Scholarship table
Finally set our Italy trip. Going October 4 to 16. Two days in Rome, three in Florence, three in Tuscany two in Naples, a day back to Rome and home.Back just in time for Packers vs.Bears.The countryside looks incredible. Has anyone driven a car in Italy.
Suggestions for St Louis? Hitting up side project but that's it so food, breweries, etc please!
How many days? Time of year? Interests? What parts of town? Types of food you like etc…you can ask here or message me.
4 days, next weekend, I like food, beer, diver bars and history. I can get around on public transit or Uber so not held by a part of town, have been out by SLU a few times and done the AB tour before. Apparently getting dragged to a Cardinals game but would prefer a cool by the park bar not some St. Louis equivalent of Wrigleyville. I literally eat anything that isn't eggplant or dessert so any great food that's off the beaten path would be appreciated. Thanks!
Avoid the "pizza".
I like to say, “if it were me” when giving suggestions, as well as ask what someone likes or wants because it isn’t me or my trip. In my opinion, Forest Park is one of St. Louis’ best things. It has something for everyone. It’s over 1300 acres, larger than Central Park in NYC. They have free trolleys once you get there. In it is the zoo (free) art museum (free) outdoor touring broadway show amphitheater (not free but affordable) connection to the science center, multiple 9 hole golf courses, 2 tennis centers clay and hard court, including my favorite one Dwight Davis, (18 courts hard court and stadium) which happens to be next to the nice air conditioned visitor’s center. (staff there can give you tips etc…) There’s a brand new several acre area for children if there will be some on your trip. Literally just opened. A Play escape. This is where I would go on a nice weather day. There’s a boathouse restaurant too. It’s pretty good BBQ. Sugarfire Smokehouse runs it. It will likely be crowded. You can take canoes and paddle boats out into the water if you wish. Art Hill is popular for relaxing in the summer or sledding in the winter.The Missouri History Museum is free, and it's located in the park next to the visitor's center and Dwight Davis, on the North Side of the park near the metro stop. It's a nice museum. They have many exhibits. The Old Courthouse downtown is also worth exploring for a history buff.The other nice thing about Forest Park is that it has a Metro link stop, and, it’s centrally located, close to several other neighborhoods, Delmar Loop, Central West End, Cortex, Midtown, Tower Grove, downtown, etc….if it were me, at the very least I would spend some time in the Central West End next to the park. The East end of the park is Central West, towards Midtown and SLU. The West end of the park is Washington University’s campus, Wydown neighborhood which is nice, etc... Lots of biking, running, walking, paths in there. Check their event schedule.There are often seasonal special events such as free Shakespeare in the Park like NYC, or a hot air balloon festival or whatever is going on that weekend.It’s a rare down season for the Cards but they will still get a crowd and many out of town visitors for their weekend summer games. There are a lot of newer places in the neighborhood, not unlike several other cities including what the Cubs have done with Wrigleyville. It’s worth walking past the few blocks, just to see the development, but, if you want a dive place or something more local, you will move it along a bit. But there is a lot going on in Ball Park Village and Cardinal Nation areas. Paddy O’s immediately South of the Stadium would be a better fit for that. Also, near there, Broadway Oyster Bar is popular. You could to to or from Soulard before or after. Lots of free shuttles back and forth to Busch. If you need quick walking distance food place with beer only, try Sauce on the Side. City Museum downtown is popular, kids and adults who are young at heart, It isn’t for the faint of heart or non able bodied. Wear sneakers or fomrortable shoes there.Combining activities/locations with the ball park, Arch Grounds are walkable from there, and they had a huge $380 million renovation recently. Washington Ave is a loft district near there, walkable of bars and restaurants not far from Busch. Also, The Soulard neighborhood to the South has lots of walkable bars, restaurants, farmer’s market, and it’s one worth visiting. Benton Park is just past it. There are many local breweries depending on your neighborhood. 4 Hands is near Soulard. I am partial to their “City Wide” Pale Ale. Urban Chestnut is near SLU. Center Ice and Rockwell are near the Grove. Schlafly’s is near the new MLS Stadium in Downtown West. Burger? Bailey’s is still there. Hi Pointe Drive in is near there. Schlafly’s could get you a brew pub and a decent burger close to there. Soulard has some good burger spots and it has 4 Hands nearby. And just beyond is Benton Park which is known for Mexican food and many Mexican restaurants bakeries and groceries, but it also has a popular local burger place called Mac’s Local Eats. If you are near SLU, Retreat Gastro Pub is a good upscale casual place that I like for both. If you have young kids, Union Station has an aquarium, ferris wheel, mini golf and all of those types of things after it was redone a few years back. Schlafly’s is walking distance from there. Rooster is a good brunch spot downtown and serves a pretty good burger. Near there is Lafayette Square, lots of cool 1800’s Victorian buildings and homes, variety of colors, with a park and bars and restaurants.Also if near SLU, they are building a new $300 Million Food Hall, Cinema, grocery, all kinds of things. It’s called City Foundry. It still has a ways to go. It’s in the Prospect Yards District.Missouri Botanical Gardens is popular, worth a visit and it’s immediately next to (North) of Tower Grove Park, which is more of a local’s Forest Park. It isn't free but it's very affordable. It's one of the bigger ones nationally and has a lot to see in there. There are several good restaurants nearby.
