Ideas for St. Louis Vacation

There are many great places to visit in St. Louis that are either inexpensive or free.

St. Louis Zoo Free except for parking, kids petting, train www.stlzoo.org
Science Center www.slsc.org
Grants Farm www.grantsfarm.com
Museum of Transportation www.museumoftransport.org (Kirkwood MO)
St. Louis Arch www.gatewayarch.com

I can help you with places to visit but as far as the hotels it all depends on what area you are looking to stay in.

The City Museum!!!!!!!!!!!! The MonstoCity is worth it alone!!!
www.citymuseum.org

Enjoy!
S.

The City Museum downtown is just about the coolest place in the city. Tickets are a bit pricey, but it's a perfect place for kids that age to just go wild. And while you're down that way, Crown Candy Kitchen is a great place to eat. It's not exactly easy to find and it's not in the greatest neighborhood, but the shakes and malts are to die for. Let me know if you need directions!

Have a fun trip!

St Louis is a great city!
Don't miss the City Museum (kids really love it! and could spend the whole day there), Six flags, and the Magic House.
At Forest park you will be able to enjoy for free the zoo and the St Louis Science Center (which is really great).
Go to www.explorestlouis.com to have more information about entertainement, family-friendly attraction, food and hotel, and have them send you the official St Louis vistor guide, it's free and with all the information you'll need.
Enjoy your vacation here!

Try to book a baseball game. The zoo. Grants farm. Forest Park. City muesuem. The Arch.

M.-

I live about a half an hour from St. Louis and here is what I recommend:

Hotels:
-Renaissance Suites/Hotel in downtown. Close walking distance to much in the city.
-Hilton by the Ballpark (especially if your kids like baseball).
*Both have pools

Stuff to do:
Arch and Riverfront - Go up in the Arch, visit the museums/stores in the bottom of it, walk around the Riverfront and go to the little shops. I believe there is a Wax Museum on the Riverfront. Planet Hollywood Restaurant is down there as are others on the riverfront.
Riverboat Cruises
You can also do a helicopter ride around St. Louis (just google it)
Grant's Farm
The Zoo: Free parking before 9 or 10 am. Free to get in (have to pay for petting zoo)
The Science Center: Pay to park but free to get in (pay for IMAX, Planitarium, etc)
Central West End: Great little shops and restaurants
Missouri Botanical Garden
St. Louis Art Museum
Anheuser Busch Brew Tour (not sure if the name has changed?)
Fox Theater - catch a show while you are here. This is a beautiful theater!
In IL - about 15 minutes from St. Louis - Cahokia Mounds (Native American mounds. They have a show about them and you can walk up them)

Places to eat:
Anywhere on the Hill (especially Trattoria De Marcela - I think it's a bit off the hill), Rigazzis, anywhere is good!!
Anywhere in Soulard (South of St. Louis - like 2 miles). Ferrara's pizza is GREAT. A hole in the wall but great!!
Gus' Pretzels (by the Budlight plant)
Planet Hollywood
Blueberry Hill or Melting Pot (FONDUE!) - these are both on the same eclectic street in the 'loop'
Morgan Street (it's also a bar on the riverfront but the food is great)
More formal (ie: expensive): Tony's, Kemolls
Ice Cream: Ted Drews (a must!!) for their concretes
West Port Plaza: Bennihannas - for a fun dining experience where they cook in front of you.
Also try Bacana - not sure where it's located specifially but great Brazillian!

HI M.. I live in St. Louis. You could visit the arch (there is a tram that takes you to the top to view much of the city). While down there you could take an hour long excursion down the mighty Mississippi. It's a relaxing cruise that the kids enjoy. Also our zoo is said to be one of the best. Check it out. As far as hotels, check expedia or priceline. They have good hotels with pretty reasonable rates. Have a great time if you come down here!!! (By the way, check the bookings because I believe we have the All-Star game in July).

With a 10 and 7 year old, the City Museum is an absolutely don't miss-plan an entire day and you won't be disappointed. It's awesome and perfect for that age! Some of my boys (age 9, 7, and 5) other favorites are: The Science Center, Botanical Gardens and the Zoo. The Arch is another don't miss, but it's a short visit--go first in the morning, or you'll be waiting around all day for your turn to ride up in it. There's always Six Flags/Hurricane Harbor. No visit to St. Louis is complete without a trip to Ted Drews Frozen Custard-go in the evening to get the full experience.

M. you could plan an entire day around Forest Park and everything it has to offer. You can even take in a free show at the Muny at night (the free seats are at the very top - but still lots of fun!) Make sure you go to Ted Drewes and if the adults are wanting a brewry tour go to Gus' pretzels nearby after for the kids. Have a great time - I love this city!!

