| In 2006, St. Louis, MO received international recognition when they were awarded the World Leadership Award by the World Leadership Forum, in the category of urban revitalization. Home to more than 1,000 one-of-a-kind restaurants and a seemingly infinite number of attractions, St. Louis has also been named Home Field for the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. St. Louis can be considered the complete getaway destination that is easy on the wallet. The city offers more free, major attractions than any place outside of the nation’s capital. Among some of the most popular free of charge attractions are the St. Louis Art Museum, the science center, Missouri History Museum, The Anheuser-Busch Brewery, Grants Farm and dozens of others. St. Louis is also home to Gateway Arch, which is America’s tallest man-made monument as a tribute to the opening of the American West. You can take a Gateway helicopter tour, a tram ride to the top, a riverboat cruise or you can rent a bike and take a ride on the Riverfront Trail. After a long day of sightseeing and financial friendly activities, you can take in a Broadway-style show under the stars at The Muny, America’s oldest and largest outdoor musical theater. It is open nightly from mid-June through mid-August. The state of Missouri is home to one of America’s favorite cities, St. Louis. Here vistors will find the Gateway Arch where you can ride more than 600 feet over the Mississippi River for a spectacular view of the city and its surroundings. In the city visitors will find one-of-a-kind dining experiences, the Anheuser-Busch Brewery, riverboat casinos, and ample nightlife, including, of course, plenty of live entertainment considering it is the birthplace of the Blues. After a night of excitement, a leisurely stroll through the newly landscaped Forest Lake’s Park or the charming Missouri Botanical Gardens is bound to help anyone relax and recooperate, as will a scenic drive along the historic Route 66. Or for those who just want to get away from it all, there’s more to Missouri than St. Louis alone. With numerous state parks, rivers, and caves throughout the state, visitors will find many chances for outdoor fun. Popular sports include canoeing, rafting, kayaking, or tubing in sparkling rivers, fishing in Missouri’s streams and lakes, golf, hiking the Ozark Trail, and cycling. In fact, cyclists will find particular delight in touring along the 225-mile long, hard-packed gravel path that winds through Katy Trail State Park. Horseback riders can also use portions of the path for equestrian pursuits. For those that can’t find enough to do above ground, Missouri also has over 6,200 unique and colorful caves throughout the state. Saint Louis, Kansas City, Gateway Arch, Mississippi River, Anheuser-Busch, Forest Lake, Katy Trail, Ozark Trail, caves, blues Anheuser-Busch, Bissell Mansion, Black World History Museum, Campbell House, Christ Church Cathedral, Circus Flora, Eads Bridge, University of Missouri, Saint Louis University, Edward Jones Dome, Circus Day Foundation, The Eugene Field House, Gateway Air Tours, Gateway Arch, St. Louis Hall of Fame Museum, Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing, Moto Museum, Museum of Westward Expansion, The Old Courthouse, Scottrade Center, Soldiers Memorial Military Museum, Tower Grove Park, Jazz Music, Missouri Botanical Garden, First Friday Downtown Gallery Walk, St. Louis Breweries, Dred Scott, Westport Plaza, Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer, Mark Twain, St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, St. Louis Blues |