St. Louis

[Macsmomma]

DH, DS (who is 8) and I are going to St. Louis next week for a Cardinals game and want to do some fun things. Can you please tell us what not to miss?? Also, some good places to eat. Thanks so much!

 

[dblp65]

The City Museum is always a fun place to go. The zoo is ranked as one of the best zoos in the country. Going up in the arch is a must if you have never done that before.

Are you traveling 55 North to get there? (From Memphis?) If so, at exit 67 is Lambert's in Sikeston. Home of throwed rolls! An either love it or hate it kind of place. Check them out on line. We loved it when we first moved here but now go only once or twice a year. Always PACKED with tourists!!! They have been featured on the Travel Channel before.

In St. Louis is Ted Drewes Frozen Custard. Not a meal but a great place for dessert.

Hope that helps a little.....

 

[wendygrace]

I would also add the Science Museum, which is free, and has lots of fun things to do. If you're into history or art, they have free museums for those as well which are kid friendly.

But if your 8 year old is adventurous and independent, I'd definitely recommend the City Museum. Just make sure you decide on a place to meet when you get lost. The Museum has lots of slides, and other "hidey holes" that don't come out where you expect them to come out and in some of those slides adults won't fit. Its huge and like nothing you have ever experienced. If your 8 year old is more timid and doesn't like to be away from you, it may not be the place for him. Check them out online.

 

[kstategrad]

I agree with all that's been suggested:

-City Museum
-Magic House
-Arch
-Science Center
-Zoo

I also LOVE Imo's Pizza (can't get that here in Memphis, and it's delicious, IMO).

Fuddrucker's is a good, kid-friendly place to eat too.

 

[pfp258]

I've done this trip twice with sixth grade Girl Scouts. We LOVED the City Museum! Indoor and outdoor fun. We also did a riverboat ride (would not recommend) toured the arch (cool unless you don't like heights )We ate at the Hard Rock Cafte and also at the Spaghetti Factory (or was it warehouse?) which was great. We also did a day trip to Meramec Caverns which the girls also loved!

 

[AlternateEgo]

MMMm Lambert's Actually we went there 3 times within 6 weeks and I could use a break

Everyone has hit the nail with this one.

The Zoo is free, but EXTREMELY hard to find a parking place on the weekend.

The Arch is something everyone has to do once. Not for the clausterphobic or anyone afraid of heights. Even if you don't go up in the arch, it is still fun to go and check it out. Free to enter, but a small fee to ride up to the top.

The Science Center was really cool when I was younger.

I remember my parents taking us to the Magic House when I was about 14 and my sisters were 6 and 8. They had a blast, but I was always the singleton, since I was so much older than they.

I have never been to the city museum, though it sounds amazing!

There is also a botanical garden, I think it is called the Butterfly house. I haven't been there either.

St. Louis has a lot of food places, but whenever we go there, it is always White Castle and a warm Krispie Kreme

 

[DCLbrideSept2009]

St. Louis style pizza and toasted ravioli!!!! Personal favorite is Pirrone's in Florissant, which is probably not gonna be anywhere near you... or Imo's... but just go anywhere, really!! And frozen custard!! Again, personal favorite is Fritz's, but just go anywhere you can find....

 

[Disneycrazymom]

We just ate at Perronies a couple weeks ago! So good. (I live in Bridgeton)

To the OP where is your hotel? St Louis is very spread out and one of our main highways 40 is being worked on so it can be a little harder to get around right now.

If you are staying downtown - close to Busch then I would plan to see things in that area for a short trip.

Forest Park has: the Zoo, the Muny, Science Museum, History Museum, The Jewel Box.

The Landing/Arch area has: the Arch, Speggti Factory, river boat rides, lots of bars - night life (not for kids at night)

Right by the stadium there are some good restaurants. Base Ball hall of fame.

In StL you can count on any Italian family name restaurant being good. But the best IMO is on the HIll. A bit south of the city.

