WEEKEND TRAVEL - Wintery Splendor

Early last month, I took a drive to Poplar Bluff. Something about dogs needing food. ;-) Just West of Van Buren, I saw a beautiful sight:

The contrast of running water cascading over the bedrock to meet with nature's ice sculptures was breathtaking. 

The reason for the live water run as opposed to the ice on the left is due to a fresh spring farther back in the hill that constantly runs, preventing the freeze.

Sights like this abound in the Ozarks and is one of the reasons I prefer avoiding interstates when I travel. The beauty lies beyond the norm... in everything.

#SafeTravels!

HISTORY AND ATTRACTIONS - St. Louis - City Museum

I’ve been wanting to do history posts since this blog began. I just never seem to ‘get there’. As I sat here in the recliner, working on blog posts I decided this is the week to step up and start sharing information about the state I’ve chosen to call home.

This week, I want to take you to St. Louis.

The City of St. Louis was founded on February 15, 1764 when French explorers arrived in the late 17th century but their hold wouldn’t hold for long. Spain took over in 1763. Pierre Laclede and Auguste Chouteau, recognizing the value of their location, started a trading company and established the settlement of St. Louis.

With its connection through the Ohio River to the east, the Mississippi to the south and north, and the Missouri to the west, St. Louis was ideally located to become the main base of inter-regional trade. In the 1840s, the city became a destination for massive immigration by Irish and Germans and the settlement grew exponentially.

While Missouri was a slave state, bordering free states made it the center hub for filing of ‘freedom suits’. Many slaves became free as a result.

Eads Bridge

Recreation and tourism began to grow following the Civil War. Not because of the post war rebuild (though the city only held a small skirmish on the outskirts) but due to pollution of the river as a result of the rebuild and expansion. During the 1870s, Eads Bridge was erected and several parks were established, including Forest Park. Eades Bridge holds the #1 spot on the National Historic Landmarks.

Today, the attractions continue to grow. The Gateway Arch is getting a face-lift and there is talk of renaming the park at its base. Aside from the arch and the zoo, there are a lot of top notch attractions including Forest Park, which hosted the 1904 Worlds Fair. Home of the infamous Clydsdales, you can tour the Budweiser facility or the Botanical Gardens. There are science and art museums and the Missouri History Museum.

But the City Museum ranks high on the list of places to visit.  For some of the best pictures, visit Kristy at Have Kids Will Travel. She is a great photographer and has multiple views of the museum on THIS post. City Museum is created mostly from repurposed materials such as the plane in the photo above. With a maze of tunnels inside and out, places to climb and explore, you could entertain the kids - and yourself - for hours from what I understand.

Until I get over my fear of traffic, I'll never visit this place personally, but if you do I'd love for you to share your experience with us by leaving a comment below. Take us with you when you go!

Plan that summer vacation now and enjoy quality family time exploring St. Louis Missouri

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WEEKEND TRAVEL - Cruising on the River

This week,  I want to give you a totally different view of my world... or rather my husband's world.

I don't know if I've mentioned before that my husband is a river boat captain. His life's work has had him on the river for over thirty years. Over the course of his job, he has shared many pictures he has taken while cruising down the river. They've included Bald Eagles perched in a tree, geese on the barges enjoying bread bits from crew members as well as deer and fox along the banks or attempting to navigate floating ice chunks in an effort to cross the treacherous waters.

But my favorites are of the sunsets. On a recent long-trip down the Illinois from Joliet to just north of St. Louis. He doesn't normally make this long haul but the ice required tow boats to make the run rather than one and Bob was willing to bank some time.

I hope you enjoy these pictures he took.

This first shot is just approaching a bend..

As he capped the turn... behold:

WEEKEND TRAVEL - The Market Basket and Cafe

A week ago last Saturday Bob and I took a trip to Poplar Bluff, MO. Poplar Bluff is growing by leaps and bounds. With the exception of a Sam's Club, we can get just about anything we need there. If it weren't for bulk flour and sugar, I could bypass the 'club' all together.

As we passed through Elsinore, we saw that a restaurant we used to visit on occasion has changed into a place of sheer enjoyment. 

The Market Basket and Cafe is a fabulous surplus discount grocer - something that is popular in this area - as well as a deli and scrumptious buffet.

And I do mean SCRUMPTIOUS. I was surprised to find that after eating there that when I weighed in on Sunday I'd actually dropped two pounds!

The Buffalo Hot Wings, that are not all that 'hot' but pleasantly spiced in a thin buffalo hot sauce, pork ribs that are smoked to perfection, pulled pork, smoked chicken and meatloaf. They offer a wide variety of sides from real mashed potatoes with a rich brown gravy, fried okra, green beans, corn... well, you get the idea. I'm sure some of the sides change periodically. There is also a full salad bar, desserts and beverage selection included in the price of about $12.

The Market sits along Hwy 60 - Westbound lane across from Leerjack truckstop just west of Elsinore city limits. Plenty of parking and seating. They even have picnic tables for outside in pleasant weather!

Aside from the buffet, The Market offers a wide selection of grocery surplus including spices in bulk. The Deli includes a variety of meats and cheeses sliced to order.

If you're cruising through Elsinore MO, on your way to Branson, plan on this place for lunch or dinner. With their bountiful comfort food selections cooked to perfection, you won't go away hungry!

I apologize for the snowy photos. I failed to take pictures while we were there so my husband kindly stopped in a snowstorm to take these pictures for me yesterday.