Missouri

     Day three of our big summer vacation we drove from Louisville, Kentucky to St. Louis, Missouri. Our first stop of the day, the Gateway Arch. We had some fun finding where to park and be close enough to it as the road the gps sent us to had been washed out from flooding. Once at the Arch you could see how really bad it was as they had boat and helicopter tours set up but not running as they were also in the overflowing area of the Mississippi. There was a huge line waiting to get in on the closer leg of the Arch, so we walked over to the other leg and had hardly any wait at all. We bought out tickets from our tram up and looked around the museum they have housed underneath. Great way to kill time while waiting for your tram time to go up.

     The tram itself was a weird egg shaped contraption that amazingly fit all six of us in. The ride was surreal as you feel yourself moving up at an angle following the shape of the arch. No standard elevator in here. Once at the top you can stay and view as long as you like. No matter which side tram you took up you can take either down. The view was of course amazing. The kids loved it. We took tons and tons of pictures from all sides. Unless standing directly in the middle of the Arch you needed to have some good balance  going on because you are in an arch. Very different. Very cool.

Emily, Ethan, and the Frog!

     After the Arch we stopped at Ponderosa for lunch. We used to have the chain here on Long Island and I loved it so I was excited. It still is pretty much the same with the salad bar on steriods with so many other good things to eat besides salad. Emily loved it and had we found another on the trip we definitely would have gone again. Unfortunately we did not. The good news is I believe there is one by our timeshare in Florida so we will visit that one come this summer.

     We checked into our hotel after lunch. We digested, relaxed and then got changed and headed off to our first Six Flags park of the trip. Six Flags Over St. Louis. It's probably about half the size of our Great Adventure park but had a lot of different things. The favorite for Jacob being the train that went around the whole park. Emily was happy with antique cars she could actually drive. Jacob passed for 42" and made it on a roller coaster and the swinger. He loved them both. I made it over to The Boss, a wooden roller coaster with the boys and we got off just in time for the massive down pour. And it wasn't a quick one. Our night was cut short and we were completely soaked along with a few thousand other people. Back off to the hotel. At least we knew we had a full day in the park tomorrow.
     That night was fun for me as I wanted to get our clothes dried and packed away. There was a washer and dryer at the hotel but after waiting to use them the dryer was no longer working. I asked and they were able to dry my stuff in their commercial dryer. It was great because it only took about and hour for 2 loads to dry. I did have to stay up making sure I got my stuff back. I hung in the lobby/breakfast area reading and waiting while everyone else was sleeping. Another guest came down while I was there and offered up his leftover White Castle he had bought for him and his son who had never had it. They had way too much and didn't want to waste it. The night clerk and I got an extra free meal. It was yummy too and perfect because my husband doesn't like it, so I knew we wouldn't be having it at all on the trip anyway. There was so much I even brought a few hamburgers back for the big boys who had them for breakfast in the morning.

     Day 4 was for Six Flags St. Louis. We dressed for the water park and headed straight there as soon as it opened. Everyone always loves the wave pool and it's nice because we can all be together there. This one was the grossest I had seen but we were in it anyway. Lots of leaves and dirt and then who could forget the frog! Yup, a frog swimming there in the pool with us! I asked the lifeguard about it she just shrugged her shoulders and turned around. Guess frogs in their pools are a normal occurance. Then a boy named Ethan came over, caught the frog and set him free outside of the pool. A few hours at the water park and we were done. Every water park is pretty much the same, some body slides, some tube rides, a kiddie area and a wave pool. It was hot so we did enjoy it but we wanted to get to the rest of the park.

     We drove through Steak 'N Shake for lunch on our way to our hotel to change and get ready for the regular park. With it's name we had to try the shakes and they were awesome. Another yummy new place we'd have to have again sometime. Rob left his credit card at the window and had to make a trip back while the rest of us ate and got ready to head out again. Thankfully they had it right there and it didn't cause any problems.

     The rest of the evening was spent riding the rides at the park. One of the favorite coasters was the Evil Knievel. Another wooden coaster we almost missed because we wanted to see the "Glow in the park Parade." Rob and I both thought it was really good and Andrew said it was his favorite too. The parade was fun and really neat as they turn out all the lights and the performers and floats are lit up. My kids are all about the coasters but I love the thrill rides. This park had one of the best called Xcaliber. Robert and I rode it twice. You spin around in your car while the whole ride rotates up and around 113ft in the air. An awesome ride. All in all a good time for everyone in Missouri. And a really fun park for us all. The next day we would make our way up parts of the original Route 66 on our way the Chicago!