First time riding a trail in Illinois. When I researched the many trails around Edwardsville this…read moreone was about the mileage I wanted to ride. It's a little over 24 miles out and back from Glen Carbon to Marine. I was really impressed by this paved trail. It is a very pretty trail with lots of wooden miles, several bridges over creeks, and some great views when it opens up to vast farmland. The trail is well maintained. The pavement is pretty smooth for the most part. There are no drastic elevation changes so I'd consider the difficulty level to be easy. I look forward to riding more of this trail system soon.

For nearly 25 years I've been using this trail for walking and biking. There's nothing like it,…read moreeven though there are now similar trails around the area. Its part-history, part-recreational, part-exercise for me. History: this once served as the Illinois Central Railroad line, which was defunct for a long time before it became one of the nations first 'rails-to-trails' projects. There were historical markers along the trail that talked about the village of Glen Carbon's mining history, but I think they removed them due to numerous episodes of vandalism. The trail was a rocky, unpaved trail for a long time, until last year (2015) when the whole RJF bike trail was completely paved. The trail itself has a history, as it has been added on to (extending from Old Troy Road to Kuhn Station one year, and later from Kuhn Station to the village of Marine), and it has connected to other bikeways as well. Signs have also been added, but the mile markers are now gone. The trail has always been a part of the community and stands out as a piece of Glen Carbon history. So bring your bikes, or your energy to run, jog and/or walk!

Visited on weekend celebrating the beginning of the expedition. The museum has a vast amount of…read moreinformation about the trip, supplies, people involved, readying for journey. This weekend had reenactors outside showing early 19th century crafts. Fun for all and great learning experience.

We stopped by on a whim when visiting the in-laws. It happened to be the anniversary & there were…read moreperiod actors interacting that were set up throughout, with assorted stations. This was both cool & informative. There was no entry fee, always a plus. The info desk had a guest book. It appeared most visitors who signed were from Illinois. The movie wasn't playing during our visit, I'm not sure if there was a mechanical issue or if it was because of the special celebration. So, I can't speak on it. It's smaller than I expected, yet very interesting & I did learn a few new details. We walked out to the cabins/fort & they were all locked with some of them having the roofs/walls collapsed. Perhaps an entry fee is in order for maintenance/upkeep. Overall, worth a stop, especially for those interested in the expedition.

You will find this nice sculpture on the Mississippi Riverfront, in St Louis, just behind the…read moreGateway Arch. It is the work of Harry Weber who completed the piece, which is made of bronze and sits 22 feet tall, in 2006 The 3.5 ton sculpture depicts explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and their Newfoundland dog, Seaman. It is owned by the city of St Louis and was commissioned by the Greater St. Louis Community Foundation to commemorate the bicentennial of the explorers' return September 1806. According to Weber, it "took seven months of long hours to complete the structure in clay, make molds and reassemble it like a giant jigsaw puzzle. It is a nice sculpture and Weber does a great job encapsulating Lewis and Clark's feeling of accomplishment, sacrifice and pride. It is very detailed and well done. The viewer can really connect to the piece. The sculpture is designated a national Lewis and Clark site by the US Park Service and spending on how high the Mississippi River gets, sometimes the statue is submerged in the river. In 2014, the statue was removed and restored to repair damage it had received from the flood. In 2016, the statue was returned to the riverfront to a location slightly south and about 17 feet higher than before. Before it was moved, during a flood situation, it would look like the duo were sailing into shore Anyway, as with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 10 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. I would recommend checking out the Gateway Arch and Park while visiting this sculpture.

I was here for a wedding. The cathedral is beautiful, old world elegance. Large windows letting a…read moretremendous amount of light in. The service was excellent and the priest was kind, gentle and funny with the bride and groom. It was a delightful wedding.

VO cathedral is a nice thing to check out. We were exploring St. Louis we walk around and saw how…read moremuch cool sites we took a bunch of pictures of this old cathedral. I thought it was really neat.

