City Garden, St. Louis, Missouri

City Garden in downtown St. Louis is, quite possibly, one of the best sculpture parks I've ever seen. And that's saying a lot because sculpture is really not "my thing". But the way this park is set up and laid out you can easily forget that you are viewing sculpture- it's more like fancy playground equipment set around splash pools and walking paths.


Take the untitled sculpture that look like two rabbits. They were been created by Tom Claassen - who may or may not be a famous sculptor, I have no idea - but to my girls they were a great place to climb and slide. Not to mention they are entirely too cute.

Or how about Kindly Geppetto by Tom Otterness (the large photo, bottom right). He just made me smile.

The large head, Eros Bendato by Igor Mitoraj, that the girls are exploring inside of sat at the top of a flat fountain. Other sculptures sat in the center of small pools and children crawled in, out and around them.

Sure, I could tell you about the environmentally friendly green roof on the Terrace View Cafe or I could explain the three bands that represent the geographic features of St. Louis and its surroundings and each of their water features. I could even go into the plants in City Garden- 109 different species of trees, flora and fauna.

But really, why go in to all that when the most important thing I can say about City Garden is this: City Garden is probably the most serene place you can find set in the middle of a city. It is a perfect spot for a family outing. With plenty of shade for sitting under and all the places for kids to splash; it's idyllic. Take a picnic and enjoy life.

Oh, and be sure to find the "hidden" music spot near the Pinocchio sculpture. It's not on the map (which does list every sculpture).

City Garden is free and open every day from sunrise til 10 pm. Terrace view hours are Monday through Thursday - 7 am to 7 pm, Friday through Saturday - 7 am to 10 pm, Sunday - Closed. Every path is handicapped accessible. Park Security is on site and very noticeable in their bright yellow shirts.

Family Travel Tips
St Louis

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Anheuser Busch Brewery Tour, St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Neither Doug or I drink beer but a "not be be missed" stop while in St. Louis is the Anheuser Busch brewery. Located just off of I-55 the brewery is very easy to get to and is a great stop for the family (yes, really!).

Tours are free, first come first served. We didn't have to wait long on a Friday afternoon in the summer- about 10 minutes- but I am told the wait can be longer on weekends. As you wait you can browse Anheuser Busch history which began in 1852 as the Bavarian brewery. In 1860 it was acquired by Eberhard Anheuser and renamed it E. Anheuser & Co. In 1864, his son-in-law, Adolphus Busch, joined the company which would one day become Anheuser-Busch. The stein collection is quite beautiful and the Budweiser delivery truck piqued the interest of my daughters. I was especially interested in the prohibition advertising.

But what they liked most was the "stage". Yep, where the brewery tour begins is a small platform for the guides to stand on. My girls enjoyed dancing on it while Doug & I browsed the displays.

Our tour began with two guides and the warning that the tour involved about 7 city blocks of walking. First stop: the famous Budweiser Clydesdales.

These horses are practically the symbol of Budweiser and live in high style. The first Clydesdales were a gift to August Busch, Sr. from his sons to commemorate the repeal of prohibition. It didn't take long for the appeal of a horse-drawn beer wagon to catch on. Today A-B owns about 250 Clydesdales and keeps them in high style. Their stable is one of the oldest buildings on brewery land and the wood, marble and stained glass gleam. The lead hitch is kept in this stable and the horses seem to stand tall with pride.

Throughout the tour much mention of the 1904 World's Fair is mentioned. Many of the chandeliers you see came from there- including this one in the stable.

If you only came to see the Clydesdales you can leave the tour now and head back to the hospitality room.

Continuing on you'll view the Beechwood Aging Cellars- row upon row of huge vats filled with beer. Brenna was worried that one would "suck her up" as it was rather noisy and smelled of fermentation. She was relieved as we left. We decided that "Brenna beer" probably wouldn't be too tasty.

We moved on to the Brew House, the center of the brewery. Here we learned how Budweiser is made. When our guide Jim asked if there were any questions Brenna piped up with, "Daddy drinks beer sometimes." Not really a question but it got a laugh from the others in the tour. Jim played it off well asking, "Anyone else here drink beer sometimes?"

