12 TRIPS IN 12 MONTHS: TRIP 1 • ST. LOUIS
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After months of planning, we’ve finally hit the road for our most exciting family adventure yet—12 trips in 12 months! We’re breaking in our brand new RV (the BEST way to do family road trips!) with a visit to the amazing ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI! This city is super family-friendly and has been on our bucket list for a long time, and it turns out that it really was the perfect place to start our 12 trips. There were so many highlights that I can’t wait to share. And I’m even more excited to bring you along with us as we share our experiences on 12 unforgettable family trips this year!
ST. LOUIS • TRIP 1 • DAY 1
RV ADVENTURE
Our first ride in the RV was one to remember! We were all packed up, the kids were so excited they were bouncing off the walls, and we were ready to hit the road. Traveling in an RV doesn’t get rid of ALL the hard things about road trips, but it sure makes it a whole lot better! Still, even with the little bumps (literally and figuratively), we had an absolute blast. Having everything we needed right there—snacks, games, cozy spots to hang out—made the journey way more fun. The kids found their favorite spots to play, and we got a feeling for what it’ll be like for each of our next 12 trips. We loved our first step into RV travel!
After donuts and before visiting the Gateway Arch, we were wandering with the kiddos and found this amazing sculpture! St. Louis has surprises around every corner!
DONUTS AT PHARAOH’S BAKERY - A SWEET STOP IN ST. LOUIS
On our way to the Gateway Arch in downtown, we stopped at Pharaoh’s Bakery, and these donuts did NOT disappoint. All the donuts looked so amazing that we really had a hard time choosing! Their classic glazed donuts are a favorite, but make sure to try their cinnamon rolls or filled donuts as well—you won’t regret it. Just beware - you might have to fight your kids for the last bite. We took our donuts to go and ended up accidentally spilling them (whoops), but it was the perfect first stop on our Gateway Arch adventure. Definitely make sure to stop next time you’re in St. Louis!
GATEWAY ARCH
Our visit to the Gateway Arch was everything we hoped for and more. From the moment we arrived, all of us were in awe of how massive the Arch is. It’s one of those landmarks you’ve seen in photos, but standing underneath it makes you realize just how impressive it really is. We couldn’t wait to take the tram up to the top, and the kids were super excited about what they called the “spaceship elevator.” It’s a pretty tiny pod, but once you’re up there, the views are absolutely worth it. You can see all of St. Louis spread out before you, with the Mississippi River winding through the city—it was the perfect way to get a bird’s-eye view of everything. We took our time up top, snapping some photos, reading all the info, and soaking in the gorgeous scenery, before heading back down. We also had SO much fun taking photos by the arch. Each kid got to have a turn to take photos in front of the arch:
ST. LOUIS ZOO
After the Gateway Arch, we made our way to the St. Louis Zoo for what we thought would be a fun afternoon exploring. BUT freezing temperatures and icy pathways made for lots of closed exhibits. We did spot a few animals, but this part of the trip turned into more of a quick pit stop than the exploration adventure we’d planned. The kids had fun exploring the indoor exhibits, though! The St. Louis Zoo is one of the best free zoos in the country, and while the winter weather wasn’t ideal while we were there, it was still worth our time. If you’re ever in the area, it really is a great place to visit and spend some time. After the zoo, we headed to Twisted Ranch for our late lunch/dinner (linner or dunch, if you will) where we sampled 34 different flavors of ranch! A delicious, unique, and super fun restaurant in St. Louis.
ST. LOUIS • TRIP 1 • DAY 2
THE CITY MUSEUM
Day 2 of our adventure started with a big bang at the City Museum in St. Louis! If you have never been, the City Museum is basically an adult-sized playground, but with a ton of cool stuff for kids, too. Crawling through tunnels, sliding down crazy slides, exploring indoor caves and outdoor treehouses are just a few highlights. There was really no shortage of things to keep the kids entertained. It’s one of those places where you can’t help but feel like a kid again, and we all had so.much.fun running around and exploring. It’s super hands-on and full of surprises around every corner, so there’s really hours of entertainment here. We were there for 4 hours, but it felt like no time at all. It really was SO fun!! We all left with big smiles, some tired legs, and a ton of great memories making this a core memory for sure!
SODA FOUNTAIN AT UNION STATION
After a morning full of climbing, sliding, and exploring at the City Museum, we were ready for a little treat. So, we made our way over to the Soda Fountain at Union Station to refuel. This place is a total throwback, with old-school soda fountain vibes and some of the best ice cream sundaes and milkshakes you’ll ever have. The kids couldn’t get enough of the giant sundaes and shakes topped with whipped cream and cherries - the Cotton Candy Freak Shake was INSANE! There’s also a Candy Emporium on the other side of the Soda Fountain; the kids have never been to a place like this, and we let them choose some candy, which they loved. The atmosphere at Union Station is so charming with its historic architecture and fun vibe. Definitely a great place to stop in St. Louis.
After the Soda Fountain, the kids voted to head back to the City Museum for another hour and a half. That museum was WELL worth the trip on its own. We finished off the evening with pizza from Imo’s Pizza and a movie night back at the camper.
12 TRIPS IN 12 MONTHS: THE ADVENTURE HAS JUST BEGUN!
As we kick off this journey of 12 trips in 12 months, I can already tell it’s going to be an amazing adventure. Traveling with kids is definitely a whole different experience, but honestly, it’s the best. They notice the little things that are easy to overlook and make it fun for us all to discover a new place together. Their excitement and curiosity make every place we visit feel brand new, even if Daniel and I have been before. Yes, it’s definitely chaotic at times, but the laughter, the memories, and experiencing new things together makes it all worth it.
St. Louis was such a great place to start our travels—so much to see, so much to do, and so much to enjoy. The city’s charm and family-friendly vibe totally won us over, from the truly awe-inspiring Gateway Arch to the fun adventures at the City Museum and the sweet treats at Pharaoh’s Donuts and the Soda Fountain. We’re already talking about when we can visit again. We’re all really looking forward to the rest of the year of fun trips, and I can't wait to take you along with me and share our travels with you. Here's to 12 unforgettable family adventures!
Xoxo, Lauren
