I will be in St Louis next month and would like to visit the arch, the Basilica, Cahokia mounds, the old courthouse, the botanical gardens, the Grant National historic site, and walk across the Eads bridge. Are these areas all safe? Any other “don’t miss” places? Where should I stay? I would appreciate any input. You parents are the best!!
While I can’t speak for the mounds, the Arch, the old and new Cathedral, and Missouri Botanical Gardens are fine. You will love them.
Son got back from a convention and 5 day trip to St. Louis. Visited most of the places that you mentioned, plus the zoo and enjoyed the time.
Remember to see the Arch too! That was one of our strongest memories of St. Louis. We never felt unsafe, even tho most of the time it was just me and two very young kids.
Yes, they are all safe. Cahokia Mounds is in a semi-rural area across the river in Illinois and Grant’s Farm and historic site is in a nice suburb. The Missouri Botanical Gardens are very, very nice. They usually always have something blooming although March might be a bit early for the big show of daffodils and tulips.
East St. Louis, where Cahokia is located, is not quite as nice an area as other parts of St. Louis. You’ll be fine at Cahokia during the day but may not want to spend a lot of time in the evening in East St. Louis. That said, I’ve spent the night there (Collinsville) because we were headed east and I didn’t want to deal with St. Louis traffic in the morning.
St. Louis is a great town to visit. If you are sports fans, you may also enjoy a tour of Busch Stadium (where the Cardinals play).
If you drive east of the river DO NOT rely on your GPS to get you there and back unless you want to drive through East St Louis (ie a tragically horrible ghetto). Use google maps or mapquest to get you around via the highways.
Also check out the Grand Avenue area . Great quirky restaurants and shops.
My husband was born and raised in Collinsville and his family is still there. It is actually very safe. It doesn’t look like it, but it is. So is the area around Cahokia. It’s just very working-class.
East St. Louis is not that safe, from my understanding, and that’s also not where Cahokia Mounds is. It is in Collinsville, just north of ESL.
I’ve always been told to avoid ESL, and having driven through there, it does seem rougher than other areas, but I’ve never spent significant time there.
St. Louis is like Chicago (and I’m assuming, maybe other major cities) in the respect that neighborhoods and towns change very quickly, from one border/intersection to the next.
Just stay on the main roads when going to Cahokia and other places and you will be fine.
All of those other places mentioned in OP are safe, as well.
The west side of town, near the park, is a nice, young and trendy area to stay… so is downtown, closer to the river and the Arch and Laclede’s Landing.
However, it is St. Louis and you should take general safety precautions that you take in any other major U.S. city. don’t set your handbag somewhere and leave it, don’t walk around unfamiliar areas very late at night, etc.
Thank you all for your input. With more snow today in New England, and bitter cold temps in the forecast, I can’t wait to head south!