We then rode in one of the most spectacular elevators I have ever seen to the most ornate brewing floor- possibly in the world. Tile, marble, brass and silver all gleamed. And two more chandeliers from the World's Fair, these multi-story hopvines, hung from at least two floors above. It was incredible.

As we exited the Brew House we were told to look at the figures perched on the pillars outside.

These represent Anheuser Busch during the years of prohibition when the company produced items like ice cream, ginger ale, root beer, Bevo, truck bodies, bakers yeast and Budweiser with no alcohol.

We next walked past the Lyon School which once served the southern and western ends of St. Louis. All the children of Adolphus Busch attended school here. When the city no longer neede the school it was sold to Anheuser Busch and became the central offices.

Next was the Bevo Packaging Plant which now wears the Budweiser neon. Bevo was a "near beer", called a "cereal beverage" at the time, brewed during prohibition and marketed using the character Renard the Fox, who perches on the corners of the building a mug of Bevo in one paw, turkey leg in the other.

The Bevo building is now a bottling facility where, on Bottle Line #34, Bud Light whisks past.

Then it's out to the waiting trolley and back to the hospitality room where samples of Anheuser Busch beers await you. Or you can have soda if you're not a beer drinker.

On your way out make a stop in the gift shop. Plenty of Budweiser and Anheuser Busch related merchandise to choose from. Not so much for the kids, though the girls did manage to adopt "Dale" and "FireDog".

Handy Tips
Hours:
September - April : Mon - Sat 10am - 4pm; Sun 11:30 am - 4 pm
May : Mon - Sat 9 am - 4 pm; Sun 11:30 am - 4 pm
June - August : Mon - Sat 9 am - 5 pm; Sun 11:30 am - 5 pm

Gift shop closes 90 minutes after last tour. Check for a coupon here.

The tour is ADA accessible but does include quite a bit of walking.

Cost:
Free

Special events:
See the calendar for Clydesdale Camera Day and holiday closings.

Also associated with Anheuser Busch is Grant's Farm, about 10 miles away. Admission to Grant's Farm is free but parking is $11. Here you'll see more Clydesdales as well as other animals roaming free in Deer Park, General Ulysses S. Grant's log cabin, the Bauernhof, and the Busch family's collection of carriages- among other things.

Family Travel Tips
St Louis

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Win a Stay at the Villa Grandi in Tuscany!

This is such an amazing giveaway that I couldn't wait until Friday to share it! Ciao Bambino has an exclusive giveaway from HomesAway: the Quintessential Villa Vacation professionals. This is truly a dream vacation!

First of all, it's Tuscany. Second, well second, third, fourth, fifth...
All HomesAway villa vacations include the following:

* Complimentary pre-arrival shopping service (you just pay for the cost of food extra);
* Daily cleaning (except Sundays);
* Midweek linen change, and twice weekly towel changes;
* Pre-trip planning with HomesAway Travel Advisors - we will work with you to arrange anything and everything, and take care of all the details;
* Regional maps;
* HomesAway's coveted Home & Regional Handbook, unique to each property;

...and last, but by no means least...

* HomesAway's unique Local Host service - that is, our own local 'insider' who is there to welcome you upon arrival, is familiar with all the details of your stay, and who is your 'go to' person at any time to make your vacation simply exceptional.

I've already entered and really hope I win but it's such a great contest I couldn't keep it to myself. Click here to enter. Contest ends September 18, 2009. One entry per household. (The villa could house two small families, though, so make sure your traveling companions enter too! If they win they may invite you along!)

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The Magic House, St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Photos from the Magic House website: the original house to the right and the expansion below.

The Magic House came highly recommended to us by my cousin who remembers visiting when he was a child and now takes his kids there when they visit St. Louis. The Magic House is a sprawling, interactive children's museum. What began in 1979 in an historic Victorian home has expanded multiple times and now includes such fun things as a 3-story beanstalk to climb, a 2 story "twisty" slide, a replica Oval Office, a construction site and so much more. We spent almost 5 hours there and didn't come close to seeing everything!

