What's new in St. Louis
Thursday, January 31, 2008 10:30 AM CST
If you haven't been to St. Louis lately, you don’t know what you’ve been missing. St. Louis is brimming with new attractions and upgrades to existing favorites, plus a full slate of special events and exhibits that will fill-up your 2008 visit.
The new $507 million Lumiere Place opened in downtown St. Louis in December creating a dramatic presence along the St. Louis riverfront. The 75,000-square-foot casino complex features 2,000 slot machines, more than 45 table games, a dedicated poker room and two hotels totaling nearly 500 rooms. There is also a 10,000-square-foot spa, a business center, casual and fine dining restaurants, and a variety of retail. Taking a page from St. Louis’ French heritage, Lumiere means “light” in French, and the 24-story luxury hotel tower has produced an illuminating new icon on the St. Louis skyline with its striking arc of lights in the downtown sky.
Since opening in 1979, the Magic House has sparked the imagination of millions of children and adults who have visited. With more than 100 interactive exhibits, the hands-on attraction has received national recognition for its exhibits and educational programming. As the region's first and most successful interactive children's museum, it is now one of the most attended children's museums in the country with 400,000 visitors annually.
In October 2008, the Magic House will perform its greatest feat – doubling in size. The $12 million expansion will create more programs, exhibits, learning opportunities and even more magic. This innovative addition will include improvements to all aspects of the museum experience including a light-filled Welcome Center, new galleries and permanent exhibits that appeal to curiosities in science and literacy, an Education Center, and the Star-Spangled Center designed to help students grow into proud and informed citizens.
There will also be an imaginative and interactive Play Garden that will invite and enable all to explore, discover and play outdoors, as well as additional free parking, large restrooms, and a café. Topping things off – literally – will be a Rooftop Garden and a grand spiral staircase that leads to a Fairy Tale Tower – the perfect spot for imagination to take flight.
Continuing its tradition of providing guests with new and even more exciting thrills each season, Six Flags St. Louis will debut the “Evel Knievel” rollercoaster in 2008. This thrill ride is a daredevil's dream, as the 2,700-foot ride experience begins with an 80-foot drop at a 90-degree left turn, which is followed with a 55-foot double-down drop, 16 hills with camelbacks, and a 40-foot fan curve and multiple high-banked turns at up to 67-degree angles. Standing 82-feet tall and traveling at speeds up to 50 mph, this intense coaster crosses over itself an incredible 14 times while making frequent and tight directional changes. This $7 million wooden wonder is unlike any of the park's eight existing coasters and is named for the famed daredevil Evel Knievel.
The Missouri History Museum will mark with centennial of dance legend Katherine Dunham’s birth with Katherine Dunham: Beyond the Dance exhibit Nov. 2 through February 28, 2010. Through objects, costumes, stage settings, recorded media, and live performance spaces, museum visitors will be surrounded with the energetic life and legacy of Dunham. The museum’s Dunham online exhibition explores her research and work in anthropology, her revolutionary dance technique, film career, global activism, anthropological interest and enduring legacy. For more information on Dunham, click on www.eslarp.uiuc.edu/kdunham.
In celebration of its 75th anniversary, the famous hideout for the outlaw Jesse James and his gang will feature "History Days at Meramec Caverns" in April. Meramec Caverns is an attraction that has been a longtime favorite stopping-point along historic Route 66 in Stanton. The underground wonderland of stalagmites and stalactites will feature tours of the famous caverns along with meet-and-greets with well-known, "Missouri Historians." The new twist on the popular tour allows visitors to travel back in time and interact with the most famous characters from Missouri's past. As actors entertain and educate groups, visitors see the past brought back to life right before their very eyes.
The new River View Park, opening at Laclede Power in June, will be situated on a hill at the downtown entrance to the Riverfront Trail. Visitors will love the spectacular views of the Mississippi River, as well as a park featuring an outdoor amphitheater, turtle sculpture by quirky local artist Bob Cassilly and water features evocative of our two great rivers – the Mississippi and the Missouri.
