I'm trying to talk dh into letting us go to St. Louis this summer for just a few days. We're about 5 hours away, so we could drive, but I'm not sure what we should do. We have to be fairly cheap, and I want it packed full of homeschool adventures. I remember there is a Mound somewhere around there - Devin studied the Moundbuilders this year and was VERY interested, so I really want to do that. But what else - the zoo is a definite, is there a Science City type thing there? Is there a cheaper place to stay, like say on the outskirts of St. Louis that you would suggest? We can't camp - dh will totally nix the whole thing if it requires camping. :rolleyes: I remember there was a sculpture park that I'd like to go to, and of course, we have to see the Arch, but anyone know where I could find the costs and could you tell me what is just a giant waste of $$$? We could only be there for about 4 days. Any suggestions would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!!

We're 90 minutes from St. Louis so I'm no help on places to stay, but our favorite places to visit are:
St. Louis Science Center http://slsc.org/
St. Louis Zoo http://www.stlzoo.org/
Grant's Farm http://www.grantsfarm.com/
Magic House http://www.magichouse.com/

http://www.explorestlouis.com/visitors/ticketsDeals.asp "TICKETS & DEALS To make your visit to St. Louis even more fun, informative and inexpensive, click on the logos below to learn more about special offers through our promotional partners."

Edited to add more:
World Bird Sanctuary http://www.worldbirdsanctuary.org/
Lone Elk Park http://www.stlouisco.com/parks/LoneElk.html
Missouri Botanical Garden http://www.mobot.org/

All the visitors centers in Missouri have brochures for the entire state.

Thanks! I just ordered a St. Louis visitors guide and while I was checking out the site, I found some of these places....

St. Louis Science Center www.slsc.org
Turtle Playground www.stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/parks/forestpark/turtle.html
Magic House www.magichouse.org
City Museum www.citymuseum.org
Worldways Children's Museum www.worldways.org
Butterfly House and Education Center www.butterflyhouse.org
Missouri Botanical Garden's Children's Garden www.mobot.org
World Bird Sanctuary www.worldbirdsanctuary.org
Faust Historical Village www.stlouisco.com/parks/faust_home.html
Black World History Museum

I didn't even really check out Grant's Farm - I'll go look at that again - I was just thinking since my kids see farms EVERYDAY, (both grandma's have farms, and we're in a pretty rural area - horses, goats, cows, chickens, ducks, geese - pretty normal site around here) that this wouldn't be something we'd get to excited about, but am I wrong? What makes Grant's Farm special? Was that the Clydesdale one???

Wow - I just checked out Grant's Farm, and that does look cool! Now I've just got to convince dh to let us go!

We live on a farm so going on the name you'd think "What's the point?" But we love it! Our horses/mules could never compare to the Clydesdales! I could stand and look at them for hours! There's also Ulysses S. Grant's cabin, deer, zebra, bison, antelope, and more.

Cahokia Indian Mounds

http://medicine.wustl.edu/~mckinney/cahokia/cahokia.html

Thanks Robin - I didn't know exactly what I was looking for with the moundbuilders, but that was it! I can't wait!

out of the links you posted I'd reccomend

Grant's Farm (free just pay for parking)

The Science center and Zoo (both free...can pay for better parking) are really close to each other. The zoo is in Forest Park where there is also the Jewel Box (flowers) and art museum, etc.

The Magic House is really fun. No food there so plan meals accordingly.

We really like the City Museum. More fun for kids above toddler age.

The Botanical Garden is BEAUTIFUL right now...really hot in the middle of summer though.

I felt Worldways Children's Museum was a waste of money. It's a guided tour type thing.

The Butterfly HOuse is neat but IMO it's kinda pricey to sit and watch butterflies fly around. Guess I'm spoiled by all the free stuff. It's in Faust Park where the historical village is. Nothing much to see unless there's an event going on. There is a carousel there that's cool (goes really fast).