In fact we hadn't even entered when the girls were stopped by this amazing gizmo of pulleys, tracks, springs, balls and other assorted gadgets. We stood and watched it work for 10 minutes- at least. "Which way will the ball go this time?" Brenna would ask. "Let's watch and see," was the consistent answer.

Upon entering we were drawn to the left and the Music Play - Play Music exhibit. The girls had so much funn with the strings and chimes that they didn't even notice...

...the 3-story Jack & the Beanstalk climber just behind them. This amazing climber is great for kids age 2 and up (younger if they are really steady). The leaves are large and carpeted for traction and they are layered just right for even the most novice climber. The beanstalk became the preferred method for getting from one floor to another in the "new" addition.

While on the top floor we tried to solve a mystery and the girls pretended to be worms. We didn't make it to the sunshine classroom, an outdoor garden exhibit.

Then it was all the way to the lowest level, via the beanstalk, where Caelan became infatuated with the air-mazement exhibit.

She was in charge of changing the flow of the air. With the flick of her wrist she could stop balls and scarves in their tracks or shoot them out a different exit. So much fun! We had to, quite literally, drag her away from this exhibit. But there was so much more to see!

We entered the kids' construction zone next. The girls wore hard hats for safety while Doug showed off his strength.

The girls built a firehouse, scooped rocks into cement mixers, worked with PVC pipe and sat in a real skid loader. Which was all very fun so it was difficult to get them to leave this area... But we needed to move across the hall to the Star Spangled Center.

It was here that I "signed my name" to the Declaration of Independence- after being asked if I still wanted to do it if my life were at risk (YES), the girls played judge and witness and Brenna had a photo op as President.

Wow... After all this activity were were hungry! There is dining available at the Picnic Basket Cafe (soups, sandwiches, salads, etc.) on site, but we chose to visit a St. Louis icon: Imo's Pizza, just 3 blocks away.

We returned to the Magic House full of energy and ready to explore more! Up we went to the electrostatic generator, played in the ball room, worked out in the fitness center, experimented with air power, created bubbles, gave great first impressions, explored the West with Lewis and Clark and created art and goo in the expericenter.

Our time was almost through so we went out to spend a few minutes in the amazing garden- complete with maze, an island surrounded by a moat, a mosaic hopscotch patio and a hop-skip&jump path.

You would think that with everything we did we would have seen it all. We didn't. And what we did see we could have spent much more time doing. The Magic House is definitely worth a stop if you're in the St. Louis area.

Just the Facts

Location: 516 S. Kirkwood Rd., St. Louis, MO 63122 Map It Here
Hours: Vary during the year. Click here for correct information.
Cost: $8.50 ages 1 and up. Look into membership if you live in the St. Louis area. Group rates are available.
Free Fridays! The third Friday of the month from 5:30 - 9 pm. Sponsored by Target.
The Magic House is on Facebook and Twitter!

Family Travel Tips
St Louis

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Our Trip to St. Louis

Gateway Arch viewed while laying on ground below

Thanks to the generosity of the St. Louis CVC my family spent 2 1/2 days in a city I probably wouldn't have ever thought to visit. And now... We anticipate our next trip! I was, honestly, amazed at all St. Louis had to offer- and much of the great stuff is free!

I am always amazed when I visit a city with majestic landmarks that the "natives" can be so nonchalant about them. I suppose it comes from viewing them continuously... I was not prepared for the absolute awe the Gateway Arch inspired in me. I could have laid on the grass below it and watched the clouds blow by all day. Nor did I realize that there is an amazing museum below the arch.

The free activities around St. Louis are incredible. The St. Louis zoo is absolutely amazing and it sits in the most beautiful parkland. Both the Anheuser-Busch brewery and Grant's Farm have free admission and the new City Garden is great fun for the family.

