I visit St. Louis often, and I plan on moving to St. Louis upon graduation from college; but besides a trip to the East St. Louis side of the Mississippi River for a scenic view of Downtown, I can't ever recall spending any time in the Metro East.

I know the names of most towns over there, and I know small tidbits of information based off of pictures and hear-say, but nothing more. I get the impression that most of the cities over there are old and rural. I'll be in St. Louis at some point in early January, and I'm hoping to actually set aside some time to visit the Illinois side of St. Louis, assuming the weather isn't too bad.

So, what is there to do in the Metro East?

I've heard in recent years that the Metro East is growing at a faster pace than the areas in Missouri. Is this is so, are there any exciting developments or downtowns in the Metro East?

I've heard okay things about Belleville.

Would you say Gallagher's is better than Hodak's?

I love me some Hodak's.

Then I'm going to have to check this place out. It sounds amazing.

Sounds like the Metro East has, for the most part, a nice mix of small midwestern towns.

Is that side of St. Louis growing as quickly as I've heard? I can't find a single town over 45,000 in population.

I'd love to see the Illinois side of St. Louis grow and flourish like the surrounding areas in the Atlanta region have, but I don't know if it'll happen anytime soon.

The Illinois side of St. Louis is definitely important to the St. Louis Metro, but I don't believe it's as important as the Kansas side of Kansas City is to the Kansas City Metro.

I'd like to see it become that way, but I'm not sure those in Illinois do.

Split-duty China hub operations at Lambert and Mid-America may be the one thing that can finally leave this region fully understanding and realizing its potential. It may also be the one thing that can spark true growth on both sides of river simultaneously.

Isn't Shiloh (along I-64 toward Scott AFB) booming now? Everytime I drive through, there is a ton of new construction.

Shiloh had 7,643 residents in the year 2000, and a 2005 estimate claims they have more than 11,000 residents.

If development continued at that same pace, they'd be in the range of 14,500-15,000 for 2010/2011.

Another must see not yet mentioned is Cahokia Mounds, which is the most underappreciated asset in the entire StL region. Downtown Edwardsville is also nice.

I'll second the trip to Pere Marquette park - It's a great day trip that I've made many times. Any time's a good time to go, but it's an especially beautiful drive in the fall when the leaves turn.

I've actually never been to Fast Eddie's, despite being raised in the STL area - something I hope to remedy soon. But I can vouch for Alton as a destination. I'd highly recommend exploring around town; there's some excellent small-town architecture there. Work your way up on top of the bluffs on the east end of town and you'll see beautiful homes with great river views. When you're finished, head northeast along the Great River Road.

On your way, just outside of Alton, the painting of the Piasa Bird is worth at least a brief stop.

Next, stop at Elsah, a tiny little village tucked into a valley right off the river road. The whole village is stuck in a 19th-century time warp, and many of the homes and businesses predate the civil war.

Grafton's main street is next along the way and is directly on the River Road. It's a quaint collection of shops and attractions. It's been a while since I've been there, but you might check out the Fin Inn, a self-proclaimed "aquarium restaurant" that has fish tanks full of local aquatic wildlife/cuisine at the tables and around the restaurant.

When you finally arrive at Pere Marquette State Park, be sure to check out the lodge at the park's entrance. From there, take the road up to the bluffs where you'll find observation points with Panoramic views of the Mississippi river valley and the flats between the Mississippi, Illinois, and Missouri rivers. If you enjoy hiking, there are great trails here as well (but time-wise, that will probably preclude you from following the rest of my trip below...)

On your way back to St. Louis, take the free Brussels Ferry across the Illinois river and stop for an old family-style dinner at the Wittmond Hotel in Brussels, IL. "Family-style" food means they serve everyone the same meal - there are no choices on the menu other than drinks; but the food is plentiful and friggin' awesome.

After dinner at the Wittmond, head south and take the Golden Eagle ferry back to MO. Turn right on State Highway B, then left onto State Highway C and that will route you through old-town St. Peters and end up at Mid Rivers Mall Drive, where you can take I-70 back into the city.

^ That's my usual route, and it takes you through some beautiful land. The Brussels/Golden Eagle/pre-St. Peters area is *very* rural, but you're still only a few miles away from (suburban, anyway) civilization. I highly recommend if if you've got a full day to blow.

-RBB

^^What a comprehensive list! I appreciate it. I've clicked all the links and I truly think this sounds like a great time.

I said earlier in this thread that from what I'd been told, the Metro East sounded like a nice collection of small Midwestern towns. Your post furthers my belief in that, and I would definitely love to visit these areas.

When I head over there, I'll be sure to use your itinerary. I've got nothing else to use as a guide for a full-day over there!

Again, thank you.

RBB, excellent itenary. I'll also add though that there are other excellent attractions along the Great River Road, including the Lewis and Clark historic site and new Confluence observation tower (both south of Alton in Hartford) and the Melvin Price Lock and Dam/ National Great Rivers Museum.

When you add in the attractions on the Missouri side, such as Columbia Bottoms, Fort Bellefontaine, and of course the bi-state Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, a proper "staycation" of the Confluence can easily last 2-3 days.

The suggestions in this thread have been great.

Do you see more attractions arising in the Metro East as it continue to grow, or do you see it slowing losing its flavor and becoming a giant suburb to St. Louis?

I'm sure there are mixed feelings on that. Growth is great, but losing historic relevance isn't.

It'd be nice to see them preserve the historical aspects of each town as the surrounding community grows.