Our readers' guide for the perfect St. Louis road trip

Axios

07-03-2025

Spring break is almost here for thousands of Middle Tennessee students.
Why it matters: Schools in Davidson, Williamson, Wilson and Sumner counties are among the many that will be closed next week. That means many families will be hitting the road.
State of play: We've written about plenty of convenient vacation options for Nashville families over the years, but one location in particular seemed to inspire and delight our readers.
🏆 The winner: St. Louis, Missouri. Nashville apparently loves the Gateway City.
When we wrote about our plans for a team road trip to STL, we got flooded with enthusiastic recommendations.
Here are our readers' top picks.
🍦 Ted Drewes Frozen Custard: This St. Louis institution was by far the most-referenced attraction. The custard is so thick you can flip it upside down without losing a drop.
Virginia K. said the dessert staple is an "absolute can't miss."
"It tastes best in a Cardinal hat but it's good in a paper cup too."
🛝 City Museum, which Richard S. calls "an all-ages architectural playground." He means that literally.
You really need to see it to believe it. There are more than 30 slides for kids and adults, including some that twist all the way down from the roof; a vintage 1940 Ferris wheel; underground tunnels; and the world's largest pencil.
🐅 Forest Park, which David L. describes as "the St. Louis version of NYC's Central Park." (It's actually bigger than Central Park.)
Attractions include a free zoo, multiple museums and world-class musical theater presented outdoors.
🍕 St. Louis pizza is unlike any other pie you've tried. It's served on a thin, crispy crust with sweet tomato sauce. But the defining feature is the polarizing Provel cheese, a mixture of cheddar, Swiss and provolone.
Readers are split on the best place to try some. Imo's is a local giant, but Marjorie P. suggests Pirrone's Pizzeria in Florissant.
🍝 The Hill is an Italian neighborhood loaded with authentic cuisine, including the local delicacy, toasted ravioli.
🍔 Blueberry Hill serves what many Axios Nashville readers consider the city's best burger.
The intrigue: That's just a small sample. So many emails came in, we briefly thought we'd been hacked.
💭 Adam's thought bubble: I went to Saint Louis University in the 2000s, so I thought my Missouri bona fides were strong. But I was no match for our readers. We have several passionate STL stans in our midst.