Each year during the month of May, I set out for an adventure in a different U.S. state to welcome the “Unofficial Start of Summer”. This year, I opted for a journey to the midwestern cities of St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri. Historic sites, jazz & blues, and vegan bbq were on my agenda.
Upon arrival in St. Louis, I headed directly to vegetarian/vegan-friendly SweetArt ( https://sweetartstl.com/eats ) for a bite to eat. My breakfast consisted of a wonderful tofu scramble burrito with a side of fruit and a cup of tea. A nice size seating area allows diners to have a sit down meal.
My airbnb check-in gave me time to nap and freshen up before heading back to downtown for lunch. Seedz Cafe ( http://www.seedzcafe.com/menu/ ) is an all-vegan restaurant with many options on their menu. I selected a tasty brown rice and garbanzo bean burger topped with avocado, cashew cheeze, lettuce, and tomato on a bun, with a side salad. Their freshly squeezed juice combos are popular. The greens juice was refreshing. An ample seating area provides space for dining in.
It was time for some sightseeing! I took the convenient subway to the famous St. Louis Arch. From ground level, visitors may take a quick tram ride up to the top level of the arch.
The view from the arch observatory windows is spectacular! City skyscrapers, sports stadium, historic landmarks, and the water can be be spotted.
After appreciating the glorious view, I boarded the tram going down to the ground level. A museum resides there which depicts the history of St. Louis and the arch. The shipping industry is one of the featured exhibits.
I then proceeded to the St. Louis “Walk Of Fame”. Notable people who made contributions to the city’s culture are honored with a golden star and description of their accomplishments. Many of them are jazz performers who were born or lived in town.
Blueberry Hill is a renowned landmark in St. Louis.
Located in the Delmar Loop neighborhood, this pop culture restaurant houses memorabilia of musician Chuck Berry. Delmar Loop is home to many restaurants & shops, historic venues, and the Walk of Fame.
Rock and Roll performer Chuck Berry was born in St. Louis. A statue in his likeness is located across the street from the restaurant.
Dinnertime had arrived. I enjoyed a delicious meal at the vegetarian/vegan-friendly restaurant “Tree House Restaurant” ( https://www.treehousestl.com/ ). An entree of butternut squash risotto with mushrooms, celery, and cauliflower was perfectly presented topped with greens. There are plenty of tables available for a sit down meal.
This hot evening found me craving some ice cream. Just a few blocks from the restaurant was an gelateria shop called “Gelateria Del Leone” ( http://thegelateria.com/ ) which offers a couple of vegan flavors. My vanilla and chocolate gelato was superb. It was time to call it a night and get some sleep before my early morning bus trip to Kansas City.
The following morning, I boarded the Grayhound bus to Kansas City, Missouri. I had purchased a vegan gingersnap cookie at Lulu’s Local Eatery ( https://www.luluslocaleatery.com/menu2 ) on the previous night, so that was my snack during my AM travels.
Through the bus windows, I viewed the miles upon miles of the Midwest plains.
Several hours later, we arrived in Kansas City.
Colorful graffiti meets the eye around town.
I dropped off my luggage at my accommodations, then headed directly to vegetarian/vegan-friendly Cafe Gratitude ( https://www.cafegratitudekc.com/ ) for lunch. The grilled polenta, with spaghetti squash and topped with vegan cheezes was so delicious. They offer quite an extensive and eclectic menu with plenty of seating.
For dessert, I selected their scrumptious vanilla shortcake with strawberry frosting.
Next stop was the Kansas City Jazz Museum. Colorful figures representing jazz performers don the roof section above the front entrance.
Jazz performers from every decade are represented with their memorabilia, along with a written commemoration.
A Walk of Fame resides on the sidewalk outside of the museum. A range of contemporary and classic jazz musicians are represented with golden stars.
City Market was the next destination on my itinerary. Originating in the late 19th century, this popular place is home to many restaurants, boutiques, and a farmer’s market.
Dinner at Bluebird Bistro ( http://www.bluebirdbistro.com/ ) was a fabulous green curry dish with vegetables, mushrooms, and carrots simmered in coconut milk over rice.
I started the next day with a tasty vegan cheddar and faux sausage scone from Mud Pie Bakery ( https://www.mudpiebakery.com/ ).
My airbnb host graciously dropped me off at the Nelson Gallery of Art in Kansas City. Whimsical statues are placed in various locations surrounding the museum perimeter.
I strolled about the museum’s halls, admiring the classic and contemporary global artwork.
It had come to my attention that a vegan bbq mobile food cart called “Peaceful Pig” ( https://www.facebook.com/peacefulpigveganbbq/ ) was serving up sandwiches at a local park in the city. My airbnb host was kind enough to drop me off there, as well. The vegan “pulled jackfruit” bbq sandwich in a bun, with a side of baked beans was really good. They use a portable “smoker” with applewood to cook/steam the jackfruit. Several sides and snacks are also included on their menu. Peaceful Pig brings their vegan bbq options to various events around town each month.
One of the only World War I Memorials resides in Kansas City. The tall structure has an inscription at its base. Visitors may tour the museum located inside of the building. It is the only official memorial dedicated to World War I.
A chocolate cookies&cream donut from the all-vegan Mud Pie Bakery ( https://www.mudpiebakery.com/ ) proved to be a nice afternoon snack. There is a seating area for those who wish to dine there.
I was in need of a take-away sandwich that could be brought on my bus ride back to St. Louis. Fortunately, “Char Bar Restaurant” ( http://charbarkc.com/ ) was able to prepare a yummy pulled jackfruit sandwich for my dinner that night. They included their homemade bbq sauce. For those who prefer to dine in, there are plenty of tables.
A late night arrival in St. Louis gave me just enough time to catch a decent amount of sleep. The next morning, I enjoyed veggie hash potatoes with kale & peppers and a delectable chocolate peanut butter granola bar for my breakfast at vegan-friendly Blueprint Coffee ( https://blueprintcoffee.com/ ). This casual, affordable spot offers several vegan options.
The Basilica of St. Louis was the first cathedral west of the Mississippi. Built in 1770, it was the first Catholic church in St. Louis. I stepped inside to peer around its historic interior.
Across the road from the St. Louis Arch, lies the Old Courthouse. The 19th century courthouse was the site of the infamous Dred Scott decision. In 1847, slaves Dred Scott and his wife Harriet, sued for their freedom and won. However, the case was eventually heard by the Supreme Court who decided that slaves were considered property and had no right to sue. This decision was thought to precipitated the Civil War. Sculptures of Mr. and Mrs. Scott display beside the Courthouse.
Guests are granted access to tour the room where the Dred Scott Decision was made. An exhibit of their story is encased within the space.
The final stop on my agenda was the National Blues Museum. The museum was founded to tell the story of the blues music genre and to celebrate its contributing musicians.
One of the exhibits pays homage to St. Louis’s own Chuck Berry.
After my self-guided museum tour, it was time for me to grab some lunch. I devoured this buffalo cauliflower wrap and tater tots at the all-vegan Lulu’s Local Eatery ( https://www.luluslocaleatery.com/menu2 ). The casual dining restaurant offers plenty of seating indoors and several tables outside for the nicer weather.
My weekend getaway trip to Missouri had come to an end. When I arrived at the airport that evening, I recalled fondly about my wonderful visit to the region’s historic sites, its music museums, and the amazing vegan dining experiences.