MISSOURI: THE SHOW ME
STATE
BY CLAY
LARROY
The preparation for a vacation is almost as exhilarating as the vacation itself. I love printing out the tickets and confirmations
while thinking about how much fun I will have on vacation. Now that summer is
officially here I want to discuss places to go on your summer vacations.
I think that some of the best destinations in the world are right here in our
great country America. So I am continuing my tour across America. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!
St.
Louis, “The Gateway City”
The Gateway City has plenty to offer its visitors with
fun, family-friendly activities, great entertainment venues and an exciting
nightlife. Relax in a cozy neighborhood cafe, tour a local brewery or take the
kids on a safari adventure. You can even bring your pet along! Check out the
customized itineraries designed to help you get the most out of your trip. So
what are you waiting for? Discover St. Louis now!
Get
a bird’s eye view from the Gateway Arch
Take a 630-foot ride to the top of this world-famous stainless
steel monument for the finest view in the Gateway City. Then stop by
the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial to get a glimpse of where Lewis and
Clark set out on their historic expedition! Visitors can also hop aboard a 19th
century paddle-wheel boat replica for a narrated cruise down the mighty
Mississippi.
Take
a thrill ride (or two) at Six Flags St. Louis
Visit this exciting Midwest theme park that’s fun for the
whole family! Visitors can loop the loop on Batman the Ride, soar at speeds of
up to 62 mph on the Screaming Eagle wooden coaster and get soaked on the
whitewater rapids adventure of Thunder River. Guests of Six Flags St. Louis can also see live shows and
concerts, meet their favorite cartoon characters and have tons of fun in the
sun at Hurricane Harbor Water Park. There are plenty of hotel amenities just
minutes from the park, and visitors can take advantage of group discounts for
youth groups, company outings, family reunions and much more!
Spend
a night out on the town
Looking for a fun night out? Head downtown to Washington
Avenue or Laclede’s Landing and take your pick of some of
the hottest bars and dance clubs in St. Louis (most are smoke free and open
till 3 a.m.). Visitors can also go for dinner, drinks and a show at Westport Plaza’s 42-acre entertainment
district, or check out the trendiest boutiques and upscale dining
establishments in Clayton
and the Central West End.
If live music is your thing, Soulard boasts some of the best blues venues in town.
Check
out a creature feature at the Saint Louis Zoo
Get up close and personal with the furry, the flying and
the fishy creatures of the Saint Louis Zoo. One of the city’s many free
attractions, the Saint Louis Zoo has been recognized as one of the nation’s
leading zoological parks. Take a ride on the Emerson Zooline Railroad and get a
guided tour of some of the most exciting animal exhibits in the park, or
venture on your own through attractions like Big Cat Country, Penguin &
Puffin Coast or the Interactive Stingray Pool. Kids will enjoy the children’s
petting zoo, and dining and souvenirs are available at one of the many
boutiques and restaurants located around the park.
Let
your imagination loose in the Magic House
Visit the region’s first interactive children’s museum,
built in a sprawling Victorian mansion in suburban St. Louis. Kids will enjoy
all sorts of fun and educational activities at the Magic House, including sitting at the
president’s desk in a spot-on recreation of the Oval Office and performing
patriotic karaoke. In a miniature town, kids can play grownup for a day as they
change the tire on a wooden car, stock shelves in a model grocery store or
serve pizza in a pretend kitchen. Visitors can even climb a three-story
beanstalk, spin a giant kaleidoscope or perform a puppet show! Enjoy special
events that include magical story time, free family nights and fitness first
Fridays.
Immerse
in the culture of Forest Park
Once home to the 1904 World’s Fair, Forest Park is one of the largest urban parks
in the United States. It attracts 12 million visitors a year with world-class
attractions and scenic walking and biking trails. Other points of interest
include the Jewel Box, a beautiful greenhouse filled with magnificent floral
displays, the golf courses and the World’s Fair Pavilion, a perfect site for a
company picnic or private party.
