Blake Walsh

15 Best Things to Do in Maryland Heights, MO

  • Published 2022/08/26

Maryland Heights is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, which offers plenty of things to do for its visitors.

Incorporated in 1985, this city enjoys a central location in the St. Louis metropolitan area.

Maryland Heights spans 23.35 square miles on the crossroads of Interstates 70 and 270.

The city also benefits from its proximity to the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, which is ten minutes away.

Likewise, the city’s superb location helped immensely to develop and grow the city.

Over nine million visitors each year enjoy the many points of interest in Maryland Heights.

The city boasts a wide selection of life and leisure venues, such as 22 hotels, 50 restaurants, and six parks.

Check out more of the city’s major attractions in this list of the best things to do in Maryland Heights.

Explore Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park

Bench overlooking the waters of Creve Coeur Memorial Lake Park

RellMade / Shutterstock.com

St. Louis County maintains this park which sprawls over 2,145 acres within Maryland Heights.

You can access the large park from the city proper to Streetcar Drive off Marine Avenue and Dorsett Road.

The park’s centerpiece is the Creve Coeur Lake, which covers 320 acres.

Thousands of years ago, a meander loop cut off from the Missouri River and formed the lake.

Creve Coeur is French for “broken heart,” and the lake offers boating and fishing to park visitors.

Other Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park facilities include playgrounds, tennis and volleyball courts, and a disc golf course.

You can also visit the archery range and soccer fields.

Visitors can also enjoy its spray fountain play area, shelters, picnic areas, a water trail, and extensive hiking and biking trails.

The park further provides delights in its Treetop Adventure, daring you to go on 45-foot high, tree-to-tree zipline swings and crossings.

Likewise, the park features a scenic lakeside restaurant with outdoor seating and live music performers in the evenings.

Stay at the La Quinta Inn & Suites

This hotel operates under the Wyndham hotels and resorts franchise.

It stands on Riverport Drive, just six miles from the St. Louis Lambert International Airport.

The La Quinta Inn & Suites offers 131 rooms in a four-story building.

The hotel is in a business park and conveniently close to several points of interest in Maryland Heights.

La Quinta Inn & Suites provides the signature amenities of the Wyndham hotels chain.

For example, the pet-friendly guest rooms have flat-screen HDTV.

Hotel guests have access to an outdoor pool, gym, a business center, meeting space, and free Wi-Fi.

Play Poker at Hollywood Casino

This casino and hotel stands on Casino Center Drive.

You can pick from 2,100 of the hottest video poker and slot machines in addition to 70-plus gaming tables at Hollywood Casino.

Several nightlife and dining options are also in this gaming complex.

Its Celebrity Grill offers an American menu, including burgers and some fast food items.

Visits to Hollywood Casino can also go to 99 Hops House for shrimp and fish tacos and top-rated customer service.

Charlie Gitto’s is another casino favorite for its pizza, and toasted ravioli served amid an elegant Old-World setting.

Skate at the Centene Community Ice Center

Also located on Casino Center Drive, this 277,000-square-foot skating arena opened in 2019.

The Centene Community Ice Center features areas for competitions and public skating.

It boasts four NHL-sized ice rinks, spaces for special events, and training for skaters of all abilities.

This facility is the official practice arena for the 2019 Stanley Cup Champion St. Louis Blues in the NHL.

Swing to the Beat at the Saint Louis Music Park

Check the concert schedule of Saint Louis Music Park, a multipurpose outdoor venue part of the Centene Community Ice Center.

Occupying part of the center’s covered outdoor ice arena, the music park has a seating capacity of 4,500.

Besides its covered pavilion seating, this concert venue features food concessions and a plaza area for diners.

It also flaunts an all-weather artificial lawn and a lake, thus creating an authentic park atmosphere.

Activity at Saint Louis Music Park reaches its peak in spring and summer.

Meanwhile, skating takes a backseat at the Centene Community Ice Center.

Cheer the Action at Sportport International

Visitors of Maryland Heights can watch a sports event at this multi-purpose sports facility on Sport Port Road.

Sportport International spans over 95 acres and features fields for various sports, including soccer, football, lacrosse, and field hockey.

Several sports clubs, like St. Louis Development Academy soccer and the Aim Field Hockey club, play and train here.

Besides hosting tournaments, Sportport International also hosts recreational shows, drawing 500,000 visitors annually.

Enjoy the Water at Aquaport

This family aquatic center opens for ten weeks each summer, starting from Memorial Day weekend to the Labor Day weekend.

One of the main draws of Aquaport is its FlowRider, which combines elements of bodyboarding, wakeboarding, and surfing.

This recreational facility is also famous for its Family Fun Pool, measuring 8,000 square feet.

A a 740-foot Lazy River with sprinklers, fountains, and bubblers also encircles the pool.

Aquaport has more endearing features in its Kids’ Area: shallow water, interactive sprayers, and a Wacky Water Slide.

Daring Aquaport visitors can take the Extreme Bowl, where riders tube-slide on an enclosed funnel-shaped bowl down to the pool.

You can also ride other thrilling slides at Aquaport: Flume Slide, Rapids and Flume Slides, and Racer Slide.

The aquatic center’s complementary facilities include changing areas, showers, restrooms, rental lockers, a food concession stand, and free parking.

Go Hiking on the Fee Fee Greenway

This greenway was once the former McKelvey Woods Trail.

