Meet me in St Louis

Advantages: Magnificent skyline. Lots to do and see. Wonderful music heritage.
Disadvantages: A number of attractions not wheelchair accessible

...We first approached St Louis at twilight and were immediately charmed by the unusual skylight dominated by The Gateway Arch which was bathed in a warm amber glow. We had driven down from Chicago along Route 66 and were pretty tired so we has little time or energy to explore ? St Louis would have to wait until daylight. ~~What?s in a name~~ First faux-pas of our trip! My pronunciation of St Louis was as in the title of the Judy Garland film and song. Wrong! A local born and bred in St Louis soon corrected me. The English pronunciation is lu-is. Lu-ee is the French pronunciation little used within the city. St Louis is named after King Louis IX of France ? the only French king that was made into a saint. The city was founded by French explorers, Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette in 1673. Saint Louis is often known as the Gateway City...

MAFARRIMOND 11.06.2009 (18.06.2009) · Read review
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Review of St. Louis

Louis Armstrong

Advantages: The one and only
Disadvantages: none

...visited clubs. It?s there he met Joe Oliver who gave him his first coronet and more lessons on how to make that instrument play for you. When 1917 came Louis was playing in local bars. In 1919 for two years he went and joined two different bands in St. Louis. Louis went back to New Orleans in 1921 and played in various bands. In 1922 after receiving a telegram from Joe Oliver, Louis went to join the Creole Jazz Band in Chicago. This is were Louis first became a phenomenon; his style of music took Chicago by storm. In February 1924 Louis married Lillian Hardin who thought that Louis could do better for himself and eventually persuaded him to leave Chicago and go to New York. It?s there he played in the Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra and had several recording sessions with numerous famous Blues singers. In 1925 Louis moved...

gill1960 11.01.2005 · Read review
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Review of Louis Armstrong

Travellers Real America

Advantages: not full of tourists,a real taste of a US city
Disadvantages: huge ,few direct flights

...If you want a real taste of an American city and want to avoid your fellow country men then St Louis is the perfect destination. I went to St Louis quite by chance. It was my first trip to the US and I did'nt know where I wanted to go so I simply put a pin in a map, booked a flight and packed my rucksack! The flight was around eleven hours with a stop off in Atlanta. Atlanta airport is a mind blowing experience in itself with robot controlled trains and fabulous bars with "atmosphere". St Louis is dominated by The Cardinals baseball team and the stunning St Louis arch. Both are essentials on your itinery. The Budweiser brewery is also a must as is a paddle boat ride on the Missippi! I also stumbled upon St Louis central railway station which might not inspire much excitement unless your a train spotter! How wrong...

janehammill 25.03.2001 (26.03.2001) · Read review
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Review of St. Louis

Arch-er'd want more from an attraction

Advantages: Historically interesting
Disadvantages: Can't help feeling it should be more interesting (and fun)

...(sorry for using the same pun twice...couldn't resist) The Gateway Arch, St Louis, Missouri, USA. Introduction: The Arch of St.Louis is dubbed as the 'Gateway to the West' and is probably the most famous attraction in Missouri. At 630ft (192m) tall, and exactly wide as it is tall, this is no small construction. It was designed by Finnish-American architect Eeor Saarinen and structural engineer Hannskarl Bandel. As well as being the tallest habitable structure in St.Louis, it is also the world's tallest monument. Completed in 1965 (4 years after Saarinen died) and costing approximately $15 million to finish, it stands as 'the' monument for the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial* (a site that stretches across 91 acres along the Mississippi river). A remarkable thing about the Arch, is that it stands on the exact...

MarcoG 05.07.2008 · Read review
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Review of The Gateway Arch, St Louis, Missouri

Travel to the top of The Gateway Arch Mork-style - in an egg.

Advantages: Elegant architectural icon. Magnificent vies and photographic opportunity.
Disadvantages: Lenghy queues. Only partially accessible for disable visitors.

...The elegant Gateway Arch, reaching up to 630 feet dominates St Louis? skyline. Standing in the Jefferson Natural Expansion Memorial Park, the arch symbolises the role St Louis played as the gateway to the west. Shortly after the Second World War in 1947, a competition was privately financed to find a suitable architectural centrepiece for the park. The aim was to commemorate Thomas Jefferson?s vision of the spread of freedom and democracy from ?sea to shining sea? and his commissioned expedition in 1804 to the west coast headed by Lewis and Clark. Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen and structural engineer Hannskarl Bandel?s design of this graceful tapered stainless-steel catenary arch won over the 171 other entries. Construction of this remarkable structure took around three years to complete. Pictures of the construction can...

