VanNice Travels: St. Louis

Gateway Arch

We stayed in East St. Louis, across the river in Illinois. It was perfectly located to view the arch every day and the casino ran a free shuttle to the Cardinals games.

The Gateway Arch can be seen throughout the city so I took photos whenever it popped up!

Jefferson National Expansion Memorial

Walkway to the arch and museum; it was a beautiful day along the Mississippi River.

Our first glimpse from the park walkway.

Under the St. Louis Arch - looking up! The clouds were drifting by so if we looked up too long, it would make us dizzy! It made it seem like the arch was swaying in the breeze!

Step inside and you can ride 630 feet to the top of the Gateway Arch! This capsule takes a million visitors to the top every year... NO, THANK YOU! Would you like to go? Not me, but Scott did!

Museum of Westward Expansion

Thomas Jefferson stands at the entrance to the Museum of Western Expansion. The museum charts the history of the American West from the Louisiana Purchase to the closing of the frontier in the 1890s. It is located underground beneath the arch along with two movie theaters.

One of the things I liked best were the many quotes that helped tell the story of our westward movement. Some quotes were very thought provoking...

I took a few photos to give you an idea of what the museum was like - this area featured cowboys.

The Transportation area featured many modes of transportation including the prairie schooner, stage coach, and steam engine, but I don't think I'd ever seen a buffalo skin bullboat complete with tail!

Sod homestead

This Appaloosa was part of the Native American section of the museum.

Animatronic Sgt. Blake

The sign on the beaver made me giggle!

Shelves in the 1800's Levee Mercantile.

Back outside and another look UP!

If she's going to the top of the arch, she's got a long ways to go!

Architect Eero Saarinen felt that an architectural idea must be as simple as possible to have meaning and impact. All of its elements must contribute to the overall artistic expression. His arch symbolizes the dramatic story of westward expansion. To create the memorial between 1963 and1965, the city cleared 40 blocks of old buildings in the core of the downtown area. It was here that the French originally set up a fur trading post in 1764 and steamboats docked at one of the nation's busiest pre-Civil War ports.

Yikes!!! He's pulling it over!

See the windows? Scott looked out those windows to see for 30 miles in all directions; his photos are under SCOTT'S SHOTS: Gateway Arch - very cool!

The view of the mighty Mississippi from the Gateway Arch.

Busch Stadium

Home of the St. Louis Cardinals.

View from our seats...

"Stan the Man" Musial, Cardinal hitter and 24 time all-star. Retired number 6 - we saw lots of fans wearing his number!

The outfield before the game started - you can't really see it but the arch is cut into the grass.

Scott says everything a guy could need on a spring afternoon is in this picture: a beer, a Big Mac, Ford, baseball and the American flag!

Yep, I think it's working! He liked it so much he went to 3 games!

Crown Candy Kitchen

This iconic ice cream landmark is awesome; right out of the 1950s, juke box with old-fashioned soda fountain, ice cream made in house, and friendly people! The hot fudge, caramel sundae was delicious!

Always... Patsy Cline

Always... Patsy Cline is such a fun play about the touching friendship between the legendary Patsy Cline and a Texas housewife, Louise Seger. Enjoyed every minute!

"The Hill" Neighborhood

Once called Fairmount Heights, the highest point in St. Louis, was settled by Italian immigrants in the 1890s. They followed the Irish and German immigrants to work in the clay mines. Today it's best known for great Italian food and it's baseball heroes, both Joe Gargiola and Yogi Berra were raised on the hill.

I loved driving through the neighborhood to see the well-kept houses and manicured lawns.

Ted Drewes

Home of the "concrete" - a very thick milkshake! Order one and it's passed out the window upside down! While we were here, a limousine filled with prom dates pulled in - first stop - Ted Drewes for concretes!

Route 66 runs through St. Louis, businesses like Ted Drewes still prosper along this iconic highway.

Tower Grove Park

One of two zinc stags that face each other at the Center Cross Drive entrance. Tower Grove Park is a 289 acre municipal park in the middle of St. Louis with 11 Victorian era pavilions.