The Fee Fee Greenway covers an out-and-back, six-mile trail open to hikers, runners, and bikers.

Amenities along this greenway include a playground, shelters, picnic tables, drinking water, and restrooms.

This trail is one of the 16 vegetated buffers under the care of the nonprofit organization Great Rivers Foundation.

Likewise, the Fee Fee Greenway can take you from Aquaport to Creve Coeur Lake.

This greenway offers an easy route that hikers can complete in about two hours at a relaxed pace.

From the Fee Fee Greenway, the more daring hikers can extend their walk to the 240-mile-long Katy Trail.

This extensive trail linked to the greenway runs through the phased-out Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad corridor.

It alsofeatures four fully restored train depots along the route.

Access the Katy Trail via one of its 26 trailheads, several of which are in Maryland Heights.

Catch a Concert at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

Daytime view of Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

LittleT889, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Located on Riverport Drive, this outdoor music venue is famous for its live performances, especially in summer.

The Hollywood Casino Amphitheater has hosted concerts from Guns N’ Roses, Sting, and Kings of Leon.

Major community festivals also occur at the amphitheatre, which has a capacity of 20,000.

Take the Family to the Ryze Adventure Park

This park for outdoor recreation park offers a wide selection of fun facilities suited for everyone.

At Ryze Adventure Park, visitors can try its three-story tall zipline with seven challenges.

Chaperones can keep an eye on their wards in the Observation Deck of the park’s Adventure Tower.

The zipline course starts there.

For kids, this adventure park also offers a tamer Little Ninja Course with a Zip Bucket challenge.

On the other hand, the whole family can join the park’s Yard Games area, presenting games like Corn Hole.

Other facilities at Ryze Adventure Park include an 18-hole mini-golf course and a restaurant serving hot dogs, ice cream, cold drinks, and other snacks.

Keep Fit at Quiet Hollow Park

Fitness buffs staying in Maryland Heights shouldn’t miss out on their exercise routines.

You can easily work up a sweat at the city’s Quiet Hollow Park.

Located at the junction of McKelvey Road and Marine Avenue, this park provides an outdoor bodyweight gym with cutting-edge features.

Adults of all abilities can use Fitness Court®, comprising 30 pieces of state-of-the-art workout equipment.

These facilities are on a shock-resistant sports pavement.

Its exercise stations can accommodate 28 individuals working out simultaneously.

Fitness Court® has an app downloadable from Google Play or App Store.

It’s easy to follow the four-minute to seven-minute exercise routines at each station.

If you want a more leisurely visit to Quiet Hollow Park, take a quiet walk along the trail.

Enjoy lunch at the picnic tables and sit on the benches in this park.

Swig a Glass of Beer at Six Mile Bridge Brewery

This craft brewery with a friendly taproom and restaurant is on Dorsett Road.

Established in 2015, Ryan and Lindsay Sherring run Six Mile Bridge Brewery.

The couple named their business after a small Irish village and friendly stopover between two large towns.

SMB brews more than 40 types of craft beers

Try the popular Irish red, Mexican lager with lime, and blackberry vanilla bean Berliner weisse.

Besides sampling beers, Six Mile Bridge Brewery’s patrons can enjoy wine, handcrafted cocktails, and delicious food.

The menu offers vegan food choices, taco nacho and chicken wings for appetizers.

For the main course, you can try entrée options of chickpea burger and beer battered cod sandwich.

Shop at the Pop-Up Market

You can obtain souvenirs from a visit to Maryland Heights at the Pop-Up Market at the city’s Community Center.

About 20 homegrown vendors sell their wares in this market every first Wednesday of the month from May to September.

During market hours, shoppers can browse many handmade and homemade goods.

You can buy jewelry, clay artwork, embroideries, and some select food items at the Pop-Up Market.

Ride a Cobra Attack Helicopter at the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation

If you fancy riding the Cobra Attack Helicopter, an iconic action movie helicopter, check out the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation – Gateway Chapter.

This AAHF – Gateway Chapter is near the Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum in St. Louis, 12 minutes from Maryland Heights.

It sells public rides on its AH-1F Cobra Attack Helicopter and its UH-1H Huey.

Ticket sales for the rides support the charities of this AAHF chapter dedicated to maintaining historic Army Aviation aircraft.

Visitors can watch this chapter’s flight performances and other military aerobatics at the Spirit of St. Louis Air Show.

Traditionally held in June, this air show planes sit in the Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield, about 19 miles west of Maryland Heights.

Bring the family to the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation.

Other Things to Do Nearby

Visit the Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum

This museum is in St. Louis, Missouri, 12 minutes from Maryland Heights.

It also collects and restores vintage and antique aircraft for display.

The Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum focuses on the Golden Age of Flight, roughly the aviation era from 1920 to 1939.

This museum also displays aircraft-related items in its four hangars, which show 49 aircraft.

The exhibits focus on civil aircraft, most fabric-covered bi-planes, and regional or local historical significance.

The museum’s oldest aircraft is a 1917 Standard J-1 flown in movies like the Great Waldo Pepper and the Rocketeer.

Several of the museum’s displays number among the only vintage planes that remain airworthy.

Final Thoughts

This city offers a wide variety of attractions that appeal to youngsters, adults, and entire families.

Don’t miss these attractions in this fascinating Missouri city.

Plan your trip today and discover the best things to do in Maryland Heights!

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