Downtown

As a kid, I can remember crossing over the Mississippi river into St. Louis on road trips out west and saying, “Hey look, it’s the Arch!” No matter where you are in St. Louis, you can probably see the Arch looming in the distance. The Arch is the biggest and most impressive monument in St. Louis, one of the most recognizable American monuments, and the biggest tourist activity to in Downtown St. Louis.

My highlight#

One of my favorite places in St. Louis is City Museum. 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, and I think if anyone only visits St. Louis one time, City Museum should be on their list.

Impressions#

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 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.