• about
  • City Guides
    • Europe
      • Czechia
      • England
      • France
      • Germany
      • Iceland
      • Italy
      • Scotland
      • Slovenia
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
    • Canada
    • Caribbean
    • Middle East
    • New Zealand
    • USA
      • Atlanta
      • Chicago
      • COMO
      • Dallas
      • Destin
      • Kansas City
      • Los Angeles
      • NYC
      • Orlando
      • San Francisco
      • Seattle
      • St. Louis
      • Waco
      • South America
  • Tips + Tricks
  • Lifestyle
    • Blogging
  • shop

round trip travel and lifestyle blog

A Classy Afternoon in St. Louis

August 16, 2016
Pin2
Share
Share
Tweet
2 Shares

There’s something to say for trips to the amusement park and greasy corn dogs, but sometimes you gotta travel in style and class.  Riley and I began the day in St. Louis with only one thing set in stone, and we spontaneously chose the rest of the schedule throughout the day.  STL may be known for one thing and one thing only (the Arch), but you can find a multitude of experiences.  And this post is for those looking for a classy, cultured day.  If you’re looking for a classy experience in St. Louis, here’s what we did:

Breakfast and Macaroons at La Bonne Bouchée

Siri needs to get her act together because she called it “la bonne bowchie.”  My wannabe francophone diva within is cringing hard core right now…  Anyway, I ordered the Frittata which the menu boasts as an “open-faced omelette with cheddar, bacon, and rosemary roasted potatoes.”  And oh là là!!  Cheese, bacon and potatoes drowned this omelette.  I’m always down for an omelette, but I enjoyed the open-faced twist along with potatoes in and not on the side.  Full of flavor and very savory.  Bon!  Even more, this bakery and cafe offers a casual yet elegant atmosphere with wooden tables and big windows for walls looking onto a patio with flowers.  On our way out, Riley and I each picked out several macaroons.  Within my mix, I chose peanut butter, Nutella, chocolate and salted caramel; and there are still dozens to pick from among their expansive displays.  I particularly enjoyed the flaky yet delectable peanut butter macaroon because peanut butter is absolutely one of my favorite things on this earth.

La Bonne Bouchee Macaroons St Louis MO

Stroll through the St. Louis Art Museum

Continuing with our classy theme, you most definitely need to culture yourself by stopping by this free art museum.  This fabulous museum offers art ranging from early American furniture to mummies.  Riley and I enjoyed taking pictures in the garden as well as seeing Stone Sea by Andy Goldsworthy.  We so wished we could’ve walked through these stone arches and taken some sweet photos.  We also threw away our map which made it much more fun.  Getting lost and exploring is definitely a great way to go!

St Louis Art Museum Forest Park MO

Photo opts on Art Hill

Just steps away from the entrance of the St. Louis Art Museum stands Art Hill with a tree-lined path around and beautiful stone features.  Riley and I enjoyed spinning around and taking pictures in front of the fountains.  To make your visit to STL even classier, bringing a nice-ish camera (DSLR or point-and-shoot) will bring the sophistication to the next level and help you capture the memories for years to come.

St Louis Missouri Forest Park
Art Hill St Louis Art Museum Forest Park

Take a quiet walk in the Jewel Box

Cities can be quite noisy and overwhelming, but the moment you step into the Jewel Box, you’ll be overcome with a calm serenity (and A/C!!).  This greenhouse is one large room with plenty of plants and flowers.  And you can take a winding staircase to get a better view of the room.  Riley and I even attended a wedding at this venue previously.  Very beautiful and another good photo opt!

Jewel Box St Louis MO

Walk through the gardens nearby and stop by Vandeventer Place

With even more beautiful flowers and a lovely tribute to Korean War veterans, definitely stop by these spots only steps away from the Jewel Box’s entrance.  Riley and I also enjoyed taking pictures by an ancient-looking gate and the stone pillars of Vandeventer Place.

Vandeventer Place Jewel Box St Louis RT
Vandeventer Place Jewel Box St Louis MO

Stroll the Loop and grab lunch at Peacock Loop Diner

Riley and I milled in and out of stores on the Loop after a water break at Starbucks (sorry, not sorry that we’re lame with our H20 at Starbucks).  This neighborhood carries a much more trendy and edgy vibe with stores like Vintage Vinyl and OSO: a style lab.  We made our way to Peacock Diner.  I know you’re thinking that this post is supposed to be classy, and the word “diner” makes you think of Steak ’n Shake (aka not classy).  But I’m here to tell you that Peacock Diner is definitely a level (or two) above this chain.  Tall windows and a light-up sign grace the outside view from the street.  Walking in, you’ll see curved counters with light-up rims and bar stools.  I ordered a Muenster Grilled Cheese on gluten-free bread which was perfectly buttery and tasty.

Peacock Loop Diner Delmar Loop St Louis MO
Delmar Loop Viva La St. Louis MO

Head over to Clayton and Brentwood for more shopping

While the stores on the Loop weren’t so much our style, Riley and I enjoyed strolling through Sweet Boutique in Clayton with its monograms, St. Louis memorabilia and jewelry.  (And it’s only steps away from City Coffeehouse + Creperie!!)  In Brentwood, we stopped by Laurie Solet with its large array of cutesy jewelry.

Recharge at Nadoz

After a long day of walking and bouncing all over the town, I need one thing to refuel: caffeine.  I ordered a Nadoz macchiato which gave me the boost I needed.

Nadoz Macchiato Brentwood St Louis MO

Even if you’re just driving through or stopping by St. Louis, there are plenty of classy, enjoyable activities waiting to be had beyond the Arch.

Author Signature

Share with a friend & save for a future adventure!

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
Pin2
Share
Share
Tweet
2 Shares
0
3 Comments

My Fave Finds

Previous 5 Places to Visit in Orlando
Next How to Pack When You Really Don’t Want To

Related Posts

Soul Searching on the Road: a Journey to the West Coast

Photo Diary: Portorož, Slovenia

How to Bust Your Boredom on Your Next Flight

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. How to Take Killer Vacation Pics – Round Trip says:
    September 28, 2016 at 11:05 am

    […] but let’s be real: it’s too much fun.  I really enjoyed my photo shoot with Riley in downtown St. Louis.  We both spun around multiple times.  Was it natural?  Lol, no.  Was it 100% planned?  Oh, […]

    Reply
  2. Why A Picture is Worth a Thousand Lies – Round Trip says:
    October 12, 2016 at 11:12 am

    […] past summer Riley and I spent almost the entire day exploring the city of St. Louis together.  The macaroons?  So yummy!   A stroll through the art museum?  Oh, so classy.  All our photo […]

    Reply
  3. 12 More Things to Do in St. Louis – Round Trip says:
    November 2, 2016 at 11:07 am

    […] La Bonne Bouchée – If this is your first or second visit to Round Trip, you may not know that I’m obsessed with all things France.  So, let’s just say this bakery and cafe satisfied my inner wannabe francophile.  With its overwhelming expanse of macaroons and quality menu, you’ll get your taste of classy France.  Let me just say that my Frittata open-faced omelette made my stomach VERY happy.  Read more about this restaurant here. […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Bonjour

Hi, I'm Kristin. I'm a content creator teaching English in southern France. I'm all about exploring new places, practicing my French and sharing blogging tips. Allez-viens!
learn more about my story

Ad

Top Posts & Pages

  • 50 Most Used French Verbs to Know + Free Flashcards
  • The Beginner’s Guide to Universal Studios
  • bonjour
  • 8 Best Travel Toiletries at Target
  • 40 Things to Do in St. Louis

About

Hi, I'm Kristin. I'm a content creator teaching English in southern France. I'm all about exploring new places, practicing my French and sharing blogging tips. Allez-viens!
learn more about my story

Want free access to my 30-minute travel budgeting course?

One thing you rarely hear about life abroad: so mu One thing you rarely hear about life abroad: so much dang paperwork and many complicated processes🙈

💰I have several bank accounts in the U.S. and France. I'm paid in euros, but I still have recurring subscriptions on my American credit card. I'm also all about growing my savings and getting those credit card points on my American account.

What👏to👏do?👏

❌I tried sending money directly from my French bank account to my American credit card bill. It worked, but there was bigger fee. And it was only to pay off charges, not grow savings.

✅But then a friend introduced me to @TransferWise and now I am set! I can easily transfer between my different checking accounts for the lowest rates I ever did see. Plus,  I'm still able to grow my savings and investment accounts in America.

❓OK but what is it?! @TransferWise is a third-party site that transfers money between accounts from all over the world. They price compare their rates with other companies. Their site is super easy to use and explains the whole process. And the rates were crazy low and not as high as the transfer I made directly through my banks.

🔗Bop over to link in bio for the link to get a free account and the other 5 things every expat needs.

#expat #expatlife #americanabroad #americansabroad #assistantsdelangue #eslteacher #teflteacher #tefl #esl #englishteacher #americaninfrance #americansinfrance #bloggersunder5k #bloggersunder2k #bloggersunder1k #microinfluencer #wanderlust #tapif #tapifusa @tapifusa @assistantsdelangue #albi #albifrance #france
Have you ever had one of those “it’s a small w Have you ever had one of those “it’s a small world” moments?🌏

☀️Back in 2017, I spent a summer in Toulouse. One weekend, my friends and I went on a road trip to a slew of villages in southwestern France. They were truly some of the best days of my life: we stayed in my friend’s castle🏰(casual), we swam in the river + sunbathed, we drank wine + played games, we explored idyllic villages.

One of my favorite spots with the sweetest of nostalgic memories was in a small village called Laguépie. Population: ~600. Whenever people asked me my favorite place in France, nobody ever knew where I was talking about. It wasn’t in the magazines or travel blogs. (Ahem, it’s on mine!)

➡️Fast forward to 2020. I’m preparing to leave for France and am keeping a close eye on my teaching program’s Facebook page. An American girl posted in the group about her time in Marseille, and we began messaging. She helped me with a million and one things during my move to France, and we’ve stayed in touch and become good friends.

Earlier this month, I visited Albi to see her along with her French boyfriend, who’s from a small village. He never told me the name, but as we were sipping wine and eating saucissons, he said something about Laguépie.

“WHAT?! Did you say Laguépie? I’ve been there and fell in L O V E!” He said, no, we can’t be talking about the same place, no one ever goes to my hometown😂 But after showing him my photos, including ones the village’s castle @chateau_louvielcastel reposted, it was one and the same.

Can someone queue “Invisible String” because what a small world this is that we’re all connected. Do you have any wild stories like that? Tell me in the comments⬇️

#laguepie #laguépie #viaur #franceprofonde #lafranceprofonde #microinfluencer #tarn #garonne #occitanie #frenchvillage #vivelafrance #stmartinlaguepie #bloggersunder5k #bloggersunder2k #bloggersunder1k #bloggersunder10k #itsasmallworld #smallworld #jaimelafrance #patrimoine @occitanietourisme
What do you like searching for on Pinterest?📌 What do you like searching for on Pinterest?📌

✈️I love finding travel destinations + itineraries, easy recipes and decorating ideas. My guess is that you've found some blogs and ideas you love through this site. 

😍I'm even more obsessed with how @pinterest serves to grow my blog and brand.

Currently kicking myself for not getting on the Pinterest for Business train sooner because this site is truly a game changer. I went from a personal account with a wedding board and gluten-free board with recipes I’d never tried to a bustling business board with more than 400,000 monthly visitors. And most of that is not from advertising.

📈I took a free @jennakutcher webinar on how to use Pinterest for Business and saw massive growth. And the best part? You can schedule out content for an entire week in just 30 minutes to an hour. 

⏩Pinterest is my top driver of traffic, and if you want to upgrade your blog like a pro, this is where you need to invest your time, hands down.

Want to learn how you can use Pinterest to grow your blog, brand or biz? Head over to link in bio for my best blogging tips💯

#bloggergirl #blogginglife #blog #blogger #girlswhotravel #bloggingtips #bloggingadvice #getrich #sidehustle #sidegig #monetize #monetizeyourblog #bloggerunder5k #bloggerlifestyle #bloggersofinstagram #bloggervibes #bloggersgetsocial #travelblogger #instablog #monetizeyourbrand #monetizeyourpassion #cassis #france #cassisfr
Best day trips from Nice No. 4: Èze🏰 This med Best day trips from Nice No. 4: Èze🏰

This medieval village enchanted me so much so I almost teared up as we left because I just didn’t want to go. If there are castles, sea views and charm, I’m so there. And Èze checks all these boxes✅ 

😍This medieval village is a labyrinth of cobblestone and windy paths, but the steps are worth it. There are shops and restaurants along the way to the top where you get sweeping views of the Mediterranean Sea. 

🌵Once you make it to the top, you have to pay to enter the Jardin Exotique d’Èze, and I can't recommend it enough. (Be sure to ask about the combo deal that includes both the garden in Èze and the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild nearby.)

🚗🛤️Distance from Nice: 30-minute drive or 15 minute train ride

Craving more photos + day trip ideas from Nice? Head over to link in bio ❤️

#nicefrance #nicefr #nice #southernfrance #eze #èze #ezefr #ezefrance #ezevillage #medievalvillage #seaside #seasidedining #seasidelunch #mediterraneansea #mediterranean #oceanviews #microinfluencer #tapif #tapifusa #assistantsdelangue #assistantdelangue #tefl #esl #eslteacher #teflteacher #teachabroad #teachabroadfrance #jardinexotique #microinfluencer
How's your sense of direction?↪️🗺️I am th How's your sense of direction?↪️🗺️I am the queen of getting lost — and not on purpose😂

When I lived in Toulouse in 2017, I took a day trip to a nearby town to visit a friend. Wanting to get the best deal, I booked the 6 a.m. train. Unfortunately, I didn't think it all the way through🙃

I left my apartment on time, but when I got to the metro, it hadn't started running yet. I was nervous about getting to the train station on time, but if I hurried, I could make it.

Alas, I made it to the metro stop where I was supposed to switch metro lines. I had one job, and I failed🙈

⚠️I went the wrong direction, and once I realized it, I quickly got off the next stop and ran up to the street. I was unbelievably lost, and the sun hadn't even come up. Eventually, I made it to the train station but had completely missed the train.

And defeated, I sat down in the bakery, cried and FaceTimed my mom. Some kind French girl saw my tears and approached me to help me book a new train.

Since then, I've gotten lost many more times😆 But it's taught me to not be so hard on myself because getting lost is part of the journey. (And if it's not a good time, it's a good story, eh?😜)

 #blogginglife #dametravel #dametraveler #blogger #girlswhotravel #travelquotes #quotes #inspirational #bloggerunder5k #bloggerlifestyle #bloggersofinstagram #bloggervibes #bloggersgetsocial #travelblogger #instablog #microinfluencer #microinfluencers #quotable #eze #ezefr #tapif #assistantdelangue #tapifusa
Have you ever dreamed about making money from your Have you ever dreamed about making money from your hobby?✨

I remember when I first decided I wanted to make money from my blog. I thought to myself, I’m not qualified and no one is going to buy this. I’m just a 19 year-old girl! 

❌Wrong, wrong, wrong! You have expertise, you have knowledge, you have know-how. Blogging isn’t often a get rich quick scheme; it takes a lot of time and effort. But the fact that you can make money from doing what you love on your own time online is the coolest!

📚When I started monetizing my blog, I started out selling my paperback books, and I made money from these self-published books at the ripe age of 19. I’ve found better luck selling digital products such as ebooks as the profit margins and logistics are much simpler.

Tell me about your dreams in the comments⬇️And if you're looking to monetize your blog, bop over to my link in bio on how to do exactly that🤑

#bloggergirl #blogginglife #blog #blogger #girlswhotravel #bloggingtips #bloggingadvice #getrich #sidehustle #sidegig #monetize #monetizeyourblog #bloggerunder5k #bloggerlifestyle #bloggersofinstagram #bloggervibes #bloggersgetsocial #travelblogger #instablog #monetizeyourbrand #monetizeyourpassion
Best day trips from Nice No. 2 and 3: Menton and R Best day trips from Nice No. 2 and 3: Menton and Roquebrune Cap Martin

🚦Mal and I really only had time to drive through Menton and Roquebrune Cap Martin, but they were both stunning as ever. In Menton, we walked along the beach and watched the windsurfers in this quaint town.

🍋This spot is known for its lemons as is commemorated every February by Fête du Citron, or Lemon Festival. This event attracts more than 200,000 attendees and boasts 180 tons of citrus fruits.

🚗🛤️Distance from Nice: 12 miles (20 kilometers) or about a 30-minute drive or train ride to Menton

Craving more photos + day trip ideas from Nice? Bop over to link in bio!

#menton #RoquebruneCapMartin #mentonfr #mentonfrance #feteducitron #nicefrance #nicefr #nice #southernfrance #cotedazur #frenchriviera #mediterraneansea #mediterranean #oceanviews #microinfluencer #tapif #tapifusa #assistantsdelangue #assistantdelangue #tefl #esl #eslteacher #teflteacher #teachabroad #teachabroadfrance
Copyright © 2021 round trip
Theme by SheShoppes
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.