We’re planning a trip to St. Louis during a great time of year: Summer. There’s so much to see there with the kids, I’ve decided to make a bucket list of it all. The last time we were there, it was winter and we couldn’t do a lot of great things.
Here’s what we’d see and do in St. Louis if time and money didn’t matter. Our upcoming visit is hosted by Explore St. Louis and Four Seasons St. Louis.
Planning a road trip through Missouri? Don’t miss this post full of off-the-beaten path attractions and things to do like diving in a mine and walking among Elephant Rocks – My Missouri Bucket List!
Play outdoors
I’d love to further explore Forest Park, home to the St. Louis Zoo and called the No. 1 city park by USA Today. It’s a huge space, with a lake and somewhere in there, the 75-foot Flegel Falls. While we’re in the area, I hope we can time a stop to Missouri Botanical Gardens. The Travel Channel called it one of the best botanical gardens in the U.S. Ever since St. Louis local, Adam from Fly Over Country, included it in on a St. Louis Insider’s Guide on my blog, I’ve wanted to see it.
Since we’ll spend a lot of time downtown, I’d also like to stroll through Citygarden. It’s a cool-looking sculpture park and fountain garden.
See a show at The Muny
Located in Forest Park, The Muny is the country’s oldest and largest outdoor musical theatre. Broadway revivals are presented in the summer, and I peeked at the season – so good! There are even ones that my kids would love.
Go up the Gateway Arch
This is for my kids, since I’ve already done this tour. They’re dying to get to the 630-foot ride to the top and see the view.
The Arch is also the spot to be for Fourth of July festivities!
Stay somewhere with a view
Being such an iconic part of the city, how cool would it be to have your first view and final view of the day be out a window facing The Arch? Four Seasons in St. Louis has that view, and I’m hoping we get a room with this sort of view! There’s a reason it’s the No. 15 hotel in the entire country, according to the New York Post.
Eat all the food
It wouldn’t be an Oh My! Omaha bucket list if there wasn’t a list of restaurants on it. I’ve got to try some St. Louis barbecue, and two names that keep getting mentioned are Bogart’s and Pappy’s. Pappy’s has been on Food Network and Travel Channel shows, including one “Man Vs. Food” episode about its “Big Ben” meal – a full slab of ribs, 2 sandwiches, a quarter-chicken, and 4 side dishes. Bogart’s was on The Travel Channel’s “Bizarre Foods America,” for what doesn’t seem like too strange of a menu (I suppose apricot-bruleed ribs is a little different).
I also want to take the kids to somewhere fun, like Blueberry Hill in The Loop (Chuck Berry used to play there).
For dessert, where else should we go in St. Louis than Ted Drewes for a concrete? I also have my eye on The Fountain. Every sundae (and they have some adult ones) sounds amazing, and the place just looks cool to be in. Or, we might head to Gooey Louie’s. I read the gooey butter cake is a speciality in St. Louis and Gooey Louie’s is the place to go for it.
See more St. Louis museums
I love St. Louis museums (many are free). We want to go back to City Museum, even though we’ve been to this fantastic place before. Why is it on my bucket list? This time, with nice weather, we’ll be able to explore the amazing rooftop area.
Related post: 5 Tips For Making The Most Of Your Visit To The City Museum
We also still need to visit The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum, and my son, particularly is loving art museums, so a trip to St. Louis Art Museum is in order. There are family guides to for areas like the armor and mummies.
Have some thrills
My kids are starting to become little theme park junkies. We should totally check out Six Flags St. Louis. I wonder if my oldest is tall enough for Batman the Ride yet.
See the Budweiser Clydesdales
There’s a free tour of the historic Anheuser-Busch Brewery, visit the Budweiser Clydesdales and sample some brew (me, not the kids). On a related note, we should visit Grant’s Farm, the 281-acre ancestral home of the Busch family.
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I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, Kim, it’s St. Louis, go to the zoo and a Cardinals’ game. I know. I’ve done them both and checked them off my list. We’ve also been to the Science Center (it’s FREE, you should go). I wrote about our first visit to St. Louis years ago (OMG, look how young Mooch and Farley are!).
What else am I missing? Please leave a comment with what should be added to this list!
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I got a lot of ideas from an Insider’s Family Guide to St. Louis. You ought to check it out!