Guide to visiting St. Louis
Trip Start
Jan 01, 2000
1
2
Trip End
May 29, 2007
Saint Louis, Missouri
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
http://www.modot.org/stlouis/news_and_information/documents/09cobroch-final.pdf
Best of St. Louis
· Gateway Arch, Old Cathedral, Old Courthouse, Museum of Westward Expansion ... buy tickets online ahead of time: http://www.stlouisarch.com
· Baseball Cardinals, St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame, all at Busch Stadium http://www.stlcardinals.com
· Zoo in Forest Park , ranked 3rd in US -- FREE
· Anheuser-Busch (InBev) brewery tours, Clydesdales
· Art Museum in Forest Park: see the mummy and the x-ray/hologram
· Botanical Gardens - ride tram, feed carp, splash in fountains, tour Climatron
· Butterfly House in Faust Park in Chesterfield
· Cahokia Mounds (IL), ancient burial and archeological site
· Cathedral Basilica (New Cathedral) and Mosaic Museum
· City Museum - American house of whimsy; tree fort, sand castle
· EdwardJones Dome, home of St. Louis Rams football
· Fox Theatre, concert and Broadway musical venue
· Gateway Arch Riverboats
· Gateway International Raceway (IL)
· Grant's Farm
· Lewis & Clark Historic Site in IL, but MANY other L&C sites throughout area
· Magic House in Kirkwood -- don't miss Fitness Safari
· Meramec Caverns, SW on I-44
· Missouri History Museum, including Lindbergh and 1904 World's Fair exhibits
· Muny, outdoor Broadway musical venue in Forest Park (summer)
· Purina Farms (June-August)
· Raging Rivers, water park in Grafton, IL (45 min. from Arch)
· Repertory Theatre, Webster University
· Science Center (700 hands-on activities) - free! including Planetarium
· Scott Trade (formerly Savvis) Center -- Blues hockey
· Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville, IL ... impressive light display at Xmas
· Six Flags in Eureka
· Symphony, at Powell Hall
· Transportation Museum
· Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre - summer outdoor concert venue
· Union Station, national historical landmark
Other Specialties
· Adrenaline Zone laser tag arena, St. Charles
· American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog, Town & Country
· Bellefontaine Cemetery, famous grave sites (e.g., William Clark)
· Black Madonna Shrine, Eureka
· Black World History Wax Museum
· Blueberry Hill - great burgers, toasted ravioli, collectible '50s stuff
· Boat rides in Forest Park
· Bonne Terre Mine/West End Diving
· Calvary Cemetery, gravesite of Dred Scott, Tennessee Williams
· Historic homes, including Campbell House Museum, Chatillon-DeMenil Mansion, Daniel Boone Home (Defiance), Gen. Daniel Bissell House historic home,
· Casinos along the rivers in MO & IL
· Central West End for lunch; drive through Portland Place, Westmoreland Place
· Challenger Learning Center (space simulation)
· Cherokee Lemp Historic District (Antique Row)
· Christ Church Cathedral Episcopal Church
· Concordia Historical Institute (Lutheranism)
· Crown Candy Kitchen, old-fashioned sweet shop
· Culture: Art Museum, Pulitzer Foundation, Laumeier Sculpture Park, Contemporary Art Museum, Opera Theatre
· Eugene Field House and St. Louis Toy Museum
· Gateway Classic Walk of Fame, honoring famous African-Americans from St. Louis
· Golden Eagle Ferry & River Museum (Mississippi River)
· Hidden Valley bunny ski slopes
· Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum, Earth City
· Holocaust Museum
· Jazz - at Blueberry Hill or Westport Playhouse, Broadway Oyster Bar, BB's Jazz
· Jefferson Barracks Historic Park/National Cemetery
· Kemp Auto Museum
· Kimmswick, historic river town
· Loop (Delmar Blvd. where streetcar used to "loop") eclectic entertainment district in University City near Washington University, featuring the Saint Louis Walk of Fame
· Maeystown, IL, 19th century German village
· Mastodon State Historic Site, Imperial
· Miniature Museum of Greater St. Louis
· Old Town St. Charles Main Street), including First Missouri State Capitol
· Pere Marquette Lodge and State Park, Grafton, IL
· Railway [Wabash, Frisco & Pacific] -- (miniature steam train runs along Missouri River bluffs)
