If I had 3 Days to Spend in St. Louis, Here’s What I Would Do….

St. Louis is one of my favorite cities (which I’m sure you can see if you’ve read any of my other articles). I love to share about all of its hidden treasures! In this article I aim to share with you a 3-day itinerary you can use when visiting. Make sure you check if these different activities and restaurants are open on the days and times you want to go as some close at random times throughout the week.

Day 1: 

Breakfast at the hotel – To save you time, you can start your day off with a quick breakfast at your hotel or grab something quick on the way to your first activity.

Activity #1: St. Louis Zoo, Botanical Gardens, City Museum – Here I have listed three different activities to choose from. Depending on the weather, and your budget preferences, you can pick which ones you feel fit best in your day…

City Museum: This mostly indoor museum is great for both children and the young at heart. From a school bus hanging off of the roof to a 5-story slide, you’re sure to have a great time exploring each area of the museum. When my family visited we had a blast! Because there is a lot to look at, make sure you plan plenty of time to explore. You can check out pricing along with all there is to do here: https://citymuseum.org

Lunch at Zia’s On The Hill – Some of the best places to eat in St. Louis are On The Hill. The Hill is a unique area dedicated to the Italian Heritage. There are wonderful Italian restaurants, bakeries and delis throughout the area. Zia’s “On The Hill” is found on Wilson Ave. Parking is often found along the sides of the streets and typically is a short walk to the restaurant. The food at Zia’s (as well as most places On The Hill) is some of the best Italian around. Your waiter will start your meal off by bringing bread to your table with seasoned oil. You then will have to pick an entree from all of the delicious options available on the menu. I got mostaccioli and it was really good! Zia’s website: https://zias.com

Desert from Missouri Baking Company – After lunch, walk across the street to the Missouri Baking Co. located on the corner opposite Zia’s. Here you will find a large variety of Italian pastries and cookies you can buy and take with you to enjoy on the way to your next activity. I love their small cookies so when I go I grab several different kinds and enjoy them throughout the next few days. I have tried many different baked goods from this bakery. You can’t go wrong with whatever you choose.

Activity #2 – St. Louis Zoo, Botanical Gardens or City Museum

Dinner at Fitz’s on the Delmar Loop – Besides good food at Fitz’s, you can purchase one of their many bottled sodas (or several to go) as well as eat one of their BIG unique milk shakes for dessert. Because of their size, I recommend sharing a shake between at least two people! Website: https://fitzsrootbeer.com

Day 2: 

Early lunch at Amighetti’s On The Hill – Amighetti’s is a fast casual restaurant where you can grab a sandwich to go or eat there in the restaurant. At Amighetti’s you will find a wide variety of sandwiches and other Italian staples like toasted ravioli. We grabbed sandwiches to go when we visited and they were all very good! Check out their hours and locations here: https://amighettis.com

Riverboat Ride and Gateway Arch – After Lunch you can head on over to the Mississippi River and take a riverboat ride. You can check out their schedule here: https://www.gatewayarch.com. This hour long river boat cruise will take you down the Mississippi sharing history from the city along the way. If you get there early or after you are done, walk on over to the Gateway Arch and look around. If you have the time, you can also take a ride to the top to see the view. The Arch became a national park in 2018 so don’t forget to collet your national park stamp while there.

Dinner at Mama’s On The Hill – If I had to pick one restaurant to eat at on my trip to St. Louis, this would be it. I have yet to find Manicotti anywhere that beats out Mama’s in taste (and believe me, I’ve tried). This is also a great place to grab some toasted ravioli if you haven’t yet. Depending on what day you go, you may want to call ahead and make a reservation. Weekend evenings can get pretty busy. Website: https://www.mamasonthehill.com

See my detailed review of Mama’s here: https://pepperandpassports.com/myfavoriteplacetoeatonthehillinst-louismissouri/

Day 3:

St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Game, Salt + Smoke, Citygarden Sculpture Park – The reason I didn’t give these events a specific order is because your schedule will depend on the time of the baseball game. Salt + Smoke is a great BBQ restaurant located in Ballpark Village. Depending on the time of the game, this can be a great place for lunch or dinner before entering the stadium. If you are eating before first pitch make sure you get there early enough so you don’t have to miss the start of the game. You may even want to get there before they open and get in line. One reason this restaurant is so great is because they have quick service. You can check out their menu before you go so you are ready to order once you’re seated – Menu: https://www.saltandsmokebbq.com/menu/

Before and after the game you can walk over to the Citygarden Sculpture Park. The garden can be found between 8th street and 10th street as well as Chestnut street and Market street. This experience can afford you a pleasant walk downtown St. Louis while looking at these fun art pieces. Find Directions here: https://citygardenstl.org/visit/#getting-to-citygarden

I hope this 3-day itinerary gives you a plan for your vacation in St. Louis. If you find yourself with extra time or wanting to switch an activity you can check out these other options as well…

• Grants Farm
• Jackman’s Fabrics quilt shop
• Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
• Turtle Playground Sculptures

Have a great trip! – Peppers and Passports

And if you love Italian food and you find yourself in Tulsa, Oklahoma, make time to visit Mondo’s Restaurante Italian – https://suitcasesandsalt.com/authentic-italian-restaurant-in-tulsa-ok/