To make this trip a weekend trip, check out the activities in day one and two.
To make this trip a longer 4-day trip, view the full itinerary to fill more days in St. Louis.
Hotel Recommendations:
Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark
If you have little kids, are a baseball fan, or just enjoy cool views, I cannot recommend this hotel enough. It is located right beside ballpark village. The rooms have an incredible view of the ball park where the Cardinals play- while I went in the winter, I couldn’t imagine having the room that overlooked the field during the game. Talk about amazing!
Marriott St. Louis Grand
The most amazing staff, an excellent location to all things downtown, and one, big clean
room
Price Saver Tip:
Want to gamble? Book on Hotwire.com on the day before or day of your trip to get some incredible savings.
Unsure of all the price saving tips? I’ll plan it for you. Rest assured you’ll have all the deals and steals.
Day One:
Plan to get up early because we have a lot to get in between now and the time to head home.
8:00am: Eat breakfast at Rooster (downtown)
French toast, pancakes, crepes, and heavier items like BLTs, burgers, and ham make this is a great spot for breakfast or lunch. Enjoy with a cup of coffee, a bloody mary, or some OJ
Put yourself on the reservation or wait list on Yelp.com to ensure a speedy experience
We did not make a reservation and were still seated within 20 minutes
9:30am: Head to the St. Louis Zoo- Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!
The best part: IT’S FREE- yep you heard that right, no payment at the gate, no matter the age. Get ready to spend most of the day here because there is so much to see
Highlights: lions, tigers, hippos, monkeys, SO MANY ELEPHANTS
Lunch: Spend the majority of the morning here, eat an inexpensive lunch in the zoo, finish the day with the amphibians and reptiles, have a sweet treat of Dippin Dots before you check out the gift shop for the cutest reminders of your zoo trip
Parking: If you want to park near the zoo, be prepared for a long line of cars into the entrance of the zoo. (North and South Lots) We waited almost 40 minutes and there weren’t any spots left by the time we arrived. If you get a spot in the lot by the zoo, you do have to pay. ($15)
Tip: park on the streets behind the zoo and walk over the bridge. We parked in front of the cutest little townhouses and had a quick walk over. Washington and Childress is an intersection near where we found to park
1:00pm: Ride around break
Let’s check out local businesses and give our feet a rest, and kiddos a nap (if necessary)
Take a stroll down Maryland Avenue
Home to one of the best gift boutiques I have seen, Sweet Boutique literally has something for everyone. Happy Up is a kiddo’s heaven, with games and gifts galore. There are a few other stores and restaurants down this block with parking in the back.
If time allows, check out a few of the local small businesses:
The Social Goods Marketplace (skin care, stationary, home goods, pantry, books, and more)
STL Makers (goods from local artists and makers)
Golden Gems (Trendy eclectic goodies)
3:00pm: The Gateway Arch
You can visit the arch, walk around it, get cool pictures, and enjoy the park around it for free
Purchase tickets to ride a tram up and around the arch with views of the city
Adults $15, Children $11, (2 and under free)
Buy tickets here: Gateway Arch : Ticket Selection
Tram seats up to 5 people. You may be joining a group or splitting up your group depending on party size
If you plan to ride the arch, plan for your trip to be around 1 hour
To make this event free, opt out of riding the tram and visit the City Museum for views of the city (covered below)
**Picture Pit Stop
4:30pm: Ballpark village
Walk around ballpark village, check out the stadium
Great spot for pre- dinner drinks, especially if a couples trip
No judgement for family trips either 😉 you might even need it more
5:30pm: Head to dinner on The Hill
The Hill is a St. Louis neighborhood famed for its Italian cuisine aka home to the best Italian EVER.
Definitely make a reservation wherever you go. The restaurants will take walk ins, but the wait times can be long due to the areas popularity.
A few of my favorites:
Charlie Gitto’s On the Hill
Mama’s On the Hill
Favazza’s On the Hill
7:00pm: Grab dessert and some zzz’s
Day Two:
Breakfast at Uncle Bill’s Pancake House
SO many items on the menu and one of the most popular
Winner of Riverfront Times awards multiple times over
Diner environment- no reservations, you form a line going in, but it moves fairly quickly
Can attest to the yummy pancakes!
10:00am: City Museum
Be sure to wear closed toed shoes and comfy clothes – get ready to climb your heart out
The most fun in the city! Words cannot describe it- there are floors of fun, slides, and activities for kids and adults alike
Be sure to opt in to go the roof. Stunning views of the city, a school bus hanging off the side, a ferris wheel, and more! Totally worth it
Tickets are $20 for adults with $8 roof add on
Buy tickets here: City Museum | Weirdly Wonderful | Tickets and Memberships
You are likely be here for a few hours, you can grab lunch here and they even have drinks for the adults!
If it’s game day, hit a game. You can get tickets for as low as $12 (seriously)
Hangout at ballpark village beforehand, grab food and drinks
Kid friendly as well
Not a game day, head over to Clayton Shaw Park—tweak for other options listed below during winter
Playground and an aquatic center
**Check dates- seasonal pool area
4:00pm: Rest/prep for dinner
Shopping options
5:30pm: Dinner at Twisted Ranch
Try every ranch flavor out there and then some—SO GOOD
7:00pm: Grab ice cream and head back to the room
Clementine’s Naughty and Nice Ice Cream
Ices Plain & Fancy
Serendipity Homemade Ice Cream
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
Extend your trip: Ideas for Day Three:
St. Louis Aquarium Union Station
Tickets: $20.50 child and $28.50 Adult
Buy tickets here: General Admission (stlouisaquarium.com)
Lunch at a popular spot
Sugarfire Smoke House
The Barn
Stacked STL
St Louis Science Center
Rated in the top 10 science centers by Forbes’ Travel Magazine
96,000 sq ft including an IMAX experience, food, and interactive exhibits
Extend your trip even more: Ideas for Day Four:
Day Four:
Should you want to extend the trip to four days, explore adult friendly attractions in St. Louis.
Brunch at Brasserie by Niche
Budweiser Brewing Experience
Tours are from 11-5
Beermaster tour, Clydesdale tour and more
Information here: St. Louis Tour (budweisertours.com)
Check the site during the time you plan to visit as there may be events for you to attend
**Picture Pit Stop
Grab a quick snack and maybe a souvenir on your way to the casino
Spend part of the day at a Casino
Several options: Hollywood Casino, Lumiere Place Casino Hotel, Ameristar Casino
Dinner:
Try another Italian restaurant on The Hill from the list above or dress up and go out to Hendel’s ($$) or The Crossing ($$$$)
Not into casinos? Need something a little more kid friendly?
Mix and match your days with these options:
Six Flags over St. Louis
Missouri Botanical Garden
Visit the St. Louis Union Station
The Magic House
I haven’t visited this one yet, but it’s on the list for next time. It has amazing reviews
As always, google festivals and events happening during your visit to check out local art, finds, and more!
Want to customize this, have someone make the reservations, or build out your day specifically? I got you covered! Just say, Hey Lo, Let’s Go!
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