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Below is our recommended list of places to visit and dine in St. Louis.

1. Gateway Arch

You can pay to ride the elevator to the top of the arch, but buy your tickets in advance. Your ticket also includes admission to the new museum. For parking, we used the mobile parking app and paid to park in the secured parking garage a few blocks away.

2. St. Louis Cardinals baseball game

We were in town specifically to see a Cardinals vs. Cubs game! My husband is a huge baseball fan and not only did we buy tickets months in advance, but our ticket purchase came with an Ozzie Smith bobble head. On the day of the game, we arrived inside the ballpark and an usher assisted to the location of the bobble heads. It was in the upper mezzanine level, where Ozzie Smith himself was signing his autograph on the bobble heads. We now have memorabilia that Kevin added to his baseball collection. It is an item we will always treasure!

If you are ever in St. Louis when the Cardinals play, you must go to a game! Their fan base is one of the best in all of MLB. The atmosphere is full of excitement!

3. Anheuser-Busch tour

I have always wanted to learn about the history of the Budweiser Clydesdales, so we chose the Clydesdale VIP tour. Again, we bought tickets several weeks in advance and were the first tour in the morning. We heard about the history of the Clydesdales and how they travel. In addition, we were able to walk through the stables, meet and pet a retired Clydesdale, and learn about how the Clydesdales are cared for.

4. St. Louis Union Station

The union station offers a number of attractions. The St. Louis Aquarium, St. Louis Wheel, and the Fire & Light show are among several of them. We chose to walk around and ride the St. Louis Wheel. The views of the city and it’s old history are definitely worth it!

5. Botanical Gardens

We had an AirBnB just a few blocks from the Missouri Botanical Garden, so we took our pups on a stroll around the outside areas of the garden. (Note: There are also many pet-friendly homes in the same area listed on VRBO.)

Dining Guide

1. Charlie Gitto’s on the Hill

Make reservations weeks or a month in advance to Charlie Gitto’s. You won’t regret it! For our visit, we started with a baked ravioli appetizer then shared a Caesar salad. I had manicotti for my main course, and let me tell you it is the best manicotti I have ever had! Kevin’s main course was Rigatoni with Sausage. Since we were celebrating Kevin’s birthday here, the server brought out a piece of their Italian birthday cake at the conclusion of our meal. It was delicious!

2. BLT’s – Breakfast, Lunch, & Taco’s

We had a late breakfast at BLT’s one morning. Since it was brunch, I enjoyed a mimosa with cranberry juice, and Kevin had a beer on tap (from one of the local breweries). I enjoyed their breakfast burrito and Kevin ordered the chicken and waffles. Yum!

3. Salt + Smoke BBQ

Salt+Smoke has a location right near Cardinals Nation by the ballpark. We stopped in this location on a week night when there was not a ballgame and there was a bit of a wait. We now know why! The food was gratifying and the portions were huge! We shared a BBQ plate and a salad and couldn’t finish either one. This is a must stop for the St. Louis dining scene!

4. Ted Drewes

Several years ago, we saw the DDD episode with Ted Drewes custard and ever since then we have wanted to make a stop here! There is a line here for a reason – the custard is simply delightful! I had the vanilla custard in a cone. Kevin had the banana split, which you could most definitely share. They both hit the spot on this hot summer day.

5. Square One Brewery

With our dogs in tow, we stopped in Square One late one afternoon to sit on the dog-friendly patio while enjoying lunch. I tried a beer flight and Kevin had one of their IPA’s. We shared some nachos and a chicken salad. Everything was enjoyable! The bonus was the patio offered plenty of shade on a warm summer afternoon and the location was in a quaint little neighborhood.

6. SqWires

SqWires was our breakfast stop on our last day in town! Since it was a weekday, there was only a few tables occupied inside. Kevin ordered the smoked brisket hash and I had the omelet. Both meals were satisfying!

7. Have a Cow Urban Farm Store and Cafe

We stopped in the cafe to get a few souvenirs from the store and buy some baked goodies! I visited with one of the workers who recommended some wine they had on display. The story behind the wine was so neat, and I appreciated the recommendation. Now, Edg Clif Winery is on my list of wineries to visit!

To summarize, our time in St. Louis was incredible!