It is said that Ole Saint Lou combines the best of both the north and the south. It features the amenities of a northern industrial city with the quality/ pace of life found traditionally in the south.
Like every major metropolitan area, there are really nice areas and locations that are not so good.
There is a beautiful "central" park that dates back to the 1904 St. Louis Worlds Fair and it houses an art museum, municipal opera, and a nationally renown zoo. The area known as "The Hill" (in south St. Louis) is famous for it's traditional Italian Food. The river front features the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial which houses a history of the region from it's early French settlers through history to today. The area also houses the famous Gateway arch, 630 feet tall, a landmark since the 1960's. The city is home to the eleven (11) time World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals. Busch stadium is the place to be seen.
Probably the best statement about the quality of life there is the fact that the majority of major sports stars, that played in the city during their career, retire there or maintain second homes because of the of life there.