The passionate, imaginative fine art of Niki de Saint Phalle is coming to the Missouri Botanical Garden April 27 through Oct. 31. Niki, a collection of 39 mosaic and painted sculptures gathered from around the world will be placed throughout the garden and will include de Saint Phalle’s iconic “Nanas,” dancing women with beach-ball curves, as well as large-scale creations of African-American legends and animals. Visitors are encouraged to touch many of them and some invite sitting or climbing. Every Thursday, the garden will host “Niki Nights” offering casual outdoor dining and family entertainment.
Laumeier Sculpture Park expands the context of contemporary sculpture beyond the traditional confines of a museum. In 2008, try out the new iPod tours of the park, which are available year-round and for all ages. Individuals can take a self-guided tour and learn about interesting sculptures in the collection, which includes more than 80 contemporary figures throughout the lush 105 acres. The park is available to the public year-round, and many works represent current or unique approaches to art in a natural environment.
Be sure to stop by one of St. Louis’ newest attraction, the Moto Museum. View an extensive collection of motorcycles from more than 20 countries and dating back nearly 100 years. New to the Kemp Auto Museum is an educational program for the young and the young-at-heart. Car enthusiasts enjoy the high-quality audio tours designed to enrich and enhance a visit to the Museum through story-telling and
Look for something bright, shiny and new at Lambert – St. Louis International Airport, as the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission created a more efficient Visitor Center. In 2008, the sleek, modern Main Terminal Visitor Center now has a highly visible location in the baggage claim area, includes better lighting and presentation, plus a plasma screen for video displays. The new innovative design will showcase a small sampling of the many exciting things to see and do in St. Louis. Adorned with walls that feature striking images of various St. Louis attractions, the center will serve as a lively first impression for leisure travelers and meeting attendees.
At the Saint Louis Zoo, kids can investigate, create, pretend and play at the Zoo’s new ZOOmagination Station. The new play area is designed for young children ages 3-7 and their caregivers, though all ages are welcome. Located in classrooms in The Living World children can choose their own brand of fun at these stations: Backyard Wildlife Experience, Animal Care Corner, Animal Explorations, Build-A-Habitat, ZOOmagination Theater, Discovery Boxes, and Cubs & Pups Pad.
Also at the Zoo, an outdoor exhibit of 16 huge animatronic dinosaurs will be on display in Dinoroarus from April 18 through Sept. 1. The life-size animatronic dinosaurs will move, roar and spit in a one-of-a-kind walk-through exhibit near River’s Edge. Some of the colorful dino mega-stars on hand will include Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, Dilophosaurus, Stegorsurus, and even some baby dinosaurs. Young paleontologists can unearth some Jurassic treasures in a hands-on fossil dig and thrill seekers can experience “Dino Land 2” in a 3-D motion simulator.
New for bikers in 2008 is the upcoming opening of the McKinley Bridge Bikeway, the region’s first and only suspended bikeway over the Mississippi River. Pedestrians and cyclists will be able to cross the new 3,000 foot long, 14 foot wide suspended lane to access the regional systems of greenways, parks and trails spanning both sides of the Mississippi River. On the St. Louis side, the McKinley Bridge Bikeway will connect to the new Branch Street Trestle Connector, as well as to on-street routes designated by Bike St. Louis and to the popular 11-mile long St. Louis Riverfront Trail. St. Louis will be only the third city in the world to have converted an elevated railroad viaduct into a linear urban recreation area.
Flamingo Bowl, a 12-lane bowling alley and martini lounge in downtown’s Washington Avenue district has opened on the ground floor of Lucas Lofts. The bowling alley features signature cocktails such as the Blackberry Royale and Pink Mojito, an eclectic American menu with Latin influence, private party space and much more.
