Tell me about St. Louis Mo.

[66FBCharger]

My son is on a FIRST robotics team at our town High School. They won the regionals this weekend in Hartford, Ct. That means they get to go to the finals in St. Louis the last weekend of April. Unfortunately, there is a conflict. He is being confirmed Friday night. The team is leaving Ct. Weds. My wife and I decided to have me and my son leave as early as possible after the confirmation to fly to St. Louis. No such luck. We couldn't find any flight out friday night. Anyway, the earliest we could get a flight to St. Louis is leaving Hartford at 6AM and arriving in St. Louis at 9:39 AM Sat.
Anyway, enough of my rambling. Tell me if there is something in the downtown area we should see that maybe we could squeeze into to our abbreviated trip. Is there a food that is special to the area that we should go eat? Maybe you could recommend a good place to eat.
The competetion is at the Dome and we are staying within walking distance of the dome. I am planning to rent a car.
Thanks in advance for any tips you can provide.
John

[BananaDan]

The most important three letters in the entire food universe.

BBQ!

[41husk]

The Arch is cool to see and on lacledes landing there are several good eateries and the Mopad is 15 minutes from downtown in Madison IL

[hemigeno]

St. Louis isn't as known for BBQ as Kansas City or Memphis, but there are a few spots around to get decent ribs, etc. (none in downtown that I know of).  SuperSmokers in Eureka is the best AFAIK, but it's a haul from the EDJ Dome.  For a local food specialty, try any of the local Italian restaurants and order up Toasted Ravioli's as an appetizer.    The originator of Toasted Raviolis, Charlie Gitto's, used to have a downtown location on 6th street in addition to their main location on The Hill -- and in fact, I didn't know the one on 6th had closed until looking at their website to reply on this thread.  *snap*

Kemoll's is nice but a bit on the pricey/ritzy side
Tony's is really nice and very much on the pricey/ritzy side.

If you do rent a car and feel confident enough to drive maybe 10-15 miles from the downtown area, nearly anywhere on The Hill is a good spot.  Personal favorites for more casual settings include Zia's, or Favazza's (both very nice but won't break the bank) or Rigazzi's (sortof a sports-bar motif) - and for nicer meals, Charlie Gitto's or Cunetto's.  Check out TheHillStL.com for more info and choices.  Reservations are often wise, especially on weekends.

There are a ton of good eating spots in the area, for sure.

If you need a spot for the H.S. kids to burn off some energy, check out the St. Louis City Museum.  My college-age daughter and her peeps still go down there every so often, they love it.  They said something about if you get in after dark, they loan you a flashlight.  I get tired just watching the kids run around there.



BTW, congrats on your son's accomplishments!  Sounds like a big deal.  

[nvrbdn]

if you have transportation, the budweiser brewery tour is free.  the st. louis zoo is free.   grants farm i think is still free and has lots of animals and a petting zoo with a train ride taking you around the park and refreshments at the half way mark. you should try IMO'S pizza if you like pizza nad thin crust. you must do TED DREWS frozen custard. there is the spaghetti factory on the landing near the arch that is in an ancient building done up really nice with great food.one of the tables to eat at is inside a street car.if you order a certain drink (dont remember what it is, might be lemonade) you keep the glass. now if you cross the river a few minutes into illinois you have cahokia mounds that was a primative indian village with the mounds and the museum. its pretty interesting.

[nvrbdn]

yep the st. louis city museum is a great spot, and the planetarium/sience center next to the zoo is absoultely awesome. free to get in but special exhibits are extra.

[moparstuart]

 I second the City museun
                   Ted Drews frozen custard
                   And The Hill for italian 

[66FBCharger]

These are all great ideas! Thank you all for taking the time to respond to this post. I am going to look into all your suggestions and see what we can fit into our schedule. I should have a better handle on the schedule later this week.
Hemigeno, Thanks for the congrats! It is a BIG deal. Dan (and the team) spent a ton of nights and weekends for 8 weeks or so machining, assembling and testing the robot. The robot worked flawlessly! I am hoping the team does well in St. Louis!

[41husk]

Charlie Ghittos is on Chippewa two block from Ted Drews.  I also suggest the Zoo.  Our zoo is one of the few free zoos in the country.

[Daytona R/T SE]

Two words...

WHITE CASTLE   

[nvrbdn]

oh yea, white castle belly bombers. 

[moparstuart]

Two words...

WHITE CASTLE   

thats a chain   

[twodko]

Stay out of east St. Louis.

[moparstuart]

Stay out of east St. Louis.

[Daytona R/T SE]

Two words...

WHITE CASTLE  

thats a chain  

...And so is what comes out of me about 45 minutes after I leave that place...

[nvrbdn]

Stay out of east St. Louis.

yes yes yes  stay away from east st. louis.

[Mike DC]

I'll just second what the others have said:  

 
1.  The St. Louis City Museum.  Calling it a "museum" completely doesn't do it justice.  It's more like a gigantic adult-friendly jungle jym of modern sculpture.  I don't know anyone who has been there and didn't find it memorable. 

(Yes, you can climb up inside that old figher plane on the scaffolding.)

(Yes, that is a school bus perched up on the roof.)



-------------------------------------------



2.  Most people who haven't been to STL don't realize how big the Arch really is.  

There are elevators in each leg.  There's a room about the size of a train car at the top with some little windows to look out.  Even if you don't go up in it, it's still interesting to at least drive by or walk around the park at its feet.



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3.  StL is particularly known for Italian food.  Some good local joints.  The good places can costs a notch more money than Applebees or Dennys, but it's not excessive.  

[Fitz73Chrgr]

It looks like the Cardinals will be at home that weekend.  If you have the time, Busch Stadium has an atmosphere like no other.  Be sure to stop by Gus' Pretzels before or after the game.

http://www.guspretzels.com/

Check out the "pretzel sandwiches" on the menu.  Delicious and a St. Louis classic.

[404NOTFOUND]

Best thing about St. Louis is they made lots of Dodge Chargers there, mine included.

[66FBCharger]

It looks like the Cardinals will be at home that weekend.  If you have the time, Busch Stadium has an atmosphere like no other.  Be sure to stop by Gus' Pretzels before or after the game.

http://www.guspretzels.com/

Check out the "pretzel sandwiches" on the menu.  Delicious and a St. Louis classic.

Gus's pretzels looks like a cool place to go.

Best thing about St. Louis is they made lots of Dodge Chargers there, mine included.

Where is the Chrysler plant in St. Louis? I would like to drive over there to see it and maybe snap a few pictures.

[Mike DC]

 
The Chrysler plant was torn down recently, I'm afraid. 

It was right off highway 44 in southwestern StL county. 

[66FBCharger]

 
The Chrysler plant was torn down recently, I'm afraid. 

It was right off highway 44 in southwestern StL county. 

Oh that sucks!