Living in the Chicago area, we have plenty of great destinations within driving distance. Driving trips are a lot easier with little kids – you can make stops at your convenience and explore local attractions on the way. St. Louis is only 6 hours away from Chicago and we made entertaining stops along the old Route 66, which took us all the way there. This town certainly has a lot of character, from the beautiful remnants of the 1903 World Fair architecture in Forest Park to urban cluster of downtown along with the world recognized Gateway Arch. To see the best of St. Louis, you should spend more than a few days there, but on this trip we managed to see enough to leave lasting impressions on the kids. Here are the highlights of our visit to St. Louis.
Gateway Arch & Core of Discovery
Gateway Arch is one of the most recognized American landmarks. It was gateway to the west and one of the stops along Route 66. If you are in town, you absolutely must make a stop at this world recognized landmark. Kids will love the look of the Arch, the ride to the top and will surely enjoy the museum on the ground floor. You can park at the nearby public garage and walk through a nice green park along the Mississippi river. You can snap a picture of the Arch sideways, but there are better pictures of the Gateway Arch from the nearby riverfront, just down the steps. There is also a great stop for a quick bite at the Arch View Cafe – the name says it all. It’s simple fare but nice. If you buy a pass to the Arch, you can save by also buying a Sightseeing cruise (on the Tom Sawyer Riverboat). Get to the Arch early – there are long lines every day, and you will have an easier time getting a view by the little windows. Did you know the Gateway Arch is as wide as it’s tall – 630 feet? If you are able to plan in advance, get your tickets for the Gateway Arch (and a cruise if you like) online – you’ll avoid the long lines. Or, get there first thing in the morning – the wait is generally better.
While waiting for your elevator to the top, make a stop at the Museum of Westward Expansion. There is plenty of history here – from the first explorers to the native American documents, from the land to the ocean. My kids enjoyed watching many of the exhibits come to life with videos and animated figures. My favorite part of the Core of Discovery was the narration and stories by the national park rangers. Being a history buff, I enjoyed learning a few new historical facts and my kids were drawn to the artifacts they showed.
If you are wondering what kind of elevator can take you up the curve of the Arch, you can try sitting in one in the lobby – is is exactly the same size as the one that you will take up to the top. The windows at the top are very small but offer a nice glimpse on the Mississippi river, the Old Courthouse and downtown, and the surrounding areass.
Old Courthouse, historically known as the the site of the first two Dred Scott trials, is visible from the Arch and just a short walk. It’s better suited for older kids. In 1847, Dred Scott, with his wife Harriet, sued for, and were granted, their freedom. Later Supreme Court decision ruled that slaves had no right to sue, which was a crucial decision jumpstarting the Civil War. You can tour the courthouse, often under renovations, and visit the authentic 19th century courtrooms.
St. Louis Zoo and Forest Park
St. Louis zoo is one of the most beloved kids’ zoos in the country, at the top of the list along with the San Diego zoo. Besides a variety of animals, St. Louis zoo is also located in the historic Forest Park. This was the location of the 1903 World Fair and many of the Park’s structures are still there. One such beautiful example is the glass house Jewelbox with its glimmering style. Many of the zoo elements also have the World Fair motif and detail. Forest Park is a wonderful place to walk along the trails, and there are several museums that are all free – Science Center, which boasts an incredible Discovery Room for kids under 7, St. Louis Art Museum, the Missouri History Museum, and the Muny.
This incredible zoo is FREE! A few exceptions are the animal shows, the Children’s Zoo, the train and the Carousel. However, the first hour at the Children’s Zoo is free, and it’s definitely worth the trip. So make that your first stop. The Children’s Zoo has an incredible play area indoors and a petting zoo, interesting animals like meerkat, sloth, guinea pig, plenty of shaded walking trails and water fountains. There is also a fun outdoor play area with a few giant slides that go over an aquarium. My kids wanted to stay there longer than an hour, and best of all you can, because once you get in the Children’s area free, it’s free to stay as long as you like, you just have to get in there within that first hour.
Getting to the zoo is a breeze. There is a paid parking lot adjacent to the zoo, but if you get there early, you can easily find a free parking spot on the side streets of Forest park, within a short walking distance from the zoo.
The best way to explore the zoo with kids is to get tickets on the train. Head there first. What kid doesn’t like a little train ride? The train makes stops at all the major zoo sections, and you can get off and explore the area, and then catch the next train later and proceed to the next section of the St. Louis Zoo. You simply give that stop’s ticket stub to the train attendant. My favorite section was the Wild with flamingos, pandas, penguins and the Carousel.
Museum of Transportation
Since my husband is a car fanatic, the Museum of Transportation, which not only boasts a nice car collection, but also hosts plenty of car shows, was a must stop for us. It’s a little bit out of the way from downtown, so doesn’t get as much of a tourist flow, but more locals. However, it is close to the Magic House children’s museum and the Botanic Garden, one of the oldest in the country. The main building houses a small collection of car and train vehicles, including a rare old firetruck your kids will surely enjoy. There is a shop where your little Thomas fans can get a nice toy and a small cafe where you can get a snack. Also, in the main building is a Creation Station – a large beautiful room for kids under 5 to play and create. Make sure you buy a pass to the station at the same time as you buy the museum tickets. The room is supervised and entry is with ticket only, so you can relax while the kids play. The car collection featured a rare Chrysler turbine car and the Bobby Darrin car. Upstairs, kids can play with different car mechanics and you can look at the dashboard gauges from all car eras.
The museum not only has a nice collection of cars, but also a few planes and a large train museum. We’ve been to a rather impressive railway museum in Union, Illinois, and the train display at the St. Louis Museum of Transportation is very comparable. We were also lucky to stumble onto a classic car show the weekend we visited. Your kids will love walking through the train cars and seeing a little bit of history. The condition of the trains was very impressive. Since the Museum of Transportation spans a number of buildings, kids (and adults!) can hop onto the little train ride that takes you on a ride across the entire campus. It’s a nice long ride – just be ready for some wind; it’s a real train ride!
Dewey’s Pizza
I would say that Chicagoans are picky about their pizza. That said, we loved the pie at Dewey’s pizza. I have to mention it, because, in the town also well known for its pizza, Dewey’s stands out. It starts at the front door. As you walk in and wait for your table or pick up a pizza to go, you can watch through the glass window, as the kitchen staff make the pies. My kids were mesmerized, glued to the window watching the dough shaped, flying in the air, covered with sauce, cheese and other ingredients and going into the oven. All the way until it arrived to our table. We stopped at the Kirkwood location, which is near the Magic House children’s museum. It had a nice neighborhood feel, even though it’s part of a small Midwestern chain. I liked how you had a choice to order red sauce or white sauce (more garlicky and cheesy, less spicy). My kids loved picking from over 3 dozen available toppings. If I lived in St. Louis, Dewey’s would definitely be on my pizza map.
And after a long day of sightseeing, what’s better than a pizza?