MAFARRIMOND 28.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of The Gateway Arch, St Louis, Missouri

Gateway to the West

Advantages: Lots to see and do
Disadvantages: It's a long flight

...After travelling to Missouri, USA for the last 6 or so years, I finally convinced my wife we needed to visit St Louis on our next trip 'home'. My wife is from South-West Missouri - there'll be a review on this locale soon!! I always wanted to go there but never knew why - now I do. St Louis is a terrific destination for a holiday - depending on what you want to do, of course. OK, first step - how to get there. American Airlines do direct flights from Gatwick to St Louis. Using BA you can travel from Heathrow to Chicago then get an internal flight to St Louis from a variety of carriers. Cost varies - we paid £350 each for return flights from Edinburgh - Heathrow - Chicago - St Louis. Where to stay. Like most American cities, there's always a huge choice of hotel accomodation to suit all budgets. I'd recommend...

John1958 26.05.2004 (27.05.2004) · Read review
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Review of St. Louis

Louis Tussaud's waxworks , blackpool

Advantages: Great day out , Get to 'mingle' with the stars
Disadvantages: some models don't look like the stars

...* Who was Louis Tussaud ? * I'm sure you've all heard of Madame Tussaud ? well , Louis Tussaud was her great grandson.He created a waxworks place in Blackpool , which is the place I am going to tell you about. *Louis Tussaud's waxworks* Louis' waxworks are located opposite the central pier , central promenade , in Blackpool , Lancashire.The works are open daily , all year round. The works have five floors , showing off the public's favourite celebs.There are hundreds of models available to see. * The Floors * * 3rd Floor - The Rock Factory * Here you can see celebs such as cher and Robbie Williams.You can also see old coronation street stars , including present ones such as vera and Jack Duckworth.There is a 'pub' like the rovers where you can go and sit in to drink or eat food or drinks which you can buy from the cafe...

xdonzx 27.10.2007 · Read review
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Review of Louis Tussaud's Waxworks, Blackpool

The Home of The Entertainer

Advantages: Atmosperic. Fun piano-player. Helpful staff. Low cost. Good parking.
Disadvantages: Furnishing and fitting not authenic representing only an idea of how the home would be.

.../ reception area. The reception area is manned by very knowledgeable people who also lead the hourly tours. We were the only visitors present and had an individualised version of the tour. The guide and receptionist were more than happy to talk and answer any questions about the musician, his works and his life. From the shop, you enter first into a small room with an antique player piano with a variety of music rolls stacked on top. The music is naturally all rag-time melodies composed by Joplin and many others. The guides readily will set the piano-player to any melody you request. The main downstairs area has museum exhibits, with information about Joplin and St. Louis during the ragtime era, mounted on the walls. Copies of his music are set out in the centre of the room. Chairs are placed around the room allowing visitors to sit...

MAFARRIMOND 21.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of Scott Joplin House State Historic Site, St Louis, Missouri

ST Tropez Autobronzant

Advantages: Nice even colour, can see where it has been applied already
Disadvantages: Messy and expensive

...*Introduction* The St Tropez autobronzant is a thick lotion which you apply on your face and body, and then leave to absorb for 4 hours before washing off to reveal your tan. It promises to be 'non-greasy' and 'quick drying' with a 'relaxing aromatic scent'. It comes in one shade only, but you can reapply two nights in a row to deepen the tan. I have really pale skin that doesn't tan at all naturally, so I have to be careful what fake tan I use as I can be left with orange coloured skin! *Packaging and Price* The packaging is quite simple and whereas most fake tanning products come in a brown or orange bottle, it is distinctive as it comes in a white bottle with black writing. When buying, look carefully at the bottle to check you have the right product though as the St Tropez body polish comes in a very similar bottle...

CezaWeza 10.04.2007 · Read review
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Review of St. Tropez Self Tan Lotion

Doubletree, Hilton quality at affordable prices.

Advantages: Beautiful, clean hospitable hotel, bargain price
Disadvantages: Cant think of any

...I stayed here for 5 days in late November 2008. I would definately recommend. Doubletree is a Hilton hotel and you get what you expect from that brand here. There was a shuttle service from St Louis Airport, which was free, the car park was also free and they bake delicious fresh cookies behind the front desk, which they hand out liberally, also FREE. There was also an ATM machine and small selection of drinks, snacks and toiletries you could purchase. There was a nice bar with widescreen tv and very comfortable sofas and chairs. The was also a restaurant although I didnt use it. I booked through the American Airlines website ( AAdvantage members) and got the luxury room for $80 a night, which was around £45 based on the exchange rate when I booked which is outstanding for the hotel of this calibre. I was there over Thanksgiving...

lavender43 04.01.2009 · Read review
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Review of Doubletree Hotel St. Louis at Westport, Saint Louis