St Louis Riverfront Style – Arch & Paddle-Wheel Boats

The St Louis Arch. It's really, really big....really it is

All I really knew about St Louis prior to coming here was that it had a really, really big Arch and a famous plane carried her name across the Atlantic in 1927. Both as it turns out, are true the only difference being that the Arch is physically in St Louis whereas the plane was merely funded from here and now resides at the National Air and Space Museum in DC.

So, off to see the Arch I went.

I’m always somewhat skeptical of large architectural projects, at least as far as enjoying them, but I have to admit the Arch is quite the thing to see. This unique structure is the tallest national monument in the US spanning 630 feet (192 m) wide at its base and 630 feet (192 m) tall. It was built as a memorial to Thomas Jefferson’s role in the “opening of the West”, and took 2 1/2 years (1963-1965) and $13 million to complete, rather a bargain. For the not-so-faint-of-heart (that would be not me) you can ride to the top in a tram and scare yourself livid by looking down the void. Right next to the Arch is a replica 19th-century paddle-wheel boat, and while I was there we had the bonus of a Corvette Club rally (Batman’s car was there!) along the Mississippi. The Arch is a cool little side-visit in this “almost West, almost South” town and worth the “wow, it’s big” comment from seeing it in the flesh.

Well, that concludes our short visit to civilization and we’re back off into the boonies where many would say we belong. Have a great week-end, everyone!

Corvette Rally on the riverfront

The paddle-wheel boat on the Mississippi

The Wierdest Little House in St Louis, MO

“Live life fully while you’re here. Have fun, be crazy, be wierd” Anthony Robbins 

Bob's restaurant at City Museum

I’ve often been told I’m a little odd. I like to think it’s part of my natural attraction, but it may just be my inner child, or perhaps my inner gnome . Either way, in line with that particular slant to my personality I like to seek out odd things to do, just for the fun of it. You see, doing unusual things really can be fun, especially when you stretch yourself a little. So, driving into St Louis I decided to find the oddest thing to do, and that I did when I came across City Museum.

This wacky place is in the centre of town and is an eclectic mix of old history pieces and architectural collections surrounded by a psychedelic playground. The museum was designed by artist Bob Cassilly and everything in it is made to be climbed, touched, and experienced. Rooms are filled with slides, life-sized slinkys and secret climbing tunnels surrounded by unique exhibits such as the “Puking Pig”, the “Vault Room” (containing a vault from the 1800′s), and the head of a life-size Bowhead Whale. Sprinkled in for fun are a few historical artifacts such as a collection of shoelace machines from the 1890′s, a 1923 Wurlitzer Pipe Organ, an exhibit of insects, and vintage opera posters. And to top it all off, on the 4th floor is one of St Louis’ largest 2nd-hand clothing stores.

It’s all quite nuts and the whole lot of it is sprawls over 600,000 feet of space and 4 levels, including an outdoor area. You could literally spend hours discovering new things in here. The kids who go have a blast, and the adults who participate seem to have even more fun. I crept through a bunch of tunnels, wound my way down a giant slinky,  slipped on the slides and tried on ridiculous outfits in the 2nd-hand store. A thoroughly weird and useful outing.

One of the many giant slinkeys you can crawl into and explore

View from the 3rd floor

Clothing for $1 at The Bale Out vintage store

I wonder where this goes...?

Egging It In Missouri – Real Eggs, Real Food

“He that but looketh on a plate of ham and eggs to lust after it hath already committed breakfast with it in his heart” CS Lewis

Pastured eggs are worth the hunt

You would think the recent salmonella egg scare has us running like mad chickens away from eggs. There’s certainly been enough scare-mongering in the news to take the happy cluck out of the average chick, but as with all things the devil is in the details. As self-proclaimed RV foodies we care a lot about our food-source and I’ve blogged about it several times in the past (here, here and here). Eggs are no exception, and the fact that mass-producers who pack chickens together in concentrated farms and feed them artificial food (grains) are producing tainted eggs is absolutely no surprise to me. You see, chickens, like all our farm animals are meant to have fresh air and access to forage grass, grubs and insects. These “pastured eggs” are far superior in nutrition (more omega-3′s, beta carotene and vitamin A, D and E) than anything you get in a regular market and we seek them like gold in our RV trips.

The light-colored yolk is a "free-range, organic, high omega-3" egg from Trader Joe's. The gorgeous dark one is the pastured egg from The Old Homestead.

And that’s how I met up with Fran from EatWild. She raises true free-range eggs on The Old Homestead Farm in Missouri. Her chickens are outside all day, allowed to forage and not fed artificial foods. You can see the results in their dark, gorgeous yellow yolk and you can taste the difference. With these eggs I know I’m getting one of nature’s superfoods and best of all, I don’t need to worry about the big salmonella scare.

Know your farmer and know your food. You’ll never be disappointed.