The family and I are going to be traveling to Muskogee, OK this April from Indiana. It will be a 12-hour trip and the half-way point is somewhere around St. Louis. We'd like to stay there or in the vicinity overnight but we have never been there before.

1. Can you recommend any good hotels that won't cost an arm and a leg but are nice for families and in a safe part of town? (either in St. Louis or within 30-40 miles)

2. What are some fun things to do and see? (again, not too costly!)

I checked out TripAdvisor, but there was so much information and it's hard to weed out all the different hotels! (good areas or not)

Any tips would be very helpful! Thank you!

My family has gone there several time for short 3 or 4 day trips. We love all the stuff to do there. The cheapest rooms we probably got were out by the airport. We found some really cheap rooms there with free continental breakfasts. I'd recommend somewhere in that area. My dh thinks we stayed at a Drury Inn more downtown near the renovated train station (I'm remembering staying downtown once but not much more specific) and it was a little more, but was nice with an indoor pool and early evening snacks/drinks where dh & I sat and watched out kids swim while we munched & they also had a continental breakfast. Good luck!!

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I don't live in St. Louis but about an hour and 45 minutes.

I'm not sure what interstate you will be coming in off of, but I suggest Fairview Heights. It is right outside St. Louis and isn't as busy. There is a lot of motels (we have stayed at a couple and they were nice) and a couple malls, and lots and lots of restaurants. And if you want to travel into St. Louis to do stuff there is the metrolink train and it will take you to all the "happening" places for a minimal cost and there is a stop in St. Clair between Fairview Heights and St. Louis.
If you want to know more, my sister travels to St. Louis a few times a month for business and I can get to lo down for you if you can tell me which part of St. Louis you will be near (Illinois side or Missouri) and so forth and she can tell me all the really good places to eat and she has to stay in a variety of motels.
Just pm me if you want me to ask. I will be glad to find out for you! Good luck with your trip

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My gourds made the front page of the paper!!

We will be coming in off of I-70 and then to I-55 and then I-44 (if I am remembering right!). Hmmm... I don't recall if that will be on the Illinois side or the Missouri side.

Thanks to you both for your suggestions! Sure, I'd love for you to ask, gourdlady06! Thank you for offering! PM me whenever you get the chance to find out anything. I would love any info!

Now, on the way back, we might be going through Branson, MO just for the fun of it. We've never been there, either. That might be a future post!

I did initially find a hotel by the airport. It was the La Quinta Inn and is only $65 a night. It got good reviews too. So, that one is on my short list of possible hotels to choose. It's good to know that you have stayed in this area and liked it.

Try familyattractionscard.com for lots of savings. The Science Center, Zoo, Art Museum, and History Museum are all free.

St. Louis is really neat. My DH and I only went there on a day trip from IL. Of course there is the Arch- very neat (great place to have a picnic). Lines there can be long. They probably have some kind of deal if you hit it right, but I'm not familiar with them. You should definitely check out the Catholic Basilica there. It's amazing and has the largest mosaic in the world (that would be free to see). To see it, either find out when Masses are and attend one or go when there isn't a Mass (a Mass is usually 45 min- 1hr long).
There are lots of museums and pretty houses (we drove around at night- very pretty). I think there is a central museum area where you can walk around- not sure about admissions- we only saw them by driving by at night. We ate within the Old Train Station. That would be really neat for adults and kids to see. You can walk around inside. We didn't stay over, so I have no idea on accomodations. However, an idea that was in "America's Cheapest Family" was to make arrangements to stay in a dorm room at a university during the summer.

Thanks for the ideas! Ironically, I discovered info about the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis yesterday... Oh my goodness, that is a definite must-see! How absolutely beautiful. We are Catholic, so I think it would be a real treat to go to Mass there. I will definitely check it out.

You can buy tickets for the arch online to avoid the lines. It is a little expensive though, but definately the thing to do in St. Louis. You can then walk down to the riverfront and walk along the Landing. The Old Spaghetti Factory on Laclede's Landing(a bunch of old buildings turned in restaurants and shops along by the riverfront) is my favorite restarant.

Forest Park is where all major museums are. Like I said earlier the Art Museum, History Museum, Zoo, and Science Center are all free. (They do charge for parking if you park in the zoo and sciencer center's lots or you can park in Forest Park for free.)

The Botanical Gardens are also beautiful to see. If you have kids they might like the City Museum, but it is a little expensive. The old train station is Union Station which is now a hotel and in indoor mall.

I would find a hotel near downtown to be closer to the attractrions. If you stay near the airport, expect a 20-30 min. drive to get to downtown. You can take Metrolink from downtown to many of the attractions, but it you have a car it would probably be easier to drive to Forest park for any of the attractions there.

Thank you for the great detailed info! I took notes and plan to make the most of my trip.