Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about St. Louis, Missouri! St. Louis is on my list of top ten cities in the Midwest because it’s a great family destination, whether you’re looking for a quick weekend getaway from Chicago or want to spend a full week exploring the Gateway City. As much as I enjoy visiting St. Louis, there are also some things that I don’t love about it. So, today, I’m sharing the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate, about St. Louis, Missouri!
Love #1: Friendly Locals
The Midwest is known for having friendly people, and St. Louis is no exception. Locals in St. Louis are happy to give you directions, recommend their favorite restaurants, and tell you all about their favorite places to visit in St. Louis.
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Hate #1: Downtown St. Louis at Night
When you visit St. Louis, you’ll probably stay downtown to be near the St. Louis tourist attractions. But once the sun goes down, there isn’t much to do in St. Louis. It is getting better, but unless there’s a baseball game at Busch Stadium, downtown St. Louis is pretty quiet at night. It can even be a bit unsettling if you’re out walking around at night.
Love #2: Easy Access
Although St. Louis is really a driving city, they do make it easy to get around. There are lots of highways to help you get around the city.
Hate #2: Driving in St. Louis
You will likely have to do some driving while you’re in St. Louis, and that means dealing with bad drivers and lots of traffic at certain times of the day. This is one reason we try to choose a St. Louis hotel that is downtown so we can minimize our driving as much as possible.
Love #3: Cultural Attractions in St. Louis
St. Louis has a lot of great cultural attractions. The St. Louis Art Museum is fantastic. The St. Louis Zoo is amazing, and it’s free. The Arch isn’t just a cool sculpture, it’s a great lesson in American history where you can learn why St. Louis was called the Gateway to the West.
Hate #3: Limited Public Transportation
Like many US cities, St. Louis does not have a great public transportation system, which is why you end up driving a lot of places. There is a light rail system that serves the downtown area, and a train that will take you to the casinos in Illinois, but to reach most St. Louis tourist attractions outside of downtown, you’ll need to drive.
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Love #4: Small Towns Around St. Louis
Not all of the St. Louis suburbs have that suburban feel; many of them feel like their own small town. Towns like Kirkwood give you that small-town feel and you’re just outside of a major metropolitan area. This really gives you the best of both worlds when you visit St. Louis. Each town around St. Louis has its own charm and character, so it’s fun to visit a few of them.
Hate #4: Summer Weather in St. Louis
Like much of the Midwest, St. Louis gets really hot and humid in the summer. It can really put a damper on your sightseeing, as the humidity can just suck the energy right out of you. Late spring and early fall are the best times to visit St. Louis.
Love #5: Proximity of Downtown Attractions
Although a lot of St. Louis tourist attractions are located in the suburbs, the downtown attractions are nearby one another. The City Garden, the old State Capitol, and the St. Louis Gateway Arch are all within walking distance of one another. Busch Stadium is also downtown, so you can walk from the baseball game back to your hotel.
Hate #5: Distance Between St. Louis Tourist Attractions
While the downtown attractions are nearby, many of the attractions are out in the suburbs. . St. Louis feels more suburban, with everything spread out, and many of the best St. Louis tourist attractions are not located downtown. You’ll have to travel out to Forest Park to visit the St. Louis Art Museum.
With so many fun things to do in St. Louis, it’s a great family vacation destination, especially for those of us who live in the Midwest and can easily reach St. Louis for a weekend getaway. Want more of our USA travel tips? Check out some of these other blog posts: