For this quick guide, we are excited to feature a fellow Midwest-based traveling family. In this post, Sara from the Midwest Nomad Family shares the best things to see and do in St. Louis, Missouri.
MEET THE MIDWEST NOMAD FAMILY
Sara, her husband, and their two young children make up the Midwest Nomad Family. They live just outside St. Louis and love to hike and explore the outdoors. They are great at finding adventure close to home, and love sharing their family-based and budget-friendly tips on what to do in the St. Louis area and beyond. Since we are based in Chicagoland, we aren’t as familiar with Central and Southern Illinois. But thanks to the experiences of Sara and her family, we have enjoyed learning more about attractions in other parts of our state.
We’ll hear more about their favorite travel memories and tips later in this post. But let’s move on to the main event: learning more about things to do in St. Louis!
TOP THINGS TO DO IN ST. LOUIS
Why should someone visit your city?
“St. Louis is a really great place for a budget friendly trip as so many great things in the city are free! In fact, the Zoo, Art Museum, Science Center, Grant’s Farm and the Missouri History Museum are all free. Most of these are located in beautiful Forest Park, which is even larger than New York’s Central Park! You can visit the museum at the Arch and the Old Courthouse for free as well. There are also some great playgrounds in the area, as well as beautiful and free state parks just outside the city.”
What is a touristy attraction you recommend and why?
“The Saint Louis Zoo is always a top recommendation because it is one of the very best in the country and general admission is free. If you go early, you can even park on the street for free and avoid paying the cost to park in the lot. Some of the things that do cost extra, such as the children’s zoo, carousel and stingray exhibit, are also free during the first hour the zoo is open. So get up early to beat the crowds and save some money!
A visit to the Gateway Arch is also a great must-do, as it is the iconic monument of St. Louis and recently became a National Park. The ride to the top is one of a kind and gives you an amazing view from 630 feet up! Also, the whole grounds and museum at the Arch were redone just a few years ago and they are beautiful. Many locals don’t even know the best view of the Arch can actually be found across the river in Illinois at Malcolm W. Memorial Park.”
What is a touristy attraction you don’t recommend and why?
“I honestly can’t come up with something I don’t recommend. The St. Louis Aquarium and the Ferris Wheel are a little pricey, but we still enjoyed them. Both attractions are located at the historic and recently renovated Union Station. I have full reviews of both attractions on my blog (link below)!”
What is an attraction that is not as well-known that you would recommend and why?
“The City Museum is just so unique and I recommended it for a great day of play. It’s basically one huge and quirky playground made of recycled materials. Just exercise caution with younger ones. Try to have one adult per kid if you can because there are so many places to get lost! Secondly, if you have train fans, I highly recommend the National Museum of Transportation. They have an amazing collection of railroad and car artifacts plus a small train and trolley to ride. Additionally, a fun free thing that most locals don’t even know about is the light show at Union Station. If you happen to be at Union Station in the evening, there is a light show that is projected on the ceiling of the lobby every hour from 5-10 pm. Our whole family was amazed when we watched it.”
ADDITIONAL THINGS TO DO IN ST. LOUIS
A big thank you goes to Sara for all her great recommendations on things to do in St. Louis! We’ve seen a few of these attractions and can’t wait to check out the others some day. If you enjoy visiting breweries like we do, be sure to check out the Budweiser Brewery Experience. They offer a free tour through the massive facility and samples at the end. And what goes well with beer? Wings, of course! One of our favorite restaurants we’ve eaten at is the St. Louis Wing Company. They offer an impressive and delicious range of sauces which will leave you licking your fingers and wanting more.
MORE TRAVEL TALK WITH SARA
We asked Sara a few more travel-related questions. Like us, they are huge fans of National Parks as well!
Where is your favorite destination you’ve ever traveled to?
“This is really hard, as there are so many we have loved! I think it would be a tie between Glacier National Park and Arches National Park. We love the entire Moab, Utah area in general, while Glacier is where we did the Grinnell Glacier Trail, our most favorite hike ever. We also feel like we leave a little bit of our heart behind each time we visit and then have to leave Colorado.”
What is at the top of your travel bucket list at the moment?
“We want to visit the other parks in Utah we have not made it to yet, such as Zion and Bryce, and see more slot canyons.”
If you could only share one travel tip, what would it be?
“To just get out there! You don’t have to spend a lot or travel far to find something fun and interesting. The majority of our adventures are within a couple hours of our home.”
CONNECT WITH THE MIDWEST NOMAD FAMILY
To sum up, we want to thank Sara for sharing her knowledge of the family-friendly and affordable attractions in St. Louis! She has plenty of additional tips and resources for families. So be sure to follow her on Instagram at @midwestnomadfamily and check out her blog at MidwestNomads.com.
Do you have any recommendations for things to do in St. Louis? Leave them in the comments below. Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to read our other Trips and Tips!