·        Dave and Busters: Dave & Busters is a national chain of restaurant/bar/entertainment establishments. It’s a great place for an adult’s only good time or fun for the entire family. The food served at Dave & Busters is a wide variety of all American cuisine. Dave & Busters is located off the Earth City Expressway near the Harrah’s Casino. Prices begin at $3 and go up to $20 on individual items.

·        Chevy’s Fresh Mex: With 6 locations in the St. Louis area your craving for good Tex Mex can always be satisfied. They make their salsa, guacamole, and tortilla’s fresh every day and their tamales are a mush have. Be sure to order yourself one of Chevy’s specialty margaritas. Food starts at $5 and goes up to $14 for individual menu items.

·        Joanie’s Pizzeria: Located in the Soulard area of St. Louis, this pizzeria offers appetizers, salads, soups, sandwiches, pastas, calzones, as well as their famous pizza. Joanie’s is a great choice for families. Prices start at $2 and go up to $19.

·        Caleco’s: Located in the heart of downtown St. Louis, Caleco’s is a wonderful place to get a meal after a ballgame, while shopping, or while exploring the downtown. Caleco’s offers a menu packed with appetizers, steaks, pastas, pizza, desserts, as well as a kids menu. Try their toasted ravioli; it’s some of the best in town. All menu items are priced from $3.99 to $19.99

·        Hard Rock Café: Located downtown at Union Station, the Hard Rock Café is a good choice for either a family meal or a night out with friends. The atmosphere is full of fun and excitement and the menu isn’t too shabby either. Menu items start at $5 and go up in price to $22.

·        St. Louis Fish Market: The St. Louis Fish Market is located in the always happening Laclede’s Landing area. This restaurant has a full sushi menu as well as a regular dining menu offering the likes of lobster, crab, and fresh fish. Menu items are priced from $2 to $48.

·        Big V’s Burgers: You haven’t had a burger until you’ve tried one from Big V’’s. Located in the Loop section of St. Louis, Big V’s offers specialty burgers as well as hot dogs, chili dogs, tuna melts, and onion rings. Prices begin at $1 and go up to $5.75 for individual items.

·        Imo’s Pizza: A St. Louis tradition, Imo’s pizza comes in pieces cut into squares instead of triangles. With over 30 locations in St. Louis there is always an Imo’s close by. Imo’s offers pizza, salads, sandwiches, toasted ravioli, and pastas. Prices start at $4 and go up to $22.

·        Rigazzi’s Restaurant: Rigazzi’s located in the historic “Hill” neighborhood of St. Louis. Rigazzi’s has been serving up traditional Italian food since the 50’s. Rigazzi’s features a large menu with appetizers, sandwiches, pastas, burgers, and pizza. Menu prices begin at $5.50 and go up to $19.

·        Ted Drews: Ted Drews custard is another tasty tradition in St. Louis. There are two St. Louis area locations Ted Drews serves up signature concreates, sundaes, shakes, cones, ice cream sodas, floats, and smoothies. Prices start at $2.40 and go up to $5.60.

 

·        Chez Leon: This French Bistro features signature dishes and has won several dining awards since opening in 2000. Located in the Central West End part of St. Louis, Chez Leon is a great place to celebrate. Menu items begin in price at $7 and extend up to $48.

·        The Crossing: The crossing is another fine dining experience St. Louis has to offer. Menu’s at The Crossing change frequently to reflect in-season delicacies. This restaurant is located in Clayton and has prices that start at $10 and go up to $40.

·        Carmine’s Steakhouse: Owned by the Lombardy family who also own other St. Louis area restaurants, Carmine’s is located in the heart of downtown St. Louis. Aside from several mouthwatering cuts of steak the restaurant also offers several chicken and seafood dishes. Items on the Carmine’s menu start at $7 and go up to $42.

·        Dierdorf’s and Harts:  Owned by two former football legends, Dan Dierdorf and Jim Hart, this steakhouse offers two St. Louis locations. Their menu features several cuts of steak, as well as seafood, chicken, and salads.

·        Blue Water Grill: Located in Kirkwood, the Blue Water Grill has become a favorite of seafood lovers. Their menu features several signature seafood dishes, salads, soups, and steaks. Prices start at $7 and go up to $30.

