Grandparents Tour-St. Louis
June 16-18, 2025​
This cross-state adventure was designed specifically for Grandparents (Charley and Susan) and Grandchildren (Hudson and Frankie). We began our adventure aboard Amtrak’s Missouri River Runner and enjoyed the scenic landscape as we traveled alongside the mighty Missouri River. We explored some of St. Louis’s favorite family-friendly attractions!
We exited the train in Kirkwood.  Then we bussed to the St. Louis Zoo.  We all enjoyed our time there.  However, we did need more time to see everything.
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After we left the zoo, we went to Fitz's Premium Root Beer restaurant.  Several of us ordered root beer floats.  We all could have shared one.  Then we checked in at the Drury Inn St. Louis Forest Park where the kids swam and tried to drown each other.  The next day we had breakfast at the hotel, and then left for the Gateway Arch National Park.  The museum was very detailed and informative. We saw a video of the workers walking along the beams that were way up in the air.  Not one of those workers were teathered or secured in any way.  Charley was the only one brave enough to go up into the arch with the kids.
The kids thought the view from the top was amazing.  Walking from the arch, we went to the former federal courthouse where the Dred Scott ruling was made.
Next we went to the City Museum.  This was not a museum, but four floors filled with weirdly wonderful spaces to explore.  The kids took off immediately and we lost them. We finally regrouped and made a meet plan. After the play time we returned to the hotel for the kids nightly swim. Later they were bathed, ready for bed, quiet and on their iPads. We told them we were going to the hotel bar for one of our free drinks. We gave them the rules for staying by themselves. We returned after thirty minutes, max. We heard them talking to some adult!! We got in the room to find them talking to their parents. The kids reported that the Grandmothers left them alone to go out drinking. Little tattletale snots. Who knew how they knew what the WiFi password was or how to call people on their iPads!! Busted.
Our last day started at the Winston Churchill Museum in Fulton to get an up-close look at one of the 20th Centuries most influential leaders and the historic speech he made in Missouri. We saw the largest section of the Berlin Wall in the USA.  It was donated to the Fulton museum by Churchill's Granddaughter. The museum and the rebuilt church above the museum were both very interesting.  The kids even asked our local tour guide questions. Then we stopped for lunch at Ohana Pizza in Fulton. 
Our last stop of the trip was at Booneville and the Warm Springs Ranch, home to the iconic Budweiser Clydesdales. We saw the moms and new babies in the field as our bus approached. We learned from the staff what it takes to care for and nurture this majestic breed of horses. The kids got to pet the horses through the bars (even though the sign said not to). Hudson got a training session on how to drive one of the Budweiser wagons.
Our trip was fun and educational for both the kids and the Grandmothers.  I believe the kids will remember their time on this mini vacation and all the activities and discussions.