Sketch out your itinerary at www.ExploreStLouis.com and book a hotel package, reserve attraction tickets and see what’s happening on our ever-expanding calendar of events. Or, call 1-800-916-0040 to speak with a St. Louis travel counselor.
The new $507 million Lumiere Place opened in downtown St. Louis in December creating a dramatic presence along the St. Louis riverfront. The 75,000-square-foot casino complex features 2,000 slot machines, more than 45 table games, a dedicated poker room and two hotels totaling nearly 500 rooms. There is also a 10,000-square-foot spa, a business center, casual and fine dining restaurants, and a variety of retail. Taking a page from St. Louis’ French heritage, Lumiere means “light” in French, and the 24-story luxury hotel tower has produced an illuminating new icon on the St. Louis skyline with its striking arc of lights in the downtown sky.
Since opening in 1979, the Magic House has sparked the imagination of millions of children and adults who have visited. With more than 100 interactive exhibits, the hands-on attraction has received national recognition for its exhibits and educational programming. As the region's first and most successful interactive children's museum, it is now one of the most attended children's museums in the country with 400,000 visitors annually.
In October 2008, the Magic House will perform its greatest feat – doubling in size. The $12 million expansion will create more programs, exhibits, learning opportunities and even more magic. This innovative addition will include improvements to all aspects of the museum experience including a light-filled Welcome Center, new galleries and permanent exhibits that appeal to curiosities in science and literacy, an Education Center, and the Star-Spangled Center designed to help students grow into proud and informed citizens.
There will also be an imaginative and interactive Play Garden that will invite and enable all to explore, discover and play outdoors, as well as additional free parking, large restrooms, and a café. Topping things off – literally – will be a Rooftop Garden and a grand spiral staircase that leads to a Fairy Tale Tower – the perfect spot for imagination to take flight.
Continuing its tradition of providing guests with new and even more exciting thrills each season, Six Flags St. Louis will debut the “Evel Knievel” rollercoaster in 2008. This thrill ride is a daredevil's dream, as the 2,700-foot ride experience begins with an 80-foot drop at a 90-degree left turn, which is followed with a 55-foot double-down drop, 16 hills with camelbacks, and a 40-foot fan curve and multiple high-banked turns at up to 67-degree angles. Standing 82-feet tall and traveling at speeds up to 50 mph, this intense coaster crosses over itself an incredible 14 times while making frequent and tight directional changes. This $7 million wooden wonder is unlike any of the park's eight existing coasters and is named for the famed daredevil Evel Knievel.
The Missouri History Museum will mark with centennial of dance legend Katherine Dunham’s birth with Katherine Dunham: Beyond the Dance exhibit Nov. 2 through February 28, 2010. Through objects, costumes, stage settings, recorded media, and live performance spaces, museum visitors will be surrounded with the energetic life and legacy of Dunham. The museum’s Dunham online exhibition explores her research and work in anthropology, her revolutionary dance technique, film career, global activism, anthropological interest and enduring legacy. For more information on Dunham, click on www.eslarp.uiuc.edu/kdunham.
In celebration of its 75th anniversary, the famous hideout for the outlaw Jesse James and his gang will feature "History Days at Meramec Caverns" in April. Meramec Caverns is an attraction that has been a longtime favorite stopping-point along historic Route 66 in Stanton. The underground wonderland of stalagmites and stalactites will feature tours of the famous caverns along with meet-and-greets with well-known, "Missouri Historians." The new twist on the popular tour allows visitors to travel back in time and interact with the most famous characters from Missouri's past. As actors entertain and educate groups, visitors see the past brought back to life right before their very eyes.
The new River View Park, opening at Laclede Power in June, will be situated on a hill at the downtown entrance to the Riverfront Trail. Visitors will love the spectacular views of the Mississippi River, as well as a park featuring an outdoor amphitheater, turtle sculpture by quirky local artist Bob Cassilly and water features evocative of our two great rivers – the Mississippi and the Missouri.