 

·        Gateway Arch: This is perhaps the most famous attraction St. Louis has to offer. The arch has a large outdoor park area as well as an underground visitor’s center.

·        St. Louis Zoo: The St. Louis Zoo is one of the best zoos in the country. There is a $2 admission to the zoo.

·        ForrestPark: This public park offers bike trails, baseball fields, and tennis courts. The park also has a lake that in the summer is open to boats and in the winter becomes an ice skating rink.

·        Botanical Garden: Also known as Shaw’s Garden the botanical garden has over 1,200 species of exotic plants and tress. It is also home to all types of orchids, hibiscus flowers, passion flowers, cycads, and a number of endangered flowers.

·         Six Flags & HurricaneHarbor: An amusement park and water park in the same location, can it get any better than this? Six Flags offers several thrilling roller coasters such as the always popular Superman Tower of Terror. Hurricane Harbor features an array of slides, a lazy river, wave pool, and kid’s water world. The parks are located off I-44 in Eureka, MO. Daily passes can be purchased as well as season tickets for $24 and up.

·        Grants Farm: The farm is a wildlife preserve for over 1,000 species of animals. It is also home to the famous Budweiser Clydesdales. Admission is free but there is a $5 parking fee.

 

·        St. LouisScienceCenter & Planetarium: Located near Forrest Park, the Science Center & Planetarium provide up close and personal looks at space exploration. The admission is free but there is a charge for the IMAX theatre.

·        Butterfly House: There are as many as 100 different species located inside this conservatory. The butterfly house is located in Chesterfield and is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. There is a $5 admission for adults, $4 for children ages 3-12, $4.50 for seniors, and children under 3 are free.

·        Museums: St. Louis is home to several museums such as: The Contemporary Art Museum, The Magic House, City Museum, and the St. Louis Art Museum just to name a few.

 

·        Riverboat Casino’s: St. Louis is home to Harrah’s, Ameristar, President, and Argosy Casino’s.

·        Laclede’s Landing: This area offers several bars, nightclubs, as well as restaurants that cater to your night out on the town. You always have a good time at the landing.

·        WestPort: West Port provides several bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. There is even a comedy club located in the area.

·        The Loop: A popular area for St. Louis locals and visitors, the Loop offers a wide variety of nightclubs, bars and lounges, as well as off beat restaurants.

 

·        Hyatt Regency St. Louis: The Hyatt Regency is located in downtown St. Louis and is very close to many of the downtown attractions as well as just a short drive from other area points of interest. The hotel is one of St. Louis’s oldest hotels and also reserves the 4 Diamond rating from AAA. It was built in 1884 and then renovated in 2000. The hotel is a part of the historic St. Louis Union Station which has been transformed into a shopping center with over 80 shops, restaurants, and bars. The Hyatt Regency offers amenities such as: room service, laundry service, barber and beauty service, fitness center, and pool. The rooms at the Hyatt Regency are all spacious and comfortable. They offer standard guest rooms as well as one and two bedroom suites. There is also the exclusive Presidency suite. Nightly rates start at $149. Once inside the beautiful hotel you will be greeted with the towering ceiling and the old world charm of the décor. The hotel offers two restaurants for your dining enjoyment. The Station Grille Restaurant has a triple diamond rating from AAA and is one of St. Louis’s finest restaurants. It also offers a cocktail lounge perfect for enjoying your favorite drink and a nice cigar. The Grand Hall also doubles as the hotels main lobby and lounge. The ambiance of this grand location makes it perfect for an afternoon cocktail. Fine wines and liquors, light appetizers, and specialty coffees can be enjoyed at the Grand Hall. For reservations at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis call 1-314-231-1234.     

On your first morning in St. Louis you’ll want to start your day out with a nice breakfast that will energize you and get your ready for your eventful day. You’ve got one of two options for a hardy breakfast. The first one is ordering room service and eating in your hotel room or you can pop downstairs to the Station Grille for breakfast.

