HELP! St. Louis DISers

[tink2020]

Hey there. DH and I are passing your way for a few medical residency interviews the last week of November (27th-Dec2nd or so). Sell me on where you live!

What do I need to see to get a feel for your city? While he's interviewing, I'm going to cruise around town, because we have to eventually rank these places and may end up there for at least 4 years!

Thanks in advance!

 

[golfgal]

Ok, I answered on the Minneapolis post because I am from Minnesota, but my Dad lives in the St. Louis area and I have visited there and it is a GREAT place to visit and I would guess live. Downtown St. Louis has wonderful buildings and architecture. I love driving around looking at the buildings. It seems like there are a lot of renovations taking place to clean up downtown, too. St. Louis has a lot to offer.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

If you want to get to know the "city", no one goes to the city, check out the Forest Park area. I miss that place. Free zoo, museums, etc.
http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/parks/forestpark/
It is near the universities.
You have Central West End http://stlouis.missouri.org/cwe/,
University City Loop (U-City Loop) http://www.ucityloop.com/,
"The Hill" aka Italian Restaurant row http://www.shopthehill.com/

Take a peek at Busch Stadium being torn down. Sad, but necessary.

Of course there is "The Arch" and Lacledes Landing off the river.

If you are into camping, floating, boating, hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, etc..
Missouri is a great place for that. But being from Ohio, I am sure it will be similiar.

If you like boating for vacations you go here.....We do miss this part of Missouri.
Lake of the Ozarks
http://www.livelakeozarks.com/

 

[Beth76]

Ditto what Mystery Machine said. Also, you may not be able to do it on this visit, but for future reference.....we have many awesome wineries that are just on the outskirts of town. That's always a fun thing to do.

Another cool neighborhood is Lafayette Square....link. That's down by several hospitals....not sure which ones you're looking at. Clayton is also a nice area of town to look around.

 

[tink2020]

Thanks Beth76 and Mystery machine for the links! Those are great!

 

[Beth76]

Is there anything else I can help you with? Are you looking for specific things to do while in town? Or do you just want to wander around and see if you'd like to live here? I'm guessing you don't have kids, but if you do there are a ton of things to do with kids.

 

[tink2020]

Um... well, specific things are a good place to start! I may end up just wandering, but it's nice to at least know OF places I could go! We don't have kids yet. That will factor in to the ranking eventually, but while DH and I visit some of these cities we just want to get a feel for the things that are available and the feel of the city! If I think of any specific questions I'll gladly ask... especially as it gets closer to ranking time! Otherwise I'm just looking forward to visiting! I was there about 10 years ago, but CERTAINLY not interested in discovering how it would "feel" to live there

 

[Beth76]

Do you know which hospitals he's interviewing at?

 

[tink2020]

It's at SLU College of Medicine.... let me see if I can figure out which ones are associated with the program.

 

[tink2020]

Saint Louis University Hospital
John Cochran Veteran's Administration Medical Center
Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital
St. Mary's Health Center
University Medical Group Building


He technically interviews with the med school (not individual hospitals) and then rotates through all of them throughout the 4 years.

 

[pooh4evr]

My husband is a Dr here - where are you interviewing- DH did residency at St. Johns Mercy (internal Medicine) we also have friends who were at Childrens Hospital ,Barnes and St Louis University. I have lived here all my life so narrowing it down it hard!!

St Louis attractions-

Arch
Busch StadiumS 9old and new)
Union Station (was restaurants, shopping next to Savvis Center where Blues play)
Laclede's Landing (Bars and Restaurants)
The Hill (Italian Neighborhood for generations great food and fun)
Botanical Gardens
Forest Park- has the Zoo (ranked best in country) The Muny (outdoor concert stage for plays and musicals in the summer) Art and History Museums, Golf courses, Boathouse restaurant. This is all located right next to Washington University
The Science Center and Palnetarium (interactive displays of all things Science)
The Delmar Loop (off of Highway 170 shops, restaurants - very cool "hip" places)
Kirkwood / Webster groves area
(I can't spell it ) Anheiser Busch Brewery (Budweiser)
almost forgot all of the Casino boats!


Some of these are "kid friendly" for the future
Grant's Farm- (home of President Grant- tram ride throught the grounds, which has lots of animals (differnet deer, cows, zebra, bison, gazelle...) ride ends at the real attraction which is area with baby goats to feed, elephants, kangaroos... that Busch family stables with horses, the Budweiser carriages and Clydesdale horses) lots of fun for everyone because you can even get free samples of AB products!
The Magic House (a couple of yrs ago it was ranked 1 in family attraction even ahead of WDW!!!)
Six Flags

I gusee i should have PMed you !!

