One third of the Midwestern trio (Detroit, Chicago and St. Louis) that lead the great migration from the deep southern states through its lakes and rivers, continues to flood our souls with culture, history and personality.
Borrowing from the 1944 classic musical, “Meet Me in St. Louis,” which tells the story of four sisters on the cusp of the 1904 St Louis World Fair, is the perfect metaphor of this city’s pioneering and progressive innovation.
St. Louis and its surrounding areas was the first stop as our ancestors journeyed North on their trek to freedom.
Lulled by the longest river in the US, the ever-flowing Mississippi River, St. Louis was closer to ‘home’ than the cities of Chicago and Detroit. It was love at first sight for those who decided to plant roots in the ‘Show Me’ state.
St. Louis shows us what it’s made of, how it gets down and what to expect through all that it offers. Meet me at one of the cities bustling black-owned hot spots or tag along as I explore the city’s great outdoors with the National Parks Service.
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DO + SEE
If you’re adventurous, the National Parks Service has a few treasures to check out in the St. Louis area. Over 90 miles of springs, lakes, caves, hiking, tubing, canoeing, fishing and wild life activities are available, and The Lake of the Ozarks is a must-see! A great destination for the entire family to enjoy, the springs are crystal-clear during peak season, which starts May 25th and continues through November 1st. You can literally hike 20 miles north in the park and turn around and tube all the way down the falls, taking in all its beauty. It’s cheap and cheerful with no entry fee to Missouri’s 1st national park.
Photo Credit: National Park Service
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Round Spring Cave
The star of the story is Round Spring Cave. The hundred plus year old cave is not only home to some amazingly beautiful formations, but the cave most likely served as safety for enslaved Africans seeking their freedom (Missouri is a stop on the underground railroad). This silent beauty is a must-see!
You can enjoy the park as a day trip visiting one or two highlights or as an overnight stay given its size and the amount of activities available to visitors. It’s a 3-hour drive from the city of St. Louis. There are a variety of lodging options, from traditional campsites to luxury cabins at Echo Bluff where you can stay in a 3-bedroom cabin ranging from $129 to $220 per night.
“The National Park Service understands that African Americans only represent about seven percent of park visitation. We are creating opportunities for people of color to get outdoors and explore the places of adventure, tranquility and rejuvenation with the Find Your Park campaign. The National Park Service tells a collection of stories in over 400 natural and cultural sites across the country, these sites include stories such as Harriet Tubman, the Tuskegee Airmen, Carter G. Woodson and Mary McCloud Bethune” says, African American Park Ranger, Nichole D. McHenry, Relevancy, Diversity and Inclusion Program Manager: Midwest Regional Office.
Photo Credit: National Park Service
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Old Courthouse Dred Scott
On the park grounds, directly across from the Gateway Arch is the Old Courthouse, listed as a stop on the infamous Underground Railroad. Here is where the Dred Scott case was heard in 1857 and then later tried in the Supreme Court. Inside of the courthouse lives an exhibition of the case and the life of Dred and Harriet Scott as well as a depiction of life for the enslaved Africans seeking their freedom and the newly freedmen living in the St. Louis area.
Photo Credit: National Park Service
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EXPERIENCE
To experience melanin magic, visit: The Griot Museum of Black History, 14th Street Artists Gallery, Sweet Art, St. Louis Walk of Fame, The Delmar Loop is an additional highlight, just in case.
EAT
The St. Louis food scene is like no other, options range from the best buffalo fish to down home Soul Food and the world renowned St. Louis style bbq, where there just a bit more sauce per rib than the average bbq. Try: St. Louis Q, Drake’s Place, and Sweetie Pie’s Upper Crust.
STAY
Black-owned Central West End Bed & Breakfast is in the heart of the bustling Central West End neighborhood, home to sidewalk cafes, Asian fusion restaurants, unique boutiques and antique shops. You’ll be just minutes away from Forest Park, where you can enjoy the St. Louis Museum and the world famous St. Louis Zoo.
When was the last time you and your family sat around the table together? And no, holidays and restaurant dining don’t count! Whether it was last night, or it’s been a while, it’s time to take back dinner and making memories at every meal.
Let’s face it, family meals are more than just food. It’s a time to connect with each other and share your lives. Conversation (and laughter!) around the table build relationships and family unity—plus, when we eat together, we tend to make healthier choices than when we just garb and go!
Check out our four tips to transform mealtimes into family moments.
Plan Ahead. Get everyone excited by involving them in the dinner planning process. Decide together what you want to make—maybe you have a family recipe you all love or maybe you saw a cooking show that served up something that you really want to try. Whatever recipe you choose, shop for ingredients and invite everyone into the kitchen to get creative. Kids will enjoy learning to cook alongside you, plus picky eaters are inclined to try new dishes if they had a hand in making them!
Set the Table. Even the littlest kitchen helpers can set a great table for dinner. Once you show them how to do it, they can do it independently. This will make them feel like they are contributing to the meal and lay the foundation for chores in the future. And if you’re looking for some fun, new ways to create a table you’ll all love, check out these ideas to set the scene for a yummy meal together.
Ditch the Devices. Promote meaningful moments and conversations by turning off the television, cell phones, cell phones, computers, and iPads. When you reduce the outside noise and competition from these devices, you can listen to one another—and maybe even laugh more. Simply by stashing away electronics, you can show your whole family how valuable they are to you.
Play Rose & Thorn. After everyone settles in, why not go around and share a little about your day. A great way to do this is to play Rose & Thorn. Each person tells the table about something great that happened (the rose) and something not-so-great that happened (the thorn). Celebrating the rose is a wonderful way to begin a gratitude practice while the thorn helps children develop empathy and understanding and use critical thinking, as they help each other discover solutions to the day’s problems.