I agree with all of the great ideas for things to do in St. Louis. Any of them would be fun. I would add that if you can go to a Cardinals baseball game at Busch Stadium, you don't have to have the most expensive seats for it still to be a great experience. As for a hotel, I have been receiving emails this summer from Drury Hotels about their bonus features, including an awesome hot breakfast, free sodas and snacks in the afternoon for the whole family, and free hbo movies in the rooms at night. Most of them have pools as well. I recently stayed at the Drury Inn and Suites--Convention Center, which is in downtown St. Louis and close to everything. It was a really nice hotel. Enjoy your vacation!!

I'm sure that your get this several times, but Grants Farm. We like it better than the zoo - and parents get a beer at the end. It won't take you all day to go through it. Purina Farms in Gray Summit is also fun if your kids lik to watch dog shows. Again, not a big place and your older one might be a little big for it. But they do some fun shows - like their new one this year is the dogs doing dock diving into a pool. For hotels I wouldn't stay in St. Louis, check out the surrounding areas - like Fenton that is a straight shot down 44. Lots of restaraunts in Fenton and several hotels right off the highway so that you can get everywhere pretty easy . The City Musuem, the Transportation Musuem and Magic House might be worth checking into also. My kids LOVE the Magic House. They just finished adding on to it and it's twice the size it use to be. I haven't been in a while but the kids always like it. We actually have quite a bit to do around here, it's just your going to drive to it all. Everything is spread out in St. Louis and half of it isn't in St. Louis it's in the surrounding county.

Hi M.,
The St. Louis Zoo is one of the very best in the country and it is free. It is totally awesome!!

Grant's Farm is also free and a great time! You will see the Clydesdales's - very cool!

Anheiser Busch Brewery also has tours that are free - you see the horses again and it is kind of interesting.

City Museum is one of the neatest things I have ever been to in my life. You will love it as much as the kids. It is worth every penny you pay for it. I would suggest getting an early start so you can take full advantage of the time you have. We have never spent less than 6 hours there (and the time flies).

As for hotels, I have a couple of favorites in St. Louis. I LOVE to stay at the Drury Inn in Creve Couer - beautiful - and they have a full breakfast for free in the morning, plus popcorn and drinks (including adult beverages) in the evening. They also have oversized rooms available. Indoor pool. Drury also has coupons - I think you can get them from their website without even staying.

Another is Staybridge Suites in Maryland Heights on Craig or Craigshire Rd. They are big rooms to start with and another full free breakfast. This one is an outdoor pool. You can get two bedrooms, two bathrooms with the kitchen, living room in the middle - very nice when you have kids.

And, I have had great luck using priceline (bidding) for a room in the downtown area. I bid for the top of the stars and bid low. I have gotten the Hyatt Regency in Union Station, which is now the Marriott in Union Station twice for under $50. Nothing there is free! :) But, it's fun and there is an outdoor pool.

Good luck and have fun, you will run out of time before you run out of things to do in St. Louis!

visit the following for their ideas...
http://www.explorestlouis.com/kids/index.asp

I have heard that the City Museum is great and that my friends that went there spent 'hours' playing there! There is a hands on area that they were in...

as an STL native I would recommend the St. Louis Zoo (currently free has been since it opened, but talking about charging now, hurry up and see it for free) The Botanical gardens (free before noon I believe, but may want to check their website www.mobot.org) The arch tour is ok. Going to the top usually involves a long wait in lines and being crammed into a space-ship like capsule and then you can hang out in a small curved room at the top of the arch. AVoid if you are claustrophobic or afraid of heights. The Art Museum in FOrest Park used to be free on certain weekdays as well. Your boys might like the ancient egyptian stuff or the suits of armor in the medieval section, but probably not so much on the paintings. If you go out to the County, Faust Park has the World's Fair Carousel (SP?) and the butterfly house as well as a great playground. There is also the museum of transportation, which most boys really like (the big ones too). And your kids are probably old enough for the City Museum. I wouldn't recommend taking younger kids because there is a lot of climbing where they have to fend for themselves, but yours seem to be just the right age. The Science Center is probably right for your kids too. Younger kids get bored, but if your boys are into science and how things work, it's a pretty good trip. And they have an IMAX theatre. Well, that should get you started. Have a great time in our city!

my husband & I grew up in St Louis, & we still are in there 1-2 times/month. Last week on our vacation, we ended up in St Louis 3 times in 5 days!!

