St. Louis

[summergirl1211]

I have a 4 day meeting coming up the first week in March and it'll be in the tropical locale of St. Louis. Do any of you ladies live nearby? Has anyone visited and recommend anything to do during our free time? We're staying near The Arch so I'd like to check that out. Also, I looked into touring the brewery but that's likely out since we'll be in meetings during tour times. Are there any cool or fun restaurants or shopping areas around? Other ideas or suggestions? 

TIA!

[tribute17]

I'm not too far away in KC. We have been there a few times. "The Hill" has some excellent Italian Restaurants and there is a river walk type area, not sure the name, that has good restaurants and shopping. I think that one is closer to the arch. Also, the botanical gardens were a free thing to do and they were pretty neat, especially if Riley is going and needs to run around. I wouldn't take Riley up into the arch because of the claustrophobic elevator ride but if it is just you then that might be worth it one time in your life. MH refuses because he is terrified of heights and elevators so I went by myself. Stay clear of union station, it's a waste of time. The science center is really neat (or was when I was a kid) and the zoo is pretty good (just a normal zoo). Those two are close together. That's about all I have right now. Sounds like fun though.

[heatherbee]

Busch Stadium!! I'm a Cardinals fan though, so even just a tour around the outside would be awesome for me.

My DH's family is all from out there but we usually just visit when we are there and don't tour too much. The zoo is supposed to be nice and I believe it's free! When I asked my DH for suggestions, he just said "avoid East St. Louis"

[summergirl1211]

tribute17, yeah, I'm also afraid of heights but I want to check out the arch. Riley won't be there- just me and some coworkers. We'll see how brave I am as to whether I go up or just look from the ground.

heatherbee: No East St. Louis. Got it. I might check out the zoo though if it's not too far away!

[cookiesandwine]

I'm near!! Most definitely avoid East St Louis, but that's in IL so I'm sure you'll be ok. The arch is neat. Without Riley, I wouldn't suggest the zoo or science center, both are really neat, but are more kid-centric. There's a new restaurant/bar/shopping type area near Busch Stadium called Ball Park Village. I haven't been yet, but have heard it's neat. They'll still be in spring training so you won't have too much traffic, but it would be a neat place for dinner if you wanted to watch baseball. The Hill is nice, amazing Italian restaurants and neat grocery stores and bakeries. Very walkable if it's nice. And it's somewhat near the Botanical Gardens I believe. The Landing is also very near the arch area. Restaurants and bars, etc. It just to be THE place for StL nightlife but I think it's deteriorated a bit in the last few years after a couple places closed. Union Station is neat, historic building and it has a few little shops if you're killing time.

Not to freak you out, but please be careful. It's not in the news much but StL is still pretty rocked after the Ferguson ordeal.

[cookiesandwine]

Also Jessie and someone else (I can't remember her sn and I don't want to put her real name out there) are from the StL area if you wanted to FB msg them for more info.

[summergirl1211]

Feb 11, 2015 13:26:24 GMT -5 cookiesandwine said:

I'm near!! Most definitely avoid East St Louis, but that's in IL so I'm sure you'll be ok. The arch is neat. Without Riley, I wouldn't suggest the zoo or science center, both are really neat, but are more kid-centric. There's a new restaurant/bar/shopping type area near Busch Stadium called Ball Park Village. I haven't been yet, but have heard it's neat. They'll still be in spring training so you won't have too much traffic, but it would be a neat place for dinner if you wanted to watch baseball. The Hill is nice, amazing Italian restaurants and neat grocery stores and bakeries. Very walkable if it's nice. And it's somewhat near the Botanical Gardens I believe. The Landing is also very near the arch area. Restaurants and bars, etc. It just to be THE place for StL nightlife but I think it's deteriorated a bit in the last few years after a couple places closed. Union Station is neat, historic building and it has a few little shops if you're killing time.

Not to freak you out, but please be careful. It's not in the news much but StL is still pretty rocked after the Ferguson ordeal.

Great, thanks for the info cookiesandwine! I wish you lived closer so we could meet for lunch or something. 

It's hard to know how much time I'll have since we don't have an agenda yet, but I'll probably have a good 4 hours on Monday and Thursday to kill, and possibly some time at night depending on if we have scheduled dinners or free reign.

[cookiesandwine]

Feb 11, 2015 13:40:23 GMT -5 summergirl1211 said:

Feb 11, 2015 13:26:24 GMT -5 cookiesandwine said:

I'm near!! Most definitely avoid East St Louis, but that's in IL so I'm sure you'll be ok. The arch is neat. Without Riley, I wouldn't suggest the zoo or science center, both are really neat, but are more kid-centric. There's a new restaurant/bar/shopping type area near Busch Stadium called Ball Park Village. I haven't been yet, but have heard it's neat. They'll still be in spring training so you won't have too much traffic, but it would be a neat place for dinner if you wanted to watch baseball. The Hill is nice, amazing Italian restaurants and neat grocery stores and bakeries. Very walkable if it's nice. And it's somewhat near the Botanical Gardens I believe. The Landing is also very near the arch area. Restaurants and bars, etc. It just to be THE place for StL nightlife but I think it's deteriorated a bit in the last few years after a couple places closed. Union Station is neat, historic building and it has a few little shops if you're killing time.