· Route 66: Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, Ted Drewes, Museum of Transportation, Route 66 State Park
· Scott Joplin House
· Shuttle Bug tour connecting Forest Park sights
· Soulard neighborhood for dinner and nightlife, farmer's market
· Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site
· St. Louis University
· St. Louis World's Fair (1904) remnants
- Rent video of "Meet Me in St. Louis"
- Visit 1904 World's Fair Exhibit at History Museum
- Forest Park Pavilion; Art Museum built from Fair profits
- Birthplace of hot dog in a bun - try a wiener at Woofies
· The Hill - Italian neighborhood for dinner - try the toasted ravioli
· Trolley tour
· Union Station
· World Bird Sanctuary, SW county
· Washington University
· Wineries: Mount Pleasant (Augusta), Crown Valley (Ste. Genevieve)
· Zoos, other:
- World Aquarium, downtown
- Grant's Farm, Grantwood
- Emerson Children's Zoo in Forest Park
- Suson Park Animal Farm, SW county
- Eckert's Farm, Millstadt, IL
· Made in St. Louis:
- antacids: Tums
- autos: Chrysler, Ford, GM
- dog chow: Ralston Purina Checkerboard Square
- suds: Anheuser-Busch
- warplanes: Boeing
Other Things for Kids
· Butterfly House in Faust Park - 2,000 in free flight
· Children's Aquarium ... might be better named "children's nature center"
· COCA - call for a rundown of fun cultural activities
· Demolition Ball amusement, St. Charles
· Eckert's Country Store and Farms Fun Corral in Belleville, IL - pick fruit in season
· Eugene Field House and St. Louis Toy Museum
· Faust Park, Chesterfield, with carousel, butterfly house
· Grand Prix Speedways, Earth City
· Ice skate at one of the County Parks (winter)
· Laser Force Laser Tag Zone, Caseyville, IL
· Lone Elk County Park ... see bison, elk and deer up close
· NASCAR Speed Park at St. Louis Mills
· Omnimax: blow-you-away movie
· Powder Valley Conservation Center (Kirkwood)
· Route 66 Family Fun Center (Shrewsbury)
· Upper Limits Rock Climbing Gym
· Worldways Children's Museum: other cultures combined with fun
· Cycling: 6 great trails:
1. Riverfront Trail (I-270 to Riverview Drive)
2. Grant's Trail (Gravois Creek flood plain)
3. Sam Vadalabene Great River Road (Pere Marquette Park)
4. Forest Park (outer loop or inner loop)
5. Creve Coeur Park (around Creve Coeur Lake)
6. Madison County Transit's Nature Trail (through SIU Edw.)
Lodging Downtown
· Adam's Mark, near the Arch, pricey but worth it
· Days Inn by the Convention Center - less expensive, hear it's ok
· Drury Inn, across from Union Station; also near EdwardJones Dome; clean, comfortable, affordable. Indoor pool.
· Drury Plaza, 4th and Market, dynamite lobby; completely renovated fur exchange building - highly recommend
· Embassy Suites on Laclede's Landing - reasonable
· Hampton Inn near Union Station -- indoor pool and hot tub
· Hyatt at Union Station, pricey but at the center of the action
· Marriott Pavilion - medium priced, run down
· Millennium Riverfront, nice, near stadium, outdoor pool ... rooms on the small side
· Omni Majestic - nice rooms, underwhelming food
· Radisson - newly renovated former Holiday Inn near Arch, high end
· Renaissance Suites - new in 2002
· Renaissance Grand Downtown, Marriott Hotel across from the convention center
· Sheraton - newer warehouse renovation
· Westin - newer property near baseball stadium
· Wyndham Mayfair - 4-star
Lodging near Washington U. (in Clayton, first suburb to west)
· Cheshire Inn, Clayton - a little pricey, excellent food, location and accommodations
· Chase Hotel, Central West End, a sort of European boutique hotel, great restaurants
· Daniele Hotel, upscale, great restaurant, Meramec in Clayton
· Holiday Inn, Clayton
· Parkway Hotel, Central West End, new in 2004
· Radisson (pricey) Clayton
· Red Roof Inn, Hampton Ave., St. Louis. Very reasonable, good area
· Residence Inn by Marriott nearby, and very close to lots of good shopping
· Ritz-Carlton (very pricey) Clayton
Other Lodging
· Casinos: Only 2 in area have hotels. Crown Hotel (East St. Louis, IL) has access to Casino Queen in E.STL and President on St. Louis side. Harrah's (Maryland Heights, MO) has access to Harrah's and Ameristar in St. Charles, just across Missouri River.
