We planning on meeting some friends in St. Louis over Labor Day weekend. What are some recommendations for things to see and places to stay? We’re all adults, but we’re not looking to party or go to casinos.
The arch is on our list, as well as the City Museum. The Cahokia Mounds also look interesting. Any other ideas?
I also wasn’t sure how to go about picking a hotel. I’ve heard the city has some pretty rough spots. Neither us or our friends are very familiar with the area (they are coming in from Ohio!).
The art museum and zoo are both free (the zoo parking lot charges, but there’s free parking available if you’re willing to walk). The Botanical Gardens are nice, and not too expensive. While at the arch, wander over to the Old Courthouse (just west).
As for hotels, downtown and anywhere along the I-64 corridor should be fine. The roughest part of the city is north of downtown (although it is beginning to revive a little).
There’s usually a lot going on Labor Day Weekend. The Missouri Botanical Garden has their annual Japanese Festival that weekend, which includes demonstrations, vendors, displays, and all kinds of nifty stuff. Get there early to get good parking; it will be very busy if the weather is good.
The big Greek Festival is also that weekend, in the Central West End area. Another fun cultural event with amazing food. This is another get-there-early event that is usually busy.
There’s also the Big Muddy Blues Festival down at Laclede’s Landing every year.
This is 2012’s list, but it should give you an idea of the stuff that happens yearly:
Be sure to watch the short documentary about the Arch’s construction while you’re there. If you’re in STL on the weekend, Soulard Market is nearby (it’s a year-round farmer’s and flea market) and if you head out west, check in the Global Market. It’s a huge international grocery store that must be seen to be believed.
Zoo, Arch, Forest Park, Brewery Tour, and Gardens are all very good.
The Cards are out of town so that’s out of the picture.
If you want to try something a little different, the Gateway Cup Bicycle Races are in town that weekend.
I’d especially recommend the TOUR DE LAFAYETTE which is a race on Friday evening. Few bike races are held in the dark and it’s quite a sight with dozens of riders zipping by you every couple of minutes.
Pappy’s in the Central West End (CWE), and Bogarts in the Soulard Neighborhood. Both run by a Memphis in May champion. If you go to Bogarts get an order of thier “pit beans” and ask for a sample of the prime rib, so very good.
4 Hands Brewery is a newer craft beer brewery that has recently opened downtown. The tour wouldn’t be a cool as the AB tour, but the product is very well crafted.
If you’re checking out breweries and you’re hungry too, try Schlafly Bottleworks or Schlafly Taproom. Their food and beer is delicious, if a little pricey.
I’m kind of tired of it now, but all my touristy friends love to visit the Delmar loop for an evening of shopping/eating/drinking. It’s also where the Moonrise Hotel suggested above is located. And the Pageant there is a pretty nice concert venue if somebody you like is playing.
Don’t forget to try: Toasted ravioli, St. Louis style pizza, and barbecue pork steaks. Oh, and gooey butter cake! And local beer – other than Budweiser. Though I do second the AB brewery tour.
One big tip: Cahokia Mounds are NOT in Cahokia. They are closer to Collinsville, Illinois. More than one tourist has made the mistake of looking for them in Cahokia.
The next mistake is seeing some huge mounds off of I-70 on the way to Collinsville from STL. Those are not the Cahokia Mounds. Rather they are just trash dumps. I think the people who built the Cahokia Mounds would be VERY impressed with the trash mounds though.
Note that this is only true for East St. Louis. There is actually a lot of cool stuff on the Illinois side, but if you’re only in town for the weekend I doubt you’ll have much time to explore.
