Ever seen the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri? It's a spectacle to behold, but that's not all there is to see while you're touring this historic town. Once you step off the plane at the
Lambert St. Louis International Airport, check into some of the St. Louis Airport hotels like the
Holiday Inn Airport Hotel,
Crowne Plaza Airport Hotel, the
Marriott, or the
HoteLumière Suites and
Casino Super 8, among other comfortable lodging accommodations.
If you are planning on staying in beautiful downtown St. Louis, you can make your reservations at the
St. Louis Days Inn situated on Lindbergh Boulevard, which is conveniently located just minutes away from local area attractions like Six Flags, the Gateway Arch, St. Louis Zoo, and the Busch Stadium -- home to the famous St. Louis Cardinals.
St. Louis Missouri is also known for its leadership in botanical research. In fact, while touring this diverse area, make a concerted effort to visit Shaw's Garden (the Missouri Botanical Garden), which has a fine collection of flowers, plants, trees, and shrubs. Another hot spot to visit while traveling St. Louis that is great find for history buffs is the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, which is situated beneath the Gateway Arch and encompasses over ninety acres on the downtown riverfront.
Of course, you can't depart St. Louis without visiting one of the largest urban parks in the world, Forest Park. This multifaceted park encompasses nearly 1,300 acres of sights and sounds; including the Saint Louis Zoological Park, the Saint Louis Art Museum, the “Jewel Box” (greenhouse), the Boathouse Restaurant, bicycling and walking paths, picnic areas, and playing fields, among other indoor/outdoor activities. One of the more popular sightseer destinations in St. Louis is the St. Louis Union Station. Filled with retail shops and a luxury hotel, this National historic landmark was once the world's leading and heavily trafficked train station. Once you step off the tracks be sure to visit the St. Louis Zoological Park, which is famous for its Zooline Railroad that enables passengers the luxury of riding around the entire zoo with easy stop offs at popular exhibits. In addition to St. Louis Union Station and the zoo, visitors to the area frequent any one of the other 100+ parks managed by the city; especially Tower Grove Park, what is considered one of oldest “walking” parks in the US.
Don't forget to bring your camera along for the trip, because you're going to want to capture some great shots of the fourth longest river in the world, The Mississippi. If you're lucky, you might be able to catch a ride on the Steamboat “Tom Sawyer” while in St. Louis – there's nothing like living the real adventure in modern-day times! You're certainly going to work up an appetite while touring through the city, so you may wish to stop through “The Hill,” a popular Italian neighborhood that is home to some of America's finest Italian restaurants.
Rich in culture and historical architecture, St. Louis is also famous for its Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, which has played the music circuit since the late 19th Century. However, don't let the guise of the symphony lure you away from renowned artists like Chuck Berry, who is a native son to St. Louis. In addition to the orchestra, St. Louis is known for its jazz, blues, ragtime, and soul music.