While we did visit the Magic House we didn't spend as much time there as the girls would have liked and we didn't make it to the City Museum.

Over the next couple of weeks I'll be taking you on a tour of our St. Louis exploration. Here's what I'll be sharing:

The Magic House
The St. Louis Zoo and Forest Park
Anheuser-Busch Brewery & Grant's Farm
The Gateway Arch, the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial and the Gateway Arch Riverfront
Drury Plaza Hotel at the Arch
City Garden
What we ate in St. Louis

To plan your our St. Louis adventure visit ExploreStLouis.com or the Explore St. Louis Facebook page.

Full disclosure: While we are paying for our gas money to get to St. Louis and back all of the expenses we incur while there will be covered by the CVC. While the CVC is sponsoring our trip all the decisions and thoughts about where we go, what we do, see, eat, etc. will be my own. Please see my disclosure policy for more specific information.

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Out Itinerary to Explore St. Louis

We'll be leaving soon for our exploration of St. Louis. We're pretty excited as we have some fun things planned. It was difficult to choose what to do as there were more opportunities there than I imagined. We did narrow down our choices, though, and I think we have a "do-able" itinerary.

Thursday evening: Leave for St. Louis. I imagine this to be a 6-7 hour drive. Sandwiches, chips & drinks will be packed for the journey. the in-car DVD player will be set up and I hope the girls will fall asleep about 2 hours into the ride. I am also hoping for only one potty break. We should arrive at the Drury Plaza Hotel around midnight.

Friday: We'll breakfast at the hotel- hopefully after sleeping in a bit. The girls and I may stroll down the the City Garden to let Doug rest just a bit more or we'll just head over to the Magic House. Lunch will be at Imo's Pizza, as recommended by quite a few people.

Friday afternoon we'll head out to Anheuser- Busch for a tour then to dinner at McGurk's. I'm hoping we'll be able to catch some music - we love good live Irish music.

Saturday: After breakfast we'll head over to the Gateway Arch. I'm excited and terrified of this; heights aren't my favorite thing. Before leaving here we'll take a riverboat cruise. We'll stop by the London Tea Room for lunch then head to the St Louis zoo. Dinner will be at the Boathouse Forest Park.

Sunday: After breakfast and packing we're going to visit Grant's Farm. After a stop for some legendary Ted Drewe's Frozen Custard we'll be "on the road again", heading home with two- hopefully- tired girls who will sleep most of the way.

Thanks to everyone who made suggestions! To plan your our St. Louis adventure visit ExploreStLouis.com or the Explore St. Louis Facebook page.

Full disclosure: While we are paying for our gas money to get to St. Louis and back all of the expenses we incur while there will be covered by the CVC. While the CVC is sponsoring our trip all the decisions and thoughts about where we go, what we do, see, eat, etc. will be my own. Please see my disclosure policy for more specific information.

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It's Not a Vacation if Your Feet Hurt!

If you're an active vacationer you need good shoes to keep you moving. WeJustGotBack.com has a giveaway right now for two - $150 gift certificates for Onlineshoes.com.

Giveaway ends August 31, 2009. Click here to enter.

For more great travel contests visit Have Kid Will Travel's Fun Stuff page!

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Salisbury House, Des Moines, Iowa, USA

Salisbury House viewed from the gardens

I'm not sure anyone would think to look in Des Moines, Iowa for a 15th century English manor. OK, building began in 1923, at least 400 years after its namesake was built, but the date makes the building no less impressive.

Carl Weeks and his wife Edith were in Salisbury, England in 1921 and saw "Kings House", which now houses the Salisbury And South Wiltshire Museum. They knew instantly that they would design their Des Moines home after the Tudor style mansion. Not only did he design his home to look historic- many of the materials actually were historic. The west section of the roof and the cottage were covered with 17th century tile from Lord Nelson’s Trafalgar estate in England and interiors included imported 16th-century English oak paneling and floors, as well as five fireplaces. It's spectacular.

Salisbury House is now owned by the Salisbury House Foundation and is open for tours March 1 thru December 31, Tuesday thru Friday and Sunday. Schedules and prices can be found here.

