Weekend in St Louis

We planned a weekend in St Louis during our time in Missouri and managed to time it just as a winter storm was coming through. The forecast was for only an inch of snow in St Louis so we booked a rental car and hotel room and set off as the weather closed in in Columbia.
We stopped along the way for a shopping session at an Outlet Mall and then headed for The Arch. This was built in  as a symbolic Gateway to the West.

 

Laura was keen to relive memories of hanging out over the window as a 4 year old. So the 4 kids went up in the cable cars for the view.  Journey to the Top

 

The view wasn't so great this time with the storm closing in.

Downtown St Louis from top of the Arch

 

Looking down on the Mississippi River

 

 

  We had a look at the Museum of Westward Expansion, then back out into the cold and trying to get a bit artsy in the failing light with the freezing rain falling.

  

 

We then found our hotel, enjoyed some hot drinks and free snacks before braving the cold for a 2 block walk to Union Station for some dinner. Going over a bridge was proof of the sign we often see about bridges freezing first. A lot of slip-sliding. We have developed a liking for walk through cities at night in the dark and cold, New York, Willamsburg, St Louis...

 

Some troubled looking youths on the way home :-)

 

We woke up the next morning to a blanket of snow on the ground and so had a leisurely morning waiting for the roads to clear a bit.

  

 

Spot the Arch in the distance and the bridge we had walked across the previous evening to Union Station which you can see now covered in snow to the right.

 

 

We checked out about 11am and made our way to the kids' number one choice in St Louis, City Museum, which is totally made up of activities and displays created from recycled stuff and demolished buildings. There are tunnels, caves and a 3 story slide. It was fun when they were younger and it was still fun although they had trouble squeezing into some of the tight spots this time!  Christchurch could make a wonderful museum like this!

 

 

Down in the caves...

 

It is actually more like a giant playground but has some cool exhibits too.

This is an old bank vault. The door is HUGE.

Having fun on giant hamster wheel.

Unfortunately coming in December greatly reduced our chances of enjoying all the outside fun. They'll just have to bring their own kids back for that.

 

But there was a very cool Architecture exhibit with bits off old buildings.

My favourite was the Airmen Gargoyles!

 

 Time to head home to Columbia again