I enjoy visiting Kiener plaza for different event they host throughout the year. Lots of photo…read moreopportunities if you are in need of a good spot for them. Keep an eye on this park to see what kinds of events they have. Concerts, rallies, yoga, markets, winterfest, etc. Always something fun to experience. Parking around Kiener plaza is mostly street parking, but I have been able to find a spot pretty easily whenever I visit even if I have to walk 2-3 blocks - no biggie.

I went here for a Friday night concert over the summer. It was very relaxing and entertaining all…read morein one. I forgot the name of the artist, but her performance along with the live band was so captivating. This place gives date night, solo date, and family trip all at the same time. I love events such as these. Also, I know downtown parking usually isn't the best. However, because of the time and people getting off work to head home, parking was quite easy to find. I was able to park within reasonable walking distance near the Hooters across the street.

Beware!!! Google maps will take you to the wrong location! I'm on your side Apple Maps, you never…read moredo me wrong! From the Vandalia State House, take 185/40 (N. Kennedy Blvd) north, turn left/west on W. Randolph Street, then right/north on N. Perkin's Street one block to W. St Clair Street. Turn left and it's up on the little hill on your right/north side. I absolutely love state capitals, which would lead me to enjoy past state capitals. I had been in rural Illinois a few times and always wondered what Vandalia had to offer being that it was second Illinois Capitol City (an oldest one still existing, unlike Kaskaskia which is now under water). I followed Vandalia's tourist page to the few landmarks that existed. One was what is called "Little Brick House". It's an n example of simple Italianate architecture that has been preserved by the Vandalia Historical Society. It is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and is thought to have been constructed in the mid 1800's. According to the website, "Josephine Burtschi, local artist and historian, was born in this house. In 1956 she purchased the house and started restoring it to its original appearance. Over the years, the Little Brick House has been renovated and furnished with period pieces, antiques, and early Vandalia artifacts. Contained within the six rooms are furniture, china, engravings and books acquired from descendants of state officers, legislators and the Ferdinand Ernst Colony who lived in Vandalia when it served as capital. The library, called the Berry-Hall room, pays tribute to James William Berry, the first talented artist of Illinois, and to Judge James Hall who established Vandalia as the first literary center west of Cincinnati. (http://www.vandaliaillinois.com/littlebrickhouse.html)" There's a little history for ya!

Whether you're a tourist or a local, the arch never gets old. Make sure you book your tickets in…read moreadvance because they sell out pretty fast. The tram ride up is one of the most unique experiences. It's weird but also a cool sensation where you're moving sideways and upward at the same time, around 3 mph. The ride down feels slightly faster for some reason. Each tram fits a maximum of 5 people (or 6 with a baby in lap), so it is a snug little pod. If you or someone in your group has claustrophobia, I wouldn't let it stop you. Some of my friends have mild claustrophobia and they were fine. The tour guides while you're waiting in line are enthusiastic and keep things fun. I appreciated them. Once you get to the top, you have about 8 to 10 minutes to take in the view through these little windows that kind of make you feel like you're looking out of a plane. The view of the river is nice and you can spot planes and ships from up there. While you're waiting for your time slot or even after, there's a really nice Missouri history museum section at the entrance worth browsing through. Don't skip the gift shop, it's worth a quick stop. The grounds under the arch are a full park, so it's a great excuse to just be outside and enjoy the space. Perfect for families, friends, or anyone who wants a fun and easy way to spend some time in the city.

Had the best time with my youngest travel companion!! Teaching the next generation of explorers…read more The entire staff was wonderful even as I almost got tackled by security because I didn't realize my eye glass cleaning wipes kept kicking off the alarm. Keep that in mind, totally empty your pockets to avoid an embarrassment. Loved the tiny tram ride to the top and back down again. The museum under the park is amazing and well done. The gift shop is well appointed and prices aren't too bad at all. The cafe also isn't too bad. Just watch your receipts. I got over charged and heard it's happened fairly recently with a few other people. Will certainly come back again and explore some more.