Any questions I'll be glad to help.

It would not be right for me not to include a warning to you to be aware of your surroundings. StL for the most part is safe and fun but there are areas that you do not want to be in anytime of the day!

Editing to add a little about City Museum. My niece got hurt really badly there on one of the slides. Had to have surgery on her broken leg. It can happen anywhere but locally I have heard of a few accidents there. My kids don't go anymore.

 

[DCLbrideSept2009]

We just ate at Perronies a couple weeks ago! So good. (I live in Bridgeton)

I grew up on Pirrone's! The majority of my family still live up there, so we try to visit at least once a year (usually Thanksgiving)... and we're having our wedding reception at Pirrone's Thanksgiving weekend this year!!

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! What a great place to have your reception!

You'll get this - I have to ask - Where did you go to high school?

I graduated from Hazelwood West, DH from Rosery (both a long time ago) DS is a junior at Duchesne now. I taught in Pattonville for awhile but now I am at Holy Spirit ( the old St. Blaise). I am guessing you will know most of those.

 

[DCLbrideSept2009]

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! What a great place to have your reception!

You'll get this - I have to ask - Where did you go to high school?

I graduated from Hazelwood West, DH from Rosery (both a long time ago) DS is a junior at Duchesne now. I taught in Pattonville for awhile but now I am at Holy Spirit ( the old St. Blaise). I am guessing you will know most of those.

Well, I actually didn't live there long enough to go to high school there... we moved to Texas when I was in 7th grade.... I think I would've gone to McCleur (sorry, I KNOW i didn't spell that correctly) if we had stayed there. I think that's where my mom and dad went. We lived in St. Charles for about 6 months and I went to junior high for a while there... (again, don't remember which school)... sorry... I lived in Florissant all through elementary school, then 6 months in St. Charles/St. Peters... and then moved to Texas... I have one set of grandparents still in Florissant, another grandma in Hazelwood, aunt and uncle in St. Charles... and have a couple other uncles and some cousins spread around there too...

 

[lgruender]

I don't thing anyone mentined the Magic House, thats a neat place to go.

 

[JB2K]

Great suggestions, everyone!

Also, glad to see so many of us, here from "a place that is a thousand miles away from WDW" (and I'm not speaking of that state with millions of residents in such a small space).

Forthe poster who suggested Fuddruckers -- they are a little far from most of the major tourist attractions.

Also, for those planning a visit to our area, our zoo is a world-class facility (and many features rivals such well-knowns as San Diego and, yes, Animal Kingdom).

 

[ICF]

The Zoo is free, but EXTREMELY hard to find a parking place on the weekend.

Only free parking is hard to find. There is big pay parking lot right next to the zoo.


[/QUOTE]There is also a botanical garden, I think it is called the Butterfly house. I haven't been there either.[/QUOTE]

They are 2 differet things. The butterfly house is small (free I think) and in forrest park.

The botanical gardens is a very large "garden" that costs to visit.

 

[Familycircus]

We briefly stopped in St Louis during our return from WDW in March.
When visiting the Arch, you must go through metal detectors and xray machines so don't take extra items. Visit the Arch early in the day as you need to buy tickets to ride to the top and they only sell a certain number per day. When they're gone they're gone. We visited late afternoon and were standing in line and the screen showed tickets available, the person two ahead of me bought the last tickets and the rest of us in line were just out of luck.

Several blocks west is the City Museum. This is not a museum in the traditional sense. It is a incredible inside/outside climb and slide made of all sorts of recycled pieces of anything you could imagine, and I mean anything. My kids absolutely loved this place and want to take a trip back for that alone.
Admission is $12 each. $10 after 5pm Fri & Sat.

 

[JB2K]

Via Broadway -- more, here

 

[Macsmomma]

OP here. Thanks for all the suggestions! We are looking forward to doing as much as possible.

