St Louis weekend questions
 

I am flying to St Louis in Dec with my 11 year old boy to see the Rams - Cards game. He's a diehard Sports fam so I will probably plan to take him on a tour of the new Bush stadium while we are out there.

My questions are:

Do I need a rental car?

Is the stadium near nice hotels? One with a pool would be high on my list.

What else would you reccomend an 11 year old see on his birthday weekend?

Take him to the Zoo and a trip up the Arch would be a must do.

I am all over the arch - great idea

For a weekend you do not need a car.

You can take the light rail from the airport to the convention center stop. That's where the Jones Dome is located along with the Renaissance hotel. I've stayed at the Renaissance. It's a lovely hotel but I don't know if it has a pool.

From the light rail you can get to Union Station, the Arch and the Stadium as well as many other hotel options. The Westin is at the Stadium. It's probably the nicest hotel in downtown. I've only stayed there once. The Hyatt is in Union Station. I've stayed several times. I like it's location in Union Station with its beautiful lobby in the old train station main hall.

You can walk from the Forest Park rail station to the Zoo and Science Center which are both very nice. It is a long walk though. There's seasonal shuttle bus service but it probably won't be running in December.

Rather then the Zoo and the Science center I'd recommend the City Museum for a first weekend. It's unusual and fun for adults as well as kids. I will admit I am jaded. I've seen so dang many zoos with friends' young'uns that they all look alike to me now. That's why I like the City Museum better. It's different.

www.citymuseum.org

With the Arch (which has a museum and an I-Max,) the City Museum, a tour of the new stadium, Union Station and a football game, I think that's plenty for a weekend.

Wow, I think Indytraveler summed it up perfectly.

The Hilton is nice also.

If you have a rental car,your options for Hotels will increase...obviously(!)But there are other midtown options.

Anne S, is the Hilton the new one downtown? I've not stayed there in fact haven't even walked in their lobby. It does look nice on the internet though.

Indytravel,
Yes it is new. Not sure when it opened though. It looks very nice. Not sure about the pool though.

The Bowling Hall of Fame is right next to rhe Stadium.I am not bowler but It is actually kind of neat. I went to a Fundraiser there and thought my 10 year old would like it!!

I second the Zoo! Well worth it! It is one of the best around and is free.

Another for the City Museum. You have to go to believe it. All ages will enjoy this one.

In summer that Arch gets VERY uncomfortable, hot inside. The spaces are not as imagined. I was not warned and went with the entire family right after lunch. DON'T.

Go early in the morning or at a cooler time of day, if at all possible. And if you are very tall or have any claustrophobic tendencies be aware that the wait to come down can be delayed if it is crowded.

My favorite hotel room ever was Westin Cupples Station right near the old stadium. In walking distance from the new as well, I believe. I've still not been to the new. It's on my list.

You can get some great hotels through Priceline. Check www.biddingfortravel.com.
Take him to Ted Drewes for frozen custard. It's a St. Louis Institution.

Yes, I got that hotel on Priceline. And they have a book of weekend specials they will mail out to you (Tourism)- if you have time yet, which includes combo 2 night packages if you prefer not to do Priceline type venues.

Isn't the Hilton the old Marriott? I think it changed names last year?

Another possible hotel option is the Drury Plaza. Its on Broadway, not too far from the new stadium. I used to work not far from the baseball stadium and we had clients stay there quite a bit. They always gave it rave reviews. As I live here I have never actually stayed in any of the hotels downtown so I can't comment first hand.

The Hyatt is a good choice, although its usually full of people on bus tours. Union Station is interesting but sadly its not what it could be. Another restaurant has just moved out. Its filled mostly with souvenir shops and food court restaurants. But the lobby of the Hyatt is gorgeous and you would have access to the metrolink to the game from here. Its separated by the riverfront by about 18 blocks.

I also highly recommend the City Museum; its a great museum for children and adults!

I hope you have a great trip...the new stadium is great!

Tracy

Hey indytravel, I'm assuming you live in Indianapolis? If so, I will be in your fine city this weekend. My husband's extended family lives in Beech Grove and we are spending the weekend with his grandmother. One of the highlights? Picking up cans of Skyline Chili at Krogers, since we can't buy it here in St. Louis and I'm addicted! ;)

Tracy

Is The Landing's there still nice? Fun?
Gosh....that brings back memories of Cubs Cards games there!

Note that the OP is visiting in December. It might be chilly for the zoo and Ted Drewes.

I agree it might be too chilly for Ted Drews but I have been to the Zoo several times over the years and have never thought it was too chilly during a Dec day. Its actually very nice. Fewer crowds, better parking, no lines and better/closer looks at the animals.

Hey tcreath. Small world. My brother and his wife have been Grover's for years. She was actually born in Beech Grove almost 50 years ago. Big Catholic family, Holy Name the whole bit. It took me a while to enjoy Skyline Chili. I find it's best not to think of it as chili. It's some weird (but delicious) sauce on spaghetti. :-)

Back to STL I'm pretty sure there are two "new" Hiltons in town. There's the new one over by the convention center, then the one that used to be the Marriott a block north of the new stadium. I walked through their newly remodeled lobby in July. Oh my. Euro-bizzare came to mind. There's a fireplace that looks like shattered glass from a car wreck with natural gas burning up through it. I'm wondering what they are doing in the rooms.

JJ5 I've only stayed at the Cupples Station once. It is a gorgeous hotel. Those slate tiled bathrooms are huge! My friend's comment was that the difference between a luxurious hotel and the rest is the bathroom is so big the mirrors can't fog. :-)

indy, I must admit that I only like Skyline Chili when it is smothered with some chili sauce and lots of onions and cheese. But oh my is the end result delicious! My husband is a Cincinnati native so he loves the stuff, but it took me awhile to form my own addiction.
My in-laws were both born and raised in Beech Grove but have now lived in the St. Louis area for about 20 years. The rest of DH's extended family lives in or near Beech Grove, so we visit several times a year.

Back to the OP: if you visit close enough to Christmas, the Zoo puts on a terrific Christmas light display. Walking through the Zoo, with all of the lights twinkling, is almost like walking through a fantasyland.

Tracy

Oh yea! I forgot about the lights at Christmas in the Zoo. Its soooo pretty!