The Weeks were avid collectors. In addition to the antique art and tapestries you'll see antique swords, rare books and documents (including a leaf from the original Gutenberg Bible), English Wedgewood, and medieval armor. What's most impressive, though, is that Carl and Edith Weeks raised four boys in this home. Upstairs reflects more about their life as a family.

In addition to tours Salisbury House also hosts public events and allows the house and gardens to be rented for private events- like weddings. Talk about a fairy tale! Some of the most popular public events are:
Chamber Music Concerts

History Lectures

Salisbury Automobile Classic

Gatsby Gala

Shakespeare on the Lawn

Jazz in July

In the past Salisbury House has also participated in the Holly & Ivy tour. Viewing the house decorated for Christmas is truly magical. We have also had "Tea at the Castle" for Mother's Day.

Salisbury House was featured in an episode of America's Castles: The Anglophiles on A&E in 1997.

To view more photos from this amazing house click here. It may just make you want to visit Des Moines! There's more here than you might think!

Things To Do
Des Moines

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Win a Trip to Nashville from Southwest Airlines!

The Southwest Airlines "Grab Your Bag. It's On" Sweepstakes offers one lucky winner:

* 2 roundtrip tickets to Nashville via Southwest Airlines (September 4-7, 2009)
* 3 nights at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel (September 4-7, 2009)
* 3-piece set of Intensity Hartmann Luggage (pictured on the contest site)
* 1 Nashville Backstage Pass offering complimentary admission (for 2) to some of Nashville's greatest attractions
* Music City Welcome Gift Bag upon arrival

Click here to enter. One entry per person. Be aware: you must be able to travel September 4-7, 2009 (Labor Day Weekend)

Contest ends August 15! Rules are here.

For more great travel contests be sure to visit the Have Kid Will Travel Fun Stuff page!

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Sale at Family Travel Gear!

Family Travel Gear 24 hour sale August 7, 2009- save 15% on everything! Just use code 824HRM09 at checkout!

Traveling with kids made easy!

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We've Been Invited to Explore St. Louis

Rendering of St. Louis City Garden

Photo from slfp.com

A couple of weeks ago I was approached by a representative of the St. Louis Convention and Visitor's Commission (CVC) about the possibility of my family traveling to St. Louis to, well, Explore St. Louis.

So... What should we do? It's been quite a while since I've been to St. Louis and my girls have never been. It will be a great adventure for all of us!

Here are a few things we are considering:

• Top of the Gateway Arch (this is a must in my "touristy" book)
• the new City Garden: while it may be filled with art I'm most attracted by the plants and the three fountains for the girls to splash in! It will also be walkable from our hotel. Plus it's free.
  
• The Anheuser Busch brewery tour. Also free.
  
• Missouri Botanical Gardens
• the zoo. Paid parking but free (with some attractions that have fees)
  
• Grant's Farm. Costs for parking but admission is free.
  
• the Magic House. Free on the 3rd Friday of each month (hey, that's when we'll be there!) after 5:30
  
• A carriage tour (yes, it's touristy but we always have great conversations with the drivers and learn so much about the city we're visiting)
• A riverboat cruise would be fun
• Wabash Frisco & Pacific Steam Railway

We only have 2 1/2 days- I know we can't fit all that in. And there is so much more we would like to do!

Now, let's talk about food. One place we're definitely going is the McGurks for dinner- and hopefully some music- they have it nightly!! Maybe lunch on a riverboat cruise? Possibly breakfast at Terrace View in City Garden? Charlie Gitto's is supposed to be legendary. Tea at the London Tea Room (it's the closest I'll be getting to London for a few years). Doug would appreciate some BBQ, I'm sure. What's not-to-be-missed eats in St. Louis?

What would you like to see us do, eat or explore? Give me your suggestions and recommendations!

To plan your our St. Louis adventure visit ExploreStLouis.com or the Explore St. Louis Facebook page.

