I-70 Adventure!

I am blogging while watching the Olympics! GO USA!!! I am always sad when it's over. I go into a few days of withdrawal. But we are doing great - and there's a 41 year old gymnast from Ukraine so maybe I still have a chance! 

If you know me then you know I LOVE museums! Art museums in particular. So it came as a bit of a shock to me that even though Keeley lived in St Louis for 7 years between college and working - and I made a hundred trips over to see her there - I have never been to the St Louis Art Museum! I'm ashamed. So that needed to be rectified. I suggested a weekend trip over to St Louis and Jim agreed. He asked if I had ever stopped at some of the historic little towns along the way and I had to say no. Of course I have been to Columbia but other then that just back and forth to St Louis. Jim's idea was to stop at Arrow Rock on the way over and Hermann, MO on the way back. Since I embrace the "Just Say Yes" philosophy I had to say YES! Great choices so let me tell you a little about the trip.

The whole town is designated as a historic landmark. Top right picture is the Arrow Rock Bluff which used to overlook the Missouri River. Bottom right sign commemorates the start of the Sante Fe Trail. 

Arrow Rock is very historic and very tiny. Population sign said 56 people but it seemed a little bigger then that. The Missouri River used to flow right past so Arrow Rock was very important for explorers and settlers heading west. But then the Missouri River moved which is always hard for me to grasp - and growth occurred elsewhere. The town is really cute and very well maintained. It was fun to drive around and see the historic sites - but it doesn't take very long.  

Original log cabin open for viewing. One room and a family with 6 children lived there! It would be perfect for me since I don't need much room! 

Bottom picture is the Courthouse restored for the period of 1840.  

Arrow Rock is probably best known for the Lyceum Theater. A professional theatre for 56 years! I have heard it is excellent and only about a 90 minute drive from Kansas City. 

Formerly a Baptist church. 

There are a couple of restaurants there that got good reviews so it would be fun to drive out for dinner and see a show some night! We had a light bite at a cute little bakery in town and headed on to St Louis.

We really lucked out on the weather. For early August it couldn't have been nicer. Sunny and in the low 80's!  We headed right to the art museum which is in beautiful Forest Park. 

Main entrance to the museum but it has two large wings that extend in both directions. Gorgeous building! 

Statue in front of the museum. 

Beautiful lawn in front of the museum. 

The museum is excellent. We spent about 3 hours there and gave serious thought to returning on Sunday. I will definitely be back. The restaurant looked very nice as well so a nice option for lunch. I won't bore you with all the great pieces we saw - but wanted to share that they house the largest public collection in the world of pieces by Max Beckmann. He is arguably the greatest German painter of the 20th century. He is described as a German Expressionist - but I read that he opposed that label. 

The Sinking of the Titanic, 1912-13.  Max Beckmann 1884-1950. 

Then we were off for dinner in the Central West End! Love that area. Keeley lived pretty close so I was a little familiar. Shops, galleries and restaurants. We had a drink at a place called Herbies.

Believed this guy when he said they had a great bar.  True! 

Dinner outside on the patio - excellent! Shrimp for Jim and Salmon for me under that beautiful tower of shredded veggies. 

Sunday we ate breakfast at Companion in Ladue - one of my favorite places in St Louis! Great homemade bread, breakfasts and lunches, coffee, etc. Then on our way to Hermann, Mo. I have been hearing about Hermann for years. Lots of people go for the weekend as they have quite a bit to do and see. It's probably best known for the wineries - there are 4 or 5 so you can take a tram and go to all of them and do wine tasting. Plus there are lots of historic buildings, shops, bed and breakfasts and restaurants. The town was settled by Germans in the 1800's and they settled there because it reminded them of the Rhine River valley. It's a beautiful town with hills overlooking the river. Population is about 2400. 

Stone Hill Winery is the largest in the state. 

We only had time for one winery so picked Stone Hill and did the tasting and took the tour. So interesting to have someone walk you through the process. 

Our tour guide Steve did a great job! Some of the buildings are original from the 1800's. 

We walked around in town a bit and decided to stop at a local brewery. I definitely prefer wine but decided to give a little love to their microbrewery called Tin Mill.  

That was it for the weekend! Lots of fun, history, food and wine. What's not to like. Now back to the Olympics!!! 

Make it a great week!