The Road Not Taken

I shall be telling this with a sigh, somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. - Robert Frost

From Barbados to Italy, from Aruba to France, from Thailand to New Zealand...these are just a few of the vacation hot spots for many people. However, with the economy hurting and American citizens pinching pennies and looking for ways to save, vacations have become a luxury most of us cannot afford. But what if we took the vacations that so few have the pleasure, a vacation suited to even the smallest budget? This is the first installment in a series that will guide you to unforgettable vacations right here in our beautiful country, starting with Missouri and working our way through.

Right in the heart of the Midwest, where the Missouri and the Mississippi Rivers meet, sits St. Louis, MO. Here you will find one of the most beautiful public gardens in the world. The Missouri Botanical Garden shares seventy-nine acres with the Tower Grove House and was donated to the city by Henry Shaw in 1868. This haven contains gardens based on Japanese designs, Victorian designs and much more. A visit to this horticultural vista will have you wondering how anyone would ever pass up this diamond in the rough.

Also in St. Louis is the Gateway Arch, the tallest man-made monument in the country. But it's not just the arch that people should see, it's what's tucked away beneath the arch! In the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, there sits the Museum of Westward Expansion. In this museum you will find Native American and pioneer artifacts as well as artifacts that pertain to the Lewis and Clark Expedition. A visit to this museum acts as a time machine, taking you back to chronicle the drive to settle the west.

Just beyond the Arch you'll find the Old Cathedral, officially known as the Basilica of St. Louis, King of France. On the west side of the Old Cathedral sits the original log chapel which is now a museum that holds documents and photographs dating back to the beginning of the Cathedral and the building of the Arch. The original log cabin was dedicated in 1770 and is fun for history buffs and sight-seers alike.

As St. Louis brought us the beloved Chuck Berry, it seems only right to go to Blueberry Hill to find all your thrills. The burgers will have you reelin' and rockin' and the music will take you back to the time of poodle skirts, bobby socks and saddle shoes. This is a must-see for all St. Louis goers.

A four-day weekend in this city will leave you wanting more so if you want to plan a longer St. Louis vacation, check out St. Louis's official website - www.explorestlouis.com. Happy vacationing!