OT-Birthday at Busch III revisted

by JBagKY on Aug 11, 2010 8:43 AM EDT

I posted a few months ago about heading to the new Busch for my birthday. I will be there on August 20th. I got some good advice about some food (thinking about checking out Charlie Gitto's). My wife and I are planning on getting downtown sometime around 3, which would give us about 3 hours before the game to hang out, eat and just enjoy downtown St Louis. So, I just want to ask a couple more questions about parking and anything that would be good to visit or good photo opportunities.

Parking: I am leaning toward going to a garage since we will have our car there so long. What should I realistically expect to pay, 10-20 (there is surprisingly little about rates online)? Or would it be better to try and find a parking meter and feed it till 7pm (which I heard is the cut off for them enforcing the timed meters).

Other interesting things: My wife isn't a big baseball fan and thus anything to make the trip more exciting for her during our brief time downtown would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Tweet Comment 5 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

The A-B brewery

is one that travelers often hit before a game. There is a free tour and sampling at the end. Within walking distance of the stadium… you could go up in the arch (or just tour the museum in the bottom). Between that and the old courthouse and adjacent park, there are some great photo opportunities. If you were able to get downtown by 2, you could do a tour of Busch Stadium. Also if you’re looking for some shopping type stuff fairly close, there’s Union Station which is a pretty cool mall and has a couple good eating establishments. As far as parking, I would suggest a garage. That could be anywhere from 5-30, but you can get comfortably close for 10-15. The disclaimer on all my comments is that I am not a local, but went to school close enough that I could get downtown for games a fair amount. I was always looking for the cheap way to do things, and certainly may not know about some of the better opportunities. Just my personal experience!

Have a blast in your time in downtown St. Louis and cheering on the Cards.

by WyoCardsFan on Aug 11, 2010 11:00 AM EDT reply actions

Parking

The garages around the stadium are fine, but that also means you’ll have to anticipate sitting in a garage for a while waiting for everyone to file out. Or you leave early and well, I hope you won’t leave early!

There are pay lots all around the stadium to where you’d just have to navigate the folks in the parking lot (instead of an entire garage o’ cars). If you’re find paying, you can find $10-15 lots 2-3 blocks south of the stadium for sure and these lots offer pretty easy access to the interstates if you’re driving out soon after the game.

And if you’re not, here’s a bonus: These lots put you right next to Broadway Oyster Bar, which is a great place. My wife’s not a huge baseball fan either, but we have an incredible time whenever we make the Oyster Bar. There are a few other nearby places in that area that will offer live music, good drinks, and decent food if you want a bite.

Photo ops? Check out the CityGarden at like 10th and Market, easy walk to/from the stadium.

Happy birthday and enjoy your time here!

by goodymobb on Aug 11, 2010 12:07 PM EDT reply actions

In general,

and relatively speaking, it’s an old Midwest city with some interesting architecture. I always enjoyed strolling up or down Washington, not because of the extant ground floor businesses, but to look up several floors to the top and get an impression of the grandiosity of the rising architecture of the St. Louis that once was – years ago. Truth be told, it’s one of those cavernous relics of urban decay with a dim hope of resurrection; with imagination you will enjoy it, not like a theme park, but as a an echo of the past. It never feels safe and it never feels like a city – even in the sun; humans sidle by like slow shadows. It has memories and it is a beautiful artifact of what our ancestors thought Europe might look like on the New Continent.

Other mysteries remain. TL

by BKKCard on Aug 11, 2010 12:52 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks

this is some great detail and information. I really appreciate it all

by JBagKY on Aug 11, 2010 2:04 PM EDT reply actions

parking is simple

im drawing a blank as to what the parking is called, but the best option could net you $8 parking with a three-four block walk

i just get off at Memorial (which most people do) getting of 55, turn left at Pine, and then its on your right, i think the first parking lot (well garage)

Rasmus can hit lefties
cardinalred
St. Louis Sports blog

by stlcardsfan4 on Aug 14, 2010 1:40 AM EDT reply actions