St. Louis
Missouri
Our visits: So far 2 visits in August 1994 and May 2017
Mississippi River Overlook
Description: The Mississippi River Overlook is actually still in Illinois, on the east side of the Mississippi River, just across from downtown St. Louis. It is an outdoor terrace from which you have a great view of the Mississippi River and Downtown St.Louis. Since it is a three-story ramp, the viewpoint is very easily accessible.
For the GPS: 185 W Trendley Ave, East St Louis, IL 62201
Our rating: This is a very easy to reach location that provides a great view of St.Louis and the Mississippi River. Therefore, there is no reason not to stop by here when you are in the area. The only limitations are the industrial facilities, which disturb the beautiful photo motif a bit.
Gateway Arch National Park
Description: The Memorial was established in honor of U.S. President Thomas Jefferson. It was Thomas Jefferson who bought the territory of Louisiana from France here in St.Louis in 1803, setting the stage for the Louis and Clark Expedition. The expedition started from here in 1804 and led to the westward expansion of the United States. The 630ft high Gateway Arch, the gateway to the West, is thus a symbol of cosmopolitanism and the pioneering spirit of its time. However, due to various difficulties in planning and construction, the Gateway Arch was not opened until 1967.
In addition to the Gateway Arch, the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial also includes a park, a museum and the Old Courthouse. The Memorial has been extensively renovated in recent years and has shone in new splendor since the end of 2017. Since then, the Arch has also been accessible again without restrictions. There are special elevators that allow you to go up to the top of the arch and enjoy the view from there.
Our rating: The Gateway Arch is definitely worth a visit. On the one hand, it is an impressive, monumental structure and on the other hand, it is something extraordinary to ride an elevator through a parabola. Last but not least, the view from the top is great. Unfortunately, when we visited in June 2017, the museum was still a construction site. But should we ever be back in St.Louis this will certainly be on our bucket list.
Entrance fees and opening hours
- $3/person to enter the park; $12/person to ride the elevator
- The ride with the elevator is not covered by the Anual Pass*
- In summer open daily from 8am - 10pm and in winter daily from 9am - 6pm.
*The Anual Pass is so to speak the "flat rate" for all Parks managed by the National Park Service. The pass costs a one-time fee of $80 and can be purchased at the entrance to each National Park, National Monument, etc. The pass is valid for 13 months.
For the GPS: 11 N 4th St, St. Louis, MO 63102
In 2023, Gateway Arch NP ranked 16th in the visitor statistics of the most visited national parks.
Best time to visit: Beautiful all year round.
Our visits:
So far 2 visits: August 1994, May 2017
Over the Mississippi by paddle steamer
Description: The ride on the Mississippi can be bought together with the ticket for the Gateway Arch. In the combination, both entrance fees are then a little cheaper. The ride on the Mississippi River costs 19$/person. Everything you need to know about a ride can be found at the official webpage.
The Riverboad Tour takes about an hour and passes all kinds of industrial plants that are located here on the banks of the Mississippi River in St. Louis. In addition, you also have a beautiful view on the Gateway Arch and downtown St. Louis from the water.
Our rating: We really enjoyed the trip across the Mississippi. The huge river is simply impressive. What we remember above all is the incredibly strong current that these water masses had. We also liked the explanations we got during the trip, so we always knew what was going on in the buildings and industrial plants on the banks. We can definitely recommend the trip.
Kiener Plaza Park
Description: The park is located directly behind the Old Courthouse and is a small green lung in the middle of the city. It opened in 1962 and was named after athlete Harry J. Kiener. He was a native of St. Louis and competed in the 1904 Olympics held here in St. Louis during the World's Fair.
For the GPS: 500 Chestnut St, St. Louis, MO 63101
Our rating: The park was renovated in 2017 along with the entire facility around the Gateway Arch. We visited it shortly after the reopening and liked it quite a lot. It offers some nice views and nice places to rest your steaming feet a bit.
