4 posts tagged “st. louis”
St. Louis offers some of the best seasonal lights displays in the country, all of which are within convenient driving distance from the downtown area. So make a jug of hot cocoa, pile the family in the Ford Flex, or the economical Ford Focus wagon, and hit the road in search of seasonal delights.
Wild Lights at the St. Louis Zoo
Some people don't think of the St. Louis Zoo as a place to go in the winter months, but during the holiday season, the Zoo hosts an annual event called "Wild Lights." The lights run from the South Gate entrance of the Zoo past the Lakeside Café up to the Mary Ann Lee Conservation Carousel, a ride which contains hand-carved representations of protected and endangered species. Visitors also can view animal light sculptures at the Emerson's Children's Zoo, which is located within the Zoo complex.
Wild Lights at the St. Louis Zoo is open nightly from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., December 7 through December 30 (Wild Lights will be closed on December 24 and 25).
The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows: Way of Lights (Belleville, Illinois)
Each year, St. Louis residents make the drive into Illinois to view the Way of Lights, an annual event that features indoor and outdoor activities at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows. Using over a million lights, this display tells the story of Mary and Joseph's long journey to Bethlehem from November 15 through January 6, 2008. Best viewed in your warm Ford Vehicle, the Way of Lights is free to the public, but donations will be accepted to support the charitable works of the Shrine.
In addition to the free Children's Village, the Shrine also has a laser show this year that tells the Nativity story through light and sound.
Winter Wonderland at Tilles Park
Preparing for its 22nd year of operation, the Winter Wonderland at Tilles Park in St. Louis County features one of the most impressive displays of lights in the area. Visitors can use their own vehicle to see the display or reserve a horse-drawn carriage through Metrotix. On Saturday evening, only carriage rides are permitted within the park. The Winter Wonderland is open Wednesday, November 21 (the day before Thanksgiving) through Tuesday, January 1 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., but the display is closed Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
Hopefully this holiday season will find you merry and bright. As you visit the local light displays, please buckle up and drive safely.
Whether you’re a lifelong resident or just driving through St. Louis in your Ford car or truck, there are plenty of interesting things to do while you’re here. St. Louis isn’t just about taking the ride to the top of the Gateway Arch, where you’ll tower 630 feet above the Mississippi River; there are plenty of other things to do and see.
Here are just a few things to pass the time while in St. Louis:
• Visit free attractions in St. Louis, such as the Missouri History Museum, Grant’s Farm, the Science Center, the Zoo, Anheiser-Busch Brewery, and the Art Museum.
• Take in a sporting event. Depending on the time of year, you might be able to watch the Cardinals play Major League Baseball, cheer on the National Football League’s Rams, or watch Hockey’s St. Louis Blues.
• Retrace the footsteps of Lewis & Clark. There are several historical sites inside of St. Louis connected to the pair of explorers.
• Stop and smell the flowers at the Missouri Botanical Garden. This is one of the world’s highest-rated public gardens, and truly a sight to behold.
• Test your luck at a casino. There are six casinos in the St. Louis area.
• Listen to live blues at one of the dozens of taverns and clubs that regularly feature St. Louis’ unique brand of blues music.
• Experience the arts at The Sheldon Concert Hall, Ballroom & Art Galleries. You can also check out Laumeier Sculpture Park, the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts, and the Contemporary Art Museum.
• Soothe your hunger at one of the literally hundreds of restaurants in St. Louis.
• Teach your children and learn something yourself at the Challenger Learning Center or the Science Center’s Space Sciences Center.
• Hang out with the animals at the St. Louis Zoo, the World Bird Sanctuary, Purina Farms, and the Wild Canid Survival Center.
• Check out your Flourissant, MO Ford dealer to find the perfect Ford to fit your lifestyle.
Is there a more perfect way to travel than being behind the wheel of your new Ford truck? No, of course not. But sometimes you want to see the world from a different view and get some exercise and fresh air in at the same time. For you, St. Louis this summer has just the ticket.
For the fortieth straight year, Missourians are getting together for the Moonlight Ramble, a mysterious and legendary bike ride that takes riders through all the best stops in St. Louis. Every year this celebrated bike ride starts on the Saturday closest to the full moon, and you don’t get on the bikes until after midnight. The route is never disclosed in advance, and the ride is shrouded in secrecy. This event is a favorite among seasoned bike riders and newbies alike, and there are several who have ridden the course every year since the event’s inception.
This annual event attracts more than 10,000 riders all wearing commemorative t-shirts that naturally glow in the dark. There’s both a 10 mile and 20 mile option so everybody gets just the right amount of riding in. The event both begins and ends near Soldier’s Memorial Plaza at Market Street, and with 10,000 riders, you’ll find out where to go quickly enough.
Before the event, make sure to check out the entertainment offered by the radio sponsor and take a peek around vendor’s village. Local bike shops will be on site to offer quick repairs and parts at normal shop prices. All the money raised for the event goes to support local community projects.
If you want to spend some quality time with
the cyclist in your life, pack up the bikes in the back of your new Ford vehicle and head on over for the bike ride of your life. If you don't have a Ford vehicle, stop by your Ellisville area Ford dealer today.
While beer and driving don’t go hand in hand, there’s not much that’s more American than new Ford trucks and Budweiser. (Well, maybe apple pie.) If you’re looking for something to do in St. Louis this summer or you’ve got relatives coming in from out of town, think about taking your gang on a tour of the Anheuser Busch factory.
Surprisingly enough, a tour of the Budweiser and Anheuser Busch factories has something for almost anyone -- beer lovers, for sure, but tourists and even history buffs will be fascinated by what the factory has to offer. One of the most interesting things about the company’s history is their activities during Prohibition. To stay solvent -- and not rely on bootlegging -- they made more than 25 products that had nothing to do with alcohol, from ice cream and soda all the way to truck bodies! Find out about all this and more while taking an amble through the Repeal of Prohibition exhibit.
The Budweiser factory is about a lot more than just beer. You can see and learn about historical architecture, meet the famous Budweiser Clydesdales in their signature stables and learn about the advanced, state of the art brewing technologies that make Budweiser known worldwide.
At the end of your tour you’ll end up in the Hospitality Room where you can sample the whole range of Anheuser Busch products and maybe choose what you’ll be having with your steak tonight. Keep in mind that while the tour is open to visitors of all ages, you have to be over 21 to sample and obviously the samplers shouldn’t be the ones driving home.
When you’re done, grab some beer and bring
it back for a barbecue. You can fit a lot of Budweiser in the bed of a new Ford
truck. If you don't have a Ford truck yet, stop by your St. Louis area Ford dealer today!