https://youtu.be/Aw5Bs6uwLnQ
One of the great things about a cross-country drive is exploring, day after day, new states and cities for the first time. For us, this was particularly true in St. Louis. After the rush of departure and familiar cities like Boston, Massachusetts and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the packed morning at the BMW Team RLL shop in Columbus, Ohio, it was a different experience to spend our rest day exploring a new city that we’d heard so much about, but never visited.
Arrival into St. Louis is impressive. From the east, you cross the Mississippi (our first time doing so by car), and are greeted by the famous Gateway Arch (our Michelin travel guide points out that the famous arch is the tallest man-made monument in the country, and after seeing it in person, this is no surprise), and the formidable skyline of St. Louis’ downtown. Among those buildings on the river is our Crowne Plaza hotel—and after a seven hour drive, the convenience of a hotel right in the heart of the downtown and the painless late-night check-in process was most welcome. We went about resetting equipment, charging batteries, and getting some sleep.
St. Louis is an interesting city, with gems tucked away everywhere. We found excellent coffee shops, an incredible donut shop, and the stunningly massive, 1,371-acre Forest Park, where the ever-more-charming 640i Convertible cruised past a series of exquisite museums, theaters, and surprising hundred-mile views.
We also were invited to meet up with some members of the local BMW CCA Chapter, the St. Louis BMW Club, who were hosting an evening social event with some members from the local Audi club. It was great to meet up, talk cars, driving events, and Street Survival, give a tour of the car, and tell stories about the history of BMW in St. Louis.
Speaking of the car, we stopped by in the morning at the awesome Autohaus BMW of St. Louis, a recommendation of a fellow club member. While we were there, we checked out the showroom, lusted over a slick M6 Gran Coupe, and chatted with some owners about the Tour.
Our St. Louis day was quiet, but the itch to get back on the road is back in force. Today we’re heading to Oklahoma City, following our Michelin travel guides to a couple spots on Route 66, and exploring the Midwest further. We can’t wait to find out what’s in store on the road ahead. —David Rose
