It is worth making a trip to The Loop in University City to have dinner at Blueberry Hill.  It’s known among locals for its eclectic collection of various vintage odds and ends displayed around the restaurant, everything from lunchboxes to action figures.  It’s also known for its great jukebox.  They serve burgers and other specialty sandwiches, and they host live music performances on the weekends.  Check out Fitz Root Beer and Bottling Company located directly across the street.  The root beer floats are incredible, and built for two.  A large window in the restaurant allows you to see the bottling taking place.  You can take home a four pack or even a case of your favorite Fitz beverage.

A trip to Lone Elk Park is worth the 40-minute drive from downtown, west on Interstate 44.  In addition to being a peaceful setting for a picnic or bird watching, it also provides driving trails through wooded areas where wild bison, elk and other animals live.

For dessert, head to Ted Drewes, a local favorite serving frozen custard in unique, flavorful concoctions.  With two locations, on S. Grand Blvd and Chippewa, wherever you are coming from, you will be glad you made the drive.  It’s the perfect way to end a day in the hot summer of St. Louis.

 For the kids and more adventerous adults, The City Museum, a wild jungle gym of recycled materials, is a great place to visit.  It is located right off of Washington Avenue in downtown St. Louis and is immedietly recognizable by the schoolbus balanced on the roof, and the assortment of tunnels, towers, and planes (!) in front of the building.