St. Louis, known as the Gateway City, lies near the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, a strategic position that made it one of America's leading cities by the end of the 19th century. Eclectic architecture, great parks, and a wealth of history enrich its modern urban landscape.
The Hill: St. Louis-style pizza and toasted ravioli are specialties at restaurants such as Charlie Gitto’s, Guido’s Pizzeria, and Mama’s on the Hill in this historic Italian-American neighborhood — birthplace of baseball legend Yogi Berra — located south of Forest Park.
Gateway Mall: This 20-block-long green space through downtown St. Louis flaunts a wide array of public artwork as well as landmark structures that include Union Station, the Soldiers Memorial, the Old Courthouse, City Hall, and Peabody Opera House.
Gateway Arch: Centerpiece of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, this 630-foot stainless-steel rainbow — designed by Eero Saarinen and constructed in 1965 — towers over the Mississippi, the Museum of Westward Expansion, and the Old Courthouse. Ride a tram capsule to the top for cool views, albeit through narrow windows.
Missouri Botanical Garden: One of the oldest in the nation, this lush 80-acre enclave is sprinkled with themed areas that include Victorian, Ottoman, German, and Japanese gardens, and the geodesic-domed Climatron tropical rainforest.
Walkers: Whether it's the Mississippi riverfront, Gateway Mall, Forest Park, or the Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis offers a variety of options for a casual stroll — or an energetic walk to get those 10,000 daily steps on your Fitbit.
Carb Lovers: The city's menu of caloric hometown favorites — gooey butter cake, toasted ravioli, frozen custard, and cheesy square-cut pizza — will help carbohydrate connoisseurs achieve culinary nirvana.
The Big Muddy Is Muddled: Although the area directly in front of the Gateway Arch has a parklike atmosphere, much of the St. Louis waterfront is still industrial.
It's Spread Out: Many of the city's major sights — such as Forest Park, the Missouri Botanical Garden, and the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site — are far from downtown and the river landings.