St. Louis suggestions - taking kids

[BABiscuit]

Sounds like we are taking the kids (7, 5, and 2) to St. Louis toward the end of June. I havent been to St Louis many times and never when I was concerned about doing kid things. What are some of the things we should hit up? Should we stay downtown or is there an area that may be better with kids? Hotwire has some decent deals on good downtown hotels, but with kids it is tempting to go to something like a Comfort Suites that may be away from downtown. Ferguson on the upswing? Family friendly restaurants we should try?

 

[SigMaintHawk]

Sounds like we are taking the kids (7, 5, and 2) to St. Louis toward the end of June. I havent been to St Louis many times and never when I was concerned about doing kid things. What are some of the things we should hit up? Should we stay downtown or is there an area that may be better with kids? Hotwire has some decent deals on good downtown hotels, but with kids it is tempting to go to something like a Comfort Suites that may be away from downtown. Ferguson on the upswing? Family friendly restaurants we should try?

I stay out in St Charles at the Drury Inn right beside the Mid Rivers Mall. Plenty of decent restaraunts in the area. Ruby Tuesdays and a Bob Evans within 50ft of the front door. It is right off of I-270.

 

[St. Louis Hawk]

Sounds like we are taking the kids (7, 5, and 2) to St. Louis toward the end of June. I havent been to St Louis many times and never when I was concerned about doing kid things. What are some of the things we should hit up? Should we stay downtown or is there an area that may be better with kids? Hotwire has some decent deals on good downtown hotels, but with kids it is tempting to go to something like a Comfort Suites that may be away from downtown. Ferguson on the upswing? Family friendly restaurants we should try?

Kids: Absolute must do - Children's Museum and/or Magic House

Also good - St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis Science Center (Great IMAX theater), Cards games, Grant's Farm, and the Arch (check online - it's in the middle of a major renovation and I don't know what is open or closed right now)

Family friendly restaurants: Anthonino's on the Hill, Ted Drewes (Frozen Custard), Fitz's (can watch root beer bottling line), any of the Dewey's Pizzas, or Schlafly Bottleworks

While I live downtown and my family stays downtown (older kids), with your kids' ages, I would suggest staying in the Central West End or Clayton. That will allow you to get everywhere fairly quickly. Try checking the price for the Chase Park Plaza - has movie theaters, pool, restaurant, and right next to Forest Park (close to the Zoo and Science Center) or any of the Clayton hotels.

If you have any questions, post them, and will try to answer for you.

Hope you enjoy the town.

 

[HallofFame]

Any place in East St. Louis is the best bet. You are close to downtown and everything is much more small town like. West of the river is to much city. It's a little out of the way but be sure to hit up Fast Eddie's Bon Air over in Alton. The kids will love you for it.

 

[HawktimusPrime]

City museum as suggested before is an absolute must. Easily one of the best places to take kids in the country. Magic house is good too, but City Museum is simply awesome. There are plenty of hotels around the city.

Check out Bogarts or Blues city for lunch. Both awesome joints.

 

[SoDakHawk]

I hear Ferguson is nice this time of year.

 

[BABiscuit]

Kids: Absolute must do - Children's Museum and/or Magic House

Also good - St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis Science Center (Great IMAX theater), Cards games, Grant's Farm, and the Arch (check online - it's in the middle of a major renovation and I don't know what is open or closed right now)

Family friendly restaurants: Anthonino's on the Hill, Ted Drewes (Frozen Custard), Fitz's (can watch root beer bottling line), any of the Dewey's Pizzas, or Schlafly Bottleworks

While I live downtown and my family stays downtown (older kids), with your kids' ages, I would suggest staying in the Central West End or Clayton. That will allow you to get everywhere fairly quickly. Try checking the price for the Chase Park Plaza - has movie theaters, pool, restaurant, and right next to Forest Park (close to the Zoo and Science Center) or any of the Clayton hotels.

If you have any questions, post them, and will try to answer for you.

Hope you enjoy the town.

It looks like the Chase Park Plaza will end up being about $850 or $975 for 5 nights depending on if we get a standard room or a suite. I had to put in two adults and two kids to get a room to come up as it was noting no availability when I added the 3rd kid. I can get a 3.5 * in that area for $575 total on hotwire or go downtown to what I believe is the Hilton for $410. The 3rd kid is really jamming me up on these searches. Thanks for the suggestions. Looking forward to the City Museum. I thought it looked cool in the St Louis TV commercial that runs up here.

We were currently looking at coming home on 7/3. What does St. Louis do for the 4th and would it be worth adjusting our travel dates to catch?

