Explore St. Louis

Get your kicks by visiting a new photographic exhibit at St. Louis' majestic Old Courthouse on Route 66.

“Return to Route 66: Photographs from the Mother Road,” a new, free exhibition at the landmark Old Courthouse in downtown St. Louis, opens Sunday, February 12 and runs through April.

The photography of Shellee Graham, Route 66 expert and author will be featured. Ms. Graham will be speak and sign her books "Return to Route 66" and "Tales from the Coral Court" from 2:00 p.m. through 3:00 p.m. in the Courthouse Rotunda.

Complimentary Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, a taste treat from an iconic St. Louis and Route 66 roadside attraction, will be served following Ms. Graham's presentation. Classic antique cars and trucks from local car clubs will be parked in front of the Old Courthouse that day to showcase the vehicles that once traveled "the mother road."

In addition to the Shellee Graham photographs, memorabilia of Route 66 and Southwestern railroads on loan from St. Louis County's Museum of Transportation will also be on display. This will include original highway and street signs, a 1950s gas pump, and other artifacts of the era.

The Old Courthouse, located at 11 North Fourth Street in downtown St. Louis, is free-of-charge every day from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Celebrate with your Valentine in romantic St. Louis.

Love means never having to say you’re sorry and you definitely won’t be that if you shower your sweetie with a Valentine’s getaway to St. Louis. There are more romantic things to do in The Lou this Valentine’s weekend than there are candies in a heart-shaped assortment.

Romantic and luxurious hotel getaway packages, some including spa treatments, silky jammies and other lovey-dovey amenities, can be discovered with the click of your computer's mouse.

Here are some lovely Valentine ideas for the romance-challenged or those who want to wander from the usual “roses and champagne” route:

Puccini’s romantic tour-de-force, “La Boheme” is on stage at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center on Friday, February 10. Jazz aficionados’ hearts can beat to the smooth and swinging style of M. & R. Thomas at Jazz at the Bistro. Get giggly at the Bissell Mansion Mystery Dinner Theatre’s production of “Phantom of the Grand Old Opry.” Make a big impression on your sweetheart by escorting her to the “Monet in the 20th Century” exhibit at the Saint Louis Art Museum.

Ladies, set sail on the Love Boat by surprising your best man with tickets to the St. Louis Boat and Sports Show at America’s Center. Toddler-sized Valentine’s will happily howl with a visit to The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum to take part in Adventures with Clifford The Big Red Dog.™ Or, deliver your beloved a jungle-full of fragrant flowers with a stroll through the exotic Orchid Show at the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Don’t have a special Valentine? No problem. Head to Hearts Aflame, a swanky singles party on Friday, February 10 at the hip and happening Third Degree Glass Factory. Who knows? You may meet the Valentine of your dreams.

For a twist on a typical Valentine's Day staple, the Schlafly Tap Room and Schlafly Bottleworks are serving a chocolatey surprise. Beer lover’s can press their lips to pints of Chocolate Porter, a rich, sweet, robust, deep-brown ale that uses real cocoa to make it a luscious Valentine's treat.

Liquid love also can be found at Mount Pleasant Winery in August, Missouri. The popular winery's “Valentine Winemaker Dinner” is a five-course lovefest paired with the perfect wines and port.

For the ultimate romantic dining experience, head to the award-winning restaurant where so many St. Louisans popped the question: Tony’s. You’ll fall in love with the food, the service and the ambience.

Valentine’s Day specials are available at many of St. Louis’ one-of-a-kind restaurants. Click here for a list of great dining spots.

This Valentine's Day, the gateway to your Valentine's heart can be found in the Gateway City.

The St. Louis Zoo will re-open Jungle of the Apes, the winter home for chimpanzees, orangutans and gorillas, on Saturday, February 4, at 9 a.m. The nearly 20-year-old building was closed for major improvements in September 2004. In May 2005, the Zoo opened Donn & Marilyn Lipton Fragile Forest, the outdoor summer habitat for chimpanzees and orangutans.

Among the improvements to the Jungle of the Apes building are new skylights and roof. “New skylights will improve both the animals’ health and the visitor experience,” said Ingrid Porton, curator of primates at the Zoo. “More natural light provides better visibility of the apes for our visitors and is an important source of vitamin D for the animals.”

Air conditioning, heating and mechanical systems were updated, and new natural-looking, heavy-duty vines for climbing were added to the animals’ habitats. A “living wall” of live tropical plants, ferns, orchids and vines was created in the visitor space. Still under construction is the outdoor gorilla yard. The Ann and Paul Lux Family Gorilla Habitat will open later this spring and will include yard improvements such as more shade trees and plantings, vines for apes to climb and redesigned viewing areas.

The plaza entrance to Jungle of the Apes was also redesigned to include a new gift shop “Phil’s Trading Company,” benches, water fountain and the popular bronze statue of Phil the Gorilla, a late Zoo inhabitant who was a favorite with visitors.

The Zoo’s great ape families include four Sumatran orangutans and eight chimpanzees. Three new male western lowland gorilla teenagers will soon be introduced to an 18-year-old silverback who was born at the Zoo. The St. Louis Zoo has been a leader in formation and maintenance of gorilla bachelor groups in the past. Because of the introductions and the group dynamics of great apes, not all individuals will be on exhibit at all times.

The Zoo is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is free. Starting this Sunday, families can enjoy free activities at Delta Dental Winter Zoo from noon to 3 p.m. each Sunday in February in The Living World.