SBC16 St. Louis Travel Guide

​As the Director of Communications for the SBCAL, I had the privilege to travel last summer to St. Louis to assist in scouting, planning and organizing the 2016 Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Leaders (SBCAL) conference that immediately precedes the SBC Annual Meeting. In doing so, I gleaned a lot from local associational leaders about what to do, where to go, and why they are so proud to call St. Louis their home.

​Hotel Accommodations

If you weren’t able to get a preferred reservation at a Downtown hotel through the SBCAL or ​SBC Housing, consider booking at one of the many hotels near the Lambert-St. Louis Airport (less than an hour away). Most hotels have free shuttle service to the airport, which hosts a convenient, onsite MetroLink station. You could travel to Downtown for the SBC Annual Meeting in the morning and back to your comfy bed in the evening. This is actually what we did while scouting last summer.

​Transportation Options

Rental Car

​We found that renting a car was very easy. There are many rental companies right in the airport terminal. After booking, you’ll be shuttled to an offsite rental car lot to pick up your vehicle (most are only 5 minutes away).
 
The cons with renting a car is the traffic in an unfamiliar city and having to pay for parking. Like most downtowns, St. Louis has crawling rush hours on the interstate and narrow roads to traverse in the inner city. You’ll also need to be prepared to pay for parking, even at free attractions (for instance, the zoo is free but parking is around $11).

MetroLink

​Public transportation is always an adventure in itself with the sights, sounds, and smells that accompany it. Before we tried it, I asked a local associational leader’s wife her take on the St. Louis MetroLink (St. Louis’ public rail transportation). She said she would feel safe traveling it alone in the daylight hours, especially during a bustling convention week. In my personal experience that followed, I would concur – I always felt safe with a traveling companion, especially during business hours. I was also delighted that eating and drinking aren’t allowed on the MetroLink.
 
Rail cars arrive approximately every 20 minutes, and stops are well marked. Note that from the STL airport it will take approximately 45 minutes to an hour to arrive to Downtown. The good news is that you have no transfers – just hop on and hop off at your destination’s closest station. For the Convention Center where the SBC will be held go to the “Convention Center” stop. It’s just a couple of blocks away (I walked it in 3 minutes).

GO BEST Express Shuttle

​Shuttles are a great alternative to public transportation and rental cars. GO BEST Express has reached out to the SBC and the SBCAL offering a discounted rate of $16 one way between the airport and Downtown hotels/Convention Center (compared to the normal $22). Though I haven’t experienced them first hand, I like the idea of not having to drive in traffic and not having to figure out a new city’s rail system. The downside is you have to book now or before June 8 in order to get the discounted rate. If interested, click here to make a reservation.

Attractions

​While St. Louis can provide enough family fun for a week’s vacation, you probably won’t have time to sightsee for more than a few hours or a day so here’s my top recommendations for you.

Gateway Arch

​My dad described it as “America’s Eiffel Tower,” and perhaps he’s right. It’s quite a sight to behold with even more gratitude growing once you learn of its history and meaning. It’s best to buy your tickets online the day before you visit to ensure your spot and to skip the long ticket line. If you don’t like heights or cramped spaces, reconsider traveling up the 630ft. Arch in a 5ft. egg pod (think Mork and Mindy). It’s only a 4-minute ride, so most, including myself, say it’s worth the temporary discomfort.
 
For the Arch, go to MetroLink’s “Eighth and Pine” station, then follow signage (about a 4-5 block walk). 

Forest Park

​With 13 million visitors a year, Forest Park is a top St. Louis attraction. Almost as big as Central Park in NYC, Forest Park boasts wedding-worthy landscapes, quality art and history museums, a free zoo and so much more! You can easily spend a whole day here riding the affordable, air-conditioned $2 trolley bus from attraction to attraction.
 
Speaking of the free zoo - while entrance is free there are many paid-ticket-holders-only sites within the zoo. But you already knew there was a catch, right? I only viewed the free portions of the zoo, but I was still amazed at the quality for the price. 

​Restaurants

​Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate – perhaps my biggest regret is that I didn’t have enough time to take up a local’s recommendation to visit this wonderfully sounding place in Downtown! They have free chocolate tours of their factory…YUM!
 
Say Cheese! Ever heard of Provel cheese? Me, neither. But it’s a proud St. Louis specialty you can’t find anywhere else. Warning: some love it and some hate it. If you want to experience the real St. Louis, take a bite out of Imo’s famous Provel cheese pizza.
 
Toasted Ravioli. If you love Italian food like me, you’ll have to visit “The Hill,” an Italian district of Downtown St. Louis. We ate with newfound friends at Anthonino’s, an authentic Italian restaurant. If I could, I’d eat there every night during the SBC Annual Meeting. They, along with Caleco’s (across the street from the Old Courthouse), serve delicious, St. Louis style Toasted Ravioli, my new favorite Italian appetizer!
 
Blueberry Hill. As the name suggests, this landmark oldie stays true to its roots with classic burgers and fries and décor from yesteryear. In fact, their burger is ranked one of the best in St. Louis. They can seat large parties (10 rooms) but recommended you make reservations for groups of 6 or more. The only caution I give is to put your walking shoes on – this place is off the beaten path from the Convention Center – it’s located on “The Loop”. But don’t worry, the appetite you gain will be satisfied once there.

Share this Travel Guide

Be sure to tweet or post this SBC16 travel guide for your peers before you leave for St. Louis. Because who wants to eat delicious Toasted Ravioli alone?
 ​

​Written by Allison Gentry (@Allison_Gentry)
Director of Communications
Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Leaders