Your Summer Vacation Guide to St. Louis, Missouri!

Jun 26, 2023

Today we’re bringing back our popular vacation guide to St. Louis, Missouri! This summer, we’re adding some great new stop-offs as well as comfy and cozy hotels and family-friendly resorts.

Let’s start off with lodgings, followed up by some great recommendations for eateries, and some must-see destinations for fun, entertainment, and educational history!

Three Great Vacation Destination Lodgings for Your Summer Vacation

First up, we’re taking a look at the nearby town of Osage Beach and the Sunset Beach Resort. Nestled at the edge of the woods on the shores of Lake of the Ozards is this cozy, low-key resort. It’s a few miles away from the Sycamore Golf Club as well as Lake of the Ozarks State Park. There are beautiful docks and boat slips that are perfect for fishing, or you can opt to rent a boat for extra fun. There’s a beautiful well-groomed beach and swimming area to enjoy water games and more, but if a dip in the lake is not your thing, there’s a comfortable swimming pool as well! The cabins are cozy, with many modern amenities! Perfect for a weekend getaway with your romantic partner, or book a large one for your family and friends.

Another gorgeous option with lakefront views of Lake of the Ozarks is Margaritaville Resort! This is a watersports lover’s paradise! With more than 400 acres of recreational options, guests can enjoy a full-service marina, cruises on the lake, sunset dinners on the terrace, an indoor and outdoor pool, fitness center, and on-site restaurant. It’s also a stone’s throw away from the Mansfield Forest State Wildlife Management Area

The St. Louis Union Station Hotel by Hilton has been a staple of the St. Louis area since 1894. It features historic architecture and stunning decor in the Grand Hall! It’s just blocks away from the cultural center of downtown, minutes away from top entertainment destinations, live music, historic museums, art galleries, and much more! It’s also host of an incredible 3D light show featuring flames and a 100-foot waterfall! For the athletic folks, you’ll enjoy the on-site fitness center and seasonal outdoor pool! As an added bonus, they also offer pet-friendly rooms!

Amazing Eateries You just Have To Try in St. Louis!

Fozzie’s Sandwich Emporium is a small indie restaurant that makes some of the area’s best sandwiches and burgers! They also have wonderful vegetarian and vegan options. You can grab an order for pick-up (in person or curbside) or stop-in for a bite.

Seedz Cafe is great for breakfasts, lunches, and brunches especially. This is 100% plant-based restaurant, and perfect for vegans and vegetarians, but delicious enough even the “carnivores” won’t be upset about it! This fun, fresh establishment serves creative food with options for dips, salads, smoothies, and grab some coffee and tea next door at Provisions.

Boardwalk Waffles serves up delicious seaside inspired treats and boardwalk eats such as waffles and ice cream, “wachos”, waffle bowls, waffle ice cream sandwiches, and delicious hand blended milkshakes. They’ve also got a roving Food Truck that makes appearances at Festivals, Street Fairs, concerts, and more so keep your eyes peeled!

The Cate Zone is one-of-a-kind and worth the wait and lines. This Chinese cafe gets creative with the traditional favorites of down-home Chinese cooking. Gone are the “americanized” saucy, sugary knock-offs. On this menu, you’ll find a spin on authentic flavors in the form of Hot Crisp Fish with spicy chilis and tender battered fried fish, juicy lamb skewers, honey crisp sweet potatoes, tingly-spicy mala soup, and Korean Cold Noodle. Curious? We can’t blame you! It’s a surefire hit for a reason, so what are you waiting for?

Pizza Champ is becoming one of the hottest spots for a slice of ‘za in the STL area. The pizza dough is legendary here, and sets it a cut above the rest in local pizza joints. It’s a small, fast-casual spot serving up a signature sourdough pizza crust with a puffy,crispy edge and soft doughy center, complemented by a zesty, zingy sauce. Even better, so many of the restaurants offerings are made in house! From the creamy ricotta to the top-notch sauce to the delicious sausage, it’s all handcrafted on site, and what can’t be made in-house is curated and deftly sourced by the chef himself.

