Hi all, I’ll be visiting WashU in a few weeks and i was just wondering if any of you had suggestions as to what to fill my itinerary with beyond the actual visit to the school itself.
Lots to do in St Louis - a Cardinals game would be obvious, the Zoo is world-class and sort of free, you can go up in the Arch if you catch a clear day, Laclede’s Landing for the night life. (And all this comes from a man who hates St Louis with the white-hot passion of a thousand suns. :)) ) What kinds of things do you like to do?
Eat at Fitz’s. Watch them bottle their root beer and soda and take home a 6 pack. It is on Delmar BLVD. The architecture is beautiful in University City. Forest Park is amazing. Art museum and zoo.
Check first, though; my daughter went there on her senior trip and they weren’t brewing that day. :((
Eat Italian food on the Hill (Charlie Gittos is really good. I also liked Zias and Cunetto’s, but there are a lot of authentic Italian places there.) Go to Blueberry Hill on the Delmar Loop for a burger and check out what bands are performing there during your stay. Go to Ted Drewes for a concrete (like a blizzard from Dairy Queen, only made with frozen custard, which is smoother and creamier than soft serve.) Visit the Art Museum or the History Museum or the Zoo in Forest Park, which is right across the street from campus. Go to the Central West End for restaurants. If your trip is timed right, you may be able to catch a show at the Muny, an outdoor theatre in Forest Park with good musical productions in the summer. Fox Theatre may be showing something. I hope you have fun. I love St. Louis!
We were just there for a long weekend. We went to the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Arch (the movie is very interesting) and Forest Park (zoo, art museum). All were worthwhile, but it was hot and humid! Bring a refillable water bottle.
I’ve heard the City Museum is quite fun! It’s essentially a giant playground for adults.
St. Louis is a great city if you take the time to explore. Our student loves it and is having a blast this summer. We are going back in a few weeks to enjoy it again. Spent the July 4th weekend there. Fantastic time!
All the above recommendations are spot on. Soulard for the marketplace, historic architecture and good food. Barbecue (Bogards in Soulard, Pappy’s, Sugarfire, Salt and Smoke, Shaved Duck, etc.). National Blues Museum. Riverboat ride. City Museum. Cherokee Street. Forest Park. Lacledes Landing. Food Truck Friday in Tower Grove (park is nice too!). St. Louis Science Museum. Federal Reserve Bank for an economics tour. Central West End walking tour. Jefferson Gateway National Park and Arch. Clayton for other good dining. Roosters for breakfast. The Local for burgers. Blues for hockey. AB tours.
Much more to do. Can’t wait to go back!
City Museum…do it!
Most of the good things have already been suggested:
Briefly…
Zoo (~1-2 miles from WUSTL, free except for parking (though free street parking can be found) and a few things inside like the Childrens’ Zoo.
Art Museum - Also 1-2 miles from WUSTL, basically right next to the zoo. Very nice. Parking is free, mostly (there’s a pay garage available, but most of the time you can get into the free lots, except maybe weekends). Museum is free (donations can be made, but there’s a fairly soft sell on that), and an exhibit or two.
History Museum - Also 1-2 miles from WUSTL. Free parking, about half the museum is free. Not as neat IMO as the above two.
Botanical Garden - Very nice if you catch it on a nice weather day. Maybe 4-5 miles from WUSTL. There is an admissions charge (may be free certain days, but generally charges), but not too pricey.
The Arch area downtown should be nice, but I think they’re still in the late stages of the elaborate construction project that’s been underway for a year or three. Probably best to avoid.
Cardinals game (if they’re in town, of course).
Food - The Loop (~0.5 miles north of WUSTL). Various BBQ joints (can research online). South Grand (Interesting, varied, ethnic restaurants). The Hill (Italian).
City Museum if you’ve got younger sibs. I think appeal of City Museum is lesser for ~17 year olds, but moreso for 7-14 year olds. Somewhat pricey admission, if I recall correctly.
Six Flags if you’re in to theme parks.
If you haven’t visited yet, try a Ted Drewes frozen custard. The summer campus tours will include this.
St. Louis has some unique food choices. You should try gooey butter cake (which tastes better than it sounds) and toasted raviolis.
Traveling around the campus is kind of a pain now because of the construction.