St. Louis trip help
Apr 26th, 2004, 03:40 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
St. Louis trip help
Spending 3 nights in St. Louis in mid May. have a reservation at the Hampton Inn near the Arch. Is this a good spot? Would you recommend a tour to see the sights or is it easy to get around? Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
Apr 26th, 2004, 07:47 AM
#2
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi janfan. I would be happy to answer some of your St. Louis questions but first I have some questions for you. What is it you are interested in seeing? Will you have a car? Public transportation is very limited in St. Louis. If you are primarily interested in seeing the Arch, the museum under the Arch, Busch stadium (and maybe a ball game), Union Station, Laclede's Landing, and a Busch brewery tour then your hotel is well located and you can get to these spots by walking or by a short cab ride. If your three days includes a weekend, I would suggest a stroll through the Soulard outdoor market (perhaps when you are down by the brewery) as a colorful neighborhood experience.
Apr 26th, 2004, 07:52 AM
#3
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Hampton Inn by the Arch is a great location. It was previously a Days Inn but was totally gutted and rehabed last year. It seems like a whole new hotel.
I don't think there are any tours. In a city like St. Louis there's a lot to do. It's probably best if you do a search on this forum, pick up a guide book or two and then do what you want. St. Louis is an easy city to get around when compared to bigger places like Chicago or N.Y. City.
Of if you want to throw some of you interests out and we can help.
I don't think there are any tours. In a city like St. Louis there's a lot to do. It's probably best if you do a search on this forum, pick up a guide book or two and then do what you want. St. Louis is an easy city to get around when compared to bigger places like Chicago or N.Y. City.
Of if you want to throw some of you interests out and we can help.
Apr 26th, 2004, 08:08 AM
#4
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 11,770
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
janfan: I missed your post, even as I posted a similar one. My comments are from a visit many years ago (hence I'm visiting again in late May). In the past, we have found being near the arch is helpful. Lots of green space, casinos, the Arch, river, and the metrolink to Union Station and other points. I have not taken a tour, but in recently reviewing St. Louis' visitor's guide, there are some available (you'll have to check their website). Couple other thoughts: We weren't that thrilled with the Soulard market or the brewery. They are worth doing, but not unlike other markets you've probably been to. And, imho, I didn't think the Brewery tour was as good as, say, the Coors plant (and I prefer Bud!), but the grounds and horses add a different dimension.
Apr 26th, 2004, 08:23 AM
#5
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Actually, Bitter, in recent years the Soulard/Brewery neighborhood has become an interesting place with galleries,
restaurants, and night spots. Family and friends from non-metropolitan areas have found it to be interesting. I never said it was thrilling, but a taste of what makes St. Louis, St. Louis. In the same vein I would recommend a visit to the Hill, our Italian neighborhood, not because you can't find bigger and "better" elsewhere, but because it is fun to wander through the ethnic groceries, bakeries, gelato shops and restaurants that are all a part of St. Louis's ethnic mix.
restaurants, and night spots. Family and friends from non-metropolitan areas have found it to be interesting. I never said it was thrilling, but a taste of what makes St. Louis, St. Louis. In the same vein I would recommend a visit to the Hill, our Italian neighborhood, not because you can't find bigger and "better" elsewhere, but because it is fun to wander through the ethnic groceries, bakeries, gelato shops and restaurants that are all a part of St. Louis's ethnic mix.
Apr 26th, 2004, 08:56 AM
#6
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In reality St. Louis is a much more difficult city to get around in than NYC (reference to comment above), which is why having a car is important unless you'll be restricting your visit to the immediate downtown area. The Hampton Inn is well located, but you couldn't walk to Forest Park or the brewery or Science City, for example.
Apr 26th, 2004, 06:18 PM
#7
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,425
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
St. Louis is easy to get around. It would be helpful if you had a car. Assuming you do, Forest Park is a must -do. It of course has the world famous zoo (free), fantastic art museum, history museum (1904 world's fair exhibits), Lake and boat house where you can rent a boat or a peddle boat. there is a restuarnat where you can usually enjoy live music.
If you like eclectic areas, there is somthing called the loop - great for people wqtching , near the central west end,(Washington Univ. area) many great restaurants, and funky shops, resale shops,.... they also have their own walk of fame!
The St. Louis Cathedral (central west end) is breath-taking and rivals almost any I have seen in Europe. It has the largest mosaic in the world. They offer tours on weekends I beleive. The old Cathedral is on the Mississippi - it is the oldest onw wes of the mISSISSIPPI.
