City Guide: Saint Louis

     St. Louis is distilled with Americana. Beer, bowling and baseball are some of the top attractions, but history and culture also ride high. start with, from

     That sophistication can be seen in the array of cocktails born in the city, from Planter's Punch, Martini, Bloody Mary and Tom Collins – all originated in St Louis.

     The salty taste of the Bloody Mary was first discovered at St Louis hotel, the Planter's House. You can sample the iconic drink the way it was intended if you find something for you from the variety of hotel offers listed at Booked.net. From cheap hotels in St. Louis to those abundant with luxuries all available with maps, photos and secure forms at Booked.net.

     Just beware of hangovers lest they cloud your impression of St Louis, where drinks aren’t the only invention for your tastebuds. In 1890, a St Louis physician encouraged the owner of a food products company, to process and package ground peanut paste as a nutritious protein substitute for people who had bad teeth and were unable to chew meat. Thus peanut butter was born. Peanut butter on bread may be  a good way to start your day, before sightseeing. Attractions include;

  - Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, Roman Catholic church that contains the most mosaic art in the world

  - Gateway Arch, the nation's tallest man-made monument

  - Eads Bridge, the longest bridge in the world and the first to cross the Mississippi

  - Forest Park, the United States’ largest city parks with 1,293 acres

  - Missouri Botanical Garden, a place to relax in green surrounding

     This is only a small sample of the places to see and visit in St. Louis – a ''Gateway to the West''. Initially, the area of the city was a place to jump off for Lewis and Clark on their expedition. They stopped only for provisions, but discovered this land for settlers. In a few years the city became a manufacturing center for wagons and guns.  Soon it arose as a center for finance and government and its growth became especially intense when the 1904 World's Fair was hosted.

     Today this is a city with a population of 354,620 residents that occupy a total area of 66.2sqmiles of St. Louis. Today St. Louis has changed specializations - from the gun industry it moved to automobile production that makes it the largest producer of American automobiles in the early part of the 20th century.

     You can see the entire St. Louis from its industry to attractions easily on your trip there. Be sure that you will have a warm welcome in a hotel you choose with a chocolate on a pillow waiting for you on arrival. In fact, this tradition begins here when actor Cary Grant stayed at the Mayfair and used chocolate to woo a woman. You can experience this much talked-about city's hospitality on your own with Booked.net – all hotels at the lowest possible rates.