but to raise awareness on a topic that is difficult to talk about but that is so important.

In between breakout sessions at the conference and seeing the best St. Louis has to offer like incredible free museums, beautiful parks, and of course the views from the Gateway Arch I learned about some disturbing statistics.

Did you know that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually abused before they turn 18?  These statistics are staggering and you may think that there is nothing you can do to help. But I am here to tell you that your voice counts.  We must talk about it and help raise awareness.

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to make many ripples.”  – Mother Teresa.

There are so many myths associated with sexual abuse and we need to educate ourselves. Did you know that strangers are not the only danger?  Most of us talk to our children about Stranger Danger but did you know that 90% of children know their abuser?

Did you know that most sexual abuse is rarely reported and sometimes even dismissed or swept under the rug by the families? We MUST do something not only to help the survivors but to stop this epidemic from happening.

“One person can make a difference, and everyone should try” – John F. Kennedy

Become a defender

You can become a defender of innocence and help create awareness to reduce the sexual exploitation of our children. You can do so by purchasing products to help raise awareness and round up your total as a donation to the foundation.

Every single month approximately $40,000 goes to the foundation just from choosing the option to round-up and adding anywhere from $.99 to $.01.   And for every dollar you donate Younique and its founders Derek Maxfield and Melanie Huscroft donate $2, so for every $40,000 donated at round-up they donate $80,000. As you can see every penny counts.  You DO make a difference.

However, you do not have to purchase products or make monetary donations to make a difference. There are other ways to help.  You can lend your voice on social media by spreading the word to raise awareness. Go ahead and share this article and use the hashtag #defendinnocence or #startdefending.  But most importantly speak about it with your children, with your family, and with your friends.  Creating awareness is the first step. For more ideas visit Defend Innocence and learn simple things you can do to help.  I am counting on YOU to be part of the solution. So tell me – What will you do to make a difference? 

We have been talking about prevention and awareness but what about our survivors? If you or someone you know has been sexually abused Younique has a foundation that can help.  They host a free Haven Retreat to help the millions of female survivors who have suffered from childhood sexual abuse.  Click here to find out more and apply to attend the Haven Retreat and start the healing process.

Now that you know some of the things you can do to help in this great cause it is time for me to help you with your St. Louis plans.


What to see and do when you visit St. Louis:

St. Louis from the Gateway Arch

Take in the views

Whether from up in the sky or by boat or land there are many options to take in the best St. Louis city views. You could take a helicopter tour, river cruise, or a ride up the gateway arch. Day or night the views are incredible.

Zebra at the zoo

Have an animal encounter

Experience one of the country’s best free zoos and visit the St. Louis Zoo, see the Clydesdales at Grant’s Farm, enjoy an afternoon at the family-friendly Purina Farms , or see the winged beauties at the World Bird Sanctuary.

St. Louis

Get some culture

There are many museums around the city and some of them are free like the Art museum and History museum. Pick one or see them all – here are a few other choices: Laumeier Sculpture Park and Museum, City Museum, Science Center,  or National Blues Museum.

Fox Theater

See a show

Whether it is a Broadway show, a small musical, opera, or concert, there is much to enjoy in St. Louis. Some of the venues are the Fabulous Fox Theater, Opera Theater,  and the Muny in Forest Park.  You can check out what is playing when you visit at the St. Louis Theater website.

Busch Stadium in St. Louis

Go to a ball game

You can take a tour or see a game at Busch Stadium.  Click here for a list of games or to schedule a tour

Forest Park in St. Louis

Enjoy the outdoors

I was very surprised with all the beautiful green spaces I found in St. Louis. Take a break from the city and enjoy a picnic, go for a bike ride, paddle some boats, see some outdoor art or simply take a walk.  Some places to enjoy the great outdoors – Forest Park, Botanical Gardens and City Garden

Anheuser-Busch Brewery in St. Louis

Visit a Brewery 

Learn the history of beer in St. Louis and how it is produced, bottled and distributed in the many breweries around town.  You can enjoy a free tour at the well-known Anheuser-Busch or see some of the smaller and more local breweries such as Schlafly Bottleworks brewery or 4 Hands Brewing Company.

Walk the Loop

This is a six block area that is packed with restaurants, bars, shopping, and even a Hollywood inspired walk of fame. Spend an hour or half a day and have fun at The Loop.

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St. Louis

What are your favorite things to do in St. Louis? I would love to hear from you so leave me a comment below or get social with me on Instagram and Facebook.

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22 comments

    1. It really is and creating awareness is so important. Just talking to our families and friends helps. I know I do not want my kids to be one of those numbers. Happy Roving!!!

  1. I’ve only been to St. Louis one time on a cross country road trip. I drove right to the arch, went up it, then ate at a restaurant nearby. It wasn’t the most memorable of trips; it’s definitely a city I’d like to return to and explore a bit more!

    1. St. Louis surprised me. I honestly did not want to go there at all but there was much more to see and do than I expected. Hopefully next time you visit you can make better memories there. Happy Roving!!!

  2. I have no favorite yet but I would love to do all your suggestions. I did not know that St. Louis has this much to offer.

    1. Hope you get to enjoy St. Louis one day and we all do what we can for this cause and right now my voice to raise awareness was needed. Hopefully this epidemic will stop. Thanks for reading and Happy Roving!!!

  3. I love that you used this post about St. Louis to share about your true reason there, and about a cause that goes unnoticed even though it’s a massive problem. Thanks for using your space in such a powerful way!
    I’m glad you were also able to have fun in St. Louis. It is a really fun city. My best friend lives there and it’s only 3 hours from my hometown of Springfield so I’ve made more trips there than I could possibly count. You definitely hit a lot of the highlights! Cheers!

    1. Thank you for acknowledging the big problem we are facing with Sexual Abuse in our children. Awareness is a start and our voice helps make a difference. We can also help the survivors, this topic is still taboo and they must be given voice they need to start to heal and know that they do mater. Thanks for reading. Happy Roving!!!

    1. Stella – hope you enjoy your time there. There are tons of great restaurants as well. Happy Roving!!!

  4. What an inspiring post. Not just talking about a destination but also causes and real human interactions. Thanks for sharing these stats.

    1. Shayan – your very welcome. It feels good to make a difference. We want all our children to be safe and if I can lend my voice to support this cause then I will. Thanks for reading and Happy Roving!!!

  5. I’ve only been to St. Louis for conferences too, but because they are always about space or aerospace I always see the same one or two stops. I’d love to do an art museum or a paddlewheel boat ride down the Mississippi! The arch is a classic stop though, never gets old.

    1. Maybe next time you can jump in an Uber and head to the Art Museum it is free and I am sure you will love it. Thanks for reading and Happy Roving!!!

    1. The cause is important to me since I have 2 young girls and I hope this is not something they ever have to face. St. Louis was much nicer than I expected it to be although some areas can get pretty shady at night so you need to be careful. Happy Roving!!!

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