St. Louis

If all you know about St. Louis is the Gateway Arch, you're in for a pleasant surprise. This is the city that spawned the blues and the ice cream cone, and is home to the world's largest brewery, Anheuser-Busch. Founded on the banks of the Mississippi River as a fur-trading town, St. Louis was the last major stop for travelers heading West. With a job at Macy's Midwest, you'll see why St. Louis is still the "gateway" of retail.

City Snapshot. Encompassing counties in Missouri and across the Mississippi River in Illinois, Greater St. Louis is the 18th largest metropolitan area in the U.S. with a population of about 2.8 million.

Places to Live. Distinct neighborhoods, each with their own style and flavor, define St. Louis. From traditional and historical to posh and cultural to eclectic and trendy, this city has a place for everyone. And the Metrolink light rail system makes commuting easy.

Places to Relax. Forest Park - built for the 1904 World's Fair and larger than Central Park - is the city's activity center during warm months. The Hill, a decidedly Italian neighborhood, offers tantalizing food and pick-up bocce ball games. Each neighborhood has its own bars and clubs. But check out the historic Soulard neighborhood for its great nightlife, bars and restaurants, plus a huge open-air market and the nation's second biggest Mardis Gras celebration. Or hit Laclede's Landing for its hip bars, restaurants and a happening music scene.

Major Attractions. Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Park - a 91-acre national park featuring the Gateway Arch. Blueberry Hill music attraction; St. Louis Zoo; St. Louis Art Museum; Jewel Box Conservatory; St. Louis Science Center; Union Station - a renovated train station with hundreds of shops and restaurants beneath 65-foot ceilings.

Pro Sports. Cardinals (baseball), Rams (football), Blues (hockey).

Places to Get Away. No need to go far. The Missouri Botanical Gardens hosts a beautiful collection of flowering plants, shrubs and trees plus the largest traditional Japanese garden in North America. Laumeier Sculpture Park is an outdoor sculpture garden amid 98 acres of parks and trails. Hiking and biking trails abound along the Mississippi River, including the Katy Trail offering more than 35 miles of breathtaking displays of nature and the Chain of Rocks Bridge, the world's longest pedestrian span.

More Info. For more information about life in St. Louis, go to www.stlouis.missouri.org or stlouis.citysearch.com