Not to freak you out, but please be careful. It's not in the news much but StL is still pretty rocked after the Ferguson ordeal.

Great, thanks for the info cookiesandwine! I wish you lived closer so we could meet for lunch or something. 

It's hard to know how much time I'll have since we don't have an agenda yet, but I'll probably have a good 4 hours on Monday and Thursday to kill, and possibly some time at night depending on if we have scheduled dinners or free reign.

Ugh, if it were a weekend or day I had off, I'd totally come down!

[summergirl1211]

Feb 11, 2015 15:24:18 GMT -5 cookiesandwine said:

Feb 11, 2015 13:40:23 GMT -5 summergirl1211 said:

Great, thanks for the info cookiesandwine! I wish you lived closer so we could meet for lunch or something. 

It's hard to know how much time I'll have since we don't have an agenda yet, but I'll probably have a good 4 hours on Monday and Thursday to kill, and possibly some time at night depending on if we have scheduled dinners or free reign.

Ugh, if it were a weekend or day I had off, I'd totally come down!

cookiesandwine: Well, if you for some crazy reason have Monday March 2nd or Thursday March 5th off, let me know! Otherwise I totally get it. 

[cookiesandwine]

summergirl1211 I sadly do not And I don't foresee a "mental health" day either since that'd be my busiest time of the month. You'll just have to enjoy that fine city enough for the both of us!

[bliz1712]

The arch isn't that bad if you're afraid of heights. You go up in a really old elevator type car that clinks and is super loud and that's probably the worst part. You are confined and just look out the window of the arch. I was going to suggest the Cardinals stadium. When we were there in 2009 we stayed in a hotel that had a swimming pool on the roof and you could also see the stadium from there. It's really hard to remember what all we did since it's been so long. We took V to the Barnhem and Baileys circus and that took up a day there. I do remember we took a horse drawn carriage ride which told a little about the area and V enjoyed that. Obviously you wouldn't want to do that this time of year though.

Have fun!!

[cbear]

Aww I'm about 3hours away too! It would be so fun if you were there over the weekend

[jfresh]

Booo I'll be in St. Louis the 13-15th! You should message Jessie on fb, I'm sure she'd have some insight or want to meet for lunch or something!

[mrsrek10]

I went there for a conference in 2010 and my hotel was directly across from the Arch! I thought the Arch was neat but I love heights. The elevator you ride up in looks like an egg and (showing my age here) it made me think of the show Mork and Mindy!

A friend from another state was at the same conference and we felt safe walking around that area, even at night. There are several restaurants and bars within walking distance of the Arch.

Hope you have fun!

[summergirl1211]

Feb 11, 2015 18:57:23 GMT -5 jfresh said:

Booo I'll be in St. Louis the 13-15th! You should message Jessie on fb, I'm sure she'd have some insight or want to meet for lunch or something!

Dammit jfresh! So close yet so far away!

I would message her but I tried friending her on FB awhile ago and she declined. I'd feel weird reaching out to her again.

[summergirl1211]

Feb 11, 2015 17:39:16 GMT -5 cbear said:

Aww I'm about 3hours away too! It would be so fun if you were there over the weekend

cbear, I know, right? I wish I was flying in a day before and we could meet up for lunch or something.

[summergirl1211]

@shawnie13, great, thank you so much! I now have a list of things on my phone to do so we'll see what I can fit in once we get our agenda. I'm still hoping to do a Budweiser tour if I can find someone to go with me. Otherwise the zoo would be fun depending on the weather. I appreciate all the ideas laides!

[cbear]

cookiesandwine We now know who one of the guests are lol!

[cookiesandwine]

Feb 12, 2015 12:10:26 GMT -5 cbear said:

cookiesandwine We now know who one of the guests are lol!

LOL I sent her the link on fb this morning so I'm not sure she was lurking before that though! 

[cbear]

Feb 12, 2015 13:05:26 GMT -5 cookiesandwine said:

Feb 12, 2015 12:10:26 GMT -5 cbear said:

cookiesandwine We now know who one of the guests are lol!

LOL I sent her the link on fb this morning so I'm not sure she was lurking before that though! 

Haha gotcha! Ok a little less creepy now

[cookiesandwine]

Feb 12, 2015 13:39:38 GMT -5 cbear said:

Feb 12, 2015 13:05:26 GMT -5 cookiesandwine said:

LOL I sent her the link on fb this morning so I'm not sure she was lurking before that though! 

Haha gotcha! Ok a little less creepy now

Or is it still just as creepy that we have 4 lurkers?!?!?! lol