Before my days at TPG, I didn't know much about airline elite status nor did I particularly care. Lounge access and first-class upgrades felt like something only attained by road warriors who flew weekly and only saw their families on the weekends.
02.02.2025 - 18:43 / lonelyplanet.com
Feb 2, 2025 • 8 min read
Founded more than a decade before the United States became a country, St Louis has far deeper roots than many realize. Nicknamed the “Gateway to the West,” this city at the confluence of two major rivers – the Missouri and the Mississippi – has welcomed travelers for centuries, whether they’ve arrived by plane, train, boat, covered wagon or car.
Nearly in the middle of the country but now seemingly off the map, St Louis flies under the radar for many travelers. But “the Lou” makes a surprisingly excellent travel destination for a long weekend or more for lovers of history, food and brews.
St Louis shines in every season, but if you plan on spending much time outdoors, late spring and fall are the best times to visit. Summers are hot and humid, while in winter, the thermostat can dip to uncomfortably low numbers, and snow and ice sometimes blanket the city.
But extreme temperatures don’t put a damper on St Louis’ festive spirit. In January or February, St Louis hosts the second-largest Mardi Gras in the country after New Orleans, and summertime baseball games and the Blues at the Arch Festival draw fans willing to brave the heat.
A long weekend is enough to see the best of St Louis, but travelers with more time can dig much deeper. Start with the most iconic attraction on the city skyline, the Gateway Arch. After surveying the scene from the top, let your interests lead the way, perhaps to the famous Clydesdale horses and beer-filled brick buildings of the Anheuser-Busch Brewery, the intriguing (and free!) museums and art galleries of Forest Park, or the indie breweries and restaurants serving up the nowhere-else-but-here flavors of this mighty Midwestern city.
St Louis Lambert International Airport has nonstop flights to most major US cities, as well as a few destinations in Canada, Germany, Mexico and the Caribbean. Amtrak train services arrive at Gateway Station downtown (sadly not the much grander Union Station a few blocks away) from Kansas City on the Missouri River Runner, Chicago on the Lincoln Service and San Antonio on the Texas Eagle. Companies such as Viking and American Cruise Lines are bringing back the boat as a viable way to visit St Louis on a scenic journey on the Mississippi River. Regional travelers and road trippers can reach St Louis by car, located on a handful of major interstates, as well as historic Route 66.
St Louis has a light rail system called MetroLink, which is a good option for getting into town from the airport, but renting a car or using ride-hailing apps like Uber or Lyft will ensure you can squeeze the most out of your visit. In some areas, parking can be tricky or pricey, particularly downtown. If you’d rather not drive, rent bikes or e-scooters
Before my days at TPG, I didn't know much about airline elite status nor did I particularly care. Lounge access and first-class upgrades felt like something only attained by road warriors who flew weekly and only saw their families on the weekends.
The best time to visit Alaska will hardly be a surprise—it’s when you can get good weather and a lot of sunlight to see and explore everything that the largest state in the United States has to offer. Alaska is one of the Best Places to Go in 2025, as many of the area's signature sites and events like the Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve and the 1000-mile-long Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race celebrate their 100th birthdays this year. But beyond these milestones, Alaska is still an exciting destination in any year. It’s the matter of what time of year to visit that can help turn your trip from a good one into a fabulous one.
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