Downtown St. Louis Staycation

St. Louis one of the best family friendly spots to visit!

I will yell it from the rooftops that St. Louis is one of the best family-friendly cities. It is filled with so many fun, and oftentimes FREE, activities for kids and families. As the parent of two toddlers, nothing brings me more joy than sharing my love of St. Louis with my boys. 

We decided to kick off Spring Break with a staycation in Downtown St. Louis. We packed a ton of fun in just 24 hours. I’ll share our itinerary and help you expand upon it whether you’re a local family looking for a staycation or coming from out of town to visit our city!

24 Hours in Downtown St. Louis 

Picking a hotel is step one for planning your adventure in Downtown St. Louis and the Drury Plaza Hotel is the perfect location as you step out the doors and you’re at the Gateway Arch 

It’s a very family-friendly hotel with free breakfast and happy hour (which includes food that could easily count as dinner for kids!), a pool and attached garage parking. 

We checked in at 3:00 pm, dropped off our luggage and headed to the Arch.

The Arch is just one of dozens of free activities in St. Louis. You can explore the grounds and the museum. It does cost to go up to the top. They can sell out so definitely purchase them in advance, especially during busy season (like Spring Break). The tram ride to the top is pretty cool, it’s basically a little elevator and you ride it all the way up and get about 10 minutes to take in the view on both sides of the Arch. 

The view from the top of the Arch!

After the Arch, walk down to the riverfront and check out the barges and old fashion riverboat on the Mississippi River! 

Back to the hotel for snacks and pool time. 

Dinner time:
There are tons of great family friendly restaurants in Downtown St. Louis. Some of our favorites: Sugarfire for BBQ, Hot Pizza, Cold Beer for pizza, Rosalita’s for tex-mex, Sen Thai for sushi and Thai food, Katie’s Pizza for some of the most delicious pizza and pasta in town and Salt and Smoke for another BBQ option. 

These are all walking distance in Downtown but with little ones, consider driving or Ubering. Parking is available on the street or in the numerous garages in Downtown. Always be aware of your surroundings. Don’t leave belongings visible in your car. 

After a good night sleep, wake up for breakfast in Downtown. Biscuit Joint is an incredible option. Fresh made biscuit sandwiches and biscuits and gravy plus the most amazing cinnamon roll. Other great options include Rooster and BLT. For coffee, check out Latte Lounge or Catalyst Coffee. 

The Drury Hotel provides free breakfast and coffee.

Breakfast at Biscuit Joint

Then you are going to one of St. Louis’ must visit attractions: The City Museum. This is part playground, part museum, part art gallery, part entertainment complex. It’s a 600,00 squart foot building will amaze the youngest all the way up to the oldest in your ground. For toddlers, there is a Toddler Town on the third floor. Go ahead and just go straight there! A full post on the CIty Museum is coming soon but some tips: write your child’s name and your number on their wrist band, make a meet up spot and wear closed toed and long pants. As an adult, your knees and your back are going to hurt, but it’s so fun to explore the nooks and crannies of this incredible marvel. 

The outdoor play structure at The City Museum.

Inside the City Museum - so many places to explore.

Now if you’re stopping at 24 hours, that’s the end but if you want to keep the adventure going in Downtown St. Louis, here are some other must visit spots: 

Union Station: This is a days worth of an adventure! Also, another great hotel option in Downtown. At Union Station you can visit the Aquarium, explore a ropes course, ride The Wheel and take in a free fire show. Don’t forget to go inside the Union Station hotel for a look at the beautiful Grand Hall and see the free light show. It runs on the hour from 5pm-10pm. 

Take in a game: No matter the season, there’s usually sports in Downtown St. Louis. The St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues, City SC (and their other team City 2 - easier to get a ticket) and the Battlehawks are all in the heart of the city. 

St. Louis, you have my heart!