Well, that should give you a start......
Have fun.
Do you like shopping?
If you like eclectic areas, there is somthing called the loop - great for people wqtching , near the central west end,(Washington Univ. area) many great restaurants, and funky shops, resale shops,.... they also have their own walk of fame!
The St. Louis Cathedral (central west end) is breath-taking and rivals almost any I have seen in Europe. It has the largest mosaic in the world. They offer tours on weekends I beleive. The old Cathedral is on the Mississippi - it is the oldest onw wes of the mISSISSIPPI.
Well, that should give you a start......
Have fun.
Do you like shopping?
Apr 26th, 2004, 06:19 PM
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wow! Such great resonse, thank you! Our trip will be Sat. Sun. and Mon. We were thinking the Arch, river cruise, brewery, Hard Rock, Union Station, a blues club/restaurant and possibly the zoo as some of our target sites. I love the market atmosphere. Would the Soulard Market be accessable from our hotel? We will have a car but I would rather not drive much in the city, if I can help it. Anybody have an idea for a place to eat some ribs and hear some blues? It will be myself, (female)and my 21 year old daughter on the trip. We loved BB Kings place in Memphis.
Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. It was great to validate my hotel choice as close to places we want to see.
Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. It was great to validate my hotel choice as close to places we want to see.
Apr 26th, 2004, 06:26 PM
#9
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,425
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you go to Soulard you can easily just walk around and "listen" for suitable blues music or whatever you like. Several of the bars have lovely outdoor patios. I don't know any specifc names, but ther are many to choose from.
As for ribs, nothing like what you get in Memphis in my opinion. Most of my favorite places to eat are central west end or clayton.
As for ribs, nothing like what you get in Memphis in my opinion. Most of my favorite places to eat are central west end or clayton.
Apr 26th, 2004, 08:33 PM
#10
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,067
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was botn and raised in St. Louis and I live in Memphis now. I have to tell you, Memphis wins on BBQ, with KC falling in closely. St. Louis, I don't think, is the best BBQ town.
On the other hand, St. Louis does Italian in a major way. If you enjoy great Italian from family owned places, try to get to the Hill. On a map, it will the area near Kingshighway and Southwest. Favazzas, Zias, Cunettos are all in that neighborhood. Car needed, but not a bad drive.
Since you're going in May, I'm going to recommend the Missouri Botanical Garden (aka Shaws Garden). It's near the Hill area on Shaw Ave. 77 acres of gardens that are quite old. Stone walled, with a domed rainforest, and the "most important japanese garden outside Japan." Got that bit from the international Japanese Gardening associationg. I'm not even a big gardener, but it's one of the most pleasant places to walk and look around that you could find anywhere - especially in May.
Apr 27th, 2004, 07:27 AM
#11
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Skip the Hard Rock; it's nothing but a chain restaurant now.
Good blues clubs: BB's Jazz Blues and Soups is on Broadway not too far from the giant hole where the new baseball stadium is being built.
1860's Harshell Cafe: in the heart of Soulard. My favorite.
Mike and Min's: good blues club but for some reason the college aged crowd has taken over. They're not there for the music.
Hammerstones: another good blues bar with a decent patio.
Great Grizzly Bear: also in Soulard. Good blues inside on the weekends most times: other times a jam band or straight rock so double check before you go. Great courtyard out back.
Try this link for more info on bars in Soulard:
http://www.soulard.com/soulbands.html
The listings might not be current but it gives you addresses and phone numbers.
Driving is easy. About the only place where you'll overpay for parking is Union Station.
There aren't many BBQ places in St. Louis; most St. Louisans BBQ at home. That why the amount of BBQ sauce sold in grocery stores per person is much much higher in St. Louis than Memphis or KC. If you want to try out BBQ; go to Bandanas or Super Smokers, both local chains.
The Botanical Garden will be absolutely beautiful in May.
Good blues clubs: BB's Jazz Blues and Soups is on Broadway not too far from the giant hole where the new baseball stadium is being built.
1860's Harshell Cafe: in the heart of Soulard. My favorite.
Mike and Min's: good blues club but for some reason the college aged crowd has taken over. They're not there for the music.
Hammerstones: another good blues bar with a decent patio.
Great Grizzly Bear: also in Soulard. Good blues inside on the weekends most times: other times a jam band or straight rock so double check before you go. Great courtyard out back.
Try this link for more info on bars in Soulard:
http://www.soulard.com/soulbands.html
The listings might not be current but it gives you addresses and phone numbers.
Driving is easy. About the only place where you'll overpay for parking is Union Station.
There aren't many BBQ places in St. Louis; most St. Louisans BBQ at home. That why the amount of BBQ sauce sold in grocery stores per person is much much higher in St. Louis than Memphis or KC. If you want to try out BBQ; go to Bandanas or Super Smokers, both local chains.
The Botanical Garden will be absolutely beautiful in May.
Apr 27th, 2004, 07:35 AM
#12
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi, I have to agree with the Memphis BBQ being better and with the Mo. Botanical Gardens suggestion. It is an amazing place. If you are looking for shopping - the Central West End is a much better idea than Union Station.
Union Station is one of our most over-rated tourist sites - really all it is is bad tee shirt shops and Hooters. And if you've seen the train stations of Chicago or other eastern major metorpolitan areas you'll be disapppointed by ours (which no longer even has trains). Our second worst toursist spot is Lacledes Landing. Be prepared to be overun by hordes of drunk frat boys.
However there are some great places to see in St. Louis, but you need to use the car. Driving by car in St. Louis on the weekend will not be that bad and most of what is best in our city is very neighborhood based, so while you will have to drive to get to the neighborhood, once you are there it is very walkable.
I recommend (for food, shops and nice walking neighborhoods) the following neighborhoods - South Grand (asian eaterys, funky shops, and nice cafes) which is close Mo. Botanical Gardens as is the Hill (the Italian neighborhood) both are very easily accessible from HWY 44 (exit grand or Kingshighway) or the Central West End (great food, shops, more upscale than S. Grand, fabulous old houses) just across from Forest Park (zoo, art museum, history museum, science center all free and very worth seeing) Forest Park is in the middle of a grand spruce up due to the centenial of the 1904 Worlds Fair - so there is a lot goig on there now. These are just off Highway 40 - Kingshighway exit for CWE and Hampton Exit for the zoo - or you can cut through the park from Kingshighway). Btw, Sunday brunch at the Art Museum or the History Museum is really good.
Also enjoyable is the Loop area, take Delmar from downtown until you hit the city limit and you're at the loop - again: cafes, shops, and people watching. Soulard is fun, but more of a bar/restaurant sort of place. BB's soups and subs and the Broadway Oyster Bar both on Broadway w/in walking distance of the stadium are good places for blues. Have a great time!
Union Station is one of our most over-rated tourist sites - really all it is is bad tee shirt shops and Hooters. And if you've seen the train stations of Chicago or other eastern major metorpolitan areas you'll be disapppointed by ours (which no longer even has trains). Our second worst toursist spot is Lacledes Landing. Be prepared to be overun by hordes of drunk frat boys.
However there are some great places to see in St. Louis, but you need to use the car. Driving by car in St. Louis on the weekend will not be that bad and most of what is best in our city is very neighborhood based, so while you will have to drive to get to the neighborhood, once you are there it is very walkable.
I recommend (for food, shops and nice walking neighborhoods) the following neighborhoods - South Grand (asian eaterys, funky shops, and nice cafes) which is close Mo. Botanical Gardens as is the Hill (the Italian neighborhood) both are very easily accessible from HWY 44 (exit grand or Kingshighway) or the Central West End (great food, shops, more upscale than S. Grand, fabulous old houses) just across from Forest Park (zoo, art museum, history museum, science center all free and very worth seeing) Forest Park is in the middle of a grand spruce up due to the centenial of the 1904 Worlds Fair - so there is a lot goig on there now. These are just off Highway 40 - Kingshighway exit for CWE and Hampton Exit for the zoo - or you can cut through the park from Kingshighway). Btw, Sunday brunch at the Art Museum or the History Museum is really good.
Also enjoyable is the Loop area, take Delmar from downtown until you hit the city limit and you're at the loop - again: cafes, shops, and people watching. Soulard is fun, but more of a bar/restaurant sort of place. BB's soups and subs and the Broadway Oyster Bar both on Broadway w/in walking distance of the stadium are good places for blues. Have a great time!
Apr 27th, 2004, 12:51 PM
#13
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I wouldn't take Delmar out all the way out to the U. City Loop from downtown. You'll be going through some bad neighborhoods, plus it will take forever with stoplights.
Just take Hwy40/I-64 west to the Clayton Road exit. At the top of the exit take a right on Skinker and go north about 1 mile to Delmar. Take a left and you're in the Loop neighborhood.
Just take Hwy40/I-64 west to the Clayton Road exit. At the top of the exit take a right on Skinker and go north about 1 mile to Delmar. Take a left and you're in the Loop neighborhood.
