First time riding a trail in Illinois. When I researched the many trails around Edwardsville this…read moreone was about the mileage I wanted to ride. It's a little over 24 miles out and back from Glen Carbon to Marine. I was really impressed by this paved trail. It is a very pretty trail with lots of wooden miles, several bridges over creeks, and some great views when it opens up to vast farmland. The trail is well maintained. The pavement is pretty smooth for the most part. There are no drastic elevation changes so I'd consider the difficulty level to be easy. I look forward to riding more of this trail system soon.

For nearly 25 years I've been using this trail for walking and biking. There's nothing like it,…read moreeven though there are now similar trails around the area. Its part-history, part-recreational, part-exercise for me. History: this once served as the Illinois Central Railroad line, which was defunct for a long time before it became one of the nations first 'rails-to-trails' projects. There were historical markers along the trail that talked about the village of Glen Carbon's mining history, but I think they removed them due to numerous episodes of vandalism. The trail was a rocky, unpaved trail for a long time, until last year (2015) when the whole RJF bike trail was completely paved. The trail itself has a history, as it has been added on to (extending from Old Troy Road to Kuhn Station one year, and later from Kuhn Station to the village of Marine), and it has connected to other bikeways as well. Signs have also been added, but the mile markers are now gone. The trail has always been a part of the community and stands out as a piece of Glen Carbon history. So bring your bikes, or your energy to run, jog and/or walk!

Visited on weekend celebrating the beginning of the expedition. The museum has a vast amount of…read moreinformation about the trip, supplies, people involved, readying for journey. This weekend had reenactors outside showing early 19th century crafts. Fun for all and great learning experience.

We stopped by on a whim when visiting the in-laws. It happened to be the anniversary & there were…read moreperiod actors interacting that were set up throughout, with assorted stations. This was both cool & informative. There was no entry fee, always a plus. The info desk had a guest book. It appeared most visitors who signed were from Illinois. The movie wasn't playing during our visit, I'm not sure if there was a mechanical issue or if it was because of the special celebration. So, I can't speak on it. It's smaller than I expected, yet very interesting & I did learn a few new details. We walked out to the cabins/fort & they were all locked with some of them having the roofs/walls collapsed. Perhaps an entry fee is in order for maintenance/upkeep. Overall, worth a stop, especially for those interested in the expedition.

You will find this nice sculpture on the Mississippi Riverfront, in St Louis, just behind the…read moreGateway Arch. It is the work of Harry Weber who completed the piece, which is made of bronze and sits 22 feet tall, in 2006 The 3.5 ton sculpture depicts explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and their Newfoundland dog, Seaman. It is owned by the city of St Louis and was commissioned by the Greater St. Louis Community Foundation to commemorate the bicentennial of the explorers' return September 1806. According to Weber, it "took seven months of long hours to complete the structure in clay, make molds and reassemble it like a giant jigsaw puzzle. It is a nice sculpture and Weber does a great job encapsulating Lewis and Clark's feeling of accomplishment, sacrifice and pride. It is very detailed and well done. The viewer can really connect to the piece. The sculpture is designated a national Lewis and Clark site by the US Park Service and spending on how high the Mississippi River gets, sometimes the statue is submerged in the river. In 2014, the statue was removed and restored to repair damage it had received from the flood. In 2016, the statue was returned to the riverfront to a location slightly south and about 17 feet higher than before. Before it was moved, during a flood situation, it would look like the duo were sailing into shore Anyway, as with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 10 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. I would recommend checking out the Gateway Arch and Park while visiting this sculpture.

It's worth noting that there are two Basilicas in downtown Saint Louis and this is the one that is…read moreadjacent to the Gateway Arch Park at the riverside. Officially named the "Basilica of St. Louis, King of France", this was the first cathedral west of the Mississippi River, built between 1831 and 1834. It is one of the only buildings that was not demolished to make way for the Arch and the park. That proximity makes it quite a popular tourist destination. Built in Greek Revival style, the church is noted for its marble altars, a painting of Saint Louis venerating the Crown of Thorns given by Louis XVIII, King of France and Navarre, and an accurate copy of the painting of the Crucifixion by Diego Velázquez installed in the church in the latter half of the twentieth century. Note: The parking lot here is specifically for cathedral visitors and can not be used for parking to see other stuff in downtown. [Review 17230 overall - 138 in Missouri - 747 of 2022.]

I was here for a wedding. The cathedral is beautiful, old world elegance. Large windows letting a…read moretremendous amount of light in. The service was excellent and the priest was kind, gentle and funny with the bride and groom. It was a delightful wedding.

I went here for a Friday night concert over the summer. It was very relaxing and entertaining all…read morein one. I forgot the name of the artist, but her performance along with the live band was so captivating. This place gives date night, solo date, and family trip all at the same time. I love events such as these. Also, I know downtown parking usually isn't the best. However, because of the time and people getting off work to head home, parking was quite easy to find. I was able to park within reasonable walking distance near the Hooters across the street.

