The Ultimate Cards Weekend for Out of Towners

Cardinals Nation expands well beyond the St. Louis area, and for many, the drive into town to see their favorite team play is an annual tradition—and for their kids, a rite of passage. We want you to have the most epic weekend you can in St. Louis, and with so much new stuff happening in town, we’re here to help you figure out where to stay and what to do (and more importantly, what to eat). Get ready to make some memories.

Where to stay

You’re in town for a Cardinals game, so you might as well stay downtown—or at least close to it. If proximity is the name of the game, Hilton at the Ballpark is basically in Busch Stadium. If you lose your tickets, you could probably just watch the game from your room’s window. A stone’s throw away you have the Drury Plaza and the Hyatt at the Arch, both of which—you guessed it—look out at the Gateway Arch.

Downtown has also seen a recent surge in new and renovated hotels. Hotel Saint Louis and The Last Hotel are two swanky new additions to the scene, while the incredible Union Station Hotel has undergone a facelift to bring it back to its former glory and wow. It is a spectacle to behold.

Feel like treating yourself to a fancier weekend? You could always book your stay at the Four Seasons St. Louis. If none of these work for you, make sure to check this list for any specific preferences or budgets!

Things to Do

There’s plenty to do in St. Louis, whether you’re in town with kids or friends—and best of all, most of it is free!

If you’ve got the kids with you, no visit to St. Louis is complete without stopping by City Museum. It’s as close as you’re ever going to get to a real-life Willy Wonka factory, and even if you’ve been before, things change constantly. They recently opened a new aquarium section called the ‘Artquarium,’ which your kid crew will love. There’s also The Magic House and the St. Louis Science Center, both tailored to a younger crowd (and great for tiring them out).

Taking in the great outdoors is never a bad idea whether you have kids with you or not. The St. Louis Zoo is one of the best in the country; you can see the Budweiser Clydesdales at Grant’s Farm; or you can take a leisurely stroll through the massive Missouri Botanical Garden.

Speaking of Budweiser...this is a beer city, so if you’re a self-proclaimed beer nerd, you’re going to have the time of your life. Take a tour of the Anheuser-Busch Brewery, then head to pretty much any brewery listed in the STL Brewers Guild. The big ones are Schlafly, 4 Hands, Urban Chestnut, and Side Project (named one of the top 10 breweries in the country!) but you’ll have about 70 others to choose from.

Last, but certainly not least, is catching a show while you’re in town. The Fox Theatre always has something amazing going on, but it’s the music venues that you really want to pay attention to. It really doesn’t matter what part of town you’re in: there will be a concert going on nearby. Keep your eye on the National Blues Museum downtown, or head to the Delmar Loop—between Blueberry Hill, Delmar Hall, and The Pageant, you won’t be disappointed.

Where to Eat

St. Louis has quickly become one of the best food cities in the Midwest, and you should absolutely take advantage of that! What’s particularly great about it is the wide diversity of options. Whether you’re looking for Southern comfort food, unforgettable BBQ, Bosnian street foods, or James Beard-winning modern fine dining, we’ve got it.

Picking where to eat is never easy, but we’ve got you covered with our guides on where to eat before or after a Cardinals game. For even more options, check out our searchable dining guide.

Enjoy the Game

Obviously, the most important part of Cards weekend is the Cards themselves! Get to the game early, watch warm ups, vie for an autograph, get yourself a new jersey—do the things every Cardinals fan loves doing. Ballpark Village is the home base for all things Cards, making it a great place to stop before or after a game. It’s also home to the Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum, full of all sorts of neat memorabilia from your favorite players.

Fingers crossed for nice weather and a win!