The Turtle Playground would be a waste of time IMO. It's just a dinky park with some big concrete turtles and some swings. There might be some old metal climbing thing too. Nothing worth traveling to see.


The World Bird Sanctuary and Lone Elk Park are kinda far away. Lone Elk Park is known for BAD ticks in the summer.

there's places to stay everywhere. I wouldn't stay downtown in the city but in stlouis county somewhere. Or even StCharles. What kind of place are you looking for? Something like a Holiday Inn or something dinky and cheap....lol? Do you want restaurants and stuff nearby?

Thanks Dannielle, that's what I was hoping to get some insight on.
As far as hotels go, it doesn't need to be the Ritz, but I would like something halfway decent. If it had even a small pool it would be wonderful. I think I'm in agreeance with you, if there are inexpensive things to do, I'd rather do those and spend my money on a nicer place to stay - again, really though - where we stay would really just need to be clean and preferably have a pool. The boys seem to think half of any vacation is swimming in hotel swimming pools.
As far as food goes, well, Devin has food issues, so a lot of our food will have to be picnic from home, or bought at hfs there. Surely I can find a hfs in St. Louis! LOL So I don't have to be based close to restaurants - unless there are any good restaurants that cater to gf/cf allergy issues there.
Crossing our fingers we sell our other house soon, dependant on that I can really start planning - ie. making reservations.
Thanks ladies!

You'd *think* a big city like StLouis would have HFS everywhere, wouldn't you? But there's really only one that I know of. There's one Whole Foods...that's it. It's in Brentwood...right at the I-170 and Hwy 40/61 interchange. Right by a big mall...and lots of shopping. Really close to Forest Park (also right off Hwy 40/61...just a bit more east going toward downtown)

That sounds like your area.

Let me get a phone book...it's not an area I know off the top of my head.

http://www.yellowpages.com/SearchResult.aspx?page=adv&searchform=zipsearch&typeorname=type&search=hotel&searchfor=hotel&method=and&zipcode=63144

Here's a yellow pages search...one hotel and one inn in Brentwood...really close to Whole Foods and the highway. There's a link for a map when you click to see the listings.

*****************

Where I live, in Maryland Heights (central part of the county so really accessible to everything...downtown/Forest Park is about 25 minutes away) there are a TON of hotels. If you were downtown for the day and drove back to the hotel via Hwy 40 Whole Foods would be on the way.

http://www.yellowpages.com/SearchResult.aspx?page=home&searchform=homesearch&typeorname=type&search=hotel&searchfor=hotel&method=and&city=maryland+Heights&state=MO

FWIW...If you should take Hwy 70 I would reccomend NOT getting of the hwy between downtown and the airport. You kinda would need to know where to go and where to avoid and if you're not familiar it's best avoided. There are some dangerous areas there (I worked in a really bad area and lived in one not too much better at one point :shudder: )

Dannielle - YOU ROCK!!! I'm going to check those out NOW, so I can get to estimating my total cost and start back to work on dh! Thanks again!

Um, the first thing that comes to mind is VISIT ME :D.

My mom stayed in a hotel off Kirkwood road, I'll drive by today and find out which one, lol. It's near restaurants, and Target, not too far from Whole Foods. I think it had a pool, and was relatively inexpensive. It's on Kirkwood rd near Watson rd.

The zoo is awesome! Try parking on the street before you pay for parking. We almost always find a spot on the street. Beware that the childrens zoo, insectarium, and railroad all cost money. IMO the children's zoo is worth the money, as is the insectarium. The railroad is neat because one ticket takes you around and you can get off at exhibits, get back on, and go to another spot. The downfall is that you can't use a stroller on the train. You're supposed to leave it at the entrance you first board, unless it's a single umbrella stroller. You can fold up and take those.

The Science Center is fun and interactive, and street parking there is also possible. I recommend parking free at the planetarium in Forest Park and going over the bridge over the highway (there is stuff to do in there, like radar guns to clock the cars, and windows in the floor to look down at the cars zooming by). That enters into the Science Center, which is mostly free.

