Thinking about taking a family vacation this year? Why not consider a family getaway in St. Louis, Missouri? Located on the western bank of the Mississippi River, St. Louis is the largest metropolitan area in Missouri. This bustling city is home to several large corporations, such as Anheuser-Busch, Boeing Defense, and Purina, among others. So many businesses set up shop in St. Louis for the same reason people visit the city. There’s so much to see and do in St. Louis, but here’s a short list of some of my favorites.
Downtown St. Louis
Whether you have a few days or a week or more for your family getaway, consider staying in downtown St. Louis. Previously a garment and shoe manufacturing district, downtown St. Louis has been reborn as a great place to work, live, dine, and enjoy great entertainment.
Take in a game at Busch Stadium, and then head over to Ballpark Village where you can dine, drink, and play. Other options in downtown St. Louis include museums, architectural walking tours, breweries with brewery tours, restaurants, bars, and so much more. My best suggestion is to choose a hotel in downtown St. Louis to be close to all the action and excitement.
Gateway Arch
Standing 630 feet tall, the Gateway Arch is the world’s tallest arch. Construction began on this monument to the westward expansion of the United States in 1963 and was completed in 1965. Visit the grounds free of charge, but if you want to go high up inside the arch, adults pay $3 for entry, while children 15 and under receive free entry. The aerial views from inside the arch are like no other, so make sure to plan some time for this highly rated attraction.
Gateway Arch
200 Washington Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63102
Forest Park
Whether you visit Forest Park to take in nature and enjoy the sprawling 1,300-acre park or you visit to go for a run, you’ll definitely want to check out Forest Park. Opened in 1876, Forest Park is a whopping 500 acres larger than Central Park. It’s so big that Forest Park is home to five major cultural institutions: the Missouri History Museum, The Muny, the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Saint Louis Science Center, and the Saint Louis Zoo. It’s safe to say that you could plan your entire trip to St. Louis around a visit to Forest Park.
Forest Park
5595 Grand Drive, St. Louis, MO 63112
Anheuser-Busch Brewery
Is it me, or is St. Louis synonymous with those large Clydesdale horses from the Budweiser commercials? Think beyond the advertisements with a visit to the Anheuser-Busch Brewery and a complimentary 45-minute tour. Then enjoy a drink or two in the Outdoor Biergarten before taking a pic with those famous Clydesdales. Does St. Louis get any better than that?
Anheuser-Busch Brewery
1127 Pestallozi Street, St. Louis, MO 63118
A family getaway in St. Louis can be a fun and exciting vacation for both children and adults. Why not plan your next trip to St. Louis now?
Have to say, you missed the biggest selling point for families visiting St. Louis–everything (almost) is free! The Zoo, Science Center, History Museum, Art Museum–yep–all free. You pay for special exhibitions, but most of these places are totally free to browse and visit. The St. Louis Zoo is awesome and one of the best in the country. The Muny–the summer opera does lots of great musical, and there are free seats too!! Shakespeare in the Park each summer–free!! And the spectacular St. Louis Symphony orchestra does a lot of free events all over the city.
Cynthia,
Thanks for pointing that out as FREE is always a big selling point in my book. 🙂 Marian