The Museum

Other Attractions at Gateway Arch National Park

Gateway Arch National Park Grounds

As I mentioned in the opening, my one year old and I spent a lot of time on the National Park Grounds especially from the hours of 5:30am to 7:30am. It was just beautiful. We walked the whole park, through the Old Cathedral and down to the Riverfront. We saw countless walkers and joggers. I enjoyed my Starbucks coffee. And my son could babble as loud as he wanted. I can’t emphasize enough how much I enjoyed these peaceful mornings.

The whole park is stroller friendly, and you can reach the Riverfront from the backside. If you do want to go down to the river, the walk there will be relatively easy, but the walk back up will force you to use those muscles. It is all paved though, and if you take it slow, almost everyone can access the whole park.

The Old Cathedral (aka: Basilica of St. Louis) is open from 6:30am to 2:00pm, perfect hours for a one year old who gets up early. It’s the first cathedral west of the Mississippi (and you can read why it’s no longer a Cathedral when you visit). It’s beautiful and right in the shadow of the Arch. It was neat to read the small plaque in front of the church. Just be aware, it is a church that still holds mass, so be courteous when stopping in to see it.

Below are a number of pictures from our morning walks.

Summary: A beautiful, powerful, moving place

We’ve been to a number of National Parks (and still have so many more on our bucket list!) and they all have their unique feel. With this National Park being right in the middle of a large city, within walking distance of many hotels, it is truly special. There is so much left for our family to do here and it is on our list to return to in the near future.