There are many reasons to love the sophisticated downtown core of St. Louis, including its incredible Forest Park, which is home to Saint Louis Art Museum, Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis Science Center and the Saint Louis Zoo. This bustling metropolis also features many five star restaurants, upscale shopping centers, and botanical gardens. This “home of The Blues,” is also well known for its incredible music scene and famous moody Jazz bars.
However, the grit and the glamour of downtown St. Louis is not for everyone, and for those who prefer spaciousness, fresh air, and lush greenery, the greater St. Louis area offers several charming, affordable suburban neighborhoods. These thriving, peaceful and picturesque communities include Florissant, Webster Groves, Creve Coeur, Maryland Heights, and Overland.
Let’s take a closer look at these fantastic St. Louis suburbs:
The Historical, Peaceful Charm of Florissant
The suburb of Florissant, which means “blooming,” is located just north of St. Louis and was initially settled in the late 1700s. This a small city of 50,000 people that boasts a charming downtown area devoted to vintage nostalgia, with many single-story clapboard homes. Many of the homes and businesses on these tree-lined streets include full lawns with walkways winding through mature trees, clumps of lilies and heritage rose bushes.
Downtown Florissant also includes historical landmarks, such as the 1870s Myers House and Barn, which is now the home of weaving and sewing supplies store. Just outside of the older downtown core, you will find traditional suburban streets featuring many incredible examples of mid-century housing complete with carports with slanted roofs and vast yards augmented with garden plots and more graceful, mature trees.
The Affluent Commuter Community of Webster Groves
When first built in 1892, the suburban enclave of Webster Groves, located just two miles West of St. Louis, was promoted as the “Queen of the Suburbs.” Today, the community is even more regal thanks to its well-renovated, large Victorian homes with deep porches and massive elm trees. However, aside from being close to many distinguished private schools and community programs, this suburb of 23,000 people is just a short, swift commute to the downtown St. Louis business center and its swanky nightlife.
However, there is also always something to do in downtown Webster Groves, which is known for its rows of buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as its strong artistic and theatrical community.
The Walking and Biking Paradise of Creve Coeur
Creve Coeur is a small city of 17,000 people that was incorporated in 1940, once it became larger than a simple summer resort community. The town gets its name from Creve Coeur Lake, which is a significant natural body of water in Missouri that is in the shape of a broken heart. Originally a resort community, located in the western part of Greater St. Louis, the neighborhood is built up along the shores of the lake and still retains its beaches, picnicking areas, tennis courts, and other recreational facilities.
The community mostly features homes in the style of the Arts and Crafts and Prairie as well as some Victorian cottages and mid-century modern, resort-style dwellings. There are also renovated apartment towers, built in the sixties as well as modern lofts and condos surrounding the lake. Walking and biking trails include the Lakeview Loop, Meadows Loop Trail, and Bootlegger’s Run. However, residents still require a car to get to Creve Coeur’s many malls and shopping areas.
The Vibrant and Fun Neighborhood of Maryland Heights
Maryland Heights is also known as St. Louis Backyard as it is very near Creve Coeur Park with its nature trails, playgrounds, and picnic shelters as well as some huge tourist attractions including The Hollywood Casino St. Louis, the Hollywood Casino Amphitheater and the Aquaport water park. There is also a Rock Climbing Gym, the famous Crystal Springs Golf Course, and over 75 restaurants in the area, many with wonderful outdoor patios.
The homes here are mostly in the Italianate, Greek Revival, and Federal styles, featuring huge landscaped yards with tall manicured bushes and old twisted elm trees. This neighborhood of 27,000 people is perfect for avid travelers looking for a fun, carefree lifestyle since both the St. Louis Lambert Airport and the west end of Downtown St. Louis are just a ten-minute drive away.
The Affordable Student and Young Family Haven of Overland
Overland is a quiet, commuter town of 16,000 people. Located about an hour northwest from St. Louis, many homes in this area are single-story, simple clapboard, and brick homes. These charming properties are primarily in the Arts and Crafts and Prairie styles. The area is well-populated with students and professors who make the daily commute to the nearby campus of the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Many of the homes also have wide, lush and green backyards that are perfect for upgrading with gardens, water features, and vegetable patches. Residents in Overland enjoy green space, and the town is home to several grassy parks, including Wild Acres Park, which features a spring-fed lake and walking trails. Other popular attractions include museums and many cheap but great Mexican restaurants, offbeat arcades, and trendy roadside bars.
Find the Community that’s Right For You in St. Louis
There’s no doubt about it; St. Louis is a great place to settle. Whether you’re a young professional, raising a family, or hoping to retire soon, there is a St. Louis neighborhood that will suit you. From the active community of Creve Coeur to the slow-paced, peaceful tranquility of Florissant, there is something here for everyone.
Across all neighborhoods, however, you’ll notice a consistent trend. Homeowners in St. Louis care about their yards and preserving their properties. From planting a flower garden to maintaining hedges and protecting the mature trees that are found across the area, St. Louis is known for its beautiful scenery and lush, green landscape.
Learn more about maintaining shrubs and pruning trees on your property by calling Jackson Tree Service today.