 

[Aunt Flancy]

We really like Grant's Farm. Admission is free, but you have to pay for parking.

 

[LizinSTL]

Great suggestions, everyone!

Also, glad to see so many of us, here from "a place that is a thousand miles away from WDW" (and I'm not speaking of that state with millions of residents in such a small space).

Forthe poster who suggested Fuddruckers -- they are a little far from most of the major tourist attractions.

Also, for those planning a visit to our area, our zoo is a world-class facility (and many features rivals such well-knowns as San Diego and, yes, Animal Kingdom).

There's a Fuddruckers 5 minutes south of the Magic House.

 

[LizinSTL]

DH, DS (who is 8) and I are going to St. Louis next week for a Cardinals game and want to do some fun things. Can you please tell us what not to miss?? Also, some good places to eat. Thanks so much!

Oh, there's so much you can do when you visit! Much of it free or cheap!

Suggestions:
Magic House www.magichouse.org 8 is the PERFECT age to explore the new exhibits at the magic house. You can get b1g1 coupons at www.familyattractionscard.com

Grants Farm www.grantsfarm.com Free admission- you may be told you need reservations by St. Louis natives...that's no longer true. Parking is $11. Free beer (at least for now) for adults in the Hospitality House.

St. Louis Science Center. www.slsc.org free admission to the main part of the museum. FREE parking on the Forest Park side by the Planetarium.

Gateway Arch www.gatewayarch.com free to see the museum but movies and tram ride cost more. $7 to ride the tram . Think Mork from Ork egg for 5 people- tight squeeze, not air conditioned but so cool!

Zoo- www.stlzoo.org Admission is FREE Parking is $11. If you get there in the first hour of the day- definitely skip the safari pass- the Childrens zoo and stingray exhibit are free, as is the carousel for the 1st hour. We love the zoo. Unless your kiddo loves riding the little train, I doubt you'd need the safari pass. JMO- the entrance gives the impression that you have to buy it for admission but that's not true. That said- if you have a zoo membership at home, I'm pretty sure you get it for 1/2 price so that makes it a good deal. Also, since you are visiting near the end of a month- it's possible perfect strangers will offer to give you railroad passes or childrens zoo passes. I always give away my leftover membership entitlements near the end of my membership year.

City Museum www.citymuseum.org I know a lot of people rave about this place but since I'm from here and I'm soooo used to everything being free or having great coupons- I hate paying that much for admission. We really prefer the magic house, zoo or science center to the city museum. We were just there a couple weeks ago and unless your child is comfortable with the dark, cramped spaces and loves to climb. I'd skip it.

Anheuser Busch brewery tour- pretty cool, free, my kids love it too and free adult beverages at the end!

FOOD:
Gus' Pretzels are great- near the brewery. Cash only! Get a pretzel brat! yum

Ted Drewes Frozen Custard www.teddrewes.com I love the terramizzou sundae!

Depending on where you are staying, I can recommend other places. Imo's pizza is a family favorite here but either you LOVE it or you HATE it. www.imospizza.com

I recommend Sybergs or Helen Fitzgeralds. Get a pizza, chicken wings and toasted ravioli. YUM. www.sybergs.com

If you want a 'nicer' place- I recommend Favazza's or Zia's on the hill. www.favazzas.com or www.zias.com

If you want to go much higher end...try to get into Sydney Street Cafe, 1111 Mississippi or Niche . All would be ok w/ a child if you go early in the dinner service.

If you happen to be in town on a Sunday- try lunch at the Lemp Mansion. www.lempmansion.com Family style chicken dinner.

I always recommend Crown Candy Kitchen too. It's a sandwich shop/ice cream parlor in Old North St. Louis. Delicious homemade ice cream and great chili and sandwiches. www.crowncandykitchen.net a lot of people will discourage you and tell you it's a bad neighborhood. I worked there for almost 7 years (until 11 at night) and never had a problem.

If you have any questions- feel free to PM me!