Hi friends! We just got back from a little impromptu trip to St. Louis (booked the AirBnb the night before kind of impromptu) and I figured I would upload all of the pictures in one place (you’re welcome, mom).

I had a week off of work, and so we decided it would be fun to travel somewhere. While I tried and tried to convince Nathan how fun it would be to go to the beach, he figured 13 hours in the car with three kids might not be the most ideal. We picked St. Louis because 2 hours in the car is a whole lot better than 13, and there are so many things to do in St. Louis with little kids that we usually don’t do because we just make day-trips.

So, we headed to the Lou (do people call it that?). We took of Tuesday after preschool pick up and we went right to the botanical gardens. We got there around 3:00 and this was definitely our biggest mistake—we could have spent all day there. It closes at 5:00, so we didn’t opt in to paying a little bit extra for the kids play area, but I’m already planning another trip to do that because it looked FUN. The garden itself was really beautiful, the kids liked exploring all of the different areas, and it was definitely worth the admission price.

We headed to the grocery store to pick up some staples (food staples, not literal office supplies), and headed to our Airbnb. Hezzy kept calling it our “new home” and I think he legitimately thought we moved there until we told him it was just for a few days. We popped a frozen pizza in the oven, put a movie on for the kids, and ordered some Vietnamese take out for ourselves. All parties were content with the plan.

The next morning we headed to the zoo. Usually we drive up from Columbia to the zoo so we don’t get there right when it opens. Staying just five minutes from it was a game changer. We got a good (free) parking spot, the weather was perfect and it was relatively empty. We explored the zoo for a bit, and then when the kid’s legs became tired we headed back for lunch and nap time.

After we were all rested, I wanted to check out this sculpture garden in downtown St. Louis. Well, it was under construction, so we changed plans and went to this other little park instead. The playground gets a solid 3/5, but the views of the arch were definitely a 5/5.

Then we headed to the Union Station for dinner. We went to a cute little sofa fountain restaurant. We were the only ones in there, which was ideal because our kids are wild, and the ice cream was delicious. They specialize in these big ol’ milkshakes (some including alcohol) and it was incredible. The union station in itself is pretty cool, there’s a big Ferris wheel, a carousel, mini golf, and a few food trucks. Since we went on a Wednesday evening, it wasn’t too crowded but I bet it fills up on a weekend. The activities were a bit pricey, but there was a train themed playground which my kids absolutely loved.

Thursday we headed to the science center. Nathan and I both agreed that this was our least favorite activity. It’s nice that it’s free, but by the time you pay for parking ($15), and any of the add-on activities, we didn’t think it was worth it. We paid for the discovery room ($20), which the kids said was their favorite part. It’s kind of like a preschool classroom, specifically for kids ages 0-5. There was a water table, an area for babies and a few other activities. You pay for an hour, and I didn’t feel like it was worth what you pay.

After the science center, we headed back home for naps again. Conveniently, there was a Seoul Taco a block from our house, so while the kids ate their PB&J’s, Nathan went and got us some Bulgogi nachos.

One of the favorite parts of this trip was just the freedom from doing things. Usually I use nap time to clean up the house, do laundry or prep for dinner, but instead we used nap time to play board games, and eat some dang good nachos.

After nap time we went to the one of our favorite places we went to, and quite possibly the simplest! In Forest park (right next to the zoo) there is a big nature park. At first we were skeptical, most likely because we couldn’t understand the map and didn’t know where to go, but it was this huge area with different types of nature play areas. There were sand pits, prairies, a bunch of logs to climb on, and a little stream. The kids absolutely loved it. It was probably the most I had seen them play together in a while. When we got to the stream Hezzy asked like three times if he could get wet (we said yes each time) and meanwhile Naomi just hopped in. They honestly could have played there all day.

And then today, we headed to the Aquarium! I had a hard time paying for something when there are so many things to do in St. Louis that are free, but we decided to try it out. It is a bit of a splurge, but I definitely think it was worth it if you have kids ages 2-8 (I think older kids would get bored). There were plenty of hands-on activities like a big water table, a sand table and a ton of opportunities to touch different animals. My kids really enjoyed it and it wasn’t too overwhelming for them. You didn’t have to walk too far, and there were lots of little stations. Toward the end, our kids started feeling the effects of a few packed days, and a diet consisting of frozen pizza, PB&J and granola bars. We decided to pack up and head home.

Overall, it was a great little getaway to fill four free days that we had. It was refreshing to take a break from “doing” things and it was so wonderful to see the joy in Hezzy and Naomi’s eyes as we explored new places—especially after a busy month of starting preschool and other activities starting back up.

I feel so grateful for this little family God has given me, and it was such a good reminder to slow down, be present and just to give thanks for the blessings I have.