We have membership to the Magic House. LOTS to do there, and up the street a little ways is a farmers market if you're iso fresh fruit and veggies. If you decide to do that, and want to meet up, LMK, we have free passes I could give you. I would love to meet up :).

Grants Farm is well worth the money to park. The Budweiser Clydesdales are there. There are also, in addition to farm animals, elephants, a huge rodent that looks like a guinea pig (what is that called?), monkeys, probably others I'm forgetting. The free-range park has all sorts of stuff roaming around, and you ride right through them. You never know what you'll see. Plus, if your dh drinks (or you!), there is a hospitality Bud bar, with tap stuff, plus some of their bottled drinks (some sort of hard lemonade, yum!). You get 2 free drinks :). Might be an incentive, lol. My dh loves Grants Farm, lol. You can also feed the baby goats. Oh, and if you decide to allow one gift from one gift shop, make it this one. They have some really nice small toys, and they are not horrendously over priced. My ds got a stretchy rubber snake there for $2 that he adores.

The City Museum is absolutely fabulous, but my kids are just a bit young for it. I'd say age 5, younger if there is only 1, or enough adult hands, lol. I couldn't do my 2 there alone. It's really hands on, and the younger set would need lots of supervision. The cool thing is that they will have creations to bring home, so pack accordingly. There is also a glass blower on site, and he does demos. Really cool. The climbing area is the best ever, but again, for the older set.

Originally posted by Moonglow
Um, the first thing that comes to mind is VISIT ME :D.

My mom stayed in a hotel off Kirkwood road, I'll drive by today and find out which one, lol. It's near restaurants, and Target, not too far from Whole Foods. I think it had a pool, and was relatively inexpensive. It's on Kirkwood rd near Watson rd.



Well DUH! Of course I'll visit you! AND bring pictures! As far as the hotel goes, I'm liking the "relatively inexpensive" and "pool" part. Is there anyway that you could call them and ask room prices? We don't smoke if that is pertinent to prices?!? I would be eternally grateful!!!! I personally could care less about a pool, I don't wear swimming suits anymore (to white and to thick!) so that knocks the pool out for me, lol - but my guys seem to think it's imperative to have a swimming pool.

Gosh, all this info. I knew you guys could hook me up. Gotta convince dh now....

is Wild Oats still in Clayton? I thought the prices there were bettern than at Whole foods, but whole food was only open a few months before we moved from St. Louis.

If Wild oats is still open, it's only about 5 min away from whole foods and you might find better prices.

My 2 cents from 3 years ago....:rolleyes:

Kaight

Dh's wavering.....getting closer.....:D

We went to STl earlier this year with our toddler and had SO much fun for cheap! Definitely go to the zoo and I would recommend parking on the street like the others said. *I* think it's worth the extra money to pay fo rthe children's zoo portion. My dd had a blast feeding birds. You give them some nectar and they come right up to you. :) And there is a little playground area in there.

We also liked Grant's Farm a lot. Very pretty.

We LOVED the Magic House. it was so much fun.

Personally, we stayed at Jellystone National Park and that was fun for us too. It was off-season but it was around $99 a night. You stay in a small trailor of sorts. Not everyone's pick, but we didn't mind. There is a small kitchen and a grill outside. We made grilled chicken every night and smores. They have a swimming pool and daily activities for kids. The "cabin" we stayed in had two bedrooms, one with bunk beds ( a tiny room). And it had a bathroom (obviously). They also have campsties but I don't like to camp on vacation.

We went to the Arch but didn't ride up. It was awesome to see the outside of it though. We just weren't sure how our over-tired DD would do on the 45 minute trip so we skipped it. I thought it was a bit pricey too.

