Overnight stop: 2011

Monday, December 12, 2011

Rib America Festival 2009

I was lucky enough to be in St. Louis the last two years when this was going on. The food is excellent, and it%26#39;s a lot of fun to attend. Although it gets crowded at night around the stage area, it%26#39;s not so jammed that you can%26#39;t enjoy yourself. It%26#39;s contained within several ';closed to traffic'; blocks from Tucker to N. 15th and from Market to Pine.

This years dates are May 22 though May 25th. The web page is:

www.ribamerica.com/stlouis.html

Rib America Festival 2009

Wow- 80%26#39;s Hair Metal on Saturday night. I%26#39;m going.

Rib America Festival 2009

Headbanger, huh?

Five words come to mind when thinking about the 80%26#39;s music:

Martha Quinn and Adam Curry

Attractions in Columbia

Hi,

We%26#39;re a family with two kids (3 and 6), and we%26#39;re considering a weekend in Columbia or its suroundings. Are there any attractions good at this time of the year (I saw that many attractions are outdoor ones like garden - which I don%26#39;t know if will work at this time of the year).

THanks

Attractions in Columbia

Anyone? anything, or should I assume that it will be a waste of time and we shouldn%26#39;t go?

Attractions in Columbia

Well, if the weekend is nice you could always catch an MU baseball or softball game!

Sorry, I just saw your post a day or two ago. As you can tell there is not much activity on this forum. You could try posting on the Kansas City, St. Louis and/or Missouri forums to see what people do with kids as visitors in Columbia. I don%26#39;t have children, so I don%26#39;t have any immediate answers.

TRYPS(Theater Reaching Young People and Schools) has performances March 20-21 on ';Alexnder....Who Is Not, Not, Not, Not Moving!'; Two performances are sold out. There are still tickets for the Friday night and Saturday matinee times slots. 573-449-4536. See is the website for other activity.http://tryps.missouri.org/TRYPS/Home.html

There%26#39;s the Katy Trail that you can walk or bike in Columbia or nearby Rocheport.

There is an interactive museum downtown.http://www.youzeum.org/visit/hours.php

Drury Inn & Suites near Forest Park

My family is going ot St. Louis for spring break and it looks like the Drury near Forest Park is nice. Anyone have any recent experience staying there? I have 2 teenagers so need an indoor pool %26amp; the breakfast would be nice. Thanks!

Drury Inn %26amp; Suites near Forest Park

I haven%26#39;t stayed at that particular property, but I am a huge Drury fan in general. We stay at Drury whenever possible.....mainly because of our dog. All drurys allow pets....FOR FREE! That fact puts them at the top of our list but we are always pleased anyway.

We have stayed at some older ones, though, and they aren%26#39;t as nice as the newer ones.

Is there a particular reason you want to stay at this location? I don%26#39;t know anything about it so am NOT saying it isn%26#39;t a good one, just wondering if you had considered some of the other ones as well.

Drury Inn %26amp; Suites near Forest Park

Thanks for the info. No particular reason for this one except it seemed like it was close to most touristy things. However, if you have another recommendation, would be glad to hear since have not stayed at these before. The pet policy was great so any of them would probably be fine. Thanks!

I am a fan of both the Drury Plaza downtown and the Drury Plaza at Chesterfield (Chesterfield might be too far out for you, though). I also like the Drury Inn and Suites on the other side of the river in O%26#39;Fallon, IL but that is also farther from the touristy stuff.

If downtown location would work for you, I would look at the Drury Plaza. You might already know this, but if you use the promotion code ';FUN'; for any STL area drury location you can save money....I used it this past weekend at the Plaza downtown and saved $20 per night.

Short Spring Break Trip with Large Family

We haven%26#39;t been to Branson in a little bit. Now our family has grown and we are not sure how to still have fun on without breaking our wallets. My husband I will be traveling with our children (13, 12, 9, 4, and 10 months) March 27th - 29th. Our cousins family will be joining us with their 4 %26amp; 6 year old children. So as you can see we have quite the number with us. We%26#39;ve managed to find a condo (thanks for the feedback on www.vrbo.com), but would like suggestions on things to see or do that would be economical. I noticed that SDC is not open on the 28th, so we will have to do that on the 27th or 29th. Any other suggestions. Attractions and places to eat!