Balkan Treat Box is a foodie paradise! This Turkish and Croatian inspired restaurant features Balkan region favorites served up on its wood-fired pide, a delicious flatbread like nothing else! As an added bonus, most of the menu items can be amended to suit vegans and vegetarians alike! Everything is made right to order, so it’s an unparalleled experience for your tastebuds. The owners hail from Bosnia, and wanted to feature a broad range of Balkan regional favorites including cabbage salad, the “balkan burger”, homemade beef sausage, and other delicious street food eats!

Onwards and Upwards to Adventure: Must-See Destinations in STL

The City Museum is unmatched in ingenuity and artistic creativity, consisting of four incredible floors of unique art and architecture. Perfect fun for the whole entire family, no matter how old you are! Explore the museum’s many tunnels, the cave system, more than 30 slides, an outdoor climbing space, exhibits made from repurposed and recycled materials, the Museum of Mayhem Mirth and Mystery, a circus, a rooftop Ferris Wheel, and a gravity-defying bus which hangs off the roof. It’s unparalleled entertainment, and hard to describe, so you’ll have to see it for yourself!

Grant’s Farm has been open to the public with free admission for more than 60 years. Once the home of Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, it’s now owned by the Busch Family and operated as a 280+ acre historic farm and landmark. You can enjoy a historic home tour, a visit with the animals, take aride around the park on the Tram, enjoy a spin on the carousel, and so much more! It’s a must-see destination.

Laclede’s Landing Wax Museum is a charming, kitschy venue located in an 1880s warehouse converted to an art museum. For just $10 a person you can observe and take pictures with more than 200 lifelike wax sculptures of celebrities, characters, and important historical figures.

The Magic House is perfect for families, and especially for those with younger children. This not-for-profit museum is located in Kirkwood just outside the St Louis city limits. Kids can explore hands-on exhibits, explore STEAM activities, and even a miniature village where they can enjoy some play-acting in different careers and hobbies. PBS has also just opened an exhibit centering around “Molly of Denali” where you can learn about Alaska and Alaskan Native life!

Citygarden Sculpture Park will be perfect to explore on a bright sunny day, and a fun way to pass the time without breaking the bank. This nearly 3 acre sculpture garden is open to the public and full of quirky, unusual sculptures, beautiful water features, and expertly landscaped grounds. It’s a photo op that will be one for the memory books, so be sure to snap lots of pics!

The National Museum of Transportation houses one of the largest and most diverse collections of transportation vehicles in the world, with over 190 exhibits! Set just outside of the city in Kirkwood, this 42 acre facility features iconic cars, vehicles, planes, trolleys, trains and so much more. It’s a larger than life stop-off for the gearheads and history nerds.

Laumeier Sculpture Park is another budget friendly option with free admission and plenty of outdoor activities and interesting things to see. Another great attraction to explore in Kirkwood, it’s home to more than 70 large-scale outdoor sculptures, and is a gorgeous 105 acre open-air

museum. It’s also home to several special events each year, including the Laumeier Art Fair!

The Pulitzer Arts Foundation provides special exhibitions and public programs to connect the public with art history and contemporary artwork and architecture. It’s free to explore and housed in a building designed by internationally recognized architect Tadao Ando. And it’s only 15 minutes west of the illustrious St Louis Arch.

The Chess Hall of Fame is a nonprofit facility highlighting the history, art, and culture of this beloved game. It’s purpose is to highlight the historical significance of chess, and its impact on arts and culture. You’ll find monthly events catered to adults such as their Monthly music series, Sip & Sketch classes, Composer Spotlight Series, and more. Families will enjoy special Toddler Tuesdays and Saturday Family Day geared just towards kids each week, and unique shows and programs perfect for all ages including the novice through expert.