We have our favs, as many other Moms mentioned: the Zoo with the new Sting Ray exhibit, the Arch & museum, the City Museum is a BLAST (not only is it great for kids, but for parents too! & our 21 y.o. son enjoys going to the "after hours"/adult only....on Friday nights), Grants Farm & Purina Farm. 6 Flags is another option, as is the Science Center, Museum of Transportation, & the History Museum. Oh, & Cahokia Mounds in IL is also awesome!

We also enjoy Soulard Market in downtown St Louis. On one of our daytrips last week, I put my husband & son on the Amtrak at Hermann, Mo..picked them up in St Louis. Then we went to Gus's Pretzels by Anheuser Brewery, around the corner to Soulard Market, & then on to the Arch ....all within a 5 minute drive of each other. Later in the day, we went to St Louis Mills....an outlet shopping mall complete with Nascar go-karts, glow-in-the-dark mini golf, & ice skating where the St Louis Blues Hockey team practice! Yee-hah!

I agree with most posters about the ZOO in Forest Park- totally free (you can find free side street parking and you can pack a lunch or purchase one there) and while in Forest Park the Boat House is lots of fun cheap paddle boat/rowboat rentals you can take through canals at Forest Park (my kids get a huge kick out of this) the resturant there is very good and affordable too. If you go to this website: http://www.townplannerstl.com/dir/attractions.html it has lots of fun stuff to do & links to websites and this website has hotel and fun stuff coupons http://www.familyattractionscard.com/MO/STL/StlAttraction.... Hope you enjoy!!!

A good place to take kids to eat is Fitz's, in the U. City Loop (University City), just west of the city. There they brew and botle Fitz's root beer and you can watch while you dine. Check out the website - http://www.fitzsrootbeer.com/
Have fun on your trip!

At there age, they might like the zoo, you never know...
they would love the Magic House, Science Center, City Museum, there is just so much to do in St. Louis these are just a few for boys of 10 and 7.

the Zoo is a must one of the best in the states plus it is in Forest Park lots of stuff to do there as well paddleboats on the lake. Science center is right there too. Must go up in the Arch because it's the arch. I don't know where you are from but the Mills Mall has Go Cart tracks there and a nice game area if they like that stuff. Six Flags is just outside of St. Louis that is a whole day affair bring trunks water park included.
Must go to Imo's Pizza and get some toasted ravioli it's a St. Louis thing and Imo's has the best Veggie pizza in my opinion. Ted Drew's Frozen Custard too.
I am from the St. Louis area and now live in Oklahoma

Hey M.-
Purina Farms is fun and free. It's in Grey Summit just before getting in to STL(there are signs to follow). The Science Center, Magic House, and the Zoo are all great. They have a great zoo(which is free except you might want to pay for parking which is like $10)with a GREAT newer penguin exhibit. Cardinal games are fun and the bleacher seats are good seats. Hope you have fun!

the zoo and science center are free to get into. My kids enjoy them both and we have gone several times. There are a lot of activities that are free at the science center and others that you can buy tickets for. We spend several hours and have plenty to do with the free activities. The zoo is nice and there is also a children's zoo right next to it that cost money but we haven't been to that part of the zoo yet. I did see online that you can slide on a slide that is see through and see the otters and thought that would be cool sometime but we usually go to the free gate and see enough animals that we don't make it to the children's zoo.
Six Flags is fun too and has the water park included with the ticket price. recently saw a special for buy 1 day get 2nd day free but not sure if they have that all the time.

Hi M., I strongly agree with Carla M. She has an excellent guide for you! Good job Carla!

Magic House is really good, my kids loved it! All ages.

Children's zoo at the Zoo is excellent, but it costs a little. The best idea at the zoo, is to buy a family plan, I'm not sure what the prices are this year, but if you become a member, you can get tickets for shows (elephants and seals, it used to be, not sure if they still have them), Train rides, Children's Zoo, Insectarium, and the Living World (which used to be a lot better, but maybe it's that we've seen it so many times). Check things out there.

The City Museum is supposed to be very good, but we have never got there, yet. A friend went last week, they enjoyed it, but their 1 year old wasn't impressed. The 3 year old liked it, but not for the price. I believe she said it was $20+ per person over 2, $18 for the museum, and extra for the aquarium. I believe she said it was over $70 for her, her husband, and the 3 year old.

6 Flags is charging kids price for everyone. Price is good, but keep you kids close. It's not as nice a place as it once was.

The Arch is a little pricey, but the kids will probably love the ride up (you ride in a thing that's like an extra large washing machine tub, with seats in it, the kids get a kick out of the ride), only bad thing is there is always a waiting time. Depending on the time, you could see the movie, it's okay, or go through the museum, or, if it's really long, movie, then museum. Movie costs some, not sure of price, museum is free.

