ROAD TRIP TO St.LOUIS

I live and work in Chicago, IL, so I set on a short holiday to any of the nearby destinations either within or outside the state. This time I felt like going on a long drive and was eagerly looking forward to a road trip. While trying to decide on the destination, I consulted some of my friends, as well, for their ideas to help me decide on a particular destination. While filtering through the various suggestions and opinions, St. Louis seemed to have won among all the others. Because I wanted to drive through, it was 320 miles from Chicago, via interstate highway 55 that would be a 5 hours drive, which also meant that I would be crossing the border. As I was in the mood to explore, I had kept my accommodation options open. To begin with, I was more focused on the drive and the preparations required for it. 

I left home at 5 am, excited and all set for this drive. As I drove along the interstate highway, the plush greenery was a visual treat. It was a very different and relaxing feeling compared to the bustling traffic of the cities. After a 3 hour long drive, I reached Springfield, IL, and decided to pull over to take a break. I drove into town to Mel-O Donuts for some small eats and a refill on some caffeine that will keep me up for the rest of the journey.

While at the café, I browsed through some of the places in St. Louis looking for accommodation. After multiple options, I decided to stay at Budget OYO Hotel St. Louis Downtown City Center, as it rightly fit my budget offering various amenities, and booked a room telephonically and assured them that I would check-in in a couple of hours. This hotel was also centrally located and well connected with the other parts of the city. I reached the hotel by 10.30 am and was welcomed by the front office executive. As I mentioned my name, they were able to place my room booking and handed over the room to me. I was made to go through the initial check-in formalities while I was at it, the executive went on to explain the facilities available within the premises along with the timings of use. As I surfed through the place, many sign boards were very useful to direct the guests to their preferred facilities. While headed to the room allotted to me, I noticed that the other staff of the hotel were very courteous and greeted me as I passed through the corridors and the lift. Upon arriving at the room, the first impression was very satisfactory. It was spacious and well spread out. It had a private area to treat visitors, with a clean and well-maintained couch and a table and then led to the room. The décor was simple yet elegant. I decided to take some rest as I was slightly tired from the drive and I had woken up very early to ensure there was no delay. At around 1 pm I called the restaurant to place my lunch order and the food was delivered to me in 20 minutes, as committed by them. The food arrived fresh and was sumptuous and tasted great.

After the satisfying meal, I took a short nap and workup by 4 pm. I left for a stroll along with the locales of town. The shopping streets boast a wide variety of local products, right from office wear to vibrant colorful holiday clothes, it’s all vastly available, for people of all age groups. It’s a shopping retreat for shopaholics like me or even for window shopping. One can also buy souvenirs and memorabilia that represent the creative side of the people of St. Louis. I ended my evening with a treat at The Schlafly Tap Room; believe me, this is one of the oldest places in town, but the ambiance is a fine blend of old and modern décor. This place was strongly recommended to me by my friends that have already visited this place. This historic brewery serves up craft brews and the best ones in town, keeping up to its legacy. After delicious food and a fun-filled evening, I walked back to the hotel through the well-lit streets. I got back to the room and called it a day. 

The next day was a fresh, new day. I had planned to explore the city’s attractions. I started my day with a dash of coffee provided in the vending machine placed in the room and ordered a light breakfast. The first spot for the day was the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, which is a stunning example of imposing Romanesque architecture. Inside, I was amazed looking at the mosaics that took 41.5 million glass pieces and 76 years to complete. My next stop was at Forest Park. This lush green space is one of the largest urban parks in the United States and is a place where nature, history, and cultural institutions come together. There is no lack of things to do here, as the park is home to a science center, an art museum, a history museum, and even a zoo! My next stop was at the Opera Theatre, better known as The Muny with The largest outdoor amphitheater in the U.S. It was a magical experience of watching theater under the stars. On my way, I quickly grabbed a hot dog which was kind of lunch. I further proceeded to The St. Louis Science Center. I felt like a little kid in wonderland all over again and was amused at the over 700 displays and learned about everything from architecture to natural history. By the end of the day, I was completely drained out from all the fun and buzz I had the whole day. I went back to the room and called it a day. 

At the dawn of the next day, it was time to get back to Chicago and my routine life. I wished I had another couple of days to spend in this city as well as this hotel. But, I have to get back and resume my duties and slide into my routine life. I checked out of the hotel and headed back home through the beautiful roads with vast greenery. This was a very memorable trip for me as I lived one of my dreams of being on a road trip.