Experience
art in the fresh air
Enjoy a fusion of sculpture and landscape architecture at
Citygarden, an urban oasis featuring works of modern and
contemporary art, native plants, six rain gardens and a café overlooking the
beautiful scene. Or discover the stunning Laumeier Sculpture Park with over 70
outdoor sculptures, a music amphitheater for special events and a traveling
series of exhibitions. Chesterfield boasts an impressive collection of
outdoor art including the recently added sculpture “The Awakening,” a 70-foot
statue of a giant embedded in the earth.
Have
an animal encounter at Grant’s Farm
Go on a private expedition through Grant’s Farm for an up-close and personal
feeding experience with buffalo and goats. Stop by and visit the majestic
Budweiser Clydesdales and take a ride on the Grant’s Farm carousel. Shop for
collectibles and souvenirs, catch a live concert or see an animal show complete
with kangaroos, tortoises and ostriches. Have an interactive encounter with some
of the elephants, then stop for lunch and a brew at the Brat Haus or Grant’s
Farm Deli.
Discover
your inner child at City Museum
Explore the City Museum’s unique all-ages playground filled
with caves, slides and climbing apparatus made from recycled and found objects.
Visitors can interact with over 10,000 sea creatures in the World Aquarium,
venture through the Museum of Mirth, Mystery and Mayhem and wander through the
Elmslie and Sullivan architectural exhibit. Stop in for circus-themed food,
parties and educational circus classes and workshops held daily. Create your
own masterpiece in Art City, take notes with the world’s largest pencil and
enjoy the view while grabbing a bite at The Roof Top Cantina.
Eat
your heart out
Don’t miss the opportunity to try some of the city’s
tastiest (and unique) treats. Munch on a slice of delectable St. Louis-style
thin crust pizza smothered in Provel cheese and then pick up a mouth-watering
gooey butter cake (the most delicious accident ever created). Snack on
scrumptious deep-fried toasted ravioli at one of the many dining establishments
on The Hill, a quaint St. Louis neighborhood famous for Italian
cuisine. And to top it all off, satisfy your sweet tooth at Ted Drewes with some signature frozen custard.
Embrace
spirituality through creative expression
Visit Saint Louis University’s Museum of Contemporary Religious Art (MOCRA),
a venue committed to peaceful interfaith dialogue and understanding. Take in
the beauty of the world’s largest mosaic installation inside the spectacular Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis or
see the historic Old Cathedral and St. Ferdinand Shrine, both
constructed in the early 19th century with ties to the oldest Catholic
congregation in St. Louis. Across the river, attend mass, walk the grounds and
have a delicious meal at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows.
Go
on a journey of scientific discovery
See what’s new at the St. Louis Science Center. Find out what
it’s like to venture out into the wild, journey under the sea or fly high up in
the air at the four-story Omnimax Theater, a film experience unlike any other.
See a thrilling space show at the Planetarium, one of nation’s leading space
education facilities. Younger children will enjoy the Discovery Room filled
with interactive exhibits and experiments, and visitors of all ages can explore
over 700 hands-on displays including a life-sized animatronic Tyrannosaurus
Rex.
Indulge
your inner gearhead
Rev up your engine at the Kemp Auto Museum marveling at the beauty and
craftsmanship of the finest European automobiles, from the classic early models
to contemporary designs. Tour a collection of rare and vintage motorcycles at
the Moto Museum, or explore the history, mechanics
and design of the cart and buggy, planes, trains or anything else with
wheels at the St. Louis Museum of Transportation.
If you want to get behind the wheel don’t miss Pole Position Raceway for some world-class
indoor carting action. And if you’re visiting in the late winter, be sure to
stop by the St. Louis Auto Show and Boat Show at America’s Center.
Appreciate
art from the classics to contemporary
View a collection of art ranging across centuries and
cultures from sculpture and oil paintings to charcoal drawings and photography
at the St. Louis Art Museum. Enjoy the works of
newly established artists both locally and internationally at the Contemporary Art Museum of St. Louis.
In addition to innovative exhibitions, the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts features
concerts by the Saint Louis Symphony, panel discussions
and educational programs. A more permanent collection of contemporary art
resides in the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum.
