Sunday, September 27, 2009

City Museum

We've been so busy, doing so many fun things that I was too worn out to blog last night. So, let's see, what did we do yesterday? Oh yes, we had tickets for Six Flags for yesterday so we headed there even though there were dark clouds on the horizon. We went on 2 or 3 rides and the heavens opened and let loose. Torrential downpour. We tried to wait it out, thinking maybe it would quickly pass and we could go on having fun. No dice. It kept raining, so we called it a day. I felt bad because that was the one place the older kids were really looking forward to going.





Soaking wet


We went back to the hotel to change clothes and then grabbed some lunch. On the menu yesterday, was Imo's for "St. Louis style pizza". For those of you who don't know, St. Louis style pizza is a matzo cracker covered in ketchup and cheez whiz. Yes, we're partial to Chicago pizza, but we've had pizza in a lot of different states. Never have we had something quite like this, however. We're not fans. Sorry St. Louis. Love your city! Hate your pizza.

Brooklyn's new friend


Blech


After lunch, we headed to City Museum. This place is AWESOME and more than made up for the pizza. If you're planning a trip to St. Louis, you have to add this to your itinerary. It's very unique. None of us had ever seen a museum quite like this. When we walked in, we asked for a map and were informed that they don't have maps. "Go explore," is what we were told. and explore we did. There are a zillion nooks and crannies, tunnels, passageways, secret hideaways, paths, slides, stairs, and surprises around every corner. In many places, it looked like we'd just stepped into an "I Spy" book. It was like someone took a collection of junk and formed it into a play place for kids of all ages and the only rule was - have fun and exercise your imagination. I can't adequately describe this place, so I'll let my pictures do it for me...























I have a ton more pictures and video too. I'll put something together when I get back home. This place was just so much fun. All six kids (and Joe and I too) absolutely loved it and repeatedly lamented that they wished we had one in Chicago.

As we left, we witnessed the most beautiful rainbows I've ever seen. These pictures just don't do it justice. It was super-bright and stretched from one end of the sky to the other and even had a second rainbow right on top of it. Breathtaking to behold! How cool would it have been if I'd been at the arch at the time and could've gotten the rainbow going over the top of it?







We went to Rigazzi's for dinner. It was fine. Kinda pricey for the casual atmosphere and the food was ok, but nothing to write home about, in my opinion. After there, we stopped at Ted Drewe's for frozen custard. Tons of people milled around the outside of the place, eating their custard, talking, having fun. The frozen custard was DE-LISH, the guy who took our order remembered all 8 things without writing them down (impressive) and we had a nice end to our day, licking ice cream cones and hanging out on old route 66 in front of Ted Drewe's.

This, however, is what happens to kids who have been up and running all day and haven't gotten quite enough sleep and have been stuck with 7 family members all day, every day, for days...


They get a little wacky!

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

We used to live in St Louis & we aren't crazy about Imos either. The cheese on their pizzas is provolone!!

Toasted ravioli is another St Louis "speciality".

Sorry you got rained out of Six Flags!

Andi said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
The Hall Family said...

We went to the City Museum on a visit to St. Louis this year too because our original plans were rained out. We were so glad it rained that day or we would have never gone! I agree, it was like nothing I had ever seen. I just wish I was small enough to fit inside all the little crawl spaces! Missed out on St. Louis pizza though, thank goodness!

Heather said...

"St. Louis style pizza is a matzo cracker covered in ketchup and cheez whiz"
Seriously?? Sounds like one of Brooklyn's dinner time concoctions...

Cernin4 said...

Wasn't the City Museum AWESOME!!!! My 2 and 4 year olds loved it. That is the one spot I'd highly recommend for families! We spent pretty much all day there and probably didn't do everything. The kids are so darling!

Krissy said...

Not a fan of "the square beyond compare," eh? I wasn't much of a fan either when I lived in STL. The cheese sticks to your teeth, but eventually, when that's all the locals ever want to order, you get used to it.

Thena said...

Awesome pics. Love the rainbow pics.

