For our next weekend getaway, we are heading east! East on I-70 that is, all the way to St. Louis, MO. Depending on where you’re coming from, you can expect to get to St. Louis in about 4 hours or less. Columbia provides a great bathroom/snack/stretch-the-legs stop at about the halfway mark.

I have two suggestions as far as lodging—first, you might want to consider camping! After all, it is summer…and the memories will be long lasting for sure. I found a great looking campsite adjacent to Six Flags theme park. Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park features resort cottages, cabin rentals, tent sites and RV camping. I plugged in a few weekend dates and found that a 4-6 person, air-conditioned “tent” goes for around $60/night. A steal compared to a full-service hotel! If you were more inclined to go the way of the standard hotel/motel, the suburb of Clayton on the western city limits would be a great choice. It’s safe at night, very close to the city, and has a wide range of hotel types and prices from which to choose.

Upon arriving, look for those newspaper racks that feature local magazines, like KC’s “Pitch.” St. Louis has two particularly good ones for your needs—Riverfront Times newspaper, which features upcoming concerts, events, activities and restaurant information. For strictly restaurant info., you’ll want to pick up SAUCE. Both are free publications and may even contain some special offers or coupons.

You’ll want to check out Downtown: The Riverfront, the Gateway Arch (museum and ride to the top!) Tickets to ride the tram to the top of the Arch can be purchased in advance and cost $7 for adults; kids to age 13 cost $3. It’s well worth it…a thrill your kids won’t soon forget! You’ll also want to check out the Old Courthouse (where the Dred Scott case was heard) and the Old Cathedral (oldest west of the Mississippi). The nearby City Museum is great for kids and was made of unique, found objects. It boasts old chimneys, salvaged bridges, construction cranes, and even two abandoned planes! It’s part playground, part funhouse, and all architectural marvel. You won’t want to leave downtown without going to Busch Stadium. If you’re not lucky enough to take in a Cardinals’ game, the Cardinal Baseball Museum is nearby.

Another neat part of town is the Soulard neighborhood. It’s approximately 5 minutes south of downtown on Broadway and resembles Kansas City’s Westport or Crossroads districts. You’ll want to check out the Farmer’s Market (an inexpensive way to feed the family) as well as the multitude of local bars and restaurants. The Anheuser-Busch Brewery tour is also nearby—and it’s FREE! After a long day, mom and dad can take the edge off with a beer and let the kids drink all the complimentary soda they can handle.

Next up on our tour is Forest Park. It is 500 acres larger than New York’s Central Park! Did you know that this was the site of the 1904 World’s Fair and was attended by over 20 million people? Once inside the park, follow signs to the world-class zoo, the Art Museum, the History Museum, the Botanical Garden and the Science Center. Are you sitting down? ALL OF THESE ARE FREE!!!! EVEN THE ZOO!!!

Another fun option for the kids is The Magic House/St. Louis Children’s Museum. The museum features 100s of hands-on, engaging exhibits spread over four floors. Your kids will love touching the electrically charged ball and making their hair stand on end (like yours probably is at this point in the summer!) Admission is $7.50 and this hugely entertaining and educational museum is located in Kirkwood, just off I-44 at the Lindbergh Exit. You might want to call before you go - they’re doing a lot of highway construction in St. Louis this summer and several stretches of highway are closed. You might need to find a detour - but it’s worth it!

I briefly mentioned Six Flags, if you’re looking for a full day, theme park experience. Another larger attraction is Grant’s Farm, which is situated in Affton, MO. If you are heading from Clayton-area lodging, go south on Hanley Road, which turns into Laclede Station Road. Turn left on Gravois and right on Grant Road. Anheuser Busch owns Grant’s Farm, and its most famous residents are probably the A-B Clydesdale horses. You can visit them along with the 1000+ other animals via the FREE tram tours through the reserve; ending with a petting zoo. Tram, shows, entrance– all are FREE!

Readers—any other St. Louis hot spots? Feel free to submit your ideas! Enjoy!

Check out the whole series of KC Kids Fun Weekend Getaways by clicking here.