Apr 27th, 2004, 03:06 PM
#14
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 306
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ted Drewe's frozen custard is a must. (On Chippewa). Also, you must eat on "the hill" and try out some great Italian food. Cunetto's is most known , but expect a wait. I definitely would recommend a car.
Apr 27th, 2004, 07:07 PM
#15
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The area around the arch is very quiet in the evenings and on the weekend-- it isn't a residential area at all. Driving through the city is easy-- especially if you drive locally-- I'd prefer to stay in the central west end-- great for walking, restaurants, shopping, forest park, beautiful homes-- You can drive downtown at night to see the arch lit up and then go back for the tour during the day.
May 2nd, 2004, 03:17 PM
#17
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tony's is still downtown near the Arch, still fantastic.
Please don't drive all the way down Delmar to the Loop. Very iffy neighborhoods. Take Highway 40, as recommended above. I think the Loop is over-rated anyway.
It's true that the area around the Arch is very convenient for seeing the Arch and a few other things, but it is pretty dead at night. Avoid the Landing, unless you're 19.
Try to see a Cards game - I hated baseball until I moved to StL. It's just more fun here.
The grand hall in Union Station is beautiful, but the mall is lame, and the whole thing should take you an hour at most to see. If you like visiting Hard Rock-type chains, they have one. But the Tap Room is nearby and so much better.
I agree that Soulard is a great place. The market is fun, there are a bunch of great bars (my favorite is McGurk's, an Irish pub with Irish bands inside and the best patio on Earth). The brewery is very near there. I've been on the tour many, many times and I always enjoy it.
The Hill is wonderful too. I think Cunetto's stinks, which is heretical to native St. Louisans, but then I think provel cheese makes Velveeta look gourmet, so I'm obviously an outsider. Rigazzi's is fun, cheap, and loud. Giovanni's and Dominic's are fancy, expensive and fantastic. My favorites are Lorenzo's Trattoria (elegant, laid back, reasonably priced) and Modesto (Spanish tapas, very fun).
You HAVE to drive in St. Louis. You can sort of get around via MetroLink and taxis, but you'll waste an enormous amount of time, and be very restricted. Driving is easy here, nice wide midwestern roads for the most part!
MoBotanical Gardens are amazingly beautiful. The Central West End is fun, good restaurants. Forest Park is great: free zoo, free art museum, free science center, free history museum (Lewis & Clark exhibit costs money), cool boats/lakes, MUNY.
Once you decide what you want to see, I'd be happy to give you more specifics (how to get there, where to park, etc.) St. Louis is really fun. I was pleasantly surprised when I moved here! Hope you enjoy it!
Please don't drive all the way down Delmar to the Loop. Very iffy neighborhoods. Take Highway 40, as recommended above. I think the Loop is over-rated anyway.
It's true that the area around the Arch is very convenient for seeing the Arch and a few other things, but it is pretty dead at night. Avoid the Landing, unless you're 19.
Try to see a Cards game - I hated baseball until I moved to StL. It's just more fun here.
The grand hall in Union Station is beautiful, but the mall is lame, and the whole thing should take you an hour at most to see. If you like visiting Hard Rock-type chains, they have one. But the Tap Room is nearby and so much better.
I agree that Soulard is a great place. The market is fun, there are a bunch of great bars (my favorite is McGurk's, an Irish pub with Irish bands inside and the best patio on Earth). The brewery is very near there. I've been on the tour many, many times and I always enjoy it.
The Hill is wonderful too. I think Cunetto's stinks, which is heretical to native St. Louisans, but then I think provel cheese makes Velveeta look gourmet, so I'm obviously an outsider. Rigazzi's is fun, cheap, and loud. Giovanni's and Dominic's are fancy, expensive and fantastic. My favorites are Lorenzo's Trattoria (elegant, laid back, reasonably priced) and Modesto (Spanish tapas, very fun).
You HAVE to drive in St. Louis. You can sort of get around via MetroLink and taxis, but you'll waste an enormous amount of time, and be very restricted. Driving is easy here, nice wide midwestern roads for the most part!
MoBotanical Gardens are amazingly beautiful. The Central West End is fun, good restaurants. Forest Park is great: free zoo, free art museum, free science center, free history museum (Lewis & Clark exhibit costs money), cool boats/lakes, MUNY.
Once you decide what you want to see, I'd be happy to give you more specifics (how to get there, where to park, etc.) St. Louis is really fun. I was pleasantly surprised when I moved here! Hope you enjoy it!
