St. Louis
Visiting the St. Louis Zoo and the city's famous Gateway Arch National Park
USA
On our US road trip we made a stop in St. Louis for 2 days to explore the city and its attractions. the city itself is unique as it lies on the border of Missouri and Illinois. The city center is in Missouri with the river acting as the boundary between the two states.
Gateway Arch National park was a unique feature in the city. The arch was completed in 1965. It is 630 feet wide and 630 feet tall.
We toured the museum under the arch and learned about its history, design and construction. Above ground there were many lovely green spaces to enjoy under and around the arch that included views of the city.
Our second stop in the city was the St. Louis Zoo, located in Forest park was a great family attraction. Admission was free and they have about 16,000 animals located on the grounds. These included several endangered species from around the world.
We were blown away at the extent and quality of this world class facility. Being able to see so many species from around the world all in one place for free was truly amazing. This attraction created some of our most cherished memories from this trip and provided us with a deeper appreciation for the diversity of our planets wildlife.
One area that Aliya absolutely adored was the hippo pool. We were able to get a closeup view of the hippo's enjoying the water along with the large schools of fish that also inhabit the pool. The scene mesmerized Aliya as she staired that these massive creatures up close.
The details in the displays were amazing with each section curated for the specific creatures and habitats.
Many bird species were also included. With Flamingo's, penguins, and Saddle-billed storks.
With such large grounds there were times it truly felt like a safari tour as we walked past giraffes, gazelles, and orangutans.
With so many species and 90 acres to explore we spent the entire day taking in all the sights and viewing the different animals.
We were glad we put St. Louis on our list to visit and our short 2 days were very memorable. Happy exploring!
