St Louis
 

Is it better to stay in the downtown area or to go to the suburbs and drive into town each day? We are visiting St Louis for the first time and worry about the parking and whether it is necessary to drive in the downtown area. It appears that the downtown hotels charge an extra fee for parking and are a lot more expensive than the suburban hotels.

What are you interested in doing during your stay? The arch and the Cardinals are downtown. The zoo and art museum are in Forest Park, which is not really a walkable distance from downtown.

I personally think its better to have a car in St. Louis. The downtown area can easily be seen on foot, but as mentioned above many of the sights are not within walking distance. One could take the Metrolink from the downtown area to, say, Forest Park, but I think a car would be more convenient. You could hit some of the interesting neighborhoods (Soulard, Lafayette Square, the Hill) if you had a car.

Tracy

I would reccomend staying in the Clayton area where there are some decent hotels, lots of great restaurants and shopping.......

You could take the metro to the Museums, ball park, etc...but it is easier to have a car and go exploring...

When will you be in STL??

It was 105* in STL today, so I do hope you're not coming here until the fall!

I agree that both Clayton and having a car are good choices, but it would help to know what your plans are for visiting St. Louis, and we can probably be more helpful.

Stay downtown for the Arch, the ball park, & the historic courthouse. Lots to see and very interesting. The Metro will get you to the zoo area, the Budweiser brewery, etc. The Metro is very easy to use. Suggest you check out the Union Station? (historic train station) which is right on the Metro line. Lots of stuff that you can get to via the Metro. There is a very interesting church with extensive mosiac tile on the interior and a hamburger joint on the walk of stars frequented by one of the rock & roll super stars that is easy walks from the Metro. Forgive me I can't remember the name of the church, the hamburger joint, or the rock & roll star without pulling out my photo album and trip itinerary from three years ago but I am sure Fodor's and Frommer's travel guides mention those locations.

Anyway we stayed downtown, never rented a car, traveled via the Metro and really enjoyed St Louis, a terrfic baseball town.

Back again. Just remembered the rock & roller is Chuck Berry - remember Johnny B. Goode and Hot Rod Lincoln. Still can't remember the restaurant but it was on the Walk of Stars.

I enjoy staying at the Chase Park Plaza
near the Central West End. You are close to Forest Park, Clayton and The
Hill...wonderful Italian restaurants. In addition, there are nice restaurants
in the Chase Park Plaza as well as around the Central West End. I grew up in St. Louis..so whenever I visit,
this is where I enjoy staying.

The Cathedral is the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis (often called the New Cathedral, as opposed to the Old Cathedral which is near the Arch).
New Cathedral: http://www.cathedralstl.org/

Old Cathedral: http://www.catholicforum.com/churches/140stlouis/

Blueberry Hill is the restaurant where Chuck Berry still plays once a month and is in an area in University City known as "The Loop" so named because it was the end of the streetcar line and it is where the street cars made a "loop" to turn around.
http://www.blueberryhill.com/

The Walk of Fame was created by Joe Edwards, owner of Blueberry Hill.
http://www.stlouiswalkoffame.org/

Union Station was the site of the famous photograph of Harry Truman holding up the newspaper that said "Dewey beats Truman". It has beautiful Fountains outside, some interesting architecture, some very tired shopping and what is now a Hyatt Hotel.
http://www.stlouisunionstation.com/

Agrere with all posts...AND

If you are traveling with children, check out the CITY MUSEUM (citymuseum.org) for a great (but not cheap) experience for kids ~2-14.

While in FOREST PARK, (home of the 1904 World's Fair), Zoo, Art Museum, Jewel Box, etc., head to the BOATHOUSE for PADDLE BOAT RIDES thru the lagoon system and lunch at the cafe dockside if you wish.

If you tour the BREWERY, check out GUS'S for lunch (see pretzels being made, order any of a variety of selections), great neighborhood spot just ACROSS the HIGHWAY (1 block west) from the brewery. With your pretzels (there are no tables at Gus's) head south 2 blocks to the park to eat..cool "south side" event. Check out SOULARD area on your way back north into the city.

Enjoy!