We get on Priceline since this is frequently used by the Montoyas for all their trips. Andrew types in $51 for a 3.5-4 star hotels downtown for 3 nights…Jose` gets excited since it was taking a while meaning that it’s going through. Just a little tidbit of information; If you bid for a room or airline tickets takes a while to go through then that usually means it has been accepted…CHA-CHING. It looks as though we are staying at the Hyatt Regency Riverfront! Now we’re talking! However, the downfall was $25/night for valet parking. We called and there was parking garages for $8 less than a block away.
The Montoyas have been to St. Louis before which is how we got to planning this trip. There’s so much to do there so we made a list: winery hopping, touring the Arch, Bush-Anheuser brewery, the Zoo, Cardinals game, eating out 2 nights, visiting the Hill (Italian neighborhood for shops and food), and more. I found an awesome website for anyone planning a fun trip to St. Louis: Explore St. Louis. There is literally a week’s worth of fun times! And how we were able to do all this with a tight budget…most of the events were FREE – except the game!!
I did some research before we left since I hate using the GPS. I looked up our hotel and what do you know…it’s directly facing the Arch! I immediately called Andrew to get us rooms facing the Arch. So, his ‘Dill’-in skills kicked in…he called the hotel and told them ”My wife and I are celebrating our 1st Anniversary…” They stated they would do their best but could not make any promises.
We stopped by Lamberts Throwed Rolls on the way up and boy was it a hopping and fun place…I don’t even know how to explain how much food you get! We split and still had left overs.
Yes, they literally throw you just-out-of-the-oven yeast rolls and I got a little competitive diving over the table to catch mine – ha! They also give out vegetables (in addition to the meal you order) – mac and tomatoes, fried okras, potatoes, and beans!
We arrived at the hotel around Midnight and the lady recognized our names…”well, we did something we normally don’t do…we gave you showrooms.” Ashley and I weren’t sure if we heard her right. Although we were on different floors, Andrew and I walked in to see a sectional couch, bar/kitchen area, chair with a plasma TV and on the other side is our bed with another plasma TV – we felt like high-rollers. Let me rewind…Andrew wanted to follow the GPS and I wanted to follow my maps which I worked hard on with all of the researching I did and we got lost for at least 45 extra minutes! Needless to say, I felt worthless after feeling like my husband never trusts me and was trying hard not to crack a smile after seeing the biggest room ever! 
The Montoyas walked into their room and Ba-Bam…the Arch!! You could literally swing the Arch from their window. Well, we later get the same room on a different floor since our air didn’t work, but it was just as good! Andrew spent countless hours taking pictures after dark.
Day 1: Our first stop in the morning was the Busch-Anheuser Brewery tour. Andrew lucked out Friday night and parked on the street directly in front of our hotel…so we got front door service (never had to pay for parking the entire weekend downtown!). By the way, I did all the driving in town since I like to use sense of direction rather than an unreliable GPS ;) The brewery was really interesting and beautiful. We learned a lot of cool things. For instance, it was 50 degrees in the chambers and if you had a bottle an hour for 175 years, then and only then would you be able to consume the amount of beer they hold in these huge containers. Also, the chandeliers in one of the buildings, was from the 1900 World Art Fair! The Clydesdale were cool too, they weigh up to 2,000 pounds!!
On a time crunch, we headed out to the wineries just outside of St. Louis and it was absolutely beautiful! Looked like Italy in St. Louis! Tastings are also free (at most places) and we stopped at 4 out of 70+ wineries: Chandler Hill (our favorite), Sugar Creek, Montelle, and Augusta.
By the end of the night…we were so tired that we ate at the hotel restaurant and crashed.Day 2: We headed out to the St. Louis Zoo in the morning. However, we did have to pay $11 for Zoo parking, but Zoo entrance…FREE!! The best part…was the penguins…they do a whopping belly flop and splash everyone during the exhibition.
Andrew does some talk to get a cup full of Dip-n-Dots for $7...the regular large was $6 that was 3 times smaller!
It was a rush after the Zoo for our 1:15p game…someone told us to get scalped tickets during the 1st inning as opposed to ordering them online. So we get there and there are no more scalped tickets nor are there 4 seats open together in the stadium. Totally bummed and thought our plans for the weekend was off track…so we hung around took pictures around the stadium and watched the exciting crowds through the gate. 
We made the Arch our plan B (even though we were supposed to do that on Monday morning). As we walked a couple blocks my sense of direction was telling us to turn a little earlier. Jose wanted to keep walking, so we followed. Few minutes later, a police man pulls up next to us and starts to speak to Jose. He asked if we wanted to go to the game and handed over 4 tickets!!!! Again, WHAT?! Then Ashley and I thought they weren’t seated together (the face of the tickets were all different). Nope…we’re totally sitting together and didn’t care where they were located! 
We got inside and asked for directions, “up the elevators to the Cardinal Club.” Ok…”did she just say Cardinal Club?!” Our adrenaline never slows down on this trip…we get up there and the seats couldn’t have been better, plus they were FREE!! Right behind the home base front row on our level!! We kept wondering if God had a hand in this. What are the chances?!
We had a nice dinner that night after a couple hours of rest (and fun for Andrew and I – LOL). It was a very nice atmosphere at a Japanese restaurant - The Drunken Fish. Food was okay. Oh, and my budgeting tip…share the meals! Andrew and I saved so much money this way and there isn’t wasting.
Day 3: Morning downpour, but that’s okay…we got into the Arch and fabulous pictures of the fog. Oh, note to self…don’t carry knives!! Andrew had an illegal automatic switch blade in his pocket before going through security check. Spent about 45 minutes doing a criminal check and walking him back to the car to put it up – I mean, talk about WHEW! 
We waited for him and took off in this tiny, itty-bitty cart. I wasn’t sure how well my claustrophobia would handle this tight space for the 4-minute ride up. I survived after a minute and we enjoyed the city’s beautiful views!! Oh yeah, and the Arch is the tallest national man-made monument – at 630ft high!
Lunch was at a tapas (Spanish) restaurant, BARcelona, which is so good and you can share multiple plates (kind of like sharing a bunch of appetizers). Then we sadly headed home.Dave Ramsey says Andrew and I are outta control. So, last night, we paid off ALL our bills (including my hearing aids)! And yes, we shredded Andrew’s last credit card! I still have my Macy’s, but that’s all because I pay it as I use it ;)
