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Five reasons to love St. Jo!
By Davina Horton
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St. Joseph, Missouri:
Must See’s
Five reasons to love St. Jo!
By Davina Horton
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Missouri is full of small, notable towns. You’ll drive through many of them as you road trip across the state. However, when you see a sign for St. Joseph, you should realize that you are quickly approaching a thriving city that has an array of attractions and sites to see.

I took my first trip to St. Joseph when I was 12 years old and traveling with my parents. We pulled up to our hotel after a long day of driving, and I wasn’t sure what to expect from our vacation. I grabbed all of the brochures in the hotel lobby and read them. I went to bed excited to see in real life the pieces of history highlighted in the brochures.

History Comes to Life
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As a child, I was most fascinated by the history of the town. In school, we learned about Lewis and Clark, and their epic adventure across the west. While in St. Joseph, it’s always worth a visit to the National Park Service certified Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail commemorative sites. When I was there, my mind ran wild, imaging what it would have been like to cast off on such a long journey full of uncertainty and uncharted areas. It’s exciting to take the family on a journey along the Riverfront Walking Trail and imagine the landscape of Missouri it would have been when they first arrived.

Like most, I’d heard about Missouri’s infamous bandit, Jesse James. This outlaw moved to St. Joseph in 1881 to hide out from the authorities. He was killed there in 1882 by fellow felons, the Ford Brothers. The Jesse James Museum gives visitors insight on the life and death of James. See exhibits ranging from artifacts recovered from Jesse’s grave and a depression in the flooring where he fell to his death. Tourists can also visit the Patee House Museum where his family stayed after his shooting. It’s an incredible museum where you can literally step back in time and explore the Streets of Old St. Joe, or sort letters in the mail car of an original 1860’s steam engine, located in the middle of the museum.

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Also, I learned about the Civil War and the Pony Express, but it wasn’t until I visited St. Joseph that I realized just how amazing these riders were and what an important part they played in this country’s history. The riders would leave St. Joseph carrying saddlebags of mail and venture out through the untamed west on a 2,000-mile trail to Sacramento, California. You can visit the stables from where the riders set off at the Pony Express Museum and relive the legacy that helped join our nation through many interactive, educational exhibits. Children can even dress the part in the Kids Playroom, which has an assortment of 1860’s costumes.

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St. Jo Musts1

St. Jo MUSTS!

As a child, I was mesmerized by the legendary people and events that took place in St. Joseph. The entire vacation felt like a trip back in time, but now as an adult, I can appreciate more of the modern day attractions the town has to offer. Beyond the history, these experiences are musts for any St. Jo visit:

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1. The Great Outdoors

Outdoorsy types and sports fans will fall in love with St. Joseph. You can catch a Mustangs Baseball game at the Phil Welch Stadium, which was built in 1939. The town is also full of parks, golf courses, trails and is even “The Summer Home of the Kansas City Chiefs.” For those who like to get more in touch with nature, there’s plenty of hunting and fishing options.

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2. The Sound of Music

If I’m in the mood for music, I take in a performance by either the Saint Joseph Symphony, RiverSong (a women's a cappella chorus), or Voices of America, (a men's a capella chorus). More than traditional, the St. Joseph’s music scene is full of contemporary acts ranging in style from pop-rock to bluegrass to metal, country and even Mexican tunes. There’s even opportunity to catch an outdoor show, for example at the annual Trails West Festival!®, Sounds of Summer or the Coleman Hawkins Music Festival. Great entertainment isn’t limited to music, theatre buffs have a plethora of options too including, unique performances at the Robidoux Resident Theater, Western Playhouse, and Missouri Theatre.

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3. Lover’s Lane

For those looking to find a little romance in St. Joseph, it all starts at Lover’s Lane. This street motivated Eugene Field to write the loving poem “Lover’s Lane, Saint Jo” in reverence for the good memories he had there with his wife, Julia Comstock Field. Once the mood has been set on Lover’s Lane, a perfect date night can follow at the Robidoux Landing Playhouse for an intimate dinner theater experience. The best place to grab a nightcap before ending an evening is at Fosters Martini Bar which offers martinis, wine and live local music on the weekends.

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4. Pickers Heaven

Travelers may want to pack light in order to leave room for all of the amazing antiques, souvenirs, and other items available at St. Joseph’s impressive shopping options. Countless antique malls and boutiques make this town a “pickers” heaven. Boutiques are a perfect place to find that one-of-a-kind gift as well as charming decor for oneself. Check out St. Joseph Avenue Antiques, who specialize in the restoration of turn of the century pieces, and the cowboys in your family will want to make a stop at the Stetson Hat Company Outlet Store to pick up some new duds. For art, my favorite stop is Tobiason Stained Glass Studio and Glass Eye Gallery. Guests can feast their eyes on some spectacular stained glass masterpieces. They even offer classes where attendees get to create their very own work of art.

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5. Wineries

St. Joseph has more than enough attractions to fill your weekend. However, on the way in or out of town, visitors can find two fabulous Missouri wineries. About 30 minutes east of St. Joseph (off Highway 36), winery-goers will find Windy Wine Company. This winery is tucked away by surrounding cornfields and offers a nice variety of wines as well as fruit wines and meads. Their most unique wine is their Peanut Butter and Jelly wine which is a sweet grape wine with dry roasted peanuts added. The winery offers a selection of meats and cheeses for visitors to enjoy with their wine and relax in a picturesque rural Missouri landscape.

The newest addition to the impressive Missouri wine collection is Tipple Hill Winery. Just 5 miles east of St. Joseph, Tipple Hill Winery and Vineyard opened in February of 2015. They serve a large variety of wines and features a lovely view of their vineyard and farm. The winery already has events planned for the upcoming months including live music, canvas paintings, and a Cards Against Humanity Tournament. Picnic baskets are welcome, and smoking is prohibited. Missouri wineries give visitors a chance to support local Missouri businesses while enjoying delightful wines and make lasting memories!

I fell in love with St. Joseph when I was young. The history excited me and drew me in. Now as an adult, I can see a greater depth to St. Joseph. I came back for the history, and I continue coming for the culture, nightlife, dining, and atmosphere.

Find your reason to love St. Jo!