The Perfect St. Louis Weekend Getaway Itinerary For 2024
Known for its iconic Arch symbolizing the Gateway to the West, St. Louis offers a weekend full of adventures that extend to the unique City Museum, cold Budweiser beers, and top-notch attractions.
Forty-eight hours in St. Louis is not nearly enough time to see everything the city has to offer. Luckily for you, we’ve put together this guide on the best things to see, do and eat when visiting Mound City.
Fun fact; it received the nickname Mound City because the indigenous people built many major earthworks within the city’s boundaries.
Despite growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio, just 5 hours west of St. Louis, we had only visited the area once without our daughter. However, when her recent travel request was to go to the top of the Gateway Arch, we knew we had to schedule a return trip immediately.
We hit the road for a weekend to discover the best that St. Louis had to offer, and we have crafted the IDEAL St. Louis itinerary. We even added in a few of our favorite spots for those that don’t have a tiny human in tow that dictates bedtime.
Where To Stay In St. Louis
St. Louis offers accommodations for all types of travelers, from chic boutique hotels to more family-friendly options. If you’re traveling on a budget, we recommend staying centrally located in Downtown St. Louis because it made it easy for us to take inexpensive Lyfts or walk almost everywhere we went.
- Luxury Hotel: The Four Seasons is an absolutely gorgeous hotel with a stunning rooftop pool view of the Gateway Arch. The Ritz Carlton is a beautiful hotel tucked within the Arts and Garden District of Clayton, Missouri.
- Historic Hotel: Spend the night in the historic Union Station Hotel, the city’s old train terminal.
- Budget Hotels: Families will love the amenities at the Drury Plaza by the Arch or in nearby Forest Park at the Double Tree to be close to the St. Louis Zoo and a plethora of other attractions.
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Friday
The first thing you will want to do is check into your hotel or accommodation. The reality is after a day of travel; you will likely only be up for a few activities and dinner. However, our itinerary will have you making the most of your short time in St. Louis.
Being able to walk to nearby attractions was a priority to us, so we splurged on a hotel by the Arch. Sadly, our hotel had bedbugs, so it is not on the list of recommended accommodations above! Check out our guide if you have to deal with your hotel room having bed bugs. It’s not fun.
After checking in, we walked the Gateway Arch National Park where the Riverfront Cruise departed from.
Rolling Down The River at 3:00 pm
Start your St. Louis experience with St. Louis Riverfront Cruise. Catch some of the best views of the Gateway Arch from the top deck of the authentic riverboat while you cruise up and down the Mississippi River. We recommend booking a combo ticket with an hour riverfront cruise and a tram ride to the top of the Arch.
Buttery popcorn paired with a cold soft drink made the cruise ideal for my daughter while she admired the graffiti art and city views. The riverboat captain was a wealth of information, sharing tons of informative facts about the city, current happenings and pointing out historic buildings along our cruise.
Listen, you had a hard day of travel, so sit back and relax with a glass of wine or a cold beer to kick off your weekend getaway. You know I did!
Planning Tip: Sunset dinner cruises are available most evenings offering great views of the Arch.
View From The Top at 4:30 pm
After your scenic riverboat cruise, venture to the famous Gateway Arch. Follow signs for the entrance as it is not at either end of the Arch but rather closer to the Capitol Building. Learn from our mistakes as we tried both legs of the Arch and nearly missed our tram time!
Upon entering the Arch, you must go through security and proceed to the museum. The Gateway Arch Museum is full of fascinating facts about St. Louis and the Gateway Arch’s construction. You can choose to noodle through the museum before taking a tram ride to the top or after. The museum is free to visit, but guests must purchase a ticket for the tram.
IMPORTANT: Any members of your party that experience claustrophobia may want to sit the tram ride out, as the tram pods are extremely tight quarters. My husband immediately bailed when he saw how small they were.
The entire tram experience is roughly a one-hour adventure. You only get 10 minutes at the top of the Arch, but add time to watch the informational video, have your picture taken, tram time, and wait time for other groups; you are there a solid hour.
The ten minutes seem to fly by, and before you know it, you are making your descent down the Arch. The view from the top of the Arch is incredible, especially if it is a clear day. The windows are smaller than I expected, and I didn’t expect to “lay” across a window box to see out of them.
Planning Tip: Book your tickets in advance online. Many dates and times do sell out during the high season. You can purchase a ticket same day, but you run the chance of long wait times or undesirable tram times.
