What to do in St. Louis...

[Sylint]

Going to extend my work trip to Columbia, MO through the rest of the week and weekend. Wife is going to fly up and join me and ride back with me. First time away from kiddo for more than a night, as well as first time we've had what could be a vacation since we've been married.

Staying downtown, going to do the usual touristy crap...Arch, probably catch a Card's game, what else can you guys recommend?

[Bullvine]

Can't be much help I've never been to St. Louis but I've been to towns along the Mississippi plenty of times I'd bet they have a cool Party Paddle Boat! After a few cocktails your sure to be feeling all Mark Twained up floating down the mighty Miss..

[bigzebra]

I highly recommend the City Museum: city museum | where the imagination runs wild! The place is simply a blast. You could spend all day in there and not see it all. Make sure you take a flight down the ten story slide.

If you like BBQ, Pappy's isn't very far west of Downtown: Pappy's Smokehouse | St. Louis BBQ | Memphis Style BBQ | Saint Louis Barbeque | Welcome To Pappy's Smokehouse.

You can poke around the Central West End, lots of decent food and drink: http://www.thecwe.com/.

Are you bringing any bikes? Track racing at Penrose Park is every Thursday evening; even if you don't have a track bike it's fun to watch. Yours truly will be in attendance. The park is in a sketchy neighborhood though.

Laumeier Sculpture Park is pretty cool too: Home | Laumeier Sculpture Park

And of course there's Forest Park. The art and history museums are world class.

And take it from someone who works in the law enforcement community- don't leave anything of value in your vehicle. At the very least don't leave anything of value in plain sight such as a GPS attached to the windshield. Not trying to scare you or anything but we've had a group or two of guys doing a few rashes of car clottings lately.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

[Aindreas]

Sylint: We could both look up at the moon at the same exact moment, and find deep existential solace in knowing that --despite being a thousand miles apart-- we are both thinking the same exact thing: This is really f*cking stupid.

[251]

I haven't lived in St. Louis for 15 years, but I'd say University City and/or Soulard Market.

[mymilkexpired]

Last time I was there the only thing I hit was the Arch. There is a casino if your down for that kind of action. Of course I was there when it was snowing. I frequented the hotel hot tub ;)

Ohhh I also went and saw the 3D Bodyworks stuff, you know where they plasticize human remains and then slice them up. This was enlightening.

[superjesus]

I highly recommend the City Museum: city museum | where the imagination runs wild! The place is simply a blast. You could spend all day in there and not see it all. Make sure you take a flight down the ten story slide.

If you like BBQ, Pappy's isn't very far west of Downtown: Pappy's Smokehouse | St. Louis BBQ | Memphis Style BBQ | Saint Louis Barbeque | Welcome To Pappy's Smokehouse.

You can poke around the Central West End, lots of decent food and drink: http://www.thecwe.com/.

Are you bringing any bikes? Track racing at Penrose Park is every Thursday evening; even if you don't have a track bike it's fun to watch. Yours truly will be in attendance. The park is in a sketchy neighborhood though.

Laumeier Sculpture Park is pretty cool too: Home | Laumeier Sculpture Park

And of course there's Forest Park. The art and history museums are world class.

And take it from someone who works in the law enforcement community- don't leave anything of value in your vehicle. At the very least don't leave anything of value in plain sight such as a GPS attached to the windshield. Not trying to scare you or anything but we've had a group or two of guys doing a few rashes of car clottings lately.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

As a local, I highly recommend Forest Park, especially if you'd like to do things on the cheap. Admittance to the Art Museum, History Museum, Science Center, and Zoo is free. Some attractions might come with a charge, but prices are usually pretty reasonable.

"The Hill" is just south on Kingshighway from Forest Park if you're into Italian food (try the toasted ravioli, a local favorite).

Ted Drewes is a local landmark for frozen custard. And there's always the Budweiser brewery tours. Schlafly also calls St. Louis home if you like your beer a little less mainstream.

[JohnHenry]

So, you leap frogged me, again.

[sdeeer]

Tour de Grove is this weekend in St. Louis.

Race a bike! or at least watch. Tour de Grove - St. Louis, Missouri

[Jesse D Smith]

Arch Rival Roller Girls, St. Louis, Missouri

[black_box]

Don't eat the "st. louis style" pizza.

[EWT]

+1 on Pappy's, Ted Drewes and toasted ravs. The Arch is worth the trip up and the museum at the base is good if you're interested in history. Columbia (my home town) is a great place for a ride if you have some time left there.

[Sylint]

So, you leap frogged me, again.

