The Gateway to the West...St. Louis is distinctly more eastern in character than its sister city, Kansas City, and like K.C., spans across the river to include another state, but the bulk of the populace live on the Missouri side. In addition, a large number of people of German descent live in and around the area, making the area a haven for great German food and brew.
Speaking of brew, did we mention Anheuser Busch, on I-55 & Arsenal in St. Louis? No? Well, a trip to St. Louis just wouldn't be complete without seeing those famous Clydesdales, the lager cellar, packaging plant, and of course, actual samples!
Farther north, the vital, bustling downtown area has been extensively renovated, making it an especially enjoyable place to explore. The 630-foot-high steel arch is the symbol of the city's "Gateway to the West" slogan and is a fun place to visit.
Eager football-starved fans got their wish in 1995 as St. Louis acquired the Rams from Los Angeles. Missouri now has two NFL teams to cheer!
Another attraction, Forest Park, is one of the largest city parks in the United States. Its 1,380 acres of natural beauty include streams, pools, lagoons, waterfalls, bridges, golf links, bridle paths, an ice skating rink and picnic areas. The City Art Museum, on Art Hill in Forest Park, displays more than 7,000 works of art. The park also includes the St. Louis Zoo, with its popular animal shows, and the Municipal Open-Air Theater, which offers summer programs of light opera and musical comedy.
The Missouri Botanical Garden, near Tower Grove Park, displays over 12,000 kinds of plants from all parts of the world. It features the Climatron, a modern greenhouse that displays various plants in their native climates. The garden is often called, "Shaw's Garden" honoring Henry Shaw, a St. Louis merchant who established the Garden.
Situated on the west bank of the Mississippi River, just south of its junction with the Missouri River, St. Louis and its surrounding area are important midwestern centers of industry, trade and transportation.
St. Louis has tons of Web links. Check out the St. Louis Home Page, take a peek at an interesting St. Louis-based artist's work, or find out what some of the St. Louis geniuses are doing - go to the St. Louis Area Mensa Chapter's (SLAM) homepage.
Hold it! A visit to Missouri is not complete without checking out our Western Star, Kansas City. Thanks for visiting St. Louis, MO -- the Gateway to the West.
