One of the challenges of traveling with a big family is trying to find activities that will amuse your oldest and youngest at the same time. SixSuitcaseTravel has the perfect itinerary for your tweens and toddlers – Just Meet Me in St. Louis!
1) St. Louis Zoo – Who doesn’t love a Zoo? Rated as one of the best zoos in the country, but how can you amuse every member of your big family?
- SixSuitcaseTravel suggests cutting down on travel time by staying close to your destination. Did you know that Hotel Indigo St. Louis Central West End offers a suite with two queen beds AND a sofa sleeper? Minutes away from St. Louis Zoo, it’s perfect for your big family needs! Your older kids will love getting face to face with elephants, penguins, bears and great apes.
- Your toddlers will be chanted by Emerson Children’s Zoo, where they can get hands on at the petting zoo and even enjoy a slide zooms through the otter exhibit. (Well, maybe even the tweens might like that, too!)
2) St. Louis Art Museum – No matter what kind of art you like, you will find it at the Saint Louis Art Museum. Afraid to take the kiddos to a museum on your big family vacation? Museums are much more big family friendly than you think!
- Many art museums have exhibits that offer QR Codes that can be scanned with a Smart Phone. These small bar codes unleash information about the art piece and act as your own personal tour guide. Your tweens will enjoy a museum that has you asking them to USE a cell phone instead of “Put that away!”
- For your younger kids, the museum offers family friendly worksheets and supplements that bring the art pieces to life. Check out their education center for activity packs, or print off the worksheets at home or hotel media center before you leave.
3) Delmar Loop – This fun area of St. Louis boats six blocks of eateries and shopping. Delmar Loop has come a long way from its rough reputation in the 90’s, offering many places to grab some food and fun shopping, too. Your big family will find something for everyone.
- SixSuitcaseTravel suggests you check out Blueberry Hill for a fun lunch on the patio. Your younger kids will enjoy looking through Blueberry Hill’s dizzingly expansive collection of toys and memorabilia.
- Looking for the perfect travel momento to bring home to remember all the fun your great big family had? The Loop’s Baked T’s is a great place for your tweens to be creative. Baked T’s allows your kids to put their new favorite sayings on a T-shirt, or other item. Graphic designers are on staff to bring their ideas to life while the rest of the family snacks on treats – and when the shirt is done, they’ll even pack it in to a fun cookie, cake or doughnut shape!
4) Of course… the Arch. No matter the time of year, it’s amazing to watch the seasons change from 630 feet in the air. The obvious tourist attraction for families in St. Louis, a little planning can make it an enjoyable experience for your toddlers and tweens.
- Expect a lot of walking, so it’s good to travel lightly and show up in plenty of time for any of the planned tours, movies or exhibits that your big family wants to attend. SixSuitcaseTravel suggests showing up 30-45 minutes before any start time just to be sure. A little forethought will help keep everyone happy!
- And to make sure that you don’t have a surly tween ruining your big family vacation plans, do not over plan your day at the Arch. There are a lot of museums, trolleys, riverboat cruises, courthouses ….other kinds of museums… well, there’s a lot. Decide on one or two things to concentrate on and see where your day takes you!
No matter what ages make up your big family, St. Louis offers fun and exciting options for everyone. With a little planning, you’ll see in no time what Judy Garland was singing about in St. Louis!
We can help you plan a great vacation to St Louis. Visit SixSuitcaseTravel to find hotels that accommodate big families of 5, 6, 7, 8.
