Journey to the "Gateway to the West" and enjoy the history and charm St. Louis, Missouri has to offer. Whether driving the Mother Road down Old Route 66, or cruising the mighty Mississippi river on an old-fashioned riverboat, the city digs deep into its scenic past to give you an enjoyable voyage no matter how you travel.

The originator of hot dogs, ice cream cones, and iced tea (courtesy of the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition) St. Louis puts forth a wealth of activities your family can enjoy. The Art Museum, Science Center, Missouri History Museum and Zoo include some world-class attractions in the city. The Magic House and City Museum are especially kid-friendly, and a baseball game with the St. Louis Cardinals is always fun for people of all ages. Get back to nature and journey into Forest Park, or take pleasure in the surroundings in the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Historians will thrill to follow the trails blazed by Lewis and Clark across the city of St. Louis, while modern-day car fans will love the Museum of Transportation as well as Gateway International Raceway. The Blues were born in St. Louis, and plenty of clubs abound to remind you that distinctive music was born here.

Be sure to take a ride to the top of the Gateway Arch and look down upon the Mississippi river, or get down and dirty in the river itself by taking a chance on one of five riverboat casinos. Take the Gateway Art Tour and view countless sculptures and works of contemporary art, or just sit back and enjoy the mosaics that decorate the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis.

Upon your first visit to the city of St. Louis, you will realize why it is considered a hidden treasure as you cross into the Midwest.

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This article was posted on November 15, 2005