Easy sweetheart


I'm still going up through Springfield this trip, even if it adds an extra 90 minutes of driving, to see you. It won't be Easter Sunday so I can actually leave early and have some time. Not bringing the bike this time so we can grab some lunch maybe.

[Sylint]

Thanks everyone for the replies. We're looking forward to it.

[Sylint]

+1 on Pappy's, Ted Drewes and toasted ravs. The Arch is worth the trip up and the museum at the base is good if you're interested in history. Columbia (my home town) is a great place for a ride if you have some time left there.

I enjoyed riding there last time they sent me up, but since we'll be headed into St. Louis, not bringing the bike this time.

[QuiQuaeQuod]

It's been quite a few years, but I thought the food at Kemoll's was spot on for traditional Italian (not cheap, not at all, but proper).

http://www.kemolls.com/

When we ate there it was on the ground floor, which might or might not still be there. But for the price (in a town with a lot of Italian options) that view form the 40th might make it worth it, especially for a romantic dinner away from the spawn.

[Sylint]

It's been quite a few years, but I thought the food at Kemoll's was spot on for traditional Italian (not cheap, not at all, but proper).

St Louis Banquet Halls | Wedding Receptions | Fine Dining | Private Parties | Kemoll's & Top of the Met

When we ate there it was on the ground floor, which might or might not still be there. But for the price (in a town with a lot of Italian options) that view form the 40th might make it worth it, especially for a romantic dinner away from the spawn.

Thanks! And yeah, I was looking to surprise her with a nicer dinner out somewhere.

[pmf]

+1 on Pappy's, Ted Drewes and toasted ravs. The Arch is worth the trip up and the museum at the base is good if you're interested in history. Columbia (my home town) is a great place for a ride if you have some time left there.

Wow ... small world ... I grew up in Columbia. Rockbridge class of 1981. My brother still lives there. I haven't been back in years.

As far as St, Loius goes -- definitely the arch. My father used to take us to the Italina neighborhood (the hill). There's an Italian meat manufacturer there (Volpe I think). We used to load up on sausages, salami, etc from that place.

[FlynG]

A visit to the Budweiser mothership is an interesting couple of hours too.

[desurfer]

A visit to the Budweiser mothership is an interesting couple of hours too.

This; I've toured plenty of microbreweries, and to see brewing on a such an industrial scale is eye-opening. After that, go to the Schlafly Tap Room for some good beer and German food.

[asciibaron]

the Manufacturers Railroad is shutdown so that sucks. the TRRA is still active so you could hit that. the former N&W bridge over the Missouri is a great place to watch trains. if you go down to the river at the arch you can watch trains there too.

all the other good action is across the river in East St. Louis. right next to Little Jimmies

this is a great railroad map of the area

http://www.terminalrailroad.com/images/TRRA%20Map.pdf

[E.J.2]

If you haven't booked your accommodations, I highly recommend the Ballpark Hilton w/ ballpark view. Don't buy tickets until they throw the first pitch, then the scampers will be almost giving them away. That said, sitting in Homers Landing saved us a lot of cash beer wise.

BB's was a cool blues bar, spent a fair amount of time there.

Arch was cool, brewery tour was interesting. All in all, I had a far better time than expected for a work trip....

[asciibaron]

as far as riding goes, the Katy Trail is fun...

[Sylint]

I highly recommend the City Museum: city museum | where the imagination runs wild! The place is simply a blast. You could spend all day in there and not see it all. Make sure you take a flight down the ten story slide.

If you like BBQ, Pappy's isn't very far west of Downtown: Pappy's Smokehouse | St. Louis BBQ | Memphis Style BBQ | Saint Louis Barbeque | Welcome To Pappy's Smokehouse.

You can poke around the Central West End, lots of decent food and drink: http://www.thecwe.com/.

Are you bringing any bikes? Track racing at Penrose Park is every Thursday evening; even if you don't have a track bike it's fun to watch. Yours truly will be in attendance. The park is in a sketchy neighborhood though.

Laumeier Sculpture Park is pretty cool too: Home | Laumeier Sculpture Park

And of course there's Forest Park. The art and history museums are world class.

And take it from someone who works in the law enforcement community- don't leave anything of value in your vehicle. At the very least don't leave anything of value in plain sight such as a GPS attached to the windshield. Not trying to scare you or anything but we've had a group or two of guys doing a few rashes of car clottings lately.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

Thanks! I appreciate the info. I doubt the car will ever leave the valet lot until we leave.

[Sylint]

Sylint: We could both look up at the moon at the same exact moment, and find deep existential solace in knowing that --despite being a thousand miles apart-- we are both thinking the same exact thing: This is really f*cking stupid.

why wait? 11:45 tonight work for you?