Hiking around the huge stones at the former Meramec Highland Quarry is the adventure at Dee Koestering Park in Kirkwood, Mo. My son Andrew enjoyed walking up and around the huge rock cuts and then exploring the brook that flowed through the area at this park. QUARRY ROCK Several hundred stones remain scattered about along with others that are stacked on top of each other…
Drive-by haunting church ruins, eating a German-style meal in Bavarian decor, and seeing a rainbow of autumn colors are highlights of our backwoods adventure along the Illinois Bluff Road. Each year we take a drive in the MetroEast going south on the Bluff Road towards Valmeyer, Illinois. Here you drive along the valley with the bluffs to your right with the golds, reds, and yellows of…
The mile-long Old Chain of Rocks Bridge 60-feet above the Mississippi River with a 30-degree turn midway was my quest today. This bridge is historical since it once was part of a stretch of historic U.S. Route 66 and is at a major point along the Mississippi River near rock ledges that once created dangerous rapids for riverboats. Driving To Old Chain of Rocks Bridge…
Enter the world of illusions and be amazed at the Museum of Illusions St. Louis, located at the City Foundry. The museum allows you to experience unique rooms where you are not always sure what you see or where you are. 3-D Fun We entered the museum and came to the area where my son could make a 3-D image of himself with a third…
Hike to Wisconsin’s highest point, Timm’s Hill, at 1,951 feet, and climb a 50-foot wooden tower for breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding hills and valleys. The 0.4-mile hike is out-and-back on a natural surface with 98 feet of elevation gain on a natural surface. (We stopped here heading back from our trip to explore part of the North Shore in Minnesota and the Apostle…
Our one-day adventure to the Apostle Islands included finding a waterfall, relaxing on a beach, and seeing the sea caves. (This was our second day on our trip to explore part of the North Shore in Minnesota and the Apostle Islands.) We set out in the morning for our drive from Duluth, Minnesota, to Bayfield, Wisconsin, for our boat trip to see the Apostle Islands….
Black sand, pebble beaches, and cliffside views were part of our second day along the North Shore of Lake Superior. (This was part of our trip to explore part of the North Shore in Minnesota and the Apostle Islands.) BLACK SAND BEACH The Black Beach Inn is, of course, not far from the Black Sand Beach. We drove to the right of the hotel along…
As we headed to the North Shore of Lake Superior to spend the night, we saw spectacular waterfalls, rapids, and a cliffside lighthouse. (This was our second day on our trip to explore part of the North Shore in Minnesota and the Apostle Islands.) Leaving Minneapolis, we stopped at two state parks before reaching the North Shore of Lake Superior. BANNING STATE PARK First, we…
Seeing the iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture highlights a visit to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. The sculpture garden has over 40 works from the Walker Art Center’s collections. (This was our first stop on our family trip to explore part of the North Shore in Minnesota and the Apostle Islands.) East Side Walk We first checked out the Spoonbridge and Cherry created by Claes Oldenburg…
Go to the pinnacle of the 630-foot Gateway Arch in downtown St. Louis where you can have far-off views of Missouri and Illinois. It is the smallest national park in the U.S. and is located in downtown St. Louis, Mo. My son and I spent the morning exploring this amazing feat of architecture. About the Arch The Arch commemorates St. Louis’ role in the westward…
