There's always something new to do in St. Louis and 2011 is no exception. New exhibits, events and activities are happening throughout the region, so here's a list of just some of the exciting and entertaining options awaiting you in St. Louis. Your next great getaway is All Within Reach.

Bigger and Greener
The Saint Louis Science Center (slsc.org) is getting bigger – with a new 13,000 square foot exhibition hall – and greener this summer, thanks to a brand spankin’ new LEED-certified structure designed to host large-scale touring exhibits, educational programs and special events.

SLSC will feature exhibits about sustainability and other eco-friendly topics in the fancy new digs, which will include a rooftop terrace for unique outdoor exhibits.

Zip, Zip and Away!
Fly through the air with the greatest of ease at Meramec Caverns (americascave.com) in nearby Stanton, MO. America’s Cave has a new attraction for all you adrenaline junkies. The Caveman Zipline offers participants a chance to “fly” through treetop canopies and the natural cave bluffs of the Meramec at speeds up to 50 miles per hour. Zips vary from 250 to 1,200 feet during the 90-minute long guided tours, and you’ll be cruising at heights of 54 – 82 feet above the ground. Don’t worry – the tour includes all the necessary safety equipment and information. They won’t leave you hanging…

"If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it 'Chuck Berry.'" — John Lennon
The man known as the “Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll” will soon hold court in The Loop 24/7. In November 2010, an eight foot-tall bronze statue of legendary St. Louis rocker Chuck Berry will begin standing guard in Chuck Berry Plaza, located at the intersection of Delmar Boulevard and the Centennial Greenway Bike Path in University City. St. Louis sculptor Harry Weber will create the statue, which shows the ever-fluid Rock and Roll Hall of Famer in an old school tuxedo with his trademark Gibson guitar. The statue will be located across the street from Blueberry Hill (blueberryhill.com), the iconic Loop neighborhood restaurant and music club where Berry still plays monthly concerts.

Peabody Opera House
Crews are hard at work renovating, restoring and re-fabbing the Peabody Opera House (peabodyoperahouse.com), which is adjacent to the Scottrade Center. Slated to re-open in the fall of 2011, the historic building originally opened in 1934 as the Municipal Auditorium. St. Louis’ newest downtown performing arts and cultural center will feature a 3,200-seat main theater that will host events such as live touring shows and concerts.

Civil War Sesquicentennial
In 2011, the state of Missouri will mark the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War with a number of exhibits, events and activities, including various re-enactments of historic battles throughout the state.

In St. Louis, the Missouri History Museum (mohistory.org) will host “The Civil War in Missouri,” a comprehensive exhibit featuring interactive elements as well as compelling imagery and artifacts. The exhibition will be on display November 12, 2011 – March 16, 2013, and promises to explore and address the distinctively Missouri issues that the state and its citizens wrestled with during the war years.

Also slated to open in 2011 are the Missouri Civil War Museum (mcwm.org) and MCWM Studies Center at Jefferson Barracks Historic Site. The two facilities will become the state’s largest educational complex dedicated exclusively to the study of Missouri’s role in the Civil War. In 2011, the museum is slated to open in the historic Jefferson Barracks Post Exchange & Gymnasium Building.

Named in honor of President Thomas Jefferson, Jefferson Barracks (jbhf.org) is the oldest operating U.S. Military Installation west of the Mississippi River. The Barracks played a critical role in the history of America’s armed forces and its list of alumni includes more than 100 Civil War general officers. Some of the most well-known men who served here include Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee, William Tecumseh Sherman, James Longstreet, Joseph Johnston and Braxton Bragg.