Spring Break in Saint Louis

Haven’t yet decided what to do for Spring Break?

Did Spring Break sneak up on you too? This never happens to us, because we’re detailed planners…nope, we’re not. So let us suggest a centrally located, family friendly, history filled, cost efficient major city! Spend Spring Break in Saint Louis. There is so much to see, places to play and amazing places to eat. Spring Break in Saint Louis offers a wide variety of fun options for everyone in the family. With Saint Louis being Cal’s hometown, we have a little bit of experience enjoying The Gateway City. We’ve created two quick lists for family friendly fun.

Our Top Five Family Fun Stops Include:

1. The Anheuser-Busch Tour
2. City Museum & Magic House
3. Forest Park 
4. Busch Stadium
5. The History in Downtown 

Spring Break in Saint Louis means you’ll eat well.

Our favorite restaurants include:

1. Rooster
2. Pappy’s Smokehouse
3. Sugarfire Smoke House
4. Imo’s Pizza (this is a staple of Cal’s childhood; V, being from Chicago, does not endorse pizza from any other city)
5. A Custard Stop!

Why these are our Top Five Stops… 

1. The Anheuser-Busch Tour is at the top of my list because it was the very first fun adventure that I had in Saint Louis. This tour is more than just sentimental, though, it is absolutely family friendly. Yes, you do get to tour the facility and taste the beer (at least you did when I went). The true highlight of this tour is the clydesdales. My advice is that you be at the back of the group and hang back, you get optimal clydesdale time if you linger back.   This is a majestic horse and by far the best part of the tour.

St. Louis has quite the microbrewery scene so I suggest that once you’ve appreciated the clydesdales you take in a few microbreweries, as well. I have my tastebuds set on 4hands Brewery.  

2.  City Museum & Magic House – You can read all about my adoration for City Museum here, so definitely check it out. It’s amazing!! However, if you prefer a more traditional children’s museum where the kids do the running, you want to check out, Magic House. This museum seems to be designed in an actual home, not sure the history here, but it’s tons of fun. We started in the Art Room in the lower level, where we each made our own art project. Art is our favorite past time so we probably spent too much time in the art room.  

   

   From there we made parachutes from coffee filters, then we went to the sand table. We then went to the math section and stumbled upon the Bean Stalk which allows your children to climb between floors. I’m telling you there

   

   is SO much to do in this museum. There is a bubble room, where you play with BUBBLES!!  Then we colored cars and planes, which were then projected onto a moving scene on the wall in the ‘Future Play’ exhibit – talk about sensory explosion.

   We finished in the replica Oval Office. Amazing! I’d also like to note that this museum is very reasonably priced in comparison to other children’s museums in major cities. Stay tuned for a future post on how to save on children’s museums. Magic House is a worthwhile stop during your Spring Break in Saint Louis.

3. Forest Park   

As you return to read about other adventures of ours, you’ll start to notice how important I think it is to stop at parks. I find that parks are a great stopping point for parents and kids. Sit down then let the kids run and play. Forest Park is a must.

I asked my girlfriend, Marcela (a native of Saint Louis) what she recommends for families visiting,

“Forest Park (not necessarily the zoo part, although that’s great too) because you can hike, paddle boat, bike ride, picnic, ice skate, play on the playground or in the ‘splash pad.’ Next I would say Botanical Garden and then Shaw Nature Reserve.”

There you have it. Spoken from a local – Forest Park is a fabulous place for family fun.

4. Busch Stadium – I’m not even a huge baseball fan but Busch Stadium is beautiful. The stadium opened in 2006 and as a ‘thank you’ the Cardinals won the World Series that season.

   

   If you’re traveling during Spring Break, the team won’t be playing but walk over and see the stadium. I find it architecturally pleasing so check it out then come back in the summer for a game…ideally a night game because it gets hot in Saint Louis.

5. Take in some history! You can ride a ferry on the muddy Mississippi River. The Gateway Arch grounds have been under renovations but are scheduled to be done this year (2017). You can visit the Blues Museum or just walk some cobblestone streets. Let your imagination run wild! Make up stories about what those cobblestone streets have seen.

If you are a foodie, Spring Break in Saint Louis can be your paradise.

These are some of our favorite stops while we’re “back home”

Rooster – we stumbled on this gem and return every time we’re in Saint Louis. Savory crepes and great drinks make this my go to brunch spot. They must be nice to their employees, too, because I’ve always had amazing service.

 

Pappy’s Smokehouse – my mouth is watering as I’m typing this. Ribs! Get the ribs! I don’t even love ribs but I love Pappy’s Ribs.  If you happen to see him he’ll add to the reason why you love this place. Yes, you’ll have to stand in line but it is well worth the wait. Don’t get a salad. Cal ordered a salad trying to be “healthy”. Conclusion? That was a bad idea. If you wait in line for more than 20 mins please just order the ribs. 

Sugarfire Smoke House – get the brisket and the bourbon milkshake. Yes! Boozy milkshakes, what else do I need to say?  Maybe I should mention there is also pie.

Cal’s Childhood Favorites

Imo’s Pizza – This is a staple of Cal’s childhood so he likes to stop when he’s back home.  V, being from Chicago, does not endorse pizza from any other city. If you try Imo’s you do so to experience local fare. A ‘St. Paul’, (look it up) is also local fare that V doesn’t endorse but we’d be remiss if we don’t mention it.

A Custard Stop – For us, we make a mandatory stop at Fritz’s whenever the season allows.  A Turtle Sundae makes V a very happy lady.

However, Ted Drewes is the most common stop for frozen custard if you’re in the city. I’ve personally never had it but it does well so it seems like it’s got to be good. Come on, its frozen custard how could it not be amazing?    

Some Restaurants on our Must Get To list are:

Planter’s House

Citizen Kane

Perennial Artisan Ales (sans girls)

Let me know if you have any reviews on any of these!

Whether you are planning to spend Spring Break in Saint Louis or a long weekend this summer, there is so much to do in this beautiful city on the river. Make sure to read about City Museum. Then share some of your own adventures in The Gateway City with us in the comments.

Happy Travels!