Grab A Dinner At Broadway Oyster Bar at 6:30 pm
Stepping into the Broadway Oyster Bar, you will feel as if you have been transported to New Orleans. Upon arrival, you are instructed to “Leave Your Attitude At Home” at the front door. We relayed this important information to the children, who brought enough attitude for all of St. Louis.
Once you step into the Broadway Oyster Bar, you can’t stop staring at all the wild decor. The eclectic restaurant is a feast for the eyes, every nook, and cranny adorned.
Known for its incredible Creole flavors and oysters, the Broadway Oyster Bar is one of the best places in the city to get seafood and has been voted “Most Popular Seafood Restaurant in Missouri.” Take advantage of their live music, offered twice daily, except on Fridays when it is a single act.
Order the bread pudding for a tasty sweet treat; it was devoured before a photo could be snapped!
Planning Tip: Broadway Oyster Bar takes reservations, and I highly recommend them as they book quickly.
Broadway Oyster Bar: 736 S Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63102
Have A Nightcap 8:30 pm
If the evening is still young, hit the town for a nightcap. St. Louis has a thriving nightlife scene with trendy cocktail bars, craft breweries, event venues, and a plethora of incredible eateries. Sip on a hand-crafted cocktail at the underground speakeasy Thaxton, relax with your favorite liberation at Planter’s House, or grab a beer at 4 Hands Brewing.
Downtown Option: Thaxton: 1009 Olive St, St. Louis, MO 63101
St. Louis Weekend Getaway: Saturday
Catalyst Coffee 9:00 am
Before any other adventure, coffee is a requirement. Very rarely does the hotel coffee meet my standards of acceptable coffee. My husband lovingly jokes that one of his basic travel needs is a good cup of coffee, but he is dead serious. On every trip, we seek out local coffee shops, with Catalyst Coffee Bar being one of the best in St. Louis.
It is tucked into Art Saint Louis (a non-profit curating art shows in that very space) and is perfect for ducking into during the daytime. They offer tasty expresso drinks and baked goods to kick-start your morning.
Catalyst Coffee: 1223 Pine St, St. Louis, MO 63103
Tour The St. Louis Art Museum at 10:00 am
The lovely St. Louis Art Museum is a great place to start your weekend getaway. Located in Forest Park, The Saint Louis Art Museum’s collection includes over 34,000 objects spanning 5,000 years of history and culture. Stroll through the sculpture garden, admire one of their traveling exhibits, and even see a Van Gogh painting.
St. Louis Art Museum: 1 Fine Arts Dr, St. Louis, MO 63110
St. Louis Weekend Itinerary Tip: Customize your itinerary to your budget. Many of the museums in St. Louis are free and close to the Art Museum. These include the St. Louis Science Center, The St Louis Zoo, and The Missouri History Museum.
Grab Lunch at the Biergarten and Take A Budweiser Tour at 12 pm
After the Art Museum, you’ll head out to tour the Anheuser-Busch Brewery and get up close with their famous Clydesdales. Stroll the Budweiser campus, tour the Beechwood Aging Cellars and the historic Brewhouse, and learn all the steps on how their beer is made from seed to sip.
Witness an exclusive look at the Budweiser Clydesdales’ home in the Stables, and get in-depth information on their lifestyle, training regimens, and mannerisms from one of our expert Clydesdale handlers. To top it all off, you can take pictures with one of the Clydesdales!
Grab lunch at the Biergarten, where they offer traditional Biergarten staples such as Bavarian Pretzel Sticks, juicy burgers, brats, harvest salads, and boneless wings.
Planning Tip: You will want to book your tours in advance. Many different experiences are available, from a Beermaster Tour to Beer and Food Pairing Dinners in the evening.
Anheuser- Busch Brewery: 1200 Lynch St. Louis, MO 63118.
Afternoon Sightseeing: Choose Your Own Adventure
Take the remainder of the afternoon to explore any parts of the city that have been on your bucket list. Downtime at the hotel is always acceptable to gear up for an evening of fun. Here are some suggestions:
Missouri Botanical Garden
Spend the afternoon exploring the gorgeous gardens of the Missouri Botanical Gardens. Feel as if you have entered the rainforest in the Climatron, find your zen in the Japanese Garden, or let your child’s imagination run wild in the Children’s Garden.
The gardens are open daily from 9 am -5 pm, with advanced e-ticket purchases recommended.
Planning Tip: In 2023, The Missouri Botanical Gardens will host Chihuly in the Garden. Chihuly Nights when you can view Chihuly’s dramatically illuminated works of art with live music, cocktails, and pop-up offerings all summer long.
