you know, this is a great town on or off a budget. it is laid back, there is plenty of stuff to do that is cheap or free, it’s fairly compact so if you’re staying centrally you can do a day trip to forrest park and a night at CWE or the Loop or where ever. And another thing, I love Chicago and San Fran and all of that, but your budget flies out the window just to park your car!

Quit doggin on the Lou and realize that if college students picked us…we must be good!

I recall once sitting with a date at Jazz at the Bistro and the club placed a cute, and obviously inexperienced, couple across from us. We learned they were newly weds on a honeymoon from some small town east of Edwardsville. They ordered appetizers and a drink each and then started counting their cash. Frankly, me and my date thought they were cute and secretly picked up their tab. I forgot what the server made up to tell them — 1 millionth customer or something.
These folks drove 100 miles in an old car, stayed in an inexpensive hostelry, and went to one expensive nightclub-restaurant, and enjoyed a weekend that they could almost afford. They reminded me of me when I lived in Manhattan, Kansas, and went to Kansas City for my honeymoon back in 1970-ish. (I’ve forgotten the exact date.)

I think “They’re right” has a good point. St. Louis is a regional destination. We have to accept the fact until we opt to change a few things we’re going to be a regional destination. Our attraction is that we’re affordable for the vast majority of people in the Heartland who can’t afford to fly around and pay $400 a night to be able to see a beach out of the window or pay $150 for one theater ticket or even $500 to rent a sports car for four days and three night. And until we do away with 1800s-era hours for taverns and drinking rules — ala New Orleans — we’re going to be a low key place for families who like Zoos, amusement parks, riding to the top of the Arch, museums, history and the like.

As for kids’ destinations, college students, high schoolers, if you don’t have a beach or at least something like Lake Michigan, or ski slopes, St. Louis isn’t going to be a national or global destination.

And there’s nothing wrong with that. Sure, I’m a single man who’d like 24-hour taverns and more entertainment districts, and fewer politicians uptight about somebody pulling her shirt up. But there’s a price for that, too. Just ask New Orleans, Memphis, Chicago. We pay it or we don’t. When we’re ready to pay it, elect a new set of aldermen, a new mayor, and get moving.

But we don’t need to pretend that this is a quality issue. We are what we are and when we want to be faster, we’ll speed up. If we don’t we won’t.

To quote Tutti, ‘You can’t do anything like you can in St. Louis’!!!!

Hey kids great place to visit St Louis… See our scenic park with dead people laying face down and homeless everywhere, buy a pretzle..Travel to one of our great hot spot bar eateries and watch a bartender get shot and the robbers shoot each other. or take your chances on the roads and see if a cop drunk drives over you ! We have so much to offer..and its summer kids

Maybe I do not bore easily, because I have lived in St. Louis my entire life and have yet to come across a day that I lacked having something to do. Even when an out-of-town guest arrives, without regard to their financial abilities, I try to make even a simple trip for pretzels their hallmark vacation moment. Maybe I just have fun friends and family.

If your list of things that are important to make a successful vacation is just that - “a list of things” - then I guess St. Louis could be the short stick. Although, I do think the list of things that are available in St. Louis is much less expensive than other cities.

I guess I am lucky that I only have had a few encounters with St. Louis bashers. I make it a point to dismiss anyone that says “Well, where I am from…” with a simple, “then please, go back there.”

Who is this contingency of people who constantly bash thier OWN city? There is a whole group of them that come on here anytime anything good is said about St. Louis. Guess what, it doesn’t make you COOL to come on here and say all these negative things. What a LOOSER attitude. If you hate the place so much get the HELL out. Please, for the good of St. Louis, go somewhere else. You people are why I left St. Louis. (I’m a 27 year old, well educated professional, you know the type you would WANT in your city). Guess why I left? Because of infestation of the type of people who find some need to constantly bash my hometown. You guys are the reason that St. Louis is declining. Young people who are educated, smart and motivated want to be somewhere where people have pride in thier town and are actively trying to improve it. Ever hear of a self fulfilling prophecy? That’s exactly what St. Louis is. It’s people want it to suck. So guess what it does? The lack of pride is sickning, backwards and sad. Anyone who can’t see the positives of St. Louis is not looking hard enough. The only negative about St. Louis is it’s people and thier “Where did you go to high school looser attitudes.

I am a college student in New York City, but am local to this area. Many of my college friends like coming down to visit to get away from the city. There is nothing wrong with a relaxing and, yes, cheap vacation. For people that like to get out and go hiking and walking this is a really fun place. Don’t just knock it, St. Louis rocks!

I love St. Louis, this is the best city in the world. Any btw you can say crappy things about NYC and LA too….drunk bums and shootings. If you have nothing nice to say about my city then don’t say anything at all. This place is awesome!

They should have mentioned our mardi gras!

As a current college student who likes to bring his friends to St. Louis, let me share my experience. There are only a few things to do here that the KC and Chicago kids like. Those are walking down Delmar, Forest Park, Shaw’s Garden, and the City Museum…but oh boy do they love the City Museum. It’s the undisputed best time in the midwest.