By Sandra Marsian
Former Vice President, Travel, Marketing & Membership for AAA Pioneer Valley
There is nothing like the smell of race gas in the morning. My husband, Ian, believes this wholeheartedly. So much so that he will use race gas in lawn equipment, just to make yard work more enjoyable. When I suggested we take a trip to visit my sister Brenda and her family to see their new home in St. Louis, my husband announced that the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals take place just 15 minutes from St. Louis at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois.
Got to love it when a plan comes together. Ian insisted that everyone must experience a professional drag race at least once in their lifetime — and who were we to disagree? My sister also made sure we hit the highlights of the city, acting as our personal guide throughout our stay.
The breathtaking Basilica
An unexpected highlight of our city tour included the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, designed with a Romanesque exterior and a Byzantine interior, completed in 1914 and designated as a basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1997. Having seen a plethora of churches on our travels, this basilica, with its intricate mosaics featuring over 41 million glass pieces covering nearly 83,000 square feet, rivaled the most famous churches in Europe.
Exploring the Arch
At the mention of the city of St. Louis, most of us envision the iconic Gateway Arch. We first caught a glimpse of this glimmering, curvaceous 630-foot stainless steel work of art as we made our drive from the airport into the city. As wide as it is tall, the arch was designed in 1947 by Eero Saarinen and completed in 1965. The world’s tallest man-made arch honors Thomas Jefferson and all those American pioneers who first adventured west, along the great Mississippi.
The site transitioned to Gateway Arch National Park in 2018 following an injection of $380 million and a significant expansion of both the structure and the over 90 acres that surround both the park and the Mississippi River.
The Arch is not just a pretty face, as she has a lot going on inside. I have always wanted to take the vertical tram ride within the arch to the observation apex, so the three of us boarded the very small cage-like carousel for the four-minute experience. Once there, we peeked through the small windows to glimpse the Illinois and Missouri skylines. Afterward we went underground to peruse the museum featuring the westward expansion movement, local Native American heritage and construction of this marvel.
Taste-testing the BBQ
One thing we insisted on was grabbing some St. Louis BBQ and it did not disappoint. The first place we hoped to eat had lines so long we decided to hit option number two, chowing down at Salt n Smoke.
The deliciously smoky smell hit us as we entered the establishment, immediately setting our tastebuds to drool mode. Brisket, ribs, baked beans, pulled pork, mac and cheese — and let us not forget the great equalizer, corn bread. My favorite are the burnt ends but even if you are vegan, prefer fish or just want a healthy salad this restaurant has you covered. I opted for the brisket, beans, cornbread and Ian even shared his cheesy mac. All of it was juicy, flavorful and tasty, living up to the standard expected of St. Louis BBQ.
A festival to remember
Evolution Festival at Forest Park filled our evenings with music by headliners such as Lenny Kravitz, Sublime, TLC, Public Enemy and Sam Fender. With multiple stages scattered across the park you could walk from one performance to the next based on your preferences. Onsite food and beverage vendors, crafters and artisans enabled us to shop, eat and get our groove on simultaneously. Personally, that is my idea of a good time.
And … the races
The morning of the races, Ian was like a little kid on Christmas morning, grinning from ear to ear. We showed up early to check out the pit, meeting the racers and watching the crew work on the vehicles. Adding to our excitement, my nephew, his gal pal and my sister and brother-in-law joined us for the heart pounding races featuring Top Fuel Dragster, Nitro Funny Car, Pro Mod, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle. My husband was right! The races were earth-shaking. Our heads were on a swivel trying to keep our eyes on vehicles going from zero to 330 mph in as little as 1,000 feet in under four seconds.
At 150 decibels, ear plugs were a must and added to what felt like a total body experience. With each race, all spectators’ bodies vibrated by the sheer power of these beasts.
We watched many a race on tv, but nothing could have prepared us for the absolute shock wave we were about to experience. We moved from our seats to the finish line for a different vantage point and each of us was amazed at the speed and the bravery displayed by the women and men in the driver’s seats taking their lives into their own hands. It truly was an exhilarating experience.
The real highlight of our trip was seeing my sister’s skyrise condo overlooking the city while spending quality time with family.
Sharing new experiences with loved ones makes travel more special, creating lasting memories and reminding one another that mere distance cannot keep us apart.