Wednesday, April 22, 2015

AtoZ Challenge: S - Meet Me in St. Louis

Mark Twain's time spent as a steamship captain brought him to St. Louis where he worked his dream job, traveling back and forth to New Orleans via the Mississippi River. The Civil War happened and stopped all traffic on the big river. St. Louis is two hours south of Hannibal. I do prefer Chicago over St. Louis. I'm more familiar with the area. But I've visited St. Louis several times and do enjoy the sights the city has to offer. The free zoo is impressive and free. The art museum next to the zoo is also free and very impressive.



On October 28, 2015, the Gateway Arch will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. It is the largest stainless steal structure in the world and stands 630 feet tall or 63 stories. The area surrounding the Arch is under construction for the big reveal. If you get a chance to ride the elevators or alien pods (think silver, egg-shaped spaceships) to the top of the Arch, do it. There's also a free museum in the lower half of the Arch, celebrating the history of baseball and the Cardinals.


View of the Arch from the car window (Hey, I wasn't driving this time!)




The incredible views from the top include the Mississippi River, running right along the Arch. You can also see straight inside Busch Stadium. I have all these pics somewhere on a long lost computer. So you will just have to visit and see for yourself. Did I tell you about the time my family and I rode the Metro downtown during a Cards game? We were actually visiting Union Station that day. The entire subway car was filled with red shirts. I looked down. I was wearing my Brewers t-shirt. Woops. Not a very friendly welcome to the big city.
Union Station was built in 1892 and used as a passenger train terminal. It was once the world's largest train station. In the eighties, it was transformed in to a hotel and shopping center, leaving only one Metro station link. Now, it's kind of empty. A few restaurants and shops still exist, like the famous Fudgery.

The workers sing as they
make their world famous fudge.
Ever been to St. Louis? Chicago? What's your favorite big city?

34 comments:

  1. Seriously love these pictures, so cool. I would love to be there!

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    1. The photos were taken like four weeks ago and it was seventy degrees that day:)

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  2. I've never been to St. Louis, but might have to go now--for the fudge. Plus going to the top of the arch sounds amazing.

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  3. I've never been to St. Louis, but might have to go now--for the fudge. Plus going to the top of the arch sounds amazing.

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  4. Looks like a beautiful city. I'd love to do a road trip across America one day...St. Louis would have to be on the list!
    Katie @TheCyborgMom

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    1. Road trip! I would love to do one too and just stop in Florida--forever.

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  5. So how do YOU pronounce St. Louis? (Lew-is? Lou-ie? Like they pronounce "Louisville, KY" which sounds like you're trying to swallow your own tongue?)

    My favourite big city is hands-down Toronto, but I'm Canadian so my options are limited.

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    1. St. "Lewis" I'm not from around here, so I'm traditional in my pronunciation. When it comes to my fave city, I call Chicago either "Chitown" or "Chiberia" (if it's winter).

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  6. Been in the Arch once as a boy, it was one of the coolest places... if I remembered if the wind had blown we would rock back and forth.

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    1. Yes, scary! Not a place to explore if you're afraid of heights.

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  7. I've never been to St. Louis but I've always wanted to go!

    Good luck with the A to Z Challenge!
    A to Z Co-Host S. L. Hennessy
    http://pensuasion.blogspot.com/

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  8. I've never been to St. Louis. I'd like to go though. I don't do much traveling and don't really like big cities, so I don't have a favorite.

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    1. We don't do major trips. Chicago and St. Louis aren't too far from Hannibal. I wish Florida was closer;)

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  9. I feel that since I live so close to St. Louis, I should go see it October 28.

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  10. Been to both. Shame Union Station is mostly empty now.

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    1. I couldn't believe how many spots sit empty now compared with five years ago.

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  11. My husband used to fly out of S.L. and I'd meet him there on lay overs. I loved walking that city. And the arch is lovely.

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    1. We used to fly out of O'Hare in Chicago. I've never flown out of S.L. but I've dropped people off at the airport there before:) Yes, the Arch is fantastic!

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  12. I'm glad you survived unharmed in your Brewers shirt. Smiles.
    I haven't been there, though it looks impressive.
    Cheers.

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    1. Haha! IF looks could kill. Might add that scenario to one of my books someday.

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  13. Been by the big arch but never had a chance, as yet, to stop and ride the alien pods! I hope I can one day! Lisa, co-host AtoZ 2015, @ http://www.lisabuiecollard.com

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    1. I even have the coolest picture of those extra terrestrial traveling space pods, but where are my pics?? I must find them. :)

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  14. loved St. Louis - nice ballpark and the tour of Annheuser Busch is interesting. Chicago is awesome - loved the Cubs game. Do you sense a baseball theme - yes, my husband is trying to see all stadiums. But my fave city is probably New York city - museums, food, hustle and bustle, shows - that city has it all. Just stopped by to visit - neat theme.

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    1. I have yet to attend a Cards game in St. Louis. Baseball is a great theme, and your hubs has a worthy goal. I've never been to NY, but I've been to DC. I'd like to see all the sights in New York.

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  15. The arch is beautiful. Shopping centres with empty shops and units are so sad. Buildings with that much history shouldn't be neglected.

    Annalisa, writing A-Z vignettes, at Wake Up, Eat, Write, Sleep

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  16. Shame about the decline of the station, looks like a great old building.

    That Arch does look like something from another planet - I would hop in a pod! Very intriguing.

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  17. What contrasts, the arch and the station. Really interesting.

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  18. I can't count how many times I've seen those arches over the years due to having family living in Missouri, but I've never actually spent time in St. Louis. I've always wanted to. I couldn't go up in the arch, though...I've heard stories about the experience and I'm claustrophobic so there's just no way!

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  19. All my midwest trips were to Peoria. Family. Never been to Chicago or St. Louis.

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  20. My husband went to St Louis on business a few years back and at the weekend went to the Arch - he was put in a car to go up it with a group of teenage girls, some of whom were Japanese exchange students. When it was revealed he was British it turned out they were huge Doctor Who fans and when he mentioned he'd seen David Tennant in Hamlet he had to have photos with all of them - fame by association it seems ;)
    Tasha
    Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)

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