Do you ever wonder if you would want to travel if called Paris home? While St. Louis might not be home to the catacombs or the Louvre, we do seem to have a little something that makes a stop here worth while. St. Louis was recently named one of "The 14 Best Destinations for Fall 2009" by MSN Travel, so why not take a look at the city with fresh eyes and spend a weekend like the tourists do? You might be surprised at what what's been sitting right under our noses.
Though the MSN article features a picture of the steely beams of the Arch peeking from behind the trees, this over-exposed St. Louis icon didn't even get a passing mention in the article's recommendations. Instead, they encourage visitors to soak in one of the many festivals that are such a big part of St. Louis' fall weekends. Next weekend, October 2 through 4, you could hit up the annual Taste of St. Louis festival as a matter of fact. The article also lauds the fall foliage that can be enjoyed via many bike and hiking paths, or even during a scenic country drive. The peak of Missouri's fall colors is expected in mid-October.
The article ends on a surprising note. St. Louis is home to not one, but two of the nation's top haunted houses. Now you often hear that they are great in the commercials, but who knew that we really were tops for screams? According to the MSN article, Creepyworld and the Darkness are on the proverbial map for haunted houses.
Just because you are a local doesn't mean you need to be jaded about the typical St. Louis attractions, though. While you are at it you can still take a trip to the top of the Arch or walk through the brewery tour, and even grab a hotel room just to complete the tourists view of St. Louis in fall. Who knows, you might walk away with a whole new perspective of the city.
