St. Louis: An Overview

June 4, 2008 by Leave a Comment

Forest ParkWhen thinking of a vacation, or destination for student tours, many of the larger cities come to mind. New York City, Boston and Chicago are just a few examples of cities that are among the most visited in the United States. St. Louis may or may not jump to mind when thinking of such a destination, but even if it doesn’t have the flash and glitz that New York City offers, it is still an excellent place to visit. St. Louis is the home of many interesting museums, music venues and sports teams. Here are just a few things that this city has to offer.

Forest Park is one of the places that your group should make sure to visit. Located in the City, this park is St. Louis’ premiere park and contains some of the best attractions in the city. The St. Louis Art Museum is located in this park, and houses a large collection of ancient and modern art, as well as several paintings by popular painters such as Rembrandt and Van Gogh. The St. Louis Zoo is also located in Forest Park, and holds claim to being the most visited Zoo in America, and is home to thousands of animals. The Municipal Opera Association of St. Louis (“The Muny” for short), is a large outdoor theater that presents musical theater productions during the summer months, so if you happen to be in St. Louis during the season, be sure to check it out. The Missouri History Museum and The St. Louis Science Center are also popular attractions. There are many places on the grounds to picnic, the most popular being Turtle Park, which is located near a group of large concrete turtles.

St. Louis also has quite a venue for performing arts. This city is home to the Fox Theater, which is one of the largest Broadway stages in America. The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is also a popular group and holds concerts in the historic Powell Symphony Hall. There is quite a venue for jazz in St. Louis, as well as many freelance musicians, and underground bands. This is especially evident when walking down the loop, one of the most famous streets in the region. Here you will find street musicians and performers, vintage shops and independent theaters.

Finally, no one can visit St. Louis without seeing The Arch. This is probably the most famous site, the distinctive steel structure being found on many of the city’s logos. Visitors will enjoy riding the elevator to the top of this 630 foot structure, and will surely find it provides the best view of the city. There are also several unique places, such as the City Museum. This museum was once a shoe factory, but in 1997 was converted into a museum that holds a large playground, craft rooms, and an aquarium. What makes this museum so unique is that most of the materials used are recycled from farm equipment, construction sites, restaurants and more.

St. Louis also has a number of professional sports teams, as well as historic churches and neighborhoods. Another bonus is that many of these attractions (such as the Zoo, the Science Center, and certain sections of the Muny) are free of charge, making St. Louis a great place to visit on a budget. Consider making this Midwest City a destination for your school trip.

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St. Louis: Two Unique Experiences

June 4, 2008 by Leave a Comment

St. Louis is a great place for educational tours or senior class trips. The Gateway City features a vast array of things to keep a group occupied. But what to do after your group has made the obligatory visit to the Arch, and spent a few days exploring Forest Park? What else is there? The answer can be found in some of St. Louis’ more eclectic experiences. These can be found all over the city, if you know where to look. The Delmar Loop and the St. Louis City Museum are two such places, and for a true taste of the St. Louis Spirit, your group won’t want to miss them.

The City Museum is one of St. Louis’ most unique experiences. It is one of the strangest museums your group will visit. Designed by Bob Casilly, it is located in an old shoe factory and mostly contains recycled and salvaged materials. This gives the museum a very diverse and artsy feeling. Hundreds of tin bread pans line the walls of the first floor, a two story slide is constructed from old factory parts, and an abandoned plane is now suspended outside the museum and can only be reached by crawling through an iron slinky that hangs from the second story.

The first floor of the museum emulates an underwater scene, and includes a fish tank, caves and a giant whale with a tubular digestive tract that can be climbed into. The more adventurous guests will find some fun in the ball pit, which is filled with large rubber dodge balls. There is also an outdoor climbing playground that loops and twists several stories into the air. The second floor leads to an aquarium that is filled with a world of stingrays, sharks and seahorses, and the third floors features a three ring circus with daily performances. Students who like art should check out Art City, where they can watch professional artists blow glass, or create some art of their own. Guests are invited to paint, mold clay, tie-dye or make mobiles out of paper scraps and recycled items. The City Museum offers group discounts, and tour of the aquarium. If desired, the City Museum can also provide material for a scavenger hunt as well as discussion questions that focus on specific aspects of the museum. This is truly an experience that can’t be replicated anywhere else.

