On my Epic Sisterly Bonding Road Trip From Colorado To New Jersey With My Recently-Graduated Sister this June, we will (barring some bizarre change in plans) be passing through Oklahoma City, Springfield, MO, and St. Louis, MO, on our way to Chicago (and then on home to NJ, with a stop to visit family in OH).
In Oklahoma City, we’ll have a decent chunk of time, as it’s about 4 hours to Springfield (unless my AAA atlas is in conspiracy with MapQuest to confuse me). I’d really like to get to the federal builiding memorial - I’ve heard it’s worth it. Is there anything else that any regional dopers can recommend seeing there?
Also: We have quite a bit of time (relatively) in both Springfield, MO, and St. Louis. The absolute only thing I can think of in Missouri is the Gateway Arch. Is there anything to do in Springfield? Anything notable other than the arch in St. Louis? Anything in between the two that we must see?
Yes, I know that OK City is not entirely in with Colorado; we first [in an epic attempt at Seeing the West] will head north to Yellowstone Nat’l Park, down through Zion national Park, spend a few days at the Grand Canyon, pass through Santa Fe and take advantage of my friends staying in town for the summer, and then head east, bringing me in a loop back to the beginning of my post.
I used to live in Springfield. It’s a great town, but doesn’t have a lot of tourist attractions. The best, I think, is Fantastic Caverns. This is an impressive and beautiful cave tour. You ride through the caverns on a tram.
If bowling is your thing, the National Hall Of Fame for it is right by Busch Stadium in St. Louis. I’ve heard that, since I’ve been there in the mid-nineties, it now shares space with the Cardinals HoF, so I don’t know if this detracts from the experience.
The downtown area is Oklahoma City is, well, pleasant enough in parts. There’s Crystal Bridge, a nice horticultural exhibit with a rainforest bent, and there’s Bricktown with the canal (think West End in Dallas, the very inspiration for the canal in San Antonio, etc.), but I don’t know how useful that is.
There’s plenty to do in St. Louis no matter what you’re interested in. Forest Park, one of the nation’s largest urban parks, includes the St. Louis Zoo, Missouri History Museum, St. Louis Art Museum and the St. Louis Science Center. If you want to hang out with the hip college kids from Washington University, head to the University City Loop. It has a great collection of restaurants, bars and music shops. There’s also a lot of great little neighborhoods in the city, such as the Italian neighborhood called “The Hill” and an area on the southeast area of Tower Grove Park that’s centered on South Grand and Arsenal. Plus, there’s lots to do in the suburbs. If nothing else, be sure to check out City Museum, a wonderfully quirky museum with a little bit of everything. Feel free to e-mail me if you need any other ideas.
The Bombing Memorial is a must-see - it is beautifully done. I recommend going at night (the museum part won’t be open, though), it is very peaceful. You don’t need to worry about security, there is always someone patroling.
I’ve never been to the Cowboy Hall of Fame (it’s called something else now, isn’t it?), but if the Old West is your thing, you’d enjoy it.
Bricktown (next to Downtown) can be enjoyable. Lots of good restaurants, a huge movie theater, a canal to walk, the obligatory nightclubs and bars. Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar may be open by the time you come through as well. Here’s the webpage for Bricktown.