Downtown
The central business and sports district
Crossing over the Mississippi river into St. Louis, you’ll be welcomed by The Gateway Arch, the world’s tallest manmade arch and one of America’s most recognizable monuments. You’ll immediately enter into Downtown, St. Louis’s business district that houses multiple sports venues and tourist attractions.
One of the biggest highlights is City Museum, one of the most unique places I’ve ever been. Calling it a “museum” gives the wrong impression for what it is - a giant concrete playground for both kids and adults. It’s hard to describe without experiencing it.
A lot of visitors come to St. Louis, see Downtown, and come away with a negative opinion of the city. The area does not have a vibrant energy, and is mostly completely emptied out after working hours. Downtown is still working on finding its identity in a rapidly shifting economy, but at a slower rate than any other city in America. Many locals from the surrounding region only visit for baseball and hockey games, then head straight back to the suburbs.
I initially wrote off St. Louis after only seeing downtown, but like most cities, the neighborhoods are where St. Louis can shine.