Thanks! Last time I was in town we tried to hit up Pappys Smokehouse but the wait was absurd. Worth a second attempt or forgo it for a better BBQ spot?
shoothoops - This is a great list and I think I'm ready for another visit and a Cards game (on my to do list).City Museum is different and interesting. I forgot about that.Galway - One more thing if you like history. I visited Cahokia Mounds, the earthen Pyramids. It's a 15 minute drive from DT St. Louis. Everything is extremely flat and it's very weird to walk to the top of the main mound and be able to see the St. Louis skyline.
Typically you probably can’t and don’t want to drive in Rome. Parking in Florence is pricey. https://romevacationtips.com/12-reasons-shouldnt-hire-car-rome/But driving through the Tuscan countryside is amazing. Take back roads, you will be amazed at what you find. Any chance of training between Florence and Rome?Great time to go. If you do Pompeii, get a guide or join a tour. Herculaneum is less crowded but as impressive. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HerculaneumWe actually opted to spend more time in Rome instead of Naples. Rome has so much to explore. My advice to almost everyone going to Europe is "You are going to too many places". And I speak from experience. We did a similar itinerary of yours, except replace Naples with Venice and a return out of Milan. We were exhausted by the end. Oh and since good beer is in short supply in Italy, visit "Ma che siete venuti a fà" for some great beers. https://www.football-pub.com/As an ale drinker, we like ReAle made in Italy.
We are training between Rome and Florence. We will not get a car until we're in the countryside. Want to poke I misspoke -- we are going to Venice this trip.Probably will drive to Naples and then drop the car there. Train will waste an etire day.
shoothoops - This is a great list and I think I'm ready for another visit and a Cards game (on my to do list).
Probably will drive to Venice and then drop the car there. Train will waste an etnire day.
Does anything else in St. Louis really matter?Cardinal games always have been worth the trip, this year somewhat less than other years. It's the best thing about St. Louis, by far!
Pro trip: Driving in Venice will end up being catastrophic. About as bad as laboring through a horrible Cardinals game in 100% St. Louis summer humidity.
St. Louis has a wide variety of types of pizza. Many people in Chicago don’t either eat deep dish pizza, or eat it only once in a while, as opposed to frequently or all the time. Chicago of course has several other types of pizza as well. St. Louis isn’t any different. Although it was pretty fun during the recent U.S. Olympic Trials held in St. Louis, when Simone Biles lavished her praise not only for Stl style pizza, but also for the provel version of it. https://twitter.com/simone_biles/status/1409915138640072705?s=21
At the risk of sounding stereotypical, this is probably a great time to go to Venice as I imagine the huge tourist ships dumping heaps of Asian tourists every day won't be operating as usual. The uniqueness and history of Venice is ruined by the tourist trap nature of so much of it these days, but that is exponentially exacerbated by the huge tour groups that come off the cruise ships and roam around like lemmings.
The U.S. Gymnastics Trials last month at the dome broke the previous attendance record. https://twitter.com/ackerman1120/status/1409304361055010817?s=21