 

[golfgal]

The City Museum is a favorite of our kids too!

 

[momsgoofy]

Plus if you are into sports...well then there are the Cardinals, the Rams, the Blues (but they are kinda stinkin' this year...don't know what is going on...) and college basketball.

And if you're into shopping...there's the Galleria...home of the only Disney store in town, Union Station, West County, Jamestown Mall (Dillards' bargain basement and JCPenny outlet) and only about a zillion other malls and shopping venues.

For food....gotta go to Dierdorf's and Hart's for steak, Ted Drewes for some of the best custard, the Hill for anything Italian....oh, and DS would scream if I didn't add there are White Castles in St. Louis...

Entertainment...concerts at the Savvis Center, the Muny in Forest Park as well as the summer theater there...any show at the Fox just because it's so beautiful...Chuck Berry's place...Blueberry Hill is it?

Stuff for kids of all ages...St. Louis Zoo is by far the best zoo I have ever been to and it's FREE for the most part...have a photo taken on the gorilla statue...it's tradition...the Science Center, The Art Museum (all 3 are in Forest Park which is right next to Barnes Jewish Hospital)...the Butterfly House, the Magic House, the City Museum, the Arch (including the museum under it), the St. Louis Cathedral has the most beautiful mosaic work, and oh, there's one of those smaller amusement parks nearby...you know the one with the goofy bald guy dancing?

Well, best wishes to your husband on his interviews. St. Louis is a great place! I live about 2 hours southeast so it's always been a great place to visit. My sister lives on the Illinois side, about 20 minutes outside of the city so we get there pretty often.

 

[tink2020]

Bump! Any last words?

 

[SHAMIL10]

We live about 50 miles east of St. Louis in very small town Illinois and I think we have the best of both worlds- quiet country living and access to some great attractions already mentioned. There are many things to do a short distance from the city as well. I'm getting ready to go to our community's christmas parade and fireworks, so when I return I will try to give you more details

 

[tink2020]

Hello! So sorry I didn't post sooner.... things have been crazy getting ready for the next round of trips.

Let me just say that I had a FANTASTIC time in STL. It was much different visiting and getting the feel for living there as opposed to just simply doing the touristy stuff.

The first day we spent a lot of time in Forest Park. We went through the (empty) zoo and drove around the rest of the area. We talked to an older gentleman in the welcome center for SEVERAL minutes, and he was very helpful!

Then we went downtown. We DID take a trip to the arch, because DH had never been. We didn't go up, though, as it was too late and we were running behind for our dinner. We stayed at the St. Louis Pavilion (Hilton) Hotel right next to Busch Stadium(s). As someone who recently went through an implosion of a fantastic hometown memory-filled stadium, I completely understnad your anguish...... but I think the new stadium is going to be beautiful!

I also went by the Edward Jones Dome and the St. Louis Center, and did some more walking around downtown.

That evening (before and after dinner), we spent some time on the campus, and I went through Glennon and SLUH. For dinner with the residents we ate at Vito's near (on?) SLU's campus. It was all right..... I ended up driving through the Hill the next day but not eating there. Maybe next time....

The second day I drove around while DH was at interviews. I went to the Galleria, visited family in Chesterfield, and ate the most unhealthy lunch imagineable --- Ted Drewes (Marshmallow Conrete ) and a glaze donut from the Donut Drive-In! I think I could move just for the concretes.... you all weren't kidding, that place is AMAZING!

I kept making notes about what else we did, but DH threw them away. This about covers it, as we were only in town two days. I did stop in the Promenade shopping center (Target and Subway), and drive around that area (64).

I'll add more if I remember.... we had a great time, though! Thanks for all of your leads!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Thanks for the Update! Glad you had a good time.

 

[JDH]

Ted Drewes. Best Frozen Custard in the world. Take a tour of the Brewery. Eat an IMO's pizza. Visit "The Hill" Amaghetti bakery is great so is Cunetto's or Charlie Gitto's. Visit Forest Pary, Zoo Art Museum and the Jewel Box are there. Lacledes Landing, Old Cathederal, Old Courthouse and of course the Arch are down by the Mississippi. Lacledes Landing has after hours clubs.

Have fun, dress warmly especially by the river.

 

[Beth76]

So glad you had a good time! Looks like you hit a lot of the highlights. In the Hill you missed my favorite sandwich place, Amaghetti's Bakery. If you end up coming here give it a try and order "The Special". Ted Drewes frozen custard is definitely the best and you made it just in time. It does close right after xmas for 2 months I think. I've been to Cardinal Glennon hospital many times as a kid. And many scars to remind me of that.

Good luck with your decision!!

 

[tink2020]

Oh! We did also do the Brewery Tour. Forgot about that, even though it was very cool!