The Delmar Loop is another place that will afford a unique experience. This street was named one of the top ten streets in the United States by the American Planning Association, and once you visit you’ll know why. Simply walking down the street is an experience in itself, and older students especially will enjoy soaking in the atmosphere and doing some shopping. Street musicians and performers line the walkways especially during the summer months. Specialty shops, vintage clothing stores and record shops can be found and restaurants offering Thai and Greek dishes add spice to the experience. The Tivoli is also located on this street and is an old theater that shows independent and foreign films.

These are just a few unique places to visit when your group is in St. Louis. They are definitely two experiences that will give your group an idea of the St. Louis Atmosphere.

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St. Louis: Popular Foods

June 4, 2008 by Leave a Comment

Traveling can be exciting, especially in the area of food. New foods can be sampled up to three times a day…more if you like snacks! When traveling overseas it is likely that people expect to try new foods, but what they often don’t realize is that a change in popular food can take place just by traveling to a different state or region. When traveling in St. Louis there are a few dishes that you should try.

A popular appetizer in many St. Louis restaurants chains is toasted ravioli. This dish is claimed to have been invented by several area restaurants, although the exact origin remains a mystery. Beef or veal is placed into ravioli pillows and deep fried. It is usually served with parmesan cheese sprinkled on top and marinara sauce used for dipping.

St. Louis pizza also deserves a taste. The main difference in this pizza is that it has a thin, unleavened crust that is baked crispy. The cheese is usually provel instead of mozzarella, which gives it a creamier consistency that normal pizza. It is cut into squares rather than a pie shape, and can be found with a variety of toppings. Popular pizza places in the St. Louis area include Cecil Whitakers, Elicia’s, and Imo’s Pizza.

Gooey Butter Cake is a popular St. Louis dessert that will satisfy even the biggest sweet tooth. This cake is unlike any other, and contains a preposterous amount of sugar, so if a sugar buzz isn’t desirable at the time you consume this treat, proceed with caution. That being said, it is quite a good cake. The bottom layer is a dense yellow cake, and the top is a creamy blend of butter, sugar and cream cheese.

For those with a higher than average sense of adventure, try a Slinger. Slingers are made by throwing together hash browns, two eggs and a hamburger patty, covering it with chili and topping it with cheese and onions. It contains an absurd amount of cholesterol, but if you can spare an artery or two, give it a shot. For the less daring, try a pork steak; this is simply a thickly sliced pork shoulder, grilled and served with plenty of barbeque sauce.

There are several restaurants that visitors should try and eat at if time allows. For a bit of culture try a restaurant on The Hill; this is an Italian neighborhood that contains several delis, markets, and upscale Italian restaurants. For a more American fare, have a root beer float and a burger at Fitz’s. Located on the Delmar Loop, this restaurant’s claim to fame is the root beer that is made and bottled on site. Finish of the night by visiting Ted Drewes Frozen Custard. It’s tradition in St. Louis to grab a treat after a Cardinals game, and it’s a popular place to go in the summer, so lines are often long. Don’t let this intimidate you though, as the lines move fairly quickly and the wait is completely worth it. Concretes are the specialty here; they are made using vanilla ice cream and adding toppings and flavors. The treat is then blended and handed to the customer upside down to demonstrate the thickness.

This should be enough to point you to some wonderful St. Louis meals. Don’t be afraid to try a few dishes; chances are you’ll come home with some new favorites! So, the next time you are interested in taking a family vacation, educational tour, field trip, or other type of group travel think about St. Louis and check out the cuisine.

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