We're here in the St. Louis area for four nights. It's HOT and muggy... but we're making the best of it.
We rode 50+ miles of the Katy Trail- America's largest rails-to-trails path. It's 225 miles stretching from just outside Kansas City to St. Charles (20 miles from St. Louis). Over half of the trail follows Louis & Clark's path up the Missouri River.
Who could resist Grandma's cookies in St. Charles? Not us! Honestly, three of the BEST cookies we've ever had. Delicious, soft and YUM!
Brian feeling small next to the greatness of Lewis & Clark, who started their journey right here in St. Charles, MO.
Riding along the Missouri River. 
Can't come to St. Louis without experiencing the Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour. One of many of the Budweiser Clydesdales. They're HUGE!
One of Lance's yellow jerseys on display in the Anheuser-Busch tour museum.
Brian is smiling because there's FREE BEER at the end of the tour!
The Arch. We didn't go to the top because it was insanely busy and the wait was over 2 hours! Oh well! It was cool to see from the outside.
We next visited the City Museum, which is sort of a museum, sort of a crazy playground for kids. The gist of the museum is to display artifacts, statues, signs and other quirky things from St. Louis and other cities in the U.S. It was wacky!
Artifacts from historic buildings demolished because they didn't meet ADA requirements. Sad. Very sad. 
Brian on the wheel. He didn't last long. He said it was a barf machine.
Brian's probably too young to remember Bob's Big Boy - but I got a kick out of this shot.
The City Museum has all sorts of crazy slides, ladders and things to climb on; most of which would make personal injury lawyers drool. 
Brian at the end of the 10 story slide... A spiral from the top of the museum that made both of us a little dizzy.
For dinner we went to the Iron Barley, which was featured on BOTH "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" and "Man vs Food." Thanks to the Travel Channel for this great find! The food was excellent and unique and the service was friendly!
Brian's childhood home: I wanted to knock on the door and ask if we could look inside and also check out the backyard; but Brian was too shy. 
Brian said the house looked smaller, and the trees on the block were way bigger.
Ahh... High School. Brian said it looked exactly the same except for the new swimming pool. Also, the ball fields used to back up to farmland and endless greenery; and now there are just endless strip malls. Well, they say you can't go home again...
Who could resist Grandma's cookies in St. Charles? Not us! Honestly, three of the BEST cookies we've ever had. Delicious, soft and YUM!
Brian feeling small next to the greatness of Lewis & Clark, who started their journey right here in St. Charles, MO.
Riding along the Missouri River. 
Can't come to St. Louis without experiencing the Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour. One of many of the Budweiser Clydesdales. They're HUGE!
One of Lance's yellow jerseys on display in the Anheuser-Busch tour museum.
Brian is smiling because there's FREE BEER at the end of the tour!
The Arch. We didn't go to the top because it was insanely busy and the wait was over 2 hours! Oh well! It was cool to see from the outside.
We next visited the City Museum, which is sort of a museum, sort of a crazy playground for kids. The gist of the museum is to display artifacts, statues, signs and other quirky things from St. Louis and other cities in the U.S. It was wacky!
Artifacts from historic buildings demolished because they didn't meet ADA requirements. Sad. Very sad. 
Brian on the wheel. He didn't last long. He said it was a barf machine.
Brian's probably too young to remember Bob's Big Boy - but I got a kick out of this shot.
The City Museum has all sorts of crazy slides, ladders and things to climb on; most of which would make personal injury lawyers drool. 
Brian at the end of the 10 story slide... A spiral from the top of the museum that made both of us a little dizzy.
For dinner we went to the Iron Barley, which was featured on BOTH "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" and "Man vs Food." Thanks to the Travel Channel for this great find! The food was excellent and unique and the service was friendly!
The Parthenon: A replica build in 1897 - and the centerpiece of Centennial Park.
We ate at Jacks Barbecue. Yum!
Country Music Hall of Fame.
Belle Meade Plantation: The birthplace of American thoroughbred breeding and racing.
Riding the Natchez Trace Parkway: A 444-mile road with awesome scenery and 10,000 years of North American history. Virtually traffic free!
Cheekwood Mansion - Museum & Botanical Gardens: Home of the Maxwell House family.
Chris Young
Jimmy C. Newman
Mark Chestnut
During the intermission, we explored the Ryman Auditorium. There's some great memorabilia from Johnny & June. An extra treat!
Jeannie Seely
Montgomery Gentry
Charlie Daniels was incredible. A great performer and a true patriot.
Charlie Daniel brought down the house jamming on the fiddle in The Devil Went Down To Georgia.
Pigeon Forge is the Miniature Golf Capital of the World, with more than a dozen options on the main drag. 
There's no end to the choices of dollar sucking junk "entertainment."
Choose from at least 5 cart tracks.
Another Mini Golf.
Kiddie rides galore! What parent could say NO to little Johnny?
Chotchskies galore. (For those who aren't familiar with that word, it means "a small piece of worthless crap, a decoratve knick knack with little or no purpose.")
Good to know you can be saved at the Three Bears General Store!
I guess all of this was a great job creator for local folks who lived near these mountains in poverty. But UGH, the blight....
