Before You Go

Coordinates 38.6270° N, 90.1994° W
Baton Rouge to St. Louis 663.8 miles
Driving Time 9 hours, 38 minutes

Why St. Louis?

“It is self-evident that St. Louis affected me more deeply than any other environment has ever done. I feel that there is something in having passed one’s childhood beside the big river, which is incommunicable to those people who have not. I consider myself fortunate to have been born here, rather than in Boston, or New York, or London.” –T.S. Eliot

Family adventures await in the big city on the big river. You can find endless free museums, sports, parks, and delicious meals while on your trip in the amazing St. Louis.

Where to Eat

Twisted Ranch  |  1730 S 8th Street  |  St. Louis, MO 63104
Who says you can’t have ranch with everything? Twisted Ranch offers a full menu of house-made dishes that incorporate their very own ranch seasoning and ranch flavors, your choice of 27, in every item. This unique restaurant is taking the city one ranch lover at a time, which makes it a must stop for memorable dining. ■ twistedranch.com

SweetArt  |  2203 S 39th Street  |  St. Louis, MO 63110
Satisfy your sweet tooth and dine in for a delicious breakfast or lunch at this artistic cafe. The drive to St. Louis will be well worth it when you feast on SweetArt’s signature pastries and enjoy the stunning artwork created by the owner himself. ■ sweetartstl.com

Pappy’s Smoke House  |  3106 Olive Street  |  St. Louis, MO 63103
They say if you’re looking for the best restaurants in St. Louis just look where the locals eat. Pappy’s slow smokes their meats up to 14 long hours over sweet apple or cherry wood. Finish off your choice of smoked meat with a selection of four delicious BBQ sauces. ■ pappyssmokehouse.com

What to Do

Spend an old-fashioned day out on the farm, a go-to destination since 1954. Grant’s Farm is the 281-acre ancestral home of the Busch family, named for Ulysses S. Grant who originally worked a portion of the land. Take open-air tours of Deer Park and interact with some of the 900 animals who call the refuge home. Meet the famous Budweiser Clydesdales, ride a camel or carousel, or just hang out with the spectacular wildlife. ■ grantsfarm.com

City Museum, designed by internationally acclaimed sculptor Bob Cassilly, is a 600,000 square-foot museum in the former International Shoe Company building. Put simply, the interactive museum is an eclectic, surrealistic playground for all ages. There is nothing like it! Slides, structures, and art to play on for the whole family. ■ citymuseum.org

Offering nearly 1,293 acres of land for in-line skating, biking, walking, running, golf, tennis, and other sports and activities, Forest Park is the crown jewel of St. Louis. The park is home to five of the region’s major institutions: the St. Louis Art Museum, the St. Louis Zoo, the St. Louis Science Center, the Missouri History Museum, and the Muny amphitheatre. The museums and zoo are free admission and can each stand alone as must-visit attractions. ■ forestparkforever.org

The Magic House Children’s Museum features hundreds of interactive exhibits designed to pique curiosity, spark imagination, and foster a lifelong love of learning. This is a museum for play and learning that offers multiple opportunities to have fun while experimenting. ■ themagichouse.org

For the athlete or sports fan in the family, spend a day at the baseball stadium with the St. Louis Cardinals or on the ice cheering on the pros with the St. Louis Blues. Both baseball and hockey games are fine family fun, so schedule a few hours and get in the spirit. ■ stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com and nhl.com/blues

In the heart of downtown St. Louis along the Gateway Mall, breathtaking sculptures and lush greenery cover two city blocks. While taking in the sights, the kiddos can romp and splash in the water features and fountains of Citygarden Urban Park. Nothing like beauty, art, and play combining as one marvelous installation. ■ citygardenstl.org

For a totally unique outdoor art experience, visit Laumeier Sculpture Park which includes 60 works of large-scale outdoor sculptures in 105-acres located in the heart of St. Louis County. Free and open daily, Laumeier serves visitors of all ages each year. Climb and explore the grounds, and stand in awe at the massive works of sculpture. ■ laumeiersculpturepark.org