Saint Ann, MO

Among the newer of St. Louis' surrounding suburbs, St. Ann was established in 1948. The original site's dedication was in honor of the mother of the Virgin Mary, Saint Ann, lending the city its name. Saint Ann has since grown into its own, attracting a mix of commercial and residential development projects throughout the years.

The greater St. Louis area has a flourishing arts and cultural scene. Those up for a drive can visit Clayton for its dozens of craft stores or head on into St. Louis to check out the St. Louis Art Museum and the City Museum. If you're in search of something closer to home on a quiet afternoon, the Holocaust Museum & Learning Center at 12 Millstone Campus Drive educates visitors with an emotional look at one of history's greatest tragedies. Guided tours run daily and the museum hosts film and literature lecture events monthly.

The majority of St. Ann's restaurants and nightlife can be found central to the neighborhood along St. Charles Rock Road. The wide variety of options available to St. Ann locals, from St. Louis staples to international cuisine, ensures you can find what you're craving just around the corner.

Located just north of the Airway Shopping Center along St. Charles Rock Road, Seoul Garden Korean Restaurant brings authentic all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue to St. Ann. Great for large groups, pay $20 per person for access to unlimited meat, including bulgogi, pork belly and brisket, unlimited appetizers and a choice of side soup. Seafood lovers should not miss out on the grilled mackerel and soybean paste stew.

Diners seeking Italian food should give Omar's Restaurant a try. A familiar blend of Italian, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavors, the food at Omar's can be ordered for take-out or delivery as well as dining-in. Order the gyro for one of the finest takes on the dish St. Louis has to offer.

Known as the original Indian food truck of St. Louis, the Bombay Food Junkies food truck can be spotted from a distance by the crowd it draws. The entire menu is vegetarian-friendly, though many of the dishes can be prepared vegan as well. Order the Samosa Chole for a spicy and flavorful Bombay Food Junkies specialty. The food truck makes stops throughout the city each week, so check its website for the stop of the day. St. Ann locals able to hold out until the weekend can visit the Bombay Food Junkies dine-in location at 3578 Adie Road every Saturday and Sunday.

St. Ann nightlife consists of laid-back bars and pubs designed to bring old friends together over craft beer and cocktails, and The Waiting Room Bar, found at 10419 St Charles Rock Road, provides patrons with just that. Beer enthusiasts can engage with the friendly and knowledgeable staff while sampling flavors from local microbreweries. Bring some friends and head back to the game room to play a round of pool or vie for the high score on one of the pinball machines.

Interstates 70 and 170 converge just east of St. Ann, allowing for easy travel by automobile beyond the city. Route 180 bisects the city of St. Ann, ensuring residents can easily access the city's commercial district.

If you're looking to stay local, a wider range of transport options become available. Both Lyft and Uber services are available to the greater St. Louis area, and a wide range of St. Louis cab companies provide transportation to and from St. Ann. Metro Transit of St. Louis provides St. Ann bus stops all along St. Charles Rock Road and Cypress Road.

Public parking is available along St. Charles Rock Road and major side streets. The major streets in the area lack a lane designated to bikers. Those willing to put up with a bit of a commute along local bus routes might find St. Ann navigable without a car, though a car makes getting the most out of your surroundings much easier.

St. Ann contains two sizable parks, both located to the southwest of St. Charles Rock Road. McDonnell County Park focuses on expansive greenspace and the necessary amenities for a perfect weekend family outing. Dog-friendly, the park's tree line and walking trails encircle the fields, picnic tables and central playground.

Found at 3311 Ashby Road, the 41 acre Tiemeyer Park acts a hub for community activity. In addition to the amphitheater, numerous pavilions, picnic tables, barbecue grills and two playgrounds, Tiemeyer provides locals with public-accessible baseball diamonds, swimming pools, horseshoe pits, tennis and volleyball courts, a roller rink and a lake, making it a great place to bring some friends and enjoy the fresh air.

The cost of living in St. Ann averages 3 percent lower than the St. Louis average. The median cost for a simple one-bedroom apartment in the area sits around $500. If you're looking to ride the bus downtown, a two-hour transfer pass for the Metro Transit costs $3, and a day pass costs $7.50. A pint of beer costs $5 on average at local bars, and the St. Ann gas average hovers 16 percent beneath the national average.

Businesses line both sides of St. Charles Rock Road as it cuts through central St. Ann, providing the city with supermarkets and specialty stores in a centralized location. Those looking for a concentration of well-known brand names in one place only have to hail a cab or take the bus into downtown St. Louis.

Located south of St. Ann in the suburb of Clayton, the Byrd Designer Consignment Boutique is known for its diverse selection. Combining top designer brands with vintage pieces, including trinkets and other odds and ends, Byrd Designer Consignment Boutique stocks both affordable and high-end clothing and accessories from the chic to the practical. The owner allows for layaway payments on most items to help out those with a strict budget.

Bodies by Leigh fuses fitness attire with style over on 10571 Old Olive Boulevard. Unsure of exactly the right clothing for your daily routine? The owner enjoys helping shoppers match their style and fitness needs with specific tops and bottoms to provide the flexibility and comfort needed. Whether you're in search of a slim winter jacket for jogging through the colder months or something comfortable to slip on when doing yoga in your living room, Bodies by Leigh has it all.

Shop 'n Save, ALDI and Express Market make up the local supermarket options for St. Ann, all of which can be found along St. Charles Rock Road. The Shop 'n Save between Ashby and Long Drive includes a pharmacy to get those prescriptions filled while you shop.

Do you like supporting locally grown and crafted products? Interstate 70 carries St. Ann locals west to the St. Charles Farmers Market along Missouri River or east to the Ferguson Farmers Market in central Ferguson. Both outdoor locations allow you to bring your dogs along while you browse the goods of local vendors from May through October each year.