IT’S probably best known for melding the raw emotion of the Mississippi Delta with the rhythms of jazz, ragtime and swing but one US city is set to shake off the blues in 2026.

As the birthplace of music icon Chuck Berry – and home to the legendary Route 66 – this city is preparing for a deluge of travelers after undergoing a multi-million dollar transformation.

Dubbed the “Gateway to the West” by early settlers – more of which later – St Louis is intrinsically linked with its art and culture scene, nurturing jazz icons such as Clark Terry and Miles Davis .

Its jazz bars and cafes still pump out hypnotic melodies to casual passersby today – and that temporary footfall looks set to massively increase next year.

With one-way flights starting from just $31, St Louis is being talked

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