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Gateway Arch |
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Meghan and Skip and bottom of arch |
We have stopped in Granite City, Illinois to visit my niece, Meghan and her husband, Brent, and also tour St. Louis, MO. We are at the KOA, which is located about 15 minutes from downtown St. Louis. Meghan took us in to do the "touristy" Gateway Arch and go to see the famous Clydesdale horses. The arch was built on the banks of the Mississippi River to remind everyone of the role St. Louis played in the expansion westward of the U.S.
For the ride up, you enter a "pod" which holds five individuals for the ride to the top of the 630 ft. arch. The ride is 4 minutes to the top and the return ride is 3 minutes.
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inside the pod |
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view looking down from Arch |
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Meghan and I at top of the Arch |
Afterwards, we went to Anheuser-Busch. There is a free tour of the plant if you wish to learn about beer and get a free sample. We skipped the full tour - went to stable area to visit "their best advertising" - the Clydesdale horses. They are beautiful, big, and live in a stable that is not to shabby!!!!! Loved the chandelier!!!!
Had dinner at Brent and Meghan's home. Thumper got to see Spencer (last time was 2 years ago). Had a great time; dogs were happy - they got their own "doggie ice cream" for dessert.
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Meghan's sous-chefs |
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doggie ice cream!!!!! |
Over the weekend, we all went on an excursion of St. Louis. We saw the beautiful Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis,
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outside Basilica |
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inside Basilica |
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section of ceiling in Basilica |
drove by Washington University (where Meghan went for her master's degree) and then to Forest Park. This park has a golf course, tennis courts, various lake areas, the Museum of Art, a visitor and education center, Saint Louis Zoo, a skating rink in winter, and many more attractions to visit or just sit back and enjoy the beautiful grounds. . We went to The Boathouse for lunch (when you eat outside, your dogs come along). There are plenty of water bowls around for your dogs, plus when you are seated each dog gets his own water bowl. Doesn't get any better than that!!!!!
Great time in visiting St. Louis and Meghan, Brent and Spencer. Our next stop is home to Connecticut for awhile. Thumper misses her friends and being off a leash. Skip and I miss our family and friends, and Skip also misses his cars and car shows.