Road Trip Day #6: Gateway Arch, Ted Drewes and Missouri Botanical Gardens

We started the day by heading to the Gateway Arch. It didn't look all that exciting, but I thought we should do it because we were there. Boy was I wrong! We were surprised by how much fun it was! It was one of our favorite spots! We loved everything about it from the futuristic elevator pods to peeking out the tiny windows to learning about how it was built.

We had lunch overlooking the Missouri River and then we headed to try a famous gooey butter cake at Gooey Louie. Their oven was broken! Oh well. It was for the best as our next stop was Ted Drewes Frozen Custard! We went to the one on old Route 66. We ordered two concretes: Cardinal Sin (tart cherries and fudge) and All Shook Up (chocolate peanut butter cups and bananas). Yum!!

 We ended the night by attending a blues concert at the Missouri Botanical Garden. It was a terrific impromptu adventure! It seemed that all of St. Louis was there. We relaxed on the lawn and met wonderful people. Willa instantly gathered a bunch of children for gymnastics contests and games, and they played all night.  

It was a completely fantastic day.

Road Trip Day #5: Magic House and St. Louis Zoo

We visited the Magic House (St. Louis Children's Museum) and St. Louis Zoo in one day. We had just planned on spending the day at the zoo, but it was pouring when we woke, so we changed plans. Apparently so did everyone else! The Magic House was packed! That didn't prevent us from having a good time though!

A bubble organ!

Their patients had all kinds of things wrong with them.

 

They took good care of their babies.

Making noise.

President Jia making an important phone call!

 President Willa's first official address was, "Hi Mama!"

We decided to hit the zoo in the afternoon. It wasn't very crowded due to the threat of rain. We lucked out because it started pouring again just as we left!

One of our favorite spots (okay the girls', not mine) was the bug house. Here they are screaming about roaches in the fridge!

 

 A (slightly bedraggled) blue morpho took a ride on Joe.

We loved the hippos! They were wrestling and biting each other when we arrived. It was something to see! The girls thought it was especially interesting that the fish ate their poop!

We also loved the elephants!

Jia yawned just as the gorilla looked at us.

Willa with some new friends.

Penguins and puffins. It was chilly in there!

We had to laugh at Willa in bed that night, doing a little light reading of the Bible and a magazine on gold prospecting and mining!

 

Lastly, I have to share a picture of Jia's car window, which she decorated with window markers. She asked me to put music notes on there (and I put them in the wrong direction, boo mom), and she wrote, "I love Art," "Girl Power," "Dream Big," and "Books Rock!" That totally sums up Jia!

Road Trip Day #4: City Museum, Fitz's and 40 years!

I turned 40 on the 29th. I wanted to do something memorable, so we went to the City Museum. The City Museum describes itself as an "eclectic mixture of children’s playground, funhouse, surrealistic pavilion, and architectural marvel made out of unique, found objects." I describe it as CRAZY! It is the main reason why I wanted to go to St. Louis. It can only be understood in photos. (Click to enlarge.)

 

 Driving the fire truck... 

 

Which is stuck on top of the building and has a slide out of it...

 

Willa heading down the slide.

 

Followed by me.  

 

And Joe. 

A few planes were up there too...

 

Think they're gonna make it?

 

Wing walking...

 

Going down!

 

Jia crossing over. 

 

Willa's turn.  

 

 

 

Inside the caves.

 

Every hole, tube and tunnel led somewhere else...under the floor, up a level, around into another area. Soon thereafter, the caves were packed, the lights were dimmed, and they were blaring music!

Willa and Jia climbed into this whale to "take a peek" and we didn't find them for a half hour! 

 

 

 

Sugary treats to fuel more climbing, creeping, and crawling.

 

In an old bus.

 

On a roof many stories up! Not a door you'd want to exit!

 

A view of the bus from the top of the Ferris Wheel (which is on top of the building.)

 

 

There's the bus...and planes... and truck. 

 

On the Ferris Wheel. 

 

The girls are on the bridge.

 

Climbing up to the big slide.

 

Willa is climbing up to the top of the roof of a building that was on the top of the roof!

 

Being hamsters. 

Choosing an alternative to the stairs.

 

Forgoing the stairs yet again.

 

 

A calm diversion. 

 

Jia made a dolphin snowflake!

 

I made a dragon fly one!

 

A working shoelace factory. Yes, really.

 

The skateless park. 

 

 

Our bumps, scrapes, and bruises prove we were here!!

After our frenetic day, we went to Fitz's. They are known for their bottled root beer. We had dinner, and, of course, their famous root beer float for dessert. Free for my birthday! A perfect way to end the day.