On the road again! Specifically, we are continuing up Route 66, having started in Scottsdale and now approaching St Louis, Missouri, a city that neither I nor Meredith has ever been to before and one we were both looking forward to. Albuquerque to Oklahoma City was the longest stretch clocking in at almost eight hours, true, but this stretch was about seven hours, so let’s not get too excited about the hardest part being over. It ended up being even longer than anticipated, as the intensity of the downpour was unprecedented. It was to the point where we had to pull over and sit in a Jack in the Box parking lot to wait for the storm to subside. Those thunderstorms were ferocious and aggressive…seriously, chill, Mother Nature, you’re doing way too much. And you’re scaring Stella.
Eventually, somehow, we made it. To the land that separates the west from the east. We’ve driven almost half the distance at this point, though we are only in our fourth city. Phew!
Where To Stay
We stayed at the Red Roof Plus in western St Louis for that pesky sleeping thing that must be done even though it cuts into our exploring time. Everyone knows the Red Roof chain, and this was a slightly upgraded version. We were pleased with the accommodations, despite the lack of breakfast offering in the morning. If interested in experiencing more of St Louis’ nightlife, I’d probably recommend staying a little bit closer to downtown in spite of the extra cost, especially if you hit a stretch of a couple days where there is a lot of rain, like we did. It was a DRASTIC change from the painful heat of the Southwest, and one that we almost didn’t even mind at all.
Highlights of St Louis
Citygarden
Who knew just two square blocks could be home to so much eclectic art? This is the first place we went, and it really set the tone for the rest of our time in St Louis. Citygarden is a public park with a total of 24 unique sculptures located on the Gateway Mall, which is a long stretch of green extending from the Gateway Arch. Visitors can touch the sculptures, go inside them, climb on them. It is like a public playground (although if you refrain from touching, you ease some of the re-waxing responsibilities of the city, which would be nice of you)!
Busch Stadium
Right around the corner from Citygarden is Busch Stadium, the St Louis Cardinals’ stomping grounds. While we were there they were playing the San Francisco Giants, and the turn-out was insane. We got invited to go by some random boy-type passersby, which we probably would have done (hello? hot dogs?) if not for our little chihuahua travel-companion and our complete lack of Cardinals spirit-wear. Everybody we met in St Louis was incredibly friendly; maybe we were lucky, or maybe this is an especially pleasant place. Either way, Meredith and I felt very welcome here.
Downtown STL
Something I noticed about St Louis was that it was the first city that we have come across that really looks more like an Eastern USA city (long gone are the Spanish-style architecture in Arizona and pueblo-style buildings of New Mexico). There are some really cool Eastern-style buildings in St Louis, as well as the Gateway to the West, the crowning jewel of this city.
Forest Park
Yet another public park (okay, St Louis, stop showing off, damn), except this one covers over 1,300 acres and has been around for a century and a half. FUN FACT: Forest Park hosted the Summer Olympics in 1904! Which means that people have done great things on this soil! It is also home to the St Louis Zoo, the St Louis Science Center, Missouri History Museum, golf courses, and a lot more. You could spend an entire day (or more!) having fun in Forest Park. St Louis in general is FULL of things to do when your budget is tight, and for that we were grateful.
The Hill
The Hill is St Louis’ version of Little Italy, located on the highest point of the entire city (hence: The Hill). About three quarters of the population of this neighborhood are Italian American, which is obvious in the selection of local businesses; our favorite was Gioia’s Deli, which gave us cheap yet massive sandwiches stuffed with meat, cheese, and veggies. I am hungry just THINKING about that sandwich. There is no better place to stop for lunch than this darling neighborhood atop a hill.
Delmar Loop
Small town within big city. Also considered one of the top ten greatest streets in the entire country, if you ask the American Planning Association. Some history for you: this area got its name because it was once a streetcar turnaround (thus, Delmar LOOP) and used to be a frequent hang-out spot for the students from University City. Now it is a dining and entertainment district that everyone can enjoy: visitors, students, and residents alike. My personal recommendations: buy a box of cookies from Insomnia Cookies (as if our subs from Gioia’s Deli were not enough foodgasm for our tastebuds, these cookies were sent from Jesus himself), walk the St Louis Walk of Fame, where you’ll find Hollywood-esque star plaques of famous people from St Louis, including Tina Turner and Maya Angelou, and peruse Subterranean Books, an adorable independent bookstore with an upstairs reading nook.
Laclede’s Landing
Head down to the Mississippi riverfront and hang out at Laclede’s Landing, St Louis’ oldest district. It used to be a warehouse district, but is now hoppin’ with clubs and bars and restaurants, all seconds from the water. Coming here last seemed like the perfect way to say our goodbyes to St Louis (we’ll pretend that the White Castle that we consumed afterwards never happened. Please, never eat White Castle).
Up Next…
WE LOVED ST LOUIS!!, despite the fact that it was gloomy and drizzling the entire time. I personally found the vibe really inviting in a way a lot of cities are not, the architecture was surprisingly incredible, and everywhere you go there is another little nook of city that you have not yet uncovered. And so much of it is FREE! Neither of us were keen on leaving so soon, but know we will be back and are looking forward to our time in Chicago next! Preparing ourselves for pounds of deep dish pizza and many, many pictures of our cute faces in The Bean.
