10 favorites places in St. Louis, MO

Aidan, Dan and I went to Forest Park the other day, and we had a great time on Art Hill.

I was born and (for the most part) raised in Missouri, and I love St. Louis – the city. I thought I would use a recent family trip to the city as an inspiration for my top 10 list of favorite things to see in St. Louis. If you’re a Missourian, you should check them out. If you’re not – well, then you need to come for a visit! Today I will list five for you to check out. Check back tomorrow for the rest!

Here they are, in no particular order…

#1 The Jewel Box

I adore the Jewel Box not only because it is home to hundreds of amazing flowers, but because my husband and I were married there. Admission is just a buck, and you really can’t beat that. They have various shows throughout the year, and you can plan special events there, too. Of course, it’s perfect for weddings and receptions as well.

#2 Missouri Botanical Gardens

The MO Botanical Gardens are another great place to take the family. They have plenty of events happening this summer, such as the Niki in the Garden exhibit. My sister Tanya and I took Aidan there a few months ago, and we had so much fun. They even have a little maze for children. And yes, it’s another fabulous wedding location.

#3 Coffee Cartel

Located in the Central West End (my absolutely favorite neighborhood in the city), this 24-hour coffee shop may not make a great wedding location, but it’s perfect for just about anything else! They have life music every Thursday, free Wi-Fi for customers, and they make a mean iced chai latte. Mmmmmm.

#4 The Katy Trail

My husband, Dan, and I are really into running. I guess the Army made us that way. But the fact is that we really enjoy it, so we often spend our mornings by putting Aidan in his jogging stroller and going for a little run. (We actually been crazy enough to contemplate running a 1/2 marathon sometime in the spring, but more on that later.) The trail is 225 miles long and stretches across the state. We usually just run a few miles near Old Town St. Charles, but we’re planning to rent some bikes out in Matson and spend the day out there.

#5 Grant’s Farm

With the whole Anheuseur-Busch drama, who knows how long Grant’s Farm will be around, but it’s the perfect place to take children. I have many fond memories of going with my mom when I was a child. I still haven’t taken Aidan there, but it’s on my to-do list for the summer. Admission is free, and there are so many fun things to do. My favorite was always feeding the baby goats from a bottle. The little ones always get a kick out of that.