Our readers' guide for the perfect St. Louis road trip
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The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri. Photo: Visions of America/Joseph Sohm/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Spring break is almost here for thousands of Middle Tennessee students.
Why it matters: Schools in Davidson, Williamson, Wilson and Sumner counties are among the many that will be closed next week. That means many families will be hitting the road.
State of play: We've written about plenty of convenient vacation options for Nashville families over the years, but one location in particular seemed to inspire and delight our readers.
🏆 The winner: St. Louis, Missouri. Nashville apparently loves the Gateway City.
- When we wrote about our plans for a team road trip to STL, we got flooded with enthusiastic recommendations.
- Here are our readers' top picks.
🍦 Ted Drewes Frozen Custard: This St. Louis institution was by far the most-referenced attraction. The custard is so thick you can flip it upside down without losing a drop.
- Virginia K. said the dessert staple is an "absolute can't miss."
- "It tastes best in a Cardinal hat but it's good in a paper cup too."
🛝 City Museum, which Richard S. calls "an all-ages architectural playground." He means that literally.
- You really need to see it to believe it. There are more than 30 slides for kids and adults, including some that twist all the way down from the roof; a vintage 1940 Ferris wheel; underground tunnels; and the world's largest pencil.
🐅 Forest Park, which David L. describes as "the St. Louis version of NYC's Central Park." (It's actually bigger than Central Park.)
- Attractions include a free zoo, multiple museums and world-class musical theater presented outdoors.
🍕 St. Louis pizza is unlike any other pie you've tried. It's served on a thin, crispy crust with sweet tomato sauce. But the defining feature is the polarizing Provel cheese, a mixture of cheddar, Swiss and provolone.
- Readers are split on the best place to try some. Imo's is a local giant, but Marjorie P. suggests Pirrone's Pizzeria in Florissant.
🍝 The Hill is an Italian neighborhood loaded with authentic cuisine, including the local delicacy, toasted ravioli.
🍔 Blueberry Hill serves what many Axios Nashville readers consider the city's best burger.
The intrigue: That's just a small sample. So many emails came in, we briefly thought we'd been hacked.
💭 Adam's thought bubble: I went to Saint Louis University in the 2000s, so I thought my Missouri bona fides were strong. But I was no match for our readers. We have several passionate STL stans in our midst.