Who knew that St. Louis would turn out to be a really fun adventure and a great place to visit with kids? To be honest, I didn’t know much about St. Louis, but I really wanted to see Gateway Arch National Park. On our trip, we ended up discovering so many kid-friendly activities and attractions! Keep reading to learn where to stay, where to eat, and what to do with kids!
We’ve visited St. Louis twice now after having so much fun on our first trip. Our visits have been in May and in October. I really enjoyed both visits, but our October visit is my favorite. The weather was very pleasant and we spent most of our time outside, which is always our favorite way to spend the day.
Where to Stay
Both times we’ve traveled to St. Louis, we’ve stayed at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch. This hotel is only steps away from Gateway Arch National Park! The location makes all of the difference. Once here, you really don’t even need your vehicle! Most places are within walking distance, which makes it so easy to explore and not worry about parking. Plus, you can’t beat the views from your room!
What to Do
St. Louis is packed full of kid-friendly activities and attractions to explore! I’m sure we didn’t even scratch surface on all that this city has to offer. Below are some of our favorite kid-friendly activities!
The Gateway Arch is an impressive sight and makes a great family photo op! But, there’s a lot more to this place. The museum in the visitor center is very educational and we enjoyed learning more about it’s construction. Plus, you can take a ride to the top and the views are awesome! Full disclosure, the ride up is not for the faint of heart. And I don’t recommend going on a windy day, the arch actually moves a little with the wind. But it is sure fun to say we’ve been inside!
The City Museum is unlike anything we’ve ever experienced! I mean, knee pads are recommended. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was so excited to take my boys here. We all had a blast! There are so many spaces to explore, ranging from caves to treehouses, and even a rooftop area. It truly is a unique experience and fun for all ages! This is truly one of those places that you just have to see to believe!
My boys both play baseball and they love all things related to the sport! So, it was a no brainer that we would check out Ballpark Village! We spent the afternoon walking around the area, shopping for baseball gear, eating outside, and listening to live music. If you’re a baseball fan, I highly recommend making a stop at this place! There’s a lot to see and do, including shops, the Cardinal’s baseball museum, catching a game, and there are a lot of dining options!
I had no idea that there would be so many outdoor adventures in St. Louis! Right behind our hotel, we walked along the St. Louis Riverfront Trail. The weather was gorgeous and we enjoyed the history of the river, especially the information about the Lewis & Clark expedition! This was a great area to run around with our kids and our pup. This trail is about twelve miles, but we didn’t go that far!
Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site
We always enjoy visiting past president’s homes. So, when I learned that Ulysses S. Grant had a home in St. Louis, we dedicated some time for a visit. The grounds are stunning and we learned a lot about this family’s time here. There is a lot to explore, including the museum, the house, and the wooded land surrounding the home.
Since we were visiting St. Louis in October, I thought that a haunted history walk would be a lot of fun! We love creepy, scary things and it was definitely creepy! We enjoyed our guide and learned a lot about St. Louis’s past history. I am not sure if this is a seasonal tour, but I highly recommend this activity if you’re there in October!
A fun outdoor park is Kiener Plaza! We ventured this way and let the boys run around and burn off some steam. My boys don’t leave the house without bringing a football along, so they played catch and just ran around for an hour or so. There are fountains and a splash pad, outdoor tables for picnicking, a playground, and a lot of open space!
Where to Eat
Below are the places that we really enjoyed dining at on our visit! These places were great for us, but most imporantly, our kids liked them and found great things to eat. And if you’ve traveled with kids, you know that to enjoy the day, the kids must be well fed!
Breakfast – We typically grabbed breakfast at the Starbuck’s located inside our hotel. Jereme and I need our daily cup of coffee to start the day. We grabbed muffins and croissants and then took our breakfast outside and ate on the lawn near the Gateway Arch.
Lunch – We found ourselves eating lunch at the Ballpark Village since there were several options there! Our favorite was Sports & Social. We enjoyed the drinks and the outdoor dining option!
Dinner – Our favorite dinner place was the Old Spaghetti Factory! We all love good pasta and the kids enjoyed the three course kids menu!
All in all, St. Louis was a pleasant surprise! If you’re looking for a fun city to explore with your kids, that won’t break the bank, then I recommend giving St. Louis a chance. You won’t run out of kid-friendly activities and there is so much to see and do. It’s also a very dog friendly city, so if you have a dog, bring it along!
If you’re driving in from the south, be sure to stop by Uranus Fudge Factory for lots of great sweets and lots of laughs!
Road Trip Queen 