Christine said...

sorry, I can't let you badmouth Imo's LOL! Glad you had fun at city museum though, that is a cool place!

Tess said...

That looks like a fabulous trip, Dawn. Thanks for sharing all of the pictures. :)

Jen said...

Last picture... He is totally Master Shifu isn't he?! My son and the girls I watch do that EVERYTIME they have stringcheese, apparently it's hilarious :)

Me said...

I've heard that the City Museum is awesome. I plan to hit it next time I make it to saint Louis.

Jo-Ann said...

We spent 3 1/2 weeks in St Louis while my 6 yr old son was being casted. The City Museum was his favorite favorite place in the city.

If you can imagine, he climbed through all of it in a full leg (hip to toe) cast. And lucky me, I got to crawl after him carrying his crutches. LOL

Glad you got to see it, truly a fantastic place!

Robin said...

Looks like you had a good time! I loved the City Museum too!! The caves were so cool and I was just amazed by the creativity. Some of it made me a little bit claustrophobic though...but still a blast!! Glad you had a good St. Louis experience overall.

Unknown said...

My daughter and brand new son-in-law got married in the vault room at City Museum on Saturday. I love the place! Lots of guests told us it was the most fun wedding they'd ever been to!

According to my daughter, who's lived in St. Louis for 8 years, the pizza cheese is provel--a melding of provolone and mozzarella, I believe. She finds it to be quite grotesque. Next time you're in St. Louis, try Dewey's for pizza. We've been there twice and it's yummy!!!

Michelle said...

Ahhh, I love you, Dawn.

My husband is from STL, and the first time I visited his home, he made me have Imo's (bacon pizza) with their salad. They were both gross. I ate the pizza like a dutiful girlfiend but after his parents ordered it for dinner on another trip, I put a halt to that. The "provel" cheese (apparently my husband calls provelone provel) is just NOT meant to be on pizza.

And Rigazzi's. Hee hee. That was also a first trip to STL visit for me. Home of the fishbowl drinks. Let's see... weak, overpriced drinks. A 2 1/2 hour wait. And so-so food. It made it onto the list :)

I DO have a bunch of Chicagoan tested and approved STL restaurants (including family friendly) if you want some suggestions! The custard rocks, although I'm partial to Bobby's Custard on the IL side.

And the City Museum... that's the one place I want to go that we haven't been to ever. I have a friend who went with her husband, and they both had a blast! Glad you enjoyed it... and bummer on the weather.

Joannie said...

I LOVE TED DREWES!!!!!!!!!

Stampin_melissa said...

You did hit the nail on the head! Both the City Museum and Imo's. Whenever we have family visit we take them to the City Museum and we NEVER visit Imo's! St. Louis pizza is horrible! We tried it twice after we moved here, thinking the first place must have been bad luck. Never again! Glad you've enjoyed your visit so far!

Anonymous said...

we spent 8 hours at the city museum on our last st. louis adventure. there's a great book in the gift shop that tells you where they reclaimed all the stuff from. interesting how they collected it all!

Esther (UK) said...

Ah, Master Shifu. 'What is this sound? Laughter? I've never heard of it!'

Anonymous said...

We LOVE the City Museum. Our last visit was before we had kids, and we had a blast climbing through (um, getting stuck in) all the tunnels. Did they still have the GIANT UNDERPANTS? If you got a pic of those, you've got to post it, they're a sight to behold.

Anonymous said...

I have only been to St. Louis on business with no time to do touristy things. Thanks for letting me share vicariously what I missed. Love your 3 photos of the "other" St.Louis arch. Rainbows are always beautiful from any angle and you captured them so nicely! God bless. :)

Winona said...

The cheese on an Imo's pizza is provel, a St. Louis-area concoction that's made from cheddar, Swiss and provolone (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provel_cheese). And frankly, I LOVE IT. I must have Imo's every time I'm visiting the area, although it is nice to know that one can now purchase the pizza sauce, cheese and salad dressing in local grocery stores.

I'm glad you at least gave it the ol' college try, Dawn! (And thanks for the heads-up on the Curious George exhibit at the Magic House!)

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