Full disclosure: While we are paying for our gas money to get to St. Louis and back all of the expenses we incur while there will be covered by the CVC. While the CVC is sponsoring our trip all the decisions and thoughts about where we go, what we do, see, eat, etc. will be my own. Please see my disclosure policy for more specific information.

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National World War I Museum & Liberty Memorial, Kansas City, Missouri, USA

On November 1, 1921 five Allied leaders, Lieutenant General Baron Jacques of Belgium; General Armando Diaz of Italy; Marshal Ferdinand Foch of France; General John J. Pershing of the United States; and Admiral David Beatty of Great Britain, came together across from Union Station for the dedication of the Liberty Memorial.

Today this plaque and a bust of each man marks the spot where they stood and addressed over 200,000 people. It was the only time in history the leaders were together in one place.

As you walk up north lawn you begin to notice the Great Frieze, one of the largest frieze carvings in the world. Sculpted by Edmond Amateis is measures 148 feet long and 18 feet tall. Depicting the process from war to peace it is amazing to view.

Note: approaching the National WW I Museum and Liberty Memorial this way requires a lot of climbing. I did notice wheelchair ramps but they were very steep. The entrance to the National WW I Museum can be more easily reached from the free parking on W. 26th Street.

The National War Museum sits below the base to the south of the Liberty Memorial. It can be reached by stairs from the memorial or by a walkway from the parking lot. The front doors are imposing but the lobby is bright and quite open.

The main corridor is lined with an interactive portrait gallery of those who participated in World War I. Touch screen stations tell their stories.

To enter the museum, the Memory & Exhibit Halls and to go to the top of the Liberty Memorial requires purchase of a ticket. Currently the museum is $8, the Memorial is $4 and a combination ticket is $10. Seniors, youth and military have special rates. For current price information click here. Museum hours are Tuesday - Sunday 10am - 5 pm. It is closed Mondays except Memorial Day and Labor Day.

To enter the museum you cross the Paul Sunderland Bridge, a glass floor that spans a field of 9,000 poppies; one poppy for every 1000 combatant deaths in World War I.

Depending on your timing you will either enter the William Thornton Kemper Theater and view a short film that explains the world events that led to the war. Otherwise you will begin viewing the exhibits and will be called back to view the film. I recommend watching it; there is much insight in it.

Inside the museum are artifacts, time lines, interactive tables, galleries, incredible propaganda posters... Anything and everything having to do with World War I. It was, honestly, too much for the girls to take in but I know Doug would have liked to spend more time there. It is fascinating. By learning our past we can plot our future. To view some of the exhibits check out this slideshow.

The Horizon Theater, at the rear of the museum, show a 15 minute film that begins with the question, "Should America enter the war?".

Also in the museum building are restrooms, water fountains, the Over There Cafe (their food is named for people and places of World War I) and the museum store.

As you climb the steps to the Liberty Memorial (there are very nice ramps on this side of the memorial, as well) stop to notice the Sphinxes on either side. Both have wings shielding their faces: Memory to block the horrors of the war and Future to symbolize what is yet unseen. You can also reach this level via elevator.

On either side of the Liberty Memorial are two identical buildings: Memory Hall and Exhibit Hall.

Memory Hall is filled with personal memories and amazing murals. It's impossible to describe the emotion I felt as I walked through here.

Exhibit Hall houses rotating exhibits and also has amazing murals.

My favorite mural, over the entrance of Memory Hall.

A close up of the banner:

The Liberty Tower is 217 feet high. Visitors can access the top via elevator + a 45 stair climb. It is not handicapped accessible.

Also in the National World War I Museum:

Public Research Room Admission is free.

Class and conference rooms

J.A. Nichols Auditorium Often used for museum programs, lectures and films.

Thoughts: My girls were fascinated by the displays in the museum. Though they bored relatively quickly they did ask many questions and I know we will return here as they get older. Precious pieces of our history are here reminding us not to forget.

Crown Center is located next to the World War I Museum and offers restaurants, hotels, shopping and entertainment.

Things To Do
Kansas City

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