Tours met here but we came over to get a picture of the old City Hall through the Arch. There's a…read morevisitor center here and a sculpture of a runner. The very interesting shrubbery caught my attention as well as the intricate playground here. There were people working in the garden that was very informative about the types of trees & told me the exotic Pagoda Tree is from Japan.

Beware!!! Google maps will take you to the wrong location! I'm on your side Apple Maps, you never…read moredo me wrong! From the Vandalia State House, take 185/40 (N. Kennedy Blvd) north, turn left/west on W. Randolph Street, then right/north on N. Perkin's Street one block to W. St Clair Street. Turn left and it's up on the little hill on your right/north side. I absolutely love state capitals, which would lead me to enjoy past state capitals. I had been in rural Illinois a few times and always wondered what Vandalia had to offer being that it was second Illinois Capitol City (an oldest one still existing, unlike Kaskaskia which is now under water). I followed Vandalia's tourist page to the few landmarks that existed. One was what is called "Little Brick House". It's an n example of simple Italianate architecture that has been preserved by the Vandalia Historical Society. It is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and is thought to have been constructed in the mid 1800's. According to the website, "Josephine Burtschi, local artist and historian, was born in this house. In 1956 she purchased the house and started restoring it to its original appearance. Over the years, the Little Brick House has been renovated and furnished with period pieces, antiques, and early Vandalia artifacts. Contained within the six rooms are furniture, china, engravings and books acquired from descendants of state officers, legislators and the Ferdinand Ernst Colony who lived in Vandalia when it served as capital. The library, called the Berry-Hall room, pays tribute to James William Berry, the first talented artist of Illinois, and to Judge James Hall who established Vandalia as the first literary center west of Cincinnati. (http://www.vandaliaillinois.com/littlebrickhouse.html)" There's a little history for ya!

This review is not only for the Gateway Arch, but also Gateway Arch National Park. Gateway Arch…read moreNational Park is the smallest national park and represents President Jefferson's vision of a continental nation. I didn't realize St. Louis' impact in the westward expansion. The museum underneath the park and Arch are a must visit as well as the Old Courthouse across the street. There is so much history I forgotten about or never knew. Both the museum and Old Courthouse are free and do not require tickets. As many others have mentioned, purchase tickets to the top in advance. Tickets are timed and do sell out! Limited number of same day tickets are available at 9 am, you can purchase them in person at the Arch or online. The ticket group goes up together so don't be late. Each pod only fits 5 people. It's a tight squeeze and the glass door faces inside the arch. If you get motion sickness or are afraid of heights, don't look through the door. The door is small, it's not scary, just a tight space so if you're claustrophobic, you may want to skip going to the top. You get 10 minutes at the top which is more than plenty of time. The entire experience is about an hour. The Arch is definitely worth the visit. If you can't get tickets to the top, the museum and grounds are still worth a visit. We lucked out and for 4th of July, they had a free concert with Ludacris and Zedd, drone show and fireworks. It was one of the best 4th of Julys we've experienced. It was a great way to celebrate the 250th anniversary. My daughter said it was better than DC.

As part of our quest to visit all 63 U.S. national parks, we set off on a six-week road trip, and…read moreour first stop was Gateway Arch National Park. Although we had driven past it many times over the years, I have a personal rule: I only count a national park as "visited" if I actually spend time there, hike or walk through it, and experience it beyond simply driving by. Mission accomplishe, one down, thirteen more on this trip, bringing our total to 48 of the 63 national parks. The Gateway Arch itself is certainly impressive. Riding the tram to the top is a unique experience, and the views of downtown St. Louis and the Mississippi River are well worth it. We left Chicago at 10:00 a.m., arrived around 2:00 p.m., and had tickets for the tram at 3:00 p.m., which gave us enough time to explore the grounds beforehand. The park itself is beautifully maintained. We especially enjoyed walking along the promenade by the river and through the surrounding green spaces. It is a pleasant area for a stroll, even if the park itself is relatively small. Personally, I still struggle a little with its designation as a national park. To me, it feels more like a national monument than a traditional national park with extensive natural landscapes and hiking opportunities. That said, it is historically significant, beautifully designed, and certainly worth visiting. One thing that pleasantly surprised me was how family-friendly it is. The museum beneath the Arch is modern, interactive, and well done, with hands-on exhibits, films, and activities that make history engaging for children and adults alike. Families could easily spend most of a day here exploring both the museum and the grounds. Overall, Gateway Arch National Park is an enjoyable stop, especially if you're interested in American history, architecture, or you're, like us, on a mission to experience every national park. It may not offer wilderness, but it offers a fascinating piece of the country's story.