Hey everyone, this is William — welcome back to Life with the Kuangs!

Today, we visited Gateway Arch National Park in Missouri. This is one of the smaller national parks and is located fairly close to where we live, offering a unique experience compared to the larger parks we’ve explored.

The Gateway Arch itself was really cool to see in person. We started at the base of the Arch, which also houses the visitor center and a museum that covers the history of the Arch and how it was built. One of the most interesting parts was the elevator system — it’s a small capsule-style tram that takes you all the way up to the top of the Arch. From there, we enjoyed incredible views of St. Louis, and we could even see the Missouri State Capitol in the distance.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DK-dHJHhkyM/?igsh=bjZtYzR3ejdmeWxm

After visiting the Arch, we headed over to Union Station, which is filled with fun attractions like the aquarium, carousel, and a large pond where you can feed koi fish. Unfortunately, the fireworks show wasn’t running when we went, but there was still plenty to enjoy.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DK-dm-UhrZ6/?igsh=MWlxaHZzYmsyY3g5Nw==

For dinner, we ate at The Train Shed, a restaurant located inside Union Station. We ordered country fried steak, pork chops, and short ribs — everything was delicious! Our table had a great view of where the fireworks would’ve been, but even without the show, it was a great dining experience.

After dinner, we treated ourselves to dessert at the St. Louis Union Station Soda Fountain. It was a fun and nostalgic spot with over-the-top milkshakes and sweet treats — the perfect way to end the evening.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DK-gS_ehqTD/?igsh=dnA2amJ3OGZmZmlr

Overall, it was a fun trip and a nice way to learn more about Missouri’s history and attractions. Gateway Arch National Park may be small, but it definitely offers a big experience.

Let me know if you’d like to add photos or links for readers planning a similar trip!