St. Louis Vacation Travel Guide | Expedia

New frontiers of music, culinary exploration, and one of the most iconic monumentsin the U.

S are just some of the things that create the unique and charming flavor that is St.

Louis.

You’ll find Missouri’slargest metropolis perched on the west bank of the Mississippias it rolls south towards New Orleans.

While blues, bricks, baseballand beer are etched into the city’s culture, St.

Louis has been shaped by a rich history.

The city got its start whentwo French fur traders started an isolated but strategic settlementon a high bluff of the Mississippi in 1763.

Growing steadily intoa village, and then a town, it was named St.

Louis, in honor of the King of France, Saint Louis the ninth.

The city played a vital role in America’s westward expansionin the 19th century.

Explorers Lewis and Clarkembarked on their historic expedition from here, blazing the way for other hopeful settlers.

The city thrived as an outfitting center where pioneers gathered suppliesbefore setting out into the wild west, and it soon adopted thenickname “the gateway to the west.

” Curving to a height of 630 feet above the Mississippi, the Gateway Arch was created in 1963 as a tribute to St.

Louis’ role in opening up the west.

Delve through the city’s pastin the Gateway Arch Museum, before taking the tram tothe top of the USA’s tallest monument for spectacular views across the city and beyond.

Once you’ve returned to earth, make your way to theWashington Avenue Historic District.

Largely abandoned after the Second World War, this former garment district is once again in vogue, as funky apartments, bars and cafes take upresidence in the warehouses of old.

In 1849, a devastating firealmost reduced St.

Louis to ash.

Following the discovery oflarge clay deposits beneath the city, buildings were rebuilt with red terracotta bricks.

Sturdy, fire resistant, and undeniably beautiful, red bricks soon becamea signature building block in the city’s DNA.

While red bricks make up the city’s DNA, music is the fire within St Louis’ soul.

The city’s sound is a unique brew, over a century in the making.

Plantation songs and gospel steamed northaboard river boats from New Orleans, blending with local ragtime and jazzto create the iconic St.

Louis Blues.

At the National Blues Museum, discover the legends who honed their craft in St.

Louis, creating a new sound that would go onto influence musicians all over the world.

St.

Louis’ soul flows with faith, as well as music.

Step into the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, and feel your spirit soaramid the bright chapels and sanctuary.

Gaze up at the glowing mosaics, a labor of love that took 76 years and over 41 million glass tesserae pieces to complete.

The historic district of Soulard is the next stop on your journey into the spirit of St Louis.

This neighborhood is brimmingwith churches that date back to the mid-1800s.

In Soulard, food and beerare also treated with divine reverence.

Follow your nose to the neighborhood’s best taco joint, then savor a pint of liquidgold at one of the many breweries.

Take a tour of the Anheuser-Busch Brewery, the home of Budweiser beer.

The brewery’s site was chosen in 1852 because of some cool caves that they used for storage, for its proximity to the Mississippi River, and for the large population ofthirsty German immigrants.

Inhale the hops, malt and mash as you wanderthrough the labyrinth of historic buildings, and learn the fascinating storyof one of the nation’s leading brewers.

Pull up a chair at the Schlafly Tap Room, another of the city’s oldestand most celebrated breweries.

Originally a printing press, today it’s the perfect place tojoin in with locals in cheering on the St.

Louis Blues – the city’s pro ice hockey team.

While St.

Louis’ German settlersbrought beer to the city, its Italian immigrants brought their homeland’s recipes.

Make your way to The Hilland try one of the city’s most iconic dishes, toasted ravioli.

Legend has it that a tipsy chefdropped ravioli into the deep fryer by mistake, and voila, a new dish was born! After sampling the city’s culinary folklore, enjoy the spirits of St.

Louis, in one of the city’s many cocktail bars and lounges.

You’ll need at least two daysto fully explore Forest Park, a lush expanse larger than New York’s Central Park.

More than just a celebration of nature’s beauty, Forest Park is also home to a smorgasbord of St.

Louis’ most treasured cultural jewels.

At the park’s northern entrance, visit the Missouri History Museum, and take off throughthe dramatic chapters of the state’s past.

The museum’s shining star is the “Spirit of St Louis, ” a replica of the airplane flown by Charles Lindbergh in the first solo transatlantic flight.

Follow the paths south, to Pagoda Lake, where you’ll findone of St.

Louis’ best-loved attractions.

Starting life as a humble stage between two oak trees, the Muny Theatre has growninto the largest amphitheater in the United States.

So, book a ticket, sit back, and experience the magicof musical theatre under the moonlight.

Forest Park is also home to the St.

Louis Zoo, where a menagerie of crittersincluding Southern Rockhopper penguins is sure to keep little ones entertained.

Just a short walk away, visit the St.

Louis Art Museum.

Built for the 1904 World’s Fair, this stunning beaux-arts palace houses creative works which span the world’s cultures, and ages.

Before you leave, make your wayto the southern edge of Forest Park to explore the St.

Louis Science Center.

The center is a celebration of natural history and a glimpse into the new frontiersof science and technology.

Ever since those two French fur traders set up shop on the banks of the Mississippi, St.

Louis has been the gateway to new frontiers.

This once rough and ready trading posthas evolved into a modern city, brimming with new flavors and a vibrant character that remains true to its rustic heritage.

No longer an outpost wherepioneers set forth to conquer the wild west, today visitors find plenty of adventure right here.

So when you’re ready to discoversome of the best history, hospitality and hops America has to offer, St Louis is the perfect gateway.

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