Missouri Botanical Garden: 4344 Shaw Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63110
Catch A Ball Game at Busch Stadium
A great thing to do in the gateway city is to catch a Cardinals game at the Busch Stadium. Cheer on the home team as you snack on stadium popcorn and sip a cold beer. Grab a Cardinals hat or shirt at the gift shop for a memorable souvenir, and as a bonus, you will look like a local!
If you are staying at a hotel in downtown St. Louis, you can easily walk to the game and not worry about parking. For some of the best seats, look for the 200 level; however, if your dream is to catch that homerun ball, the bleachers are your best bet; just bring plenty of sunscreen!
Take A Tour Of Grant’s Farm
During warm weather, Grant’s Farm is a fun place to explore. Grant’s Farm was the Busch Family’s Home since 1903 and is now open to the public. Guests can enjoy the tram ride, animal feedings, carousel rides, and complimentary beer tastings for those over 21. They had me at complimentary beer tastings.
See Ulysses S. Grant’s humble log cabin to the Busch family’s “Big House,” then get up close with the Clydesdale horses. The tour of Grant’s Farm was a great way to round out our Budweiser-themed day. Grant’s Farm is free to the public; check the hours of operation.
Grant’s Farm: 7385 Grant Rd, St. Louis, MO 63123
See The St. Louis Aquarium
Dinner at Evangeline’s Bistro and Music House at 7:00 pm
One of the best spots in the St. Louis area for blues music and cajun cuisine is Evangeline’s Bistro. With savory Creole shrimp, etouffee, and other New Orleans dinner specialties, you will feel like you are dining in the Big Easy. We started our evening with hurricanes and champagne cocktails while music filled the restaurant.
Before long, every table was packed, with tasty cajun creations flying out of the kitchen. Po’Boys, Jambayala, and cajun pasta were the favorites. We could have stayed all evening enjoying the music, but before we knew it, the kids were zonked out, and it was back to the hotel.
Kick your evening up a notch by ordering the Bananas Foster Flambe. They do a tableside flambe that is fabulous and adds to the excitement of the evening.
Planning Tip: Evangeline’s Bistro is open for brunch Thursday-Sunday.
Evangeline’s: 512 N Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108
St. Louis Weekend Getaway: Sunday
You blinked, and your quick trip is already over! Making your way throughout this bustling city, you have likely already started planning a return trip, but for now, it is time to check out of the hotel. Coffee is the only next feasible stop because you are going to need it to finish your day off at the City Museum.
Blondie’s St. Louis 9:00 am
You will need to summon all your energy for the next adventure, so fuel up at Blondies. A cheery brunch spot on the way to the City Museum, Blondies is serving up gourmet breakfast favorites with a heavenly coffee bar. Indulge in pancakes or banana french toast, or enjoy one of their many lunch specials. Sip on a Turtle Latte while sharing an order of popovers with the table.
Fair warning, if you are heading to the City Museum next, don’t stuff yourself because you will need to squeeze through some tight spots and climb.
Blondies: 1301 Washington Ave, St. Louis, MO 63103
Experience The City Museum at 10:00 am
A St. Louis weekend getaway is never complete without a visit to the City Museum. The City Museum is a labyrinthian playground where visitors of all ages can explore caves, crawl through tunnels, and even zip down a 10-story slide. You can literally spend ALL DAY at the museum.
It is truly a city built inside a city! Climb into an airplane, ride on a rooftop Ferris wheel, then get lost in the 3-story treehouse! Everywhere you turn, there is a new space to explore. We recommend getting to the museum right when they open, as it does get busier as the day progresses.
There are so many fun things to do at the City Museum! Unlike the Saint Louis Zoo or Gateway Arch National Park, the City Museum is an all-day adventure. In addition to the endless play, the museum is home to a fascinating collection of artifacts. See the world’s largest pencil, the world’s largest underwear, and George Dehil’s collection of taxidermy butterflies, moths, and insects.
Depending on how you want your itinerary to look, you can always swap the City Museum for your adventure Saturday so that you can spend as much time as you would like there. I know traveling with kids, is going to be a must-do!
Tip: Wear clothing that you can crawl and climb in with sneakers. Long pants were a knee-saver while following my 5-year-old around.
City Museum: 750 N 16th St, St. Louis, MO 63103
YOUR ST LOUIS WEEKEND GETAWAY ITINERARY
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