Luxury Family Travel: Four Seasons St. Louis

Posted by: Melissa Maynard

If you’re looking for the perfect family road trip, look no further than St. Louis, Missouri, just under five hours from Chicago. Founded in 1764 and named after Louis IX of France, the city that sits on the Mississippi river boasts loads of culture, exploration for the entire family and some incredible family-style dining.

If you want to add a stylish dose of luxury, be sure you stay at the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis. The hotel boasts the most amazing views of the Gateway Arch with a convenient downtown location right in the heart of the entertainment district–it’s the perfect starting off point for your adventure. Take in this cool Midwestern city with an experience you won’t soon forget, and despite what you may think, it’s the perfect place to stay when traveling with young children.

Here’s what we loved from this family-friendly urban oasis.

The Rooms at Four Seasons St Louis are spectacular! Spending extra time in our room was bliss –with gorgeous floor-to-ceiling windows and a full-on view of Gateway Arch, and the Mississippi River, we didn’t want to leave! Even our youngest daughter Elle didn’t mind taking in the views and posing for pictures.

It’s all in the “small” details when staying at the Four Seasons. Our kids Milla (11) and Rio (3) and Elle (1) were greeted with a welcome gift upon check-in, a scrumptious Gateway Arch-inspired dessert in our room, and all three kids were given tiny white bath robes and bath products.

We spent a ton of time at the eighth-floor Sky Terrace with the pool that the kids couldn’t get enough of. While we swam, we couldn’t stop taking in the incredible views of the Gateway Arch and the St. Louis skyline. If you’re in the mood for a splurge, cabanas are available to rent.

Leave the kids with dad and get some much needed me-time at the spa. Over 12,000 sq. ft. of pampering is yours to enjoy –panoramic views from the relaxation suite, timeless treatments like the Four Seasons Signature Massage (one of our favorite’s!), and relaxation time in the whirlpool and steam-room facilities are a must.

If dad needs a little break, Lumière Place Casino is right on the property and if you want to make it a date-night, ask the concierge about the hotel’s babysitting services.

Cielo Restaurant & Bar is the perfect spot for families to take in incredible food and views. This family-friendly spot serves up simple and scrumptious Italian-fare with quality ingredients including fruits and vegetables from local growers and fresh herbs from the chefs garden right on the property. Some favorites the entire family will love are their house-made pizzas or pastas and kids can order kid-friendly meals from their own menu, while parents indulge on favorites like the Antipasti For Two or Mussels & Clams, while sipping on one-of-a-kind libations like their Unusual Margarita – made with in-house jalapeño and thyme-infused Avión Reposado tequila, cucumber and lime shrub, and Cointreau.

What to Explore Nearby:

The best way to explore a new town is to get out there and walk and since the Four Seasons St. Louis is located in such a convenient location, it’s the perfect way to explore some different restaurants in the area with your family. Our first night there, we went to a great, award-winning kid-friendly pizza joint, Pi Pizzeria. Start off with their kale-iforniacation salad (tuscan kale, sprouted quinoa, pickled red onion, toasted chickpeas, toasted almonds, grape tomatoes and buttermilk dressing). Their pizza choices made these Chicagoans feel right at home. If you’re in the mood for deep dish, try out the bucktown (mozzarella, roasted chicken, artichoke hearts, red bell peppers, green olives, red onions, feta and sun-dried tomatoes) or thin crust with lincoln park (mozzarella, garlic olive oil, zucchini, fresh tomatoes, feta and fresh basil.) With an urban atmosphere and out-of-this-world pizza, don’t miss this spot.

For the perfect breakfast or brunch in the city, check out Rooster Café serving up our favorite –delicious sweet and savory crepes. On the sweet side, don’t miss the s’more (cookie crumbs, marshmallow & dark chocolate). Feeling savory? Pick the pulled pork with (spiced apples and fontina) or go for the three cheese with (emmenthaler, fontina, asiago over dried tomatoes & fresh basil).

Walk to the famous Gateway Arch –part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial! Be sure to take lots of pictures there with your family. The kids will love riding the tram up to the top –630 feet up to take in the gorgeous views of the city.

In the mood for shopping? Check out Plaza Frontenac for all of your high-end shopping needs (think Saks Fifth Avenue, Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co.). Next, fulfill your antique shopping dreams by heading to Cherokee Street in the Cherokee-Lemp Historical District, where you’ll find over 20 antique stores, great restaurants and art galleries.

Spend the day at the Missouri Botanical Garden –this National Historic Landmark is the nation’s oldest botanical garden. This 79-acre garden first opened in 1859 and is home to a greenhouse, butterfly house, Chinese and Japanese gardens and a maze, that the kids will love.

Take the kids to the St. Louis Zoo! With complimentary admission and over 19,800 wild animals to take in, this zoo is located in the beautiful Forest Park –you’ll want to show your family one of the most treasured places in St. Louis.

Just under 15-minutes from the city, lies the ancient Native American historic site –the Cahokia Mounds. In its heyday (around 1250 AD), the city was larger than London. Today, you’ll find an interactive museum, as well as about 80 mounds spread over 2,200 acres. It’s one of the only 21 UNESCO World Heritage Sites within the United States and the largest prehistoric site north of Mexico in the Americas.