Known as the “Gateway to the West,” St. Louis has been welcoming travelers since the area was the starting point for early explorations of Lewis and Clark. As the east headed west, St. Louis was a geographic hub; the last stop for pioneers, trappers and Gold Rush fortune seekers. Saloons and general supply stores flourished. After the Civil War, the city again thrived. In 1904 the Louisiana Purchase Exposition brought over 20 million to St. Louis. Backed by St. Louis, Charles Lindbergh flew from Chicago to St. Louis with the first air mail and crossed the Atlantic in “The Spirit of St. Louis.” Everyone seemed to be saying, “Meet Me in St. Louis.” Today, visitors still flock to St. Louis to explore the city’s rich heritage and diverse attractions. TravelSmart consumer travel newsletter named St. Louis one of its “10 Safest, Culturally Most Fascinating Cities in the U.S.”
Three general aviation airports - Spirit of St. Louis Airport, St. Louis Downtown Airport and St. Louis Regional Airport - serve the metropolitan area and fly to over 80 cities a day. Amtrak provides daily service and St. Louis transportation is provided by Metrolink light rail. Thirty-seven stations offer service from the airport to downtown and outlying areas, including Scott AFB in Illinois. Getting around St. Louis is easy with Metrolink and Metrobus routes.
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