Destination attractions things to do in st louis

Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest

St. Louis, Missouri is a city on the Mississippi River. Many of St. Louis attractions are centered around the river and on the westward expansion of the United States that started in St. Louis. St. Louis is a city with a variety of attractions for visitors; here are some of my favorites.

If you played word association with a number of people, many would associate St. Louis with the arch. The Gateway Arch, tallest monument in the National Park System, is 630 high, and was designed by Eero Saarinen. The arch commemorates the westward expansion of the United States and the Louisiana Purchase; St. Louis is said to be the gateway to the West. The arch is very close to the Mississippi River, and is made of stainless steel. There are broad steps leading up to the arch, and they are sometimes used as seating for special events.

A museum, movie theaters, and exhibits are underground beneath the arch; the Odyssey Theater has a giant screen, and films change occasionally, and another theater shows a film entitled Monument to the Dream and is about the building of the arch. I found this film fascinating; it gives lots of information about the arch. There are exhibits on the westward expansion in the museum, and costumed characters will sometimes enlighten visitors on aspects of the West. The Levee Mercantile is a gift shop and general store that also has historically-accurate food from the 1870s; many of the snacks are produced locally.

There is a tram system that takes visitors up to the top of the arch, where you can see for 30 miles east or west on a clear day. The viewing windows are small but its fun to look out at the river and St. Louis. Some may hesitate to board the tram; the rounded capsules look very small, even though each holds five people, but the ride is smooth. There are films to watch while waiting for the tram.

There are riverboats in St. Louis, both for sightseeing tours and for gambling. The President Casino, the only downtown casino, is within walking distance of the arch. Harrahs, Casino Queen, and Ameristar Casino also have casino riverboats in St. Louis, and the Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher are paddlewheel riverboats that offer sightseeing and dinner cruises on the Mississippi River.

Lacledes Landing, a 9-square block entertainment district, is also very near the arch. Historic buildings and old warehouses are filled today with restaurants, shops, clubs, and offices. Cobblestone streets, old brick, and cast-iron facades add to the feeling that youre back in earlier times; theres a dinner theater, wax museum, dental museum, and lots of festivals at Lacledes Landing, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

Forest Park, located six miles west of downtown off Interstate 64, contains the zoo, an art museum, science center, history museum, and an outdoor opera theater. Check out the Butterfly Dome at the zoo or the beautiful flowers at the Jewel Box. You can walk, bike or rollerblade on the path that encircles the park, skate in Steinberg Rink, or rent a paddleboat or canoe if you like the water. A golf course and tennis courts are also available at the park; in the winter, cross-country skiing, sledding, and ice skating are popular activities at the park.

One of the most popular attractions at Forest Park, located on the south side, is the Turtle Playground. Designed by a St. Louis artist, the seven concrete turtle sculptures, which are from 7 to 40 feet long, are fun to photograph, and children love to climb on them. Picnic spots are abundant at Forest Park, and there are several cafes located in the museums, boat house, and zoo.

St. Charles is northwest of St. Louis and contains the Lewis & Clark Center, located on the Missouri River. The center is near the original campsite of the Lewis & Clark expedition before it set off for the West, and contains exhibits on plant and animal life that they encountered on their journeys. The Lewis & Clark Rendezvous is held each May in St. Charles, and the streets around the center have many unique restaurants and shops.

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, located eight miles east of downtown St. Louis, is across the Mississippi River in Collinsville, Illinois. Cahokia Mounds, which is a United Nations World Heritage Site, contains 69 mounds on 2200 acres, several of them very large, and an excellent interpretive center that will help you understand the history of the Mississippian Indians, who built the mounds. Theres an informational film shown in the center, tours are given, and there are several miles of walking trails. Its fun to climb all the steps to the stop of Monks Mound, the largest mound at 100 feet tall and a base of 14 acres; the view is awesome and its usually quite windy and cool on top, even in summer. Special events are held throughout the year; check their website for details. The museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

St. Louis is a fun place to visit, and there are many other attractions. Great sports teams, restaurants, and historical attractions are all there, the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers is nearby, and visitors should be able to find many things to do and see. Check out one of the websites that offer information about St. Louis, or order brochures to aid in your trip planning.