St. Louis Arch "Gateway to the West"

What an incredible way to really kick off my brief stay in St. Louis. The St. Louis Arch is a staple in the minds and hearts of people across the world. The arch sits on the edge of the Mississippi River at the intersection of Missouri and Illinois.


After a 10min ride from the hotel to the Arch Landing terminal of the Metro Link, the St. Louis Arch was in sight. Instead of taking the street route, the riverfront walk provided a more scenic approach to the arch. Here the banks of the Mississippi have no levee. Children are able to play in the "sand" right at the river’s edge. It's crazy to think right on the other side of the river is an entirely different state.

Once you realize where you are and where you are headed, you stumble across a mountain of steps that lead to the base of the St. Louis Arch. The entrance is similar to an airport at least when it comes to security checks. A stop at the ticket counter can grant you access to the top of the arch. ($10 for adults; $5 for children; although I got a $3 discount because it's National Park Week! Here's another hint: if you sign up for the Arch e-newsletter you can earn a free one-hour cruise ride along the Mississippi River. I wasn't able to make it but thought I'd share it with you.)

There can be a little wait in the line for the tram that takes you to the top of the arch, but I was a single passenger rider so I went right in. You're stuffed into a tram car with four other people (that's why some people wait in order to ride with family) for a ten minute ride to the top! The ride was a bit scary at points because you have no clue if this little white car is going to safely deliver you to the top.

The top of the St. Louis Arch was honestly a bit disappointing. Not sure exactly what I expected maybe glass floors and ceiling to floor windows, but instead the top is a series of small rectangle windows that you can look out of. Your view will either be the Mississippi River and the state of Illinois or a view of downtown St. Louis. Probably the coolest view is of Busch Stadium/Cardinals Stadium. I took my signature photo at the top next to the 630ft. Gateway Arch St. Louis sign.

There's plenty to do at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial including giant screen movie's, a documentary film "Monument of the Dream" and the Museum of Westward Expansion. I toured the museum and found a few Louisiana mentions that I couldn't pass up!

Now for lunch and then a nap before the #SoFresh Pre-Party!