Short Spring Break Trip with Large Family

Since you are going to SDC, I would suggest you purchase your tickets through www.reservebranson.com. You’ll get 2 days for the price of 1. Then you can go on Friday and if you decide to go to SDC again for a few hours on Sunday, you can for free.

If you attend any shows, be sure to ask about family passes. If they offer them, sometimes this is the cheapest option. Also, for 2 tickets for the price of one, check out www.branson2for1tickets.com. They don’t have all of the shows, but they have a fairly large selection. You’ll have to stop in their office on the SW corner of Hwy 76 and Roark Valley (street light at this intersection slightly west of Hwy 65). They also carry 2 for 1 for one of the mini golf places besides show tickets. Also, you may find coupons for discounts for mini golf, the tracks, lazer tag….. etc in one of the booklets or maps around town.

For free items, the best playground equipment is in Stockstill Park. Stop by a grocery store’s deli for an inexpensive picnic. Head down to the Landing, walk the boardwalk, play area in square, have a free ride on the trolley (one goes only on the Landing but another takes you to historical downtown), %26amp; watch the water and fire show. If you go to the historical downtown, check out Dick’s Five and Dime. They have a mini version on the Landing but it’s not much to see compared to this one.

Head to the Table Rock Dam and go to the fish hatchery. Take some paper cups or bags for the fish food machines and a pocket full of quarters. Cross the dam and head to Dewey Shorts. Walk the trail. This is another good place for a picnic.

Kids get in free at the Ralph Foster Museum at the College of the Ozarks. Take a tour of the college too. Go when you can see the milking demonstration if you have a “cow” fan. They also have a working mill. All is free except if you go to the Museum 2009 rates were $4.50 per adult. Kids 17 and under free. Take your camera. They have 2 floors of wildlife scenes. BTW, my 2 yo granddaughter stood in front of the full sized moose for 5 minutes having a stare down. Finally she declared “No like moose” and walked off. Your kids may have a lot of fun there. Mini carnival scene along with the Beverly Hillbillies car too. Lots of historical memorabilia.

To save money at SDC you should know SDC allows food. Pack your own snacks or even your lunch if you prefer. Lots of outdoor places to sit and eat. Also, check into purchasing some SDC mugs. The refills are at a discount. This is especially a savings if you purchase the specialty drinks. Take your own stroller too instead of renting one. This is not a money saving tip but it is one of my favorite family services SDC has. Nursing Stations with rockers. You’ll find them on the maps. They will make your day with a 10 month old. Also, another place for rockers is the Culinary School’s porch. Usually the backside overlooking Echo Hollow is quieter than other areas.

For dining, I would suggest eatting out lunch and eat dinner in your condo since lunch prices are normally cheaper. Danna%26#39;s (good BBQ) has very large portions and good prices. Mel%26#39;s Hard Luck Diner (50%26#39;s diner with singing wait staff) also has good food and large portions at affordable prices. The kids could easily share at these places. Also consider pizza %26amp; deli take out. McFarlins usually has some coupons floating around. If you dine there, ask for a special table for the kids to sit at. It will slowly rise while they dine.

Have fun.

Kansas City in July

Now my husband %26amp; I are to attend a wedding in July in Kansas City. We most likely will rent a car. We like quirky things, hiking, water parks and some museums. Can you please suggest anything in a 2 hour radius that might fill that bill?

Thanks from NYC.

Kansas City in July

Kansas City Missouri has a major water park: Oceans of Fun. It was one of the first of its kind.

Quirky?

St. Joseph MO has the Glore Psychiatric Museum. I%26#39;ve never been there, but it looked interesting on Rare Vissions and Roadside Revelations.

Or Truck Henge in Topeka. http://www.kansastravel.org/truckhenge.htm

Kansas City in July

Truck Henge....right up our alley...especially since we ran into Foam Henge in Virginia. Appreciate your suggestions.

A couple of museums that I enjoyed are the Steamboat Arabia. This is a steamboat that went down in the Missouri river. A local Independence Mo family was instrumental in raising the steamboat and rescuing it%26#39;s cargo. They have a really awesome museum down at the Kansas City River Market area that displays the cargo. ANother interesting