Gateway Arch, Saint Louis

You can't forego a trip to the top of the Arch. Get there early and make reservations for a trip later in the day...otherwise you'll have a heck of a long wait. The museum (which is underground) is decent also.
What a view...although my Grandmother was afraid of water and refused to look out of the east windows which overlooks the Mississippi River!

The Gateway Arch, a tribute to the westward expansion (it's so true too - our city is really on the border between east and west, north and south, you can just feel it). Anyway, there's a great little museum there documenting the Lewis and Clark expedition as well as the building of the arch. You get in little tiny elevator cars and ride to the top, where you get a fabulous view of the city on both sides of the river. You can feel it swaying in the wind too - kinda freaky! Definitely worth a visit, lines are horribly long in the summer though and the weather can kill you.
The Gateway Arch is as wide as it is tall!

Come on, it's the arch. What would a trip to St. Louis be without seeing the arch. It's the defining landmark of the city. It lies right along the Mississippi River waterfront and you can visit the park surrounding it. Of course, if you want a good picture of it, you'll have to take it from the Illinois side of the river. Likewise, you can take the 'elevator' to the top, which is pretty neat. You get a nice view of the city below (like the picture here).

Alton, Illinois was someplace on my list as well. One night we watched the Discovery Channel and they featured a piece on the bridge in Alton, Illinois that dealt with the design of the bridge. Seeing it at night is truly a beautiful sight! We TRIED to go to Fast Eddies BonAire in Alton, but it was way too crowded, so we left. The food there is cheaply priced and it is a bar, so parents, children are not welcomed. We were by ourselves on this trip and were looking to have a little fun, which I am sure that you could have at this establishment, but the particular night that we went was just too many people to contend with. We opted that night to wet our whistle at Chevy's Fresh Mex.

You have to go to the arch! If you are clausterphobic as I am, you may not like the ride up, BUT the view from the arch is incredible! I was glad I suffered the ride. The picture I am attaching is of the space you go through to get on the 'elevator'.

You can't go to St Louis and not see the arch! It's huge!
The graceful, stainless steel curve of the Gateway Arch which stands 630 feet above the Mississippi River has become the internationally recognized symbol of St. Louis. Designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen and completed in 1965, the structure's stainless steel sheathing provides a glimmering reflection of sunrise and sunset along the Mississippi.
The museum within the arch dedicated to Western Expansion/Lewis and Clark is spectacular.

It was during my boyhood trip in the 70's that we went to the arch. To enter you go down a flight of stairs under the arch. There is a museum under the arch. We rode up in an elevator. I had heard stories that the arch would sway a little in the wind but did not notice it. There are good views from the arch of the boats on the river and of the city laid out before you. I don't think a trip to St. Louis is complete without visiting the great arch.

You've got to go to the St. Louis Arch, it is cool. Also one of the great things is the only floating McDonald's in the world. One night my friend and I were there and we saw a group of men who had took over a gas station parking lot to show off their Hydros and stereos. The street was used for guys on their motorcyles, where they showed off. Cool!
It was a little nerve wreaking riding up in the elevator to the top, but when on top of the Arch it was awesome.