* Debra L. Hewing

![Figure1](http://tech.snmjournals.org/https://tech.snmjournals.org/content/jnmt/42/1/11A/F1.medium.gif)

[Figure1](http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/42/1/11A/F1)

SNMMI will be returning to St. Louis, the Gateway to the West, for the 2014 annual meeting. The meeting is scheduled for June 7–11 at the America’s Center in downtown St. Louis. The Renaissance Grand Hotel, located directly adjacent to the convention center, will serve as the meeting headquarters. St. Louis is a friendly, small city, and we look forward to welcoming all our colleagues to the great city we call home. Although the meeting is slated to have a full agenda, we highly recommend you schedule some time to take in the sites around St. Louis!

While in downtown St. Louis at the meeting, you will find plenty of attractions within walking distance. Be sure to head to the riverfront and ride a tram to the top of the Gateway Arch—the view is spectacular! Plan some time to take in the Museum of Westward Expansion at the base of the arch while you wait for your scheduled tram ride. Also downtown you can find an eclectic mix of old relics from around St. Louis in the City Museum, which encourages you to “explore the unexpected.” The City Museum also houses the World Aquarium, where you can interact with over 10,000 sea creatures. Washington Avenue and Laclede’s Landing top the list for downtown nightlife. Both locations are full of restaurants and clubs, providing plenty of venues for entertainment after the festivities of the meeting conclude. Downtown is also home to the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. The team will be out of town on a road trip during the meeting, but you can always take a tour of the impressive stadium.

In the southern part of the city, you will find historic Soulard, a neighborhood full of local shops, restaurants, and the Soulard Farmers Market. The Missouri Botanical Garden is also located slightly south of the city and is touted as being the oldest botanical garden in the United States. South St. Louis is also home to the Anheuser-Busch Brewery, which offers a tour of the bottling facilities, a peek into the stables of the iconic Clydesdales, and even a free sample (or two) at the end. The Busch family that founded the brewery also owns a historic home and animal park in south St. Louis called Grant’s Farm, which offers a wide variety of animals in everything from shows to guided tram tours and even provides an opportunity to bottle-feed baby goats. Best of all, entry into Grant’s Farm is free!

Mid-town offers the historic Fox Theatre, where you can catch a Broadway show; Powell Hall, where the St. Louis Symphony performs; and the campus of historic Saint Louis University, the earliest established college west of the Mississippi.

The Central West End is an up-and-coming area of St. Louis, full of restaurants, bars, and local shops. It is also home to Forest Park, the location of the 1904 World’s Fair and one of the largest urban parks in the United States. Besides the scenic walking and biking trails, the park offers several world-class attractions. The famous Saint Louis Zoo (a free attraction!), the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Muny (an outdoor theater venue), and the Saint Louis Science Center (admittance also free!) are all in Forest Park. Washington University’s School of Medicine is also located in the Central West End. The School of Medicine will be offering a tour of its research facilities at Barnes-Jewish Hospital during the meeting. Be sure to check in at the meeting for more details on that offering.

If you are feeling really adventurous, head farther west of the city. In the suburb of Kirkwood, you will find the Magic House, a world-class, interactive children’s museum. Although designed for little ones, it truly entertains guests of all ages. Farther west along Interstate 44, you will find Six Flags St. Louis, an amusement park and water park providing shows, rides, and thrills for everyone. The Meramec Caverns are also west of the city and offer underground guided tours as well as zip-lining. This natural marvel is a cool 50 degrees year-round, despite the humidity that typically plagues St. Louis in June.

We look forward to offering our Midwest hospitality to all the attendees of the SNMMI annual meeting. We hope you have a great time, and we encourage you to take the opportunity to enjoy the sites, sounds, and tastes of St. Louis!