Airport Lodging:
- Best Western
- Days Inn
- Hampton Inn
- Holiday Inn
- Marriott
- Motel 6
- Pear Tree Inn
- Renaissance Hotel
Good tour information and discounts at:
http://www.beatourist.com/
http://www.bigthankyou.org/default2.asp
Golf: St. Louis Metro area
Missouri Best
Tapawingo National Golf C... Public
Missouri Good
Crystal Highlands Golf Cl... Public
Forest Park Golf Course Public
Normandie Golf Course Public
Quail Creek Golf Course Public
Ruth Park Golf Course Public
Illinois Best
Spencer T Olin Community Public
Stonewolf Golf Club Public
Annbriar Golf Club Public
Rend Lake Golf Course (east) Public
Illinois Good
Clinton Hill Country Club Semi-Private
Orchards Golf Course Public
Gateway National Golf Lin... Public
Belk Park Golf Course Public
Fall Color Tour
· Highway 94 from St. Charles to Jefferson County
· Highway 21 loops S, W and N to I-44
· Crowley's Ridge, from Missouri Bootheel into NE Arkansas
· SW Missouri loop, starting at Forsyth
· Shawnee Nat'l Forests in southern ILL
· Spoon River Valley scenic drive (ILL)
· Alton to Kampsville on Highway 100 (ILL)
MetroLink info:
http://www.bi-state.org/MetroLinkmapNew.html
What is the climate like in summer?
· Typically St. Louis is hot in summer ...
· High 80s or early 90s. And yes, humid.
· Occasional "Chamber of Commerce" weather -- 70s everyday.
· http://www.weather.com/weather/cities/us_mo_saint_louis.html
What are some good radio stations?
· 93x - Alternative
· 94.7 KSHE95 "Real Rock Radio"
· 96.3 KHITS
· 98.8 - Y98 FM
· 101.1 The River, today's best music
· 102.5 Adult soft rock
· 103.3 - Oldies
· 105.7 The Point, new rock alternative
· 1120 - KMOX AM -- Cardinal baseball and all talk radio
Month-Avg.High-Avg. Low
January
37.7° F
21.5° F
February
42.6° F
25.4° F
March
54.6° F
34.4° F
April
66.9° F
45.9° F
May
76.1° F
55.4° F
June
85.2° F
65.2° F
July
89.3° F
69.4° F
August
87.3° F
67.4° F
September
79.9° F
59.3° F
October
68.5° F
47.8° F
November
54.7° F
36.1° F
December
41.7° F
26.3° F
Restaurants
Some favorites in town:
· 1111 Mississippi
· Al's -- Italian/steak
· Blueberry Hill -- great bar food, kitschy atmosphere (Howdy Doody, Elvis, etc.)
· Cunetto's -- good pasta on the Hill
· Dominic's or Giovanni's -- best among 100 Italian restaurants
· Kemoll's -- formal/informal sides of classic Italian
· Museum Cafe -- good food at Art Museum
· O'Connell's -- THE best burgers, Irish pub atmosphere
· Robust, eclectic eating in Webster Groves
· Tony's -- traditional 5-star
· Tratorria Marcella's -- mighty fine pasta, make a reservation now
· Vin de Set -- new, with great deck overlooking Arch and downtown St. Louis
· Wild Flower -- varied menu, great outdoor cafe dining
Top Cheap Eats
· Blueberry Hill
· El Maguey (Mexican)
· Fast Eddie's Bon Air, Alton (IL)
· Hodak's
· Pho Grand
· St. Louis Bread Company (Panera)
· Steak N Shake
· White Castle
Other:
Annie Gunn's
Arcelia's Mexican
Bristol
Cafe Provencale
Canyon Cafe
Cardwell's
Charcoal House
Charlie Gitto's
Citizen Kane's
Duff's
Duffy's
Eau
Frazer's Brown Bag
Gian-Tony's
Giuseppe's
Hacienda
Harry's Bar
Harvest
Llywelyn's
LoRusso's
Malmaison (rural)
Morton's
Portabella
Remys
Seventh Inn
Sidney St. Cafe
Tenderloin Room
Trainwreck
Venice Cafe
Village Bar
Zoe's Pan Asian
For Kids
Blueberry Hill
Spaghetti Factory on the Landing
Tucker's in the Soulard Market
"Hill" area
Specialties
· Gooey butter cake
· Imo's Pizzas (thin crust, provel cheese)
· Pork steaks
· Provel cheese
· Steak & Shake steakburgers
· Ted Drewes, VERY famous frozen custard, mobbed at 10 pm but line moves quickly
· Toasted ravioli
· White Castle "bellybomber" - hamburger for the strong of spirit