Have
an outdoor adventure
Take a two-wheel excursion through the Gateway City on
one of our many biking trails (contact TrailNet for maps). Set up camp at one
of Missouri’s beautiful state parks and choose from a variety of al fresco
activities ranging from fishing and hiking to swimming, horseback riding and
much more! Journey underground and discover buried treasure at Meramec Caverns or stay the night at a comfy
bed and breakfast in famous Missouri wine country while sampling some
of the regions finest varietals.
Take
an interactive history lesson
Walk the halls of the Old Courthouse featuring restored courtrooms
and galleries that depict significant moments in St. Louis history. Take an
exciting and educational trip through the past at the Missouri History Museum where guests can
also join a local excursion to various historical points of interest in the
city. Visitors can see the home of Ragtime legend Scott Joplin, walk
through a world heritage site and ancient civilization at Cahokia Mounds and pay their respects at the
resting place for many St. Louisians at Bellefontaine Cemetery.
See
a rockin’ live show
Get your live music fix at The Pageant, ranked one of the top five concert
venues in the world by Pollstar. For larger multi-band tours and festivals,
travel to the outdoor Verizon Wireless Amphitheater or the
concert club at Scottrade Center. Visit Blueberry Hill, the landmark restaurant and
music club for touring acts as well as St. Louis’ top bands including regular
performances by rock ‘n’ roll legend Chuck Berry. For a more intimate venue,
check out the award-winning Jazz at the Bistro or one of St. Louis’ famous
blues clubs like BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups and Broadway Oyster Bar.
Stroll
through the Missouri Botanical Garden
Explore 79 acres of lush gardens, landscape architecture,
greenhouses and conservatories at the oldest Botanical Garden in the United States. Wander
through collections of botanical and horticultural plants among beautiful
fountains and statuary. Visit the Climatron for a real rainforest experience
featuring magnificent waterfalls, tropical birds and exotic plants like
bananas, cacao, coffee trees and orchids. Other points of interest include the
serene Japanese garden and the interactive and educational Children’s Garden.
Enjoy
the magic of live theater
There’s no place finer than the Fabulous Fox for dazzling live theater, where
you can catch the Broadway bug with a play, concert or dance troupe. Hear your
favorite classical music performed by the renowned St. Louis Symphony at Powell Hall,
or see an award-winning musical at Stages St. Louis. Immerse yourself in operatic
drama at the Opera Theatre of St. Louis, or experience
classic and modern playwrights at the Repertory Theater or the newly renovated Peabody Opera House. Bathe in moonlight during
an outdoor show at Forest Park’s The Muny, the nation’s largest outdoor
amphitheater dedicated solely to musical theater.
Attend
a fair or festival
In February you can join a Mardi Gras celebration second
only to New Orleans, and May brings the Rib America Festival and delicious BBQ
to town. Summer visitors can get patriotic at Fair St. Louis, which features
fireworks, air shows and free live concerts. If you’re visiting in the fall,
attend the International Film Festival and see some of the world’s most
innovative and cutting-edge features at each of St. Louis’ independent landmark
theaters. Fall guests can also attend the St. Louis Art Fair and celebrate
German culture with authentic food and live music at Soulard Oktoberfest.
Before your visit, check out a full list of the city’s annual events.
Walk
down the Delmar Loop
Make a day of it at the Delmar Loop. This six-block entertainment and
shopping district is packed with hip bars, eclectic restaurants, live music
venues, vintage clothing boutiques and a Hollywood-inspired walk of fame
featuring St. Louis celebrities. Catch a show at the historic Tivoli Theatre or
learn about our solar system along the outdoor Planet Walk exhibit. Shop for quirky gifts or
souvenirs and grab a bite to eat at one of the dozens of restaurants and
outdoor cafés, from Turkish and Thai delights to Mexican and American classics.
REFERENCE
SITES
I'm from Bourbon, Missouri, where spirits are high and where the cattle population
exceeds the human population.
Taylor Louderman
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