Don't miss Ted Drewes, it's earned it's reputation.

Have fun!

Sounds like you have lots of ideas already and I agree you shouldn't miss the Children's museum and Grant's farm. Ted Drewes Frozen Custard was also a big hit with our kids.

The City Museum - they will have a ton of fun there.

If you google "st louis coupon", you'll find coupons for all kinds of great things. We went last summer with our 4 girls, and theyloved it. We did Grant's Farm, The Magic House, and the zoo. One day, we just filled the cooler with food, and played in a huge water fountain in the same park where the zoo is.
We stayed in a hotel close to the airport that was near everything we wanted to do. I can't remember the name, but we got a GREAT deal from hotels.com. O our last day, we did the ScienCenter. We didn't think it was as much fun as the Magic House, though. We ate continetal breakfast at the hotel, and packed the cooler during the day to save $$, too. Good luck, and I hope you have fun!!!!!

I also recommend, that if you do the arch, at night is the best time, when you can see the lights of the city.

You've got some great suggestions already, but I just wanted to add two things:
The Butterfly House in Faust Park is a neat place if your kids are in to bugs/insects or nature at all. They have a huge greenhouse that you enter and there are butterflies everywhere. They give you a pamphlet and you can try to find all the different types of butterflies. Some will even land on you if you're wearind red, pink, or floral patterns. Also in the park is an old homestead/farm that the kids can explore.

And one last thing - you can park at the zoo for free - there are spots out front and you can parallel park on the streets in Forest Park. Sometimes it's even closer than the zoo parking lot. Of course, the earlier you get there, the closer the spots will be.

OK, one more thing - the hotels will be cheaper on the Illinois side, but gas is not. Wait to fill up the tank until you're in Missouri, and you'll save about 10 cents a gallon.

St. Louis is an awesome place, and there are a lot of things you can do for free!

Grant's Farm
Science Museum (very hands-on and fun! and free!)
The Muny (outdoor theatre in Forest Park... the back seats are free)
The Zoo (also in Forest Park)

There are also a lot of really cool things that aren't free, but are definitely worth it!

St. Louis Cardinal's game at Busch Stadium
City Museum (unless you go, it's hard to imagine how fun it is! the boys can defintely work off some energy!)

Good family eats:

At Uno's, kids can make their own pizzas.
At Incredible Pizza, they have a buffet of pizzas, salads, soups, pasta, and desserts, as well as drinks, ice cream, slushies, and more. They also have indoor go-carts and video games... kind of like a Chuck E Cheese, but with much better food. There are lots of different rooms so you and your husband can relax and watch a movie while the kids play. Thursdays they give you double the amount... so if you buy $10 for the arcade, they give you $20.
Lots of grocery stores in the area sell deli stuff to go, so it would be cool to take a picnic to the park, especially if the park is Forest Park.

Good luck, and have a great time!

The City Museum is awesome. So is the St. Louis Zoo. I would also try to hit the Science Center, and, if you like sports, a Cardinals game would be cool. I have heard of a place called Magic House, and we planned to do that last time we were there, but we ran out of time. We stayed at a Drury Inn at Union Station that was very cool (and not expensive). It had a good indoor pool, was close to everything we wanted to do, had a great (and I want to say free) breakfast buffet, and within walking distance of a cool restaurant with a big fish pond area. There was also live music in that area when we were there. There is also shopping at Union Station, so that's another convenient thing to do from that hotel. We're going back this summer, too, so maybe we'll see you there LOL. Have fun.

There are a lot of places that are free or dont cost much. The St Louis Zoo, Grant's farm has goats kids love to feed and train to ride through it, Purina Farms also has a petting zoo too. The St Louis Arch is awsome to go up in for a small fee. There is the Magic House that is for kids and the City Museum has a lot even geared towards kids. If you want to spend a little bit more money there is Six Flags in Eureka about 45 min SW of downtown. hope this helps...enjoy your trip.

the Arch is always a Good one to visit I have been there a few times myself. For the kids the St. Louis Museum is supposed to be great I have not been there myself but I have heard Great things from friends of mine. If you like to site see Historic Downtown St. Charles is agreat place to go and there are a few Great restaurants there. Six Flags is close too.
I live about 60 Miles South of St. Louis

City Museum-must must see!

You should absolutely go to the City Museum! It's a fabulous place of things to climb on and explore, both indoors and out. There's an aquarium, a circus, slides. Check out their website. My daughter is almost 15 now and whenever we're anywhere close to St. Louis she wants to go. I'd also recommend the St. Louis Science Center (what you want in a science museum, unlike KC's Science City). Cahokia, across the river on the Illinois side, has an excellent visitor's center which shows how Native Americans lived in this city of 10,000 people built 1000 years ago. (It was larger than London at the time.) You can climb Monk's Mound which is 92 feet tall. There's also the St. Louis Zoo.