Wow! Thanks for the advice about Jellystone National Park, I just went and looked at thier site, and that would be a great place to stay. We always find that if we try to do more than 1 activity on vacation then we get rushed, the kids get tired, and we end up not having as much fun. But when you only do 1 activity, then you're stuck spending a lot of time in a boring hotel room. There were lots of activities to do there, AND we could feed ourselves because of the refrigerator and grill. Wasn't there also a stove - I've already forgotten LOL!

I've been to the arch before, and I "KNOW" Logan would not do well on it, but Devin would REALLY enjoy it, so I know it's something we have to do with him.

Oh yeah, and I also noticed that if you stay at Jellystone National Park you get 2 free tickets to Six Flags - now, I wouldn't PAY for Six Flags, but dh and Devin would LOVE going to Six Flags, and if we could get a bonus set of free tickets, then I'm game. I think then all I'd have to pay for is Devin's ticket - I'm assuming Logan would be free because he's only 2.

I'm clearing out some of my favorites this morning and find this... http://www.familyattractionscard.com/STL/offercard.htm You can print that page for savings around St. Louis.

Printing right now! Thanks a bunch! :thumbsup:

Delhpa - yep, your reasons are the same as ours for not staying in a hotel! There is a small playground and they have mini golf and a train that runs daily. When we were there, it was off-season but during the summer, etc., they have daily activities that are free or very cheap for the kids, things like scavenger hunts, karaoke nights, t-shirt painting etc. Like I said, it's not the Ritz Carlton, but we would rather have things to DO rather than an expensive comforter. LOL I do think we had to bring our own bedding, which was fine for us. And they do have a SMALL oven and stove. NO microwave though if I remeber correctly. It was fun to just chill out at night and grill some chicken and potatoes. Oh they also have this small "theater room" which is nothing fancy, just a large tv in a room with benches, but they are free for checkout and you can go in there and pick out a family movie and watch it with your family and possibly others. I think it was really fun. A LOT more to do than at a hotel and we didn't have to worry about noise with Whitley. We went out to eat once the whole time we were there and saved a ton of money that way. I think we even packed some food for the trip and for after we got there since our grocery stores are cheaper. We took an ice chest. We were five hours away.

When are ya'll going? We want to go again this year if we can, if only for a long weekend. Oh yeh, you do get the six flags tickets. We didn't get them since we didn't stay the right nights, but it is VERY close by. We wouldn't have paid to go, but I am hoping we'll get to go this year maybe. HAVE FUN!

Hey you want some pictures of jellystone and the zoo, etc? PM me your email addy and I'll send some. STL is a great cheap vacation.

Still don't know if I can go. I got a vacation guide in the mail the other day and now I'm REALLY jonesing to go, but still not sure if we can afford it. If we sell our other house soon, then I can possibly talk dh into it, but the one guy that was interested hasn't said anything, and now we're starting to get WORRIED.

If you go, definitely go to Grant's Farm and Magic House.

All of my kids (even dh ;) ) has a blast at Magic house, it's so cool, there is sooo much to do.
We usually bring a picnic lunch when we go, and eat outside, then the kids are ready to go back in.

Grant's farm is great too, it's sooo neat, you get to ride (tram's?) around the park, seeing all the animals, it's really cool... then they have a walk through part. My kids LOVE to get bottles and feed the goats.
They also have lots of 'shows' which are all free.

There's also a really neat caves (merameck?) not too far from there, they are pretty neat, but can be hard on small kids, as it's alot of walking/carrying.

We've been to the zoo, and it's nice... but I would do Grant's farm first.

Haven't been to the science center yet, as much as we are there. (We go monthly)

Dh and I go once a year with the kiddos and stay at a nice hotel, we always get a king bed, and it has bunk beds in the room too. There is a indoor pool, a indoor playground, and they serve a big 'continental' breakfast (which is a plus with 6ppl in your family! LOL)

He's working on the house now, when he gets in, I'll ask him the name of it.
I know it's on lindbergh rd, near Grant's farm, and close to Magic house.