 

[HawktimusPrime]

It looks like the Chase Park Plaza will end up being about $850 or $975 for 5 nights depending on if we get a standard room or a suite. I had to put in two adults and two kids to get a room to come up as it was noting no availability when I added the 3rd kid. I can get a 3.5 * in that area for $575 total on hotwire or go downtown to what I believe is the Hilton for $410. The 3rd kid is really jamming me up on these searches. Thanks for the suggestions. Looking forward to the City Museum. I thought it looked cool in the St Louis TV commercial that runs up here.

We were currently looking at coming home on 7/3. What does St. Louis do for the 4th and would it be worth adjusting our travel dates to catch?

They have a firework displays over by the Arch. It usually brings in a HUGE crowd. It's worth seeing, but I'm not sure it's good for kids.

 

[hawkeyesfb81]

Kids: Absolute must do - Children's Museum and/or Magic House

Also good - St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis Science Center (Great IMAX theater), Cards games, Grant's Farm, and the Arch (check online - it's in the middle of a major renovation and I don't know what is open or closed right now)

Family friendly restaurants: Anthonino's on the Hill, Ted Drewes (Frozen Custard), Fitz's (can watch root beer bottling line), any of the Dewey's Pizzas, or Schlafly Bottleworks

While I live downtown and my family stays downtown (older kids), with your kids' ages, I would suggest staying in the Central West End or Clayton. That will allow you to get everywhere fairly quickly. Try checking the price for the Chase Park Plaza - has movie theaters, pool, restaurant, and right next to Forest Park (close to the Zoo and Science Center) or any of the Clayton hotels.

If you have any questions, post them, and will try to answer for you.

Hope you enjoy the town.

Once again St. Louis Hawk comes through. He gave me a lot of suggestions when I moved here around Thansgiving. I will only add to try Pappy's Smokehouse. It was rated one of the best BBQ restaurants in the country. If the line is long don't sweat it. They offer take out as well.

 

[St. Louis Hawk]

It looks like the Chase Park Plaza will end up being about $850 or $975 for 5 nights depending on if we get a standard room or a suite. I had to put in two adults and two kids to get a room to come up as it was noting no availability when I added the 3rd kid. I can get a 3.5 * in that area for $575 total on hotwire or go downtown to what I believe is the Hilton for $410. The 3rd kid is really jamming me up on these searches. Thanks for the suggestions. Looking forward to the City Museum. I thought it looked cool in the St Louis TV commercial that runs up here.

We were currently looking at coming home on 7/3. What does St. Louis do for the 4th and would it be worth adjusting our travel dates to catch?

St. Louis has Fair St. Louis. As noted above, it's not really a kid-friendly event. I'd keep your regular dates. I'd also stay in Clayton if you are having an issue getting into the Chase.

 

[hawkeyesfb81]

St. Louis has Fair St. Louis. As noted above, it's not really a kid-friendly event. I'd keep your regular dates. I'd also stay in Clayton if you are having an issue getting into the Chase.

If Clayton still isn't an option, you might want to check out the courtyard in Creve Couer. It's right next to my office and my family has stayed there a lot in the past 6 months.

 

[cidhawkeye]

St. Louis story, went to the Titanic exhibit, they had a block of ice there representing the iceberg. A guy next to us says 'I can't believe they brought the ice that the ship hit here for this' I looked at him to see if he was joking and he didn't appear to be. Scary. Ted Drewes is good, root beer bottling restaurant is good, there is a basilica that is cool, surprised my kids liked it

 

[Greenway4Prez]

Perfect timing for this thread, we're heading down Thursday and coming back Sunday. We're for sure doing City Museum, the Arch, and a Cards-Dodgers game Friday night. I can't decide between Pappy's and Bogart's for my BBQ fix. I don't think we can go wrong with either.

 

[HawktimusPrime]

Perfect timing for this thread, we're heading down Thursday and coming back Sunday. We're for sure doing City Museum, the Arch, and a Cards-Dodgers game Friday night. I can't decide between Pappy's and Bogart's for my BBQ fix. I don't think we can go wrong with either.

Get the wings at Bogarts, offered only the weekends. They open at 10:30, anytime between then and 11 and you'll get right in. The ribs are some of the best in the country. Living a block away from that place was awesome!!

 

[Wendy79]

Bogart's is tremendous. Make sure you get the beans.

 

[HawktimusPrime]

Bogart's is tremendous. Make sure you get the beans.

Those are magnificent and I usually don't like baked beans. They put the bean vat under the meat while it smokes, and let the drippings mix into them. Bogarts does it right.

 

[Greenway4Prez]

Bogart's is tremendous. Make sure you get the beans.

My 3-year old LOVES baked beans, so he'll be thrilled to hear this .

If this place has tremendous wings AND fantastic ribs, looks like multiple trips will be made!

We're staying at the Ramada Plaza Convention Center, and there's an African Hair Braiding place a few blocks away. Thank. God.

 

[St. Louis Hawk]

My 3-year old LOVES baked beans, so he'll be thrilled to hear this .

If this place has tremendous wings AND fantastic ribs, looks like multiple trips will be made!

And avoid the Bogart's lines altogether. Call in your order. Bypass the line when you get there. Walk up to the register on the back far right wall as you face in to the kitchen - not the one serving the main line. You will get dirty looks from the people in the main line that don't know about the pick up option, Pick up your order direct from the kitchen guys. Tip the hell out of them. It will save you 1-2 hours.

Ribs, baked beans, applesauce and wings are all must orders.

 

[Greenway4Prez]

I love this place. Thanks for the tips, guys (and gal)!

Wait, this wasn't my thread....sorry OP

 

[jdeck30]

If Clayton still isn't an option, you might want to check out the courtyard in Creve Couer. It's right next to my office and my family has stayed there a lot in the past 6 months.

Ran the cvs across the street for a while. Nice part of town and easy access to 270. For the fourth we always hit up the riverfront by Ameristar casino.

 

[Wendy79]

Those are magnificent and I usually don't like baked beans. They put the bean vat under the meat while it smokes, and let the drippings mix into them. Bogarts does it right.

We were standing in line back in March and I couldn't decide what sides to get. So I asked the guy (one of the Bogat's guys) which I should get. As soon as he said "beans cook under the brisket" I was sold. Then he said "...for 14 hours." Shut up and take my money.

 

[turtley78]

Kids: Absolute must do - Children's Museum and/or Magic House

Also good - St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis Science Center (Great IMAX theater), Cards games, Grant's Farm, and the Arch (check online - it's in the middle of a major renovation and I don't know what is open or closed right now)

Family friendly restaurants: Anthonino's on the Hill, Ted Drewes (Frozen Custard), Fitz's (can watch root beer bottling line), any of the Dewey's Pizzas, or Schlafly Bottleworks

We took our kids (5, 3, 2) the first weekend in April. City Museum was cool, but I think all 3 liked the Magic House better. It seemed like there was a lot more "play" things at the Magic House. Our 5 year old liked crawling around all the stuff at City Museum but the other two were not that interested.

We tried to hit Fitz's for lunch one day, but the wait was about an hour and 15 minutes and that was at about 11:30 that day.

 

[IWC Hawk]

Sugarfire is a newer BBQ place on the scene, and imho surpasses Bogarts and Pappys. Though you cannot go wrong at any of the three.

 

[JWolf74]

Good thread. We're moving down to Kirkwood in a couple weeks. The food suggestions are solid.

 

[hawkeyesfb81]

Sugarfire is a newer BBQ place on the scene, and imho surpasses Bogarts and Pappys. Though you cannot go wrong at any of the three.

I agree with Sugarfire. The brisket is good. I tend to get takeout often as they have different specials daily and I work close by (cityplace)

 

[hawkeyesfb81]

Good thread. We're moving down to Kirkwood in a couple weeks. The food suggestions are solid.

Kirkwood has Pi Pizza. IMO way better than that STL cardboard pizza they serve (Imos/Cecil Whitakers)

 

[BABiscuit]

I love this place. Thanks for the tips, guys (and gal)!

Wait, this wasn't my thread....sorry OP

Dont apologize. I am loving the BBQ talk. Best thing about the new board format is it will be easy to come back to this thread in a month for the specific food recommendations.

 

[Arbitr8]

I hear Ferguson is nice this time of year.

I agree, I would take the kids for a drive around Ferguson and tell them this it what happens to you if you don't have any goals in life and goof off in school. Don't forget to take lots of videos of the town so that you can remind the kids at a later date.

 

[HawktimusPrime]

We were standing in line back in March and I couldn't decide what sides to get. So I asked the guy (one of the Bogat's guys) which I should get. As soon as he said "beans cook under the brisket" I was sold. Then he said "...for 14 hours." Shut up and take my money.

Yup, in uniform you get half of there too. Ate there lots.

 

[Greenway4Prez]

Holy shite. Bogart's was incredible. We went yesterday for lunch. Wife and I split a full rack of ribs, kids got turkey sandwiches, we got a pound of wings, lots of chips, applesauce and beans, and every bit of it was awesome. I probably looked pathetic grabbing the applesauce that the kids didn't finish and taking it with me, but I didn't GAF. Too good to waste!

 

[HawktimusPrime]

Holy shite. Bogart's was incredible. We went yesterday for lunch. Wife and I split a full rack of ribs, kids got turkey sandwiches, we got a pound of wings, lots of chips, applesauce and beans, and every bit of it was awesome. I probably looked pathetic grabbing the applesauce that the kids didn't finish and taking it with me, but I didn't GAF. Too good to waste!

Nice, yeah the wings are awesome. The ribs are as good as they come. I miss that place dammit.