Saint Peters, MO

Saint Peters began as a small farming town with less than 500 residents, but more than 50,000 people live in this city now. Shopping centers, family-owned businesses and close-knit subdivisions make up most of Saint Peters, but some of the older parts of the city still have spacious plots of farmland and fish-filled streams.

Adults and children create crafts, paint pictures and perform plays at The Cultural Arts Centre. Sometimes the facility limits showings to family members, but many performances offer public viewings. Residents can also enhance their cultural horizons by taking a short drive to downtown Saint Louis for museums and art shows.

Each summer, the city hosts concerts at various parks in the area. Saint Charles Community College also holds concerts, festivals and other fun events, some of which do not have an admission charge, for folks of all ages.

Saint Peters does not have a central restaurant location, but residents and visitors can find a wide assortment of chain restaurants located along Mexico Road and Mid Rivers Mall Drive. Visitors who prefer something less mainstream can head to Dino's Italian Restaurant for veal marsala and other authentic Italian dishes. Diners on a gluten-free diet can still enjoy traditional Italian favorites, including pasta con broccoli and baked linguine, at Dino's.

Indulge a craving for down-home cooking by visiting Lil' Mickey's Memphis Barbecue for slaw-topped sandwiches and sauce-covered pulled pork. Try the sampler platter if you can't decide between the restaurant's pork shoulder and the beef brisket.

Folks from Saint Charles and O'Fallon often meet friends at Electric Cowboy, a country-western bar located near Interstate 70, for loud music and budget-friendly beverages. The bar's staff teaches line-dancing lessons a few nights a week, and the spacious dance floor provides plenty of room for visitors to practice their two-step and swing moves. Locals also enjoy hanging out at Vette's, a local bar and restaurant with free trivia games seven days a week and late-night karaoke on the weekend. Check the handwritten menu board inside of Vette's for special items not listed on the regular menu, such as tortilla soup and tuna served on crescent rolls.

Bus lines do not pass through the streets of Saint Peters, nor does the MetroLink. Residents without vehicles typically call and reserve cabs from local companies, like St. Charles County Cab, or use ride-sharing services, such as Uber, to get where they need to go.

Some subdivisions and apartment complexes have sidewalks and bike lanes, but most of the main roads and busy streets of Saint Peters do not have these options available. Less than 1 percent of the city's residents walk to work as traveling by automobile is generally the fastest, safest way to get around this large suburban city. A high volume of drivers take Mid Rivers Mall Drive and Mexico Road, especially around 8am and 5pm, so consider alternate routes if you wish to access Interstate 70 East or Interstate 70 West during these times.

Lots do not charge for parking anywhere in Saint Peters unless you visit a dining establishment or formal venue that offers valet services. The streets do not have parking meters, and many local businesses have spacious free-of-charge parking lots.

Saint Peters has more parks than any other city in Saint Charles County, so residents can easily bike, jog or take their dogs for a walk on the winding, well-lit paths at local recreation sites. When the weather turns chilly or excessively hot, the locals often head inside of the Rec-Plex for ice skating, basketball and weight lifting. The Rec-Plex offers a discounted rate for folks who live in Saint Peters, but non residents can also sign up to use the facility's amenities.

One of the most popular parks in St. Peters is City Centre Park, a recreation site that earned its name thanks to its location near the center of the city. This kid-friendly park has multiple playgrounds, including one designed specifically for toddlers and young elementary students. Engaged couples often say their vows in the gazebo that sits between the park's ponds, and the beautiful scenery around the gazebo makes this spot a popular location for pre-prom photos, engagement pictures and family portraits. Each year, this park decorates for the holiday season and holds a tree-lighting ceremony.

Many activities, such as holiday celebrations and outdoor concerts, take place at the City Centre Park, but residents also enjoy hosting family functions at the other recreation sites in Saint Peters. Residents can rent pavilions for a small fee at most parks in the city and use the space for birthday parties, graduation parties and baby showers. Most parks have walking trails and playgrounds, but some of them, such as Laurel Park, also have soccer fields, baseball diamonds and volleyball nets that appeal to the city's fitness buffs.

Living in Saint Peters has numerous perks, many of which help justify why residents here have a slightly higher cost of living than inhabitants in other parts of the Saint Louis metro area. The average rental home in Saint Peters costs around $1150 per month, but the average renter pays just $808 per month for a one-bedroom apartment. The Saint Louis metro area has one-bedroom apartments as low as $415 a month, and Saint Louis renters spend an average of $865 per month to lease a home.

Domestic drafts cost around $3 at a bar, and beer drinkers throughout the metro area pay a similar price for their drinks. Residents in Saint Peters do not have access to public transportation, but they pay around 12 percent less for gasoline than folks in other areas of the country.

Mid Rivers Mall sits just off of Highway 70 in Saint Peters, directly across from the plaza that contains Barnes and Noble, Once Upon a Child and Plato's Closet. Mall shoppers can find classic clothes at American Eagle or opt for trendy, name-brand items from Macy's or Dillard's. Several boutiques and specialty stores have a home near the mall, including Designer Resale Boutique and The White Hare.

A mother-daughter duo runs The White Hare, a home decor store known for its custom collection of silk and its carefully crafted floral bouquets. The store offers budget-friendly classes geared toward do-it-yourselfers that help shoppers easily recreate some of the hand-made items they see in the store.

After shopping for clothing and home furnishings, shoppers can visit one of several supermarkets located within a 5-mile radius of the mall, such as Dierbergs, Shop 'n Save or Schnucks. Shoppers who prefer to support local farmers can do so by visiting Anthony's Produce or Orlando's Produce. The city does not have its own farmers market, but residents can visit the Soulard Market in downtown Saint Louis or head to Herman's Farm Orchard in Saint Charles.