Edition: Best Places to Go
Ridley Pearson's St. Louis
Author: Beth M. Custer
A best-selling author outlines an ideal day in the city.
Editors Note: Crime fiction fans are hooked by his tension-filled mysteries, while children are delighted by Peter and the Starcatchers, a tale that explains the beginnings of Peter Pan. When he's not writing, Pearson likes to rock out with The Rock Bottom Remainders, an all-author band that includes Stephen King, Amy Tan, Dave Barry, and Mitch Albom. Pearson and his family live in St. Louis, making the most of the city's attractions and restaurants.
9:00 a.m.
A nice day for us might start with a trip across the Mississippi River on the Golden Eagle Ferry (618-396-2535). We like to visit Principia College, where my wife went to school, and explore the scenic area around Pere Marquette State Park (Grafton, 618-786-3323). When we want to stay closer to the city, we like the City Museum (701 N. 15th, 314-231-CITY). There's no more original piece of entertainment architecture in North America. Our French architect friend had never seen anything like it—he took millions of pictures and went down the slides, and rattled along in French about how amazing the interiors are. Adult or child, you won't see something like this anywhere else.
Noon
For lunch, Cardwell's at the Plaza (Plaza Frontenac, 314-997-8885) is a good choice. My favorite thing to order is the Dave's Vegetarian Sandwich. We also like to eat lunch at the Boathouse (Forest Park, 314-367-2224) when the weather is nice. Sometimes we rent a boat and paddle around the Grand Basin with the kids. I really enjoy Forest Park—it's a great asset to the city.
2 p.m.
We often take visitors to the Gateway Arch (Riverfront, 314-982-1410). They usually want to ride to the top to look out the observation windows. My wife goes up; my kids go up; I stay down. The Arch is built to sway a little bit in the wind, and I don't like that feeling at all, so I'm much better off waiting downstairs where I can explore the exhibits in the Museum of Westward Expansion.
Did you know...
The Gateway Arch is the tallest national monument in the United States at 630 feet; the span of the Arch legs at ground level is also 630 feet. In order to ensure the constructed legs would meet, the margin of error for failure was 1/64th of an inch. The last section of the Arch was put into place in 1965.
4:00 p.m.
We nearly always take visitors to the Missouri Botanical Garden (4344 Shaw Blvd., 314-577-5100). The gardens are just exquisite, and there is always something interesting to see, no matter what time of year it is. Last year's Chihuly glass exhibit was incredible. I've followed Chihuly's work for years, and that particular show was one of his best. The gigantic blue glass chandelier that was installed at the Garden's entrance will remain there.
6:00 p.m.
There are so many fabulous restaurants in this town, and we like to try all of them. We go to lots of different places, but my favorite restaurant for dinner is Lorenzo's Trattoria (1933 Edwards, 314-773-2223). They have a creamy polenta sausage appetizer that's fabulous. There's nothing that isn't great there, and the atmosphere is wonderful too. We always take guests to Lulu's Seafood Chinese Restaurant (8224 Olive, 314-997-3108), which has delicious, authentic Chinese food. Their dim sum is really terrific—my family just loves it.
“We go to lots of different places, but my favorite restaurant for dinner is Lorenzo's Trattoria. They have a creamy polenta sausage appetizer that's fabulous.”
8:00 p.m.
My wife and I are huge film buffs, so we catch as many movies as we can. We spend a lot of time in mutiplexes watching mainstream, commercial films, but we also like the independent and foreign films you can see at the Hi-Pointe (Clayton & Skinker, 314-995-6273), the Tivoli (6350 Delmar, 314-995-6270), or the Plaza Frontenac Cinema(Plaza Frontenac, 314-995-6285). The best popcorn in St. Louis is at the Hi-Pointe, I promise you, although the popcorn at the Tivoli and Frontenac is very good too. They use the right oil and real butter, and that makes a huge difference.
City Museum
701 N 15th St., St Louis, MO 63103
The City Museum is a zany, fun-filled place where imagination and surprises know no bounds, and inspiration blossoms where inner child and inner artist meet. Baffling architectural attractions are made of salvaged materials—including old chimneys, pieces of bridges, and construction cranes—that were gathered from all over St. Louis. This fun and funky museum invites visitors to explore caves, walk through a life-size whale, be in a circus, zoom down a 3-story slide, or climb through giant slinkies.
Cardwell's At The Plaza
97 Plaza Frontenac, St. Louis, MO 63131
Attention to detail is the hallmark of this well-respected restaurant in the trendy Plaza Frontenac shopping mall. Reservations recommended.>
Boathouse Cafe
6101 Government Drive, St. Louis, MO 63110
Trek around the intrepid waters of Forest Park in a paddle boat, and enjoy dining, nightlife, and a leisurely stroll around the lake.
Gateway Arch
707 N. First St., St. Louis, MO 63102
Located on the edge of the Mississippi River in downtown St. Louis, the Gateway arch is the areas most popular attraction. Since 1965, when construction workers placed the final piece of steel at the apex of the Gateway Arch, over 25 million sightseers have journeyed to its top. Also known as the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, the Arch stands as the 630-foot tall gatekeeper to the Midwest, making it the tallest national monument in the U.S. , and the 4 th most-visited tourist attraction in the world. Its juxtaposition between the Mississippi River and the historical city of St. Louis provides sightseers with much more than a bit of vertigo at journey's end. Whether you pop into a museum, patronize one of the unique eateries at river's edge, or indulge in souvenirs, a visit to the Gateway Arch grounds offers anyone and everyone a memorable experience and a bit of American history.
Missouri Botanical Garden
4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63110
Since first opening in 1859, the Missouri Botanical Garden has acquired contributions from artists, architects, and scientists. Now, secluded oases and photo-ops abound within its 79 acres of natural and architectural splendor. Whether visitors come to brush up on their gardening techniques or simply indulge in personal reflection, the Botanical Garden – also known as Shaw's Garden, after its founder – offers a refreshing natural refuge in the midst of the city.
Lorenzo's
1933 Edwards Street, St. Louis, MO 63110
A contemporary Italian eatery on the Hill with great service.