We went to St L last year with our 3 boys (16,8,7) and the City Museum was a BIG hit...even with the grown-ups! We've talked about going back again.
Have a great trip!

One thing you won't want to miss is the science museum. Also the zoo, planetarium. These are all free and all very close to each other. Grant's Farm is South and terrific. Also there is a Children's Museum on the West side that is super awesome and of course you've got to go to the Arch. We have taken our 10 year old grandson to St. Louis 2 times at age 5 and 7 and he can not wait to go back. You will need about 3 days to really enjoy everything.

I would visit the science center, magic house and zoo.

I recommend staying at the Drury Inn & Suites in O'Fallon. It's about 15 minutes from downtown St. Louis (if you're not wanting to stay right in the city). I agree with everyone else about the Science Center, Arch, City Museum, Zoo and walking around (or renting a paddle boat) to check out Forrest Park. It's a beautiful place. I hope you have a fun vacation! Let us know how it goes!

Lots of suggestions! My votes - Union Station, the Arch and the Zoo or Knotts Berry Farm.

Ditto on the city museum. Expensive but SOOOOOO worth it.

I am sure you have gotten tons of responses telling you to attend a baseball game...we have a great staduim and a great team! Your boys should have a great time! We have a wonderful free Zoo and right near the Zoo is Forest Park and you can rent paddle boats - it is right in front of the Art Museum which I think is also free. Forest Park was the sight of the Worlds Fair in 1902. If you go to the baseball game you could visit the arch - I am not sure of the cost but it is on the river front and pretty neat to see. I hope you visit our town...we really do have a great city - hope you like it!

How about taking them to Six Flags? There's a Days Inn in the area that has an indoor swimming pool and video games...

I would agree that The City Museum and Magic House are great ideas. The Zoo also is good. And they have a new sting ray exhibit and you can pet the sting rays. You can also check out www.stlouiswithkids.com

The City Museum is a must see especially for your boys' ages. Also, the zoo is great and you can get through it in a morning and still have the afternoon open.

Our girls loved the Magic House. They weren't that impressed with Grants Farm, wish we had taken them to zoo. City Museum is AWESOME!!! We all loved it.

I just wanted to add that if you are considering seeing a Cardinal's game that the St. Louis local radio stations have specially priced tickets on their websites. There is www.1065thearch.com & www.1057thepoint.com. (Tickets are 10.65 & 10.57)

Magic House, Zoo (free), Grants Farm

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Of course the Gate Way Arch, and the Tram. off the tram you can get to many neat places. I also do in home daycare, it is great to be home with the kids. Enjoy your vacation.

The Zoo and City Museum are awesome(the CM is a super fun activity place with an aquarium inside- worth the somewhat pricy pricetag!) We stayed at the Hampton Suites across from the zoo because I like the 'free breakfast' and indoor pool options, saves a bit of cash on one meal at least!!

I personally like staying right outside St. Louis, we normally drive over to Illinois and stay over there. The prices are cheaper. We stay at the Fairfield Inn in Collinsville, mainly because I get a family discount. Plenty of restaurants nearby.

It was a easy drive to all the hot spots.

Have fun on your vacation.

The City Museum ROCKS!!!! My husband is from St Louis so we go to visit frequently, but had never been to the City Museum until last summer....It has to be the absolute coolest place I've ever been!!!! I highly suggest it ~ we were there for about 4 hours, and I still don't think we saw/did everything!!! It's a GREAT place for kids!

St. Louis is hosting the All-Star Game on July 14th. There are lots of free activities planned for downtown during that time. Some are free. I agree with all of the others...the City Museum is awesome. They just opened a whole new area on the roof complete with a ferris wheel.

Hi M.,
Short & sweet:
Magic House
Grants Farm
Botanical Gardens

ENJOY!

You cannot miss America's #1 zoo!! The science center would be great for your kids too. I don't know about hotels or eats, because I haven't needed to use them...lol. Have fun!!

You might want to check out the Sheraton hotels at Westport. It's centrally located and they have several restaurants within the plaza area. Have fun.

The City Museum is the best place to visit for this age group. It has awesome indoor and outdoor activities.
Website: http://www.citymuseum.org/home.asp

My kids also like the Magic House and Science Center
http://www.magichouse.org/
http://www.slsc.org/

The last time I visited St. Louis, they had a pretty neat children's museum downtown that I'm sure your children would love. A lot of touching, doing and seeing things.