Best Value Vacation for Your Family: Touring St. Louis, Missouri

With gas prices soaring this summer, a lot of families our looking everywhere to cut expenses. Unfortunately for some families, they have had to completely eliminate their annual summer vacation. Many other families have had to "settle" by going to the most nearby attraction to enjoy some quality family time. However, there are many ways to cut back this summer on expenses that can still allow your family to enjoy a new city and new experience together. Before I get into this week's featured city, here are a couple of ideas my family has used that have cut back on prices, without sacrificing the entertainment aspect of the trip.

Don't overspend on food.
It is very easy to stop at a fast-food restaurant several times on your way to your vacation spot. For a family of four, one stop at Burger King can cost $20. This can quickly add up to over $100. If you go to a nicer restaurant, say O'Charley's, your likely to dish out $30 or more per visit. Try and pack lunches before you leave home. That way you won't spend any money on food on the way down to your destination. Go out to eat one night with the family, but try going to the grocery store at least one night and make sandwiches for the kids. In my opinion, the local attractions and amusement parks are the places where most of the money should go not the restaurants(in most cities anyways).

Make a plan ahead of time.
Even if your not much of a planner, at least take 10 minutes and bang out a rough list of where you want your money to go on this vacation. If you don't plan at all, your likely to spend a lot more than you realize.

Find a the best bargain hotel.
No one wants to spend a ton of time in their hotel rooms on vacation anyways, so why not do your research and find the best bargain. Often times, it is easy to find a good deal at a nice family hotel if you find a place just outside of the city. I have found that expedia.com is an excellent resource for finding the best deals.

This week's featured city is St. Louis, Missouri.
This city is often overlooked when it comes to vacation planning time, but there is a wide variety of activities to do here at great values. First off, during the summer the St. Louis Cardinals are a popular ticket for anyone coming to the city for the first time. If you enjoy baseball, there may not be a better city to watch a game in. The Cardinals play in the new Busch Stadium in downtown St. Louis. This is the one somewhat pricey attraction that I will suggest. The cost of tickets is above the Major League average, but that is because the stadium is nearly full on a nightly basis. As I said, if you enjoy baseball, you will not want to pass up the opportunity of watching a game in St. Louis. The stadium is also in the downtown area where there is lots to do. So you can catch an afternoon game then you can wander around the general area and find a nice place to eat with the family.

The famous St. Louis Gateway Arch is also within walking distance from the stadium. There is also the Science Museum. General admission is completely free. There is an array of activities and events that go on every week at the museum. Did I mention that that is all free! The museum also has special attractions and exhibits(IMAX, dinosaur exhibits, etc.) that are going on in the area that do cost a small price.

This last one's not for the kids, but the Anheuser-Busch brewing company's headquarters is located in St. Louis. They offer complimentary tours during the week to show the public the brewing and packaging process. I have never been, but I have heard it is a very interesting tour. So if your looking to save some money this vacation season take a look at St. Louis, Missouri and all it has to offer.