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

St. Louis County, floodplain, Missouri River, Great Flood of 1993, Bellefontaine, Lake, Gumbo, Monarch, Bonhomme, Chesterfield Valley Athletic Complex, Faust Park,