The passionate, imaginative fine art of Niki de Saint Phalle is coming to the Missouri Botanical Garden April 27 through Oct. 31. Niki, a collection of 39 mosaic and painted sculptures gathered from around the world will be placed throughout the garden and will include de Saint Phalle’s iconic “Nanas,” dancing women with beach-ball curves, as well as large-scale creations of African-American legends and animals. Visitors are encouraged to touch many of them and some invite sitting or climbing. Every Thursday, the garden will host “Niki Nights” offering casual outdoor dining and family entertainment.
Laumeier Sculpture Park expands the context of contemporary sculpture beyond the traditional confines of a museum. In 2008, try out the new iPod tours of the park, which are available year-round and for all ages. Individuals can take a self-guided tour and learn about interesting sculptures in the collection, which includes more than 80 contemporary figures throughout the lush 105 acres. The park is available to the public year-round, and many works represent current or unique approaches to art in a natural environment.
Be sure to stop by one of St. Louis’ newest attraction, the Moto Museum. View an extensive collection of motorcycles from more than 20 countries and dating back nearly 100 years. New to the Kemp Auto Museum is an educational program for the young and the young-at-heart. Car enthusiasts enjoy the high-quality audio tours designed to enrich and enhance a visit to the Museum through story-telling and
Look for something bright, shiny and new at Lambert – St. Louis International Airport, as the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission created a more efficient Visitor Center. In 2008, the sleek, modern Main Terminal Visitor Center now has a highly visible location in the baggage claim area, includes better lighting and presentation, plus a plasma screen for video displays. The new innovative design will showcase a small sampling of the many exciting things to see and do in St. Louis. Adorned with walls that feature striking images of various St. Louis attractions, the center will serve as a lively first impression for leisure travelers and meeting attendees.
At the Saint Louis Zoo, kids can investigate, create, pretend and play at the Zoo’s new ZOOmagination Station. The new play area is designed for young children ages 3-7 and their caregivers, though all ages are welcome. Located in classrooms in The Living World children can choose their own brand of fun at these stations: Backyard Wildlife Experience, Animal Care Corner, Animal Explorations, Build-A-Habitat, ZOOmagination Theater, Discovery Boxes, and Cubs & Pups Pad.
Also at the Zoo, an outdoor exhibit of 16 huge animatronic dinosaurs will be on display in Dinoroarus from April 18 through Sept. 1. The life-size animatronic dinosaurs will move, roar and spit in a one-of-a-kind walk-through exhibit near River’s Edge. Some of the colorful dino mega-stars on hand will include Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, Dilophosaurus, Stegorsurus, and even some baby dinosaurs. Young paleontologists can unearth some Jurassic treasures in a hands-on fossil dig and thrill seekers can experience “Dino Land 2” in a 3-D motion simulator.
New for bikers in 2008 is the upcoming opening of the McKinley Bridge Bikeway, the region’s first and only suspended bikeway over the Mississippi River. Pedestrians and cyclists will be able to cross the new 3,000 foot long, 14 foot wide suspended lane to access the regional systems of greenways, parks and trails spanning both sides of the Mississippi River. On the St. Louis side, the McKinley Bridge Bikeway will connect to the new Branch Street Trestle Connector, as well as to on-street routes designated by Bike St. Louis and to the popular 11-mile long St. Louis Riverfront Trail. St. Louis will be only the third city in the world to have converted an elevated railroad viaduct into a linear urban recreation area.
Flamingo Bowl, a 12-lane bowling alley and martini lounge in downtown’s Washington Avenue district has opened on the ground floor of Lucas Lofts. The bowling alley features signature cocktails such as the Blackberry Royale and Pink Mojito, an eclectic American menu with Latin influence, private party space and much more.
Sketch out your itinerary at www.ExploreStLouis.com and book a hotel package, reserve attraction tickets and see what’s happening on our ever-expanding calendar of events. Or, call 1-800-916-0040 to speak with a St. Louis travel counselor.
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