 

 

The location of the hotel puts you a very short distance to the famous Gateway Arch. The Arch is located on the banks of the Mississippi River. It is probably the most recognizable feature located in St. Louis. It is on the grounds of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial and offers beautiful outdoor scenery with an observation area that overlooks the mighty Mississippi. You can also venture inside to the underground visitors center. The visitor’s center features educational information about St. Louis as well as the westward expansion of the United States and offers a snack bar. A documentary film by Charles Guggenheim is also shown in the Tucker Theatre. The film is shown several times daily and depicts the building of the Arch. The visitor’s center is also where tickets to the top of the Arch are purchased. There are 2 trams that travel to the top of the Arch allowing passengers to enjoy the beautiful view from the 630 feet high structure. On a windy day you can even feel the arch swaying in the wind. The Gateway Arch is open 7 days a week, hours vary by season. Prices for the Arch attractions are as follows:

·        Tram Tickets: $10 Adults (16 and up), $7 Youth (13-15), $3 Children (3-12).

·        Movie: $7 Adults (16 and up), $4 Youth (13-15), $2.50 Children (3-12).

·        Tram and Movie: $14 Adults (16 and up), $11 Youth (13-15), $5.50 Children (3-12).

 

 

After all the excitement from the Arch you’re sure to have worked up an appetite. Caleco’s Bar and Grill is just the place to feed your hungry appetite. Caleco’s is a great place to eat with out spending a fortune. A St. Louis favorite since 1974, Caleco’s offers a wide variety of foods on its menu including appetizers, salads, sandwiches, pastas, chicken dishes, steaks, and desserts. Caleco’s is located at 101 North Broadway just one block from Market St. in downtown.

 

After refueling your self at Caleco’s its time to head to the St. Louis Zoo. A short drive from the downtown, the zoo is located inside the beautiful Forrest Park off I-40. There is a $2 general admission fee to enter the zoo. Once inside you are greeted with a sprawling 10 acre animal paradise. The zoo has several exciting animal exhibits such as the newly remodeled Penguin & Puffin Coast an outdoor sanctuary for over 20 Humboldt Penguins. It features a 22 foot cascading waterfall as well as penguin nests. The zoo also provides kids a fun place to learn about animals at the Emerson Children’s Zoo. An exciting feature of the children’s zoo is the Hip Hop Swamp which is home to 17 species of frogs, toads, salamanders, and caecilians. The zoo is open everyday with the exception of Christmas and New Years Day, the hours from Memorial Day to Labor day are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., the remainder of the year the zoo closes at 5 p.m. There is an $8 a day parking fee in the two parking lots for the zoo.

 

 

Instead of eating dinner at a restaurant grab a hotdog, burger, or nachos while watching the Cardinals make another go at the World Series over at the new Busch Stadium. 2006 will be the inaugural season for the new state of the art stadium. The hotdogs served at Busch Stadium are some of the best around. Ticket prices for adults ages 15 and up start at $13 and go up to $42, tickets for kids ages 15 and under start at $7 and go up to $9.

This morning breakfast will be on the go with a stop off at the Edible Difference which is located downtown on Pine St. The Edible Difference offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus and caters to hungry people on the go. Their breakfast menu includes favorites such as: breakfast sandwiches made to order, bagels, and hash browns. Not only will it be a scrumptious breakfast you can also pick up some goodies to put in the cooler and eat for lunch while at Six Flags.

 

 

Six Flags has so much to offer that it will most likely take you all day to try to fit it all in. From roller coasters like Superman Tower of Terror to the Grand Old Carousel, Six Flags has something for everyone. The park opens for its season at the beginning of April and closes down for the winter at the start of November. It is only open on weekends until June and is then open 7 days a week until the third week of August when it goes back to weekends only. Tickets to Six Flags can be bought individually or in season pass form. Prices begin at $26 for individual tickets and go up to $70 for season passes. Park hours are as follows: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. until June then park extends hours of operation until 7 p.m. until August when hours return to 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

 

 

In between all the fun you’re having at Six Flags it will be time to head out to the car where the cooler stocked with goodies from The Edible Difference like sandwiches, potato salad, and coleslaw are waiting. Coolers are not allowed inside the park but you can leave the cooler in the car and enjoy your lunch in one of their picnic areas outside the park. Just be sure to have your hand stamped which allows you to renter the park.

 

 

Chances are you’ll be pretty tired after a long day of thrill riding at Six Flags. Thank goodness the Hard Rock Cafe is a great place to take a load off while recharging with some dinner. The restaurant is located within Union Station which makes it a short walk from the hotel. The menu offered at Hard Rock is a variety of American cuisine.