Spending a weekend in St Louis

[BoylenOver]

Just used most of my tax return on a trip to St Louis at the end of this month.

I'll definitely see a Cardinals game (against the Brewers), and hopefully the Blues will advance to the 2nd round and I'll see them as well. If it happens, it would easily be the best sports weekend of my life.

Any tips/suggestions?

[old_gregg]

Just used most of my tax return on a trip to St Louis at the end of this month.

I'll definitely see a Cardinals game (against the Brewers), and hopefully the Blues will advance to the 2nd round and I'll see them as well. If it happens, it would easily be the best sports weekend of my life.

Any tips/suggestions?

Remember to pack your Kevlar vest

[FN Phat]

May I suggest East St. Louis. I hear it is beautiful this time of year. istols:

[dabrockster]

You need to get to Bogart Smokehouse.. Delish... Small little place but is always hoping.. Is alos right by a little Farmers Market that I think would be open by now..

http://bogartssmokehouse.com/

[SoonerCoug]

Just used most of my tax return on a trip to St Louis at the end of this month.

I'll definitely see a Cardinals game (against the Brewers), and hopefully the Blues will advance to the 2nd round and I'll see them as well. If it happens, it would easily be the best sports weekend of my life.

Any tips/suggestions?

There are lots of great things to do in saint louis, or so I hear. I never have time to do any of them, and right now we are in Utah visiting family. I have a new Chinese niece.

[BYUMizzou]

Just used most of my tax return on a trip to St Louis at the end of this month.

I'll definitely see a Cardinals game (against the Brewers), and hopefully the Blues will advance to the 2nd round and I'll see them as well. If it happens, it would easily be the best sports weekend of my life.

Any tips/suggestions?

The official 2012 St. Louis Visitor's guide: http://madden.imirus.com/Mpowered/book/vstg12/i2/p1

I'm not sure what to suggest, since I don't know where your particular interests lie. Also, I would probably suggest something different to a single guy coming here alone than I would for someone coming here with a family. I'm not sure which category you fall into.

[Moliere]

I've been to St. Louis twice for business and it's safe to say I'd never visit for vacation. That place is a hole...well at least downtown is a hole. We stayed out west in a nicer area, which is where my business was being conducted.

One night though my coworker and I went downtown to go up the arch. It was getting late since we had just gotten off work so by the time we got down it was dark. We went to the parking garage and tried to get out but the cashier only took cash and we didn't have any cash on us so we had to park again and go find an ATM. We walked about 1/2 mile to a mall through some scary areas finally found an ATM (this was before smartphones) and walked back, almost running at one point because we were scared out of our wits. We were probably harassed at least 3 times for money by beggars, who also liked to follow us after we told them we didn't have any money.

So my advice is stay in the nice areas and don't venture downtown after dark, or even in the light. It's a hole.

They do have Steak and Shake though, so there is one thing going for St. Louis.

[BYUMizzou]

So my advice is stay in the nice areas and don't venture downtown after dark, or even in the light. It's a hole.

I regularly go downtown with the wife and 6 kids and have never had a problem. There are places where you don't want to go and where I wouldn't take my family, but generally the places around the high traffic areas are safe. This includes the areas around Busch Stadium, Lacledes Landing, and the Arch. If you get into north St. Louis, and if it looks like you're surrounded by crack houses, well, then you probably don't want to be there.

[Katy Lied]

I have a new Chinese niece.

Will you let her play with your test tubes? And encourage her to keep or trash them?

[dabrockster]

I've been to St. Louis twice for business and it's safe to say I'd never visit for vacation. That place is a hole...well at least downtown is a hole. We stayed out west in a nicer area, which is where my business was being conducted.

One night though my coworker and I went downtown to go up the arch. It was getting late since we had just gotten off work so by the time we got down it was dark. We went to the parking garage and tried to get out but the cashier only took cash and we didn't have any cash on us so we had to park again and go find an ATM. We walked about 1/2 mile to a mall through some scary areas finally found an ATM (this was before smartphones) and walked back, almost running at one point because we were scared out of our wits. We were probably harassed at least 3 times for money by beggars, who also liked to follow us after we told them we didn't have any money.

So my advice is stay in the nice areas and don't venture downtown after dark, or even in the light. It's a hole.

They do have Steak and Shake though, so there is one thing going for St. Louis.

Having been to St. Louis multiple times and downtown WAY passed midnight.. I find your experience not reflecting what I observed there.. And one of a wuss...

People were friendly and never gave us issues...


Added note: The arch is cool. Here is a video of it I did while we were up there.. It is pretty cool and on a windy day you can feel it swaying...

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2n0V3ip4_g&context=C496ebb6ADvjVQa1PpcFOq B68fLrvoXpAuGEYjnP3ggUJduW9bYdo="]The Arch - YouTube[/nomedia]

[bag]

Are you traveling with kids? The recommendations change with the answer to that question of course.

You definitely need to go to Ted Drewes. Awesome frozen custard. Though I probably wouldn't go right after a Cardinals game, unless you like waiting in line for a long time.

Other than that it depends on who you'll be traveling with.

I might be there for a Cardinals game at the end of the month too, but it might be the first part of May instead. Go Cards!

[bag]

Added note: The arch is cool. Here is a video of it I did while we were up there.. It is pretty cool and on a windy day you can feel it swaying...

The Arch - YouTube

Agreed. If you haven't been to the arch it is definitely worth a visit.

Do you know where you're staying yet? If not, you might try Priceline. There is only one hotel in the downtown area considered 4 stars or higher (that books through Priceline anyway). It's the Hyatt. It's a nice place. It's within walking distance to Busch and right across the street from the arch. I've never had to pay more than $45 to stay there. And you know you will end up there if you bid on a 4 star place in the downtown area. Keep in mind that parking is like $20 a night I think.

[Moliere]

Having been to St. Louis multiple times and downtown WAY passed midnight.. I find your experience not reflecting what I observed there.. And one of a wuss...

I'll submit to being a sheltered wuss at the time. I was barely removed from BYU and hadn't spent any real time in a "non-Mormon" city, other than my mission...which doesn't count.

[BoylenOver]

Going by myself. My primary interests would be the Cards and Blues, followed by great food. I'd like to see the Arch, but it's ok if I don't.

With the hotel suggestion near Busch, I wish I had looked harder. I ended up getting a cheap place by the airport and renting a car.

I appreciate the suggestions, and definitely welcome more.

[falafel]

Get some butter cake!