N.L. MVP David Freese shares his favorite places for fun

in his hometown

ST. LOUIS -- Seeking fun spots to hang out in St. Louis before or after the World Series games?  Who better to ask for advice than a local?  David Freese, the Cardinals' star third baseman and National League Championship Series MVP, grew up in the Gateway City and shares his Top Ten list of winning St. Louis attractions.

For more information about David's top picks and other St. Louis sights and sounds, visit the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission web site at www.explorestlouis.com or call 1-800-916-0040.

In honor of the Cardinals' ten previous World Series Championships, here is David's Top Ten list of St. Louis Sites.  We've added one more for luck since the Redbirds are aiming for their eleventh world championship in 2011.  

THE MVP'S TOP TEN - PLUS ONE

#1.  The Gateway Arch.  The graceful symbol of St. Louis, the Gateway Arch has been the iconic image of St. Louis since 1965 - long before little David Freese started Kindergarten at Green Pines School in suburban St. Louis.  Rising 630-feet-high, a tram ride to the top of the nation's monument to westward expansion provides a bird's-eye view into the Cardinals' Busch Stadium roost.  www.coreofdiscovery.com

#2    Sports.  The former Lafayette High athletic stand out had to include taking in a major league match.  In addition to catching his own team on the field, David directs sports fans to the fast-paced action at the Scottrade Center, home of the NHL St. Louis Blues or a football-infused afternoon spent with the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome. www.stlcardinals.com; http://blues.nhl.com; www.stlouisrams.com

#3  Six Flags St. Louis.  David and his teen-aged pals would flock to this giant St. Louis theme park.  Every weekend during Red October, it's post-season fun at Six Flags when the action park gets ghoulish with a variety of hair-raising shows, electrifying live entertainment, haunted hayrides and an equally haunted house. Ever ride a roller coaster in the dark? Now's your chance. Scare up details at www.sixflags.com.

#4  Catch a concert.  Major league musical talent graces the stages at two of David's favorite concert venues - The Pageant in The Loop and the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Riverport.  Another local hero, Chuck Berry, still performs live at legendary shows each month at Blueberry Hill in The Loop.  For stats on upcoming shows, click on www.thepageant.com; www.livenation.com; and www.blueberryhill.com

#5  The St. Louis Zoo.  Like Busch Stadium, this place is for the birds...and elephants, lions, otters and other critters.  And, like all St. Louis kids -- little and big --, David Freese loves going to the St. Louis Zoo.  Open free of charge, this world-class kingdom of animal delights will win you over.  You're sure to recognize why the St. Louis Zoo has been named one of the top zoos in the world.  www.stlzoo.org

#6  Ted Drewes Frozen Custard.  Mr. Freese has no fear of brain freeze when downing a delicious taste treat from Ted Drewes Frozen Custard.  The iconic dessert stand on the St. Louis stretch of Route 66 is his top pick for a cool place to chill in St. Louis. David's menu suggestion: sample a Cardinal Sin, a creamy custard sundae topped with tart bing cherries and thick, rich hot chocolate.  Now, that's a winner! www.teddrewes.com

#7  Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tours.  Beer and baseball are two of St. Louis' most famous exports and enduring attractions.  David reminds us that he has shared the field at Busch Stadium with the stars of the brewery tour - the world famous Budweiser Clydesdales.  The beautiful horses and their Cardinal red wagon clip clop around Busch Stadium prior to every Opening Day and at post-season pre-game events. A trot through the Clydesdales' elegant stable home is a highlight of the complimentary brewery tour. www.budweisertours.com

#8  Grant's Farm.  Power hitter Freese's choice of Grant's Farm demonstrates his admiration for teamwork.  The free St. Louis attraction is a training farm for the Budweiser Clydesdales who are matched into teams that appear in parades and special events all over the world. During the Fall Classic month of October, the animal preserve at Grant's Farm is open for special family Halloween events. www.grantsfarm.com

#9  The St. Louis Science Center.  David Freese mastered the science of hitting to become a Major League star. During his youth, he tackled the hands-on science experiments at the St. Louis Science Center and studied the twinkling night sky at the Planetarium.  You can reach for the stars, dig dinosaur fossils and more when you step into the amazing world of science at this free St. Louis site.  www.slsc.org

#10  Roll with it.  The Cardinals and David danced with Lady Luck during the NLCS.  David hopes a little luck will rub off on visitors to St. Louis' array of riverfront gaming establishments.  Games of chance await along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers at Lumiere Place, River City Casino, the Casino Queen, Argosy's Alton Belle, Harrah's and Ameristar Casino. 

#11  Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis.  The Cardinals' hometown is known as "baseball heaven."  We've added this heavenly location to the list because it also features heavenly winged creatures. Beautiful angels are depicted among the mosaic works gracing the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis.  The elaborate church, seat of many cardinals of a different kind, contains the largest collection of mosaic art in the world.  Visitors are encouraged to drop in to view the art and elaborate Romanesque/Byzantine architecture - and St. Louis baseball fans wouldn't mind if you said a little prayer for our Cardinals while you're there.

www.cathedralstl.org.

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For more information about St. Louis attractions, contact Mary Hendron of Insight St. Louis at mary@insightrocks.com or 314-962-6400.