Mold-safe travel tips for a St. Louis trip
Posted by D.F. · 7/20/2026
R.R. Was it brand new back then?
18 comments
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Member · 7/20/2026
i would avoid the two hotels super close to barnes jewish hospital - a lot of families stay there and extra germy in my opinion
Member · 7/20/2026
Grants farm is also there and a Ulysses s grant national monument. Six flags St. Louis Meremec caverns is about 20 mins north of St. Louis
Member · 7/20/2026
We stayed here by the zoo. This was in 2022 though but we did good here. It’s only 12-15 mins to get to what you want to do down town like the arch etc . Traffic in St. Louis usually isn’t too terrible. It’s way worse in Chicago.
Member · 7/20/2026
You can see the arch from Cahokia mounds climb. My kids liked that. The world’s tallest bottle of ketchup is also in that same town (Collinsville , IL) if you want a goofy stop. Cahokia mounds has picnic tables and their museum was closed when we went so we just did the climb basically on the steps to the top
Member · 7/20/2026
Turtle park is just giant concrete turtles to climb on. Very close to the zoo. If you can find street parking near turtle park then you can walk to the zoo and avoid paying for parking
Member · 7/20/2026
Forest park itself has a free art museum and free history museum. You can walk around the big park. There are paddle boats with a little restaurant in the park too. Worth a stop especially if you stay close. We even saw a deer walking around the park
Member · 7/20/2026
The Muny is a great mold free option if you like theater. It’s the largest outdoor theater in the U.S. with 1200 free seats. Tower Grove has one of the best farmers markets in the area. On Saturdays Prioritized Pastries is there and they have gf vegan pastries. I saw a comment for the Magic House. It is a great space for kids but I react to the mold in there. The City Museum is also a lot of fun, but I unfortunately also feel the mold in there as well. Everyone sensitives are different.
Member · 7/20/2026
Home2 suites I had no issues
Member · 7/20/2026
R.R. Wow thank you so much. This will definitely be very helpful. Is there any GPS point I can use for Turtle Park and Cahokia Mounds? I appreciate all the suggestions. We did Atlanta last year and Chattanooga this year. Would you say that it is safe to go mostly everywhere in St-Louis? I believe some area you have to avoid. Even Downtown I thought I read something aboit being cautious in certains area.
Member · 7/20/2026
Georgia aquarium in Atlanta if you have time. St. Louis - the science museum is free. If you want the planetarium show that needs booked and paid for. City museum Magic house but only if your kids are smaller younger - it’s not that much different than a lot of children’s museums honestly St Louis Zoo is amazing and free. Go to turtle park right by it. It’s a quick stop there. Maybe even park near there for free parking St. Louis arch - but book tickets now if you want to ride to the top. You cannot just show up for that portion. You can walk around and see museum by just showing up. But if you want a ride to the top book now There is a big Ferris wheel and St. Louis aquarium too but the aquarium isn’t that great. Georgia aquarium is better. If short on time skip magic house and St. Louis aquarium. (It’s small and kind of $ - but it doesn’t take a ton of time either - book this in advance if you decide to go). Things like the St. Louis arch and city museum you can only do there. There is a paddle boat ride near the arch too and the courthouse that is close by also has a lot of history. Cahokia mounds climb to the top is interesting and historical on the other side of the river in Illinois. It doesn’t take long.
Member · 7/20/2026
if you go on cahokia mounds website there is a short video maybe 15 mins long you could show the kids before you go. we live 3 hours north and we did a field trip to there and stopped at the worlds biggest bottle of ketchup in collinsville and then went to st lou for the rest of the day
Member · 7/20/2026
Our experience at the fairly new Drury near Savannah was also great. So I wonder if they ozone the rooms regularly with all the pets? I think because of all the free food, it seemed like a major stop for snowbirds and people with RVs and their dogs. Like everyone had a dog! So maybe they ozone all the time??
Member · 7/20/2026
Also for Cahokia mounds the hours are for the visitor center I think. People go walk there early in the morning and after work etc if you just want to do the climb.
Member · 7/20/2026
I don’t remember if it was moldy or not but the City Museum is a great place if you have kids 13 and younger! Very unique children’s museum!
Member · 7/20/2026
DO NOT STOP IN WESLEY CHAPEL, FLORIDA! Tried 2 hotels on person once…both completely infested.
Member · 7/20/2026
You can stop in Huntsville, Alabama for the Space and Rocket Center. There are many new places at the Mid City area not too far from there. I haven’t personally tried those places, but new places (not too new) usually agree with me. I have stayed at the Hampton Inn in Hampton Cove near Huntsville that was really good.
Member · 7/20/2026
I did Drury hotel new side that was recently built in Orlando fl right across from Disney springs. I tried their refurbished hotel in Orlando and did not do well with the mold
Member · 7/20/2026
cahokia mounds was a major city back in the 1200's. had tons of native people living there right on the mississippi river and was bigger than say London england at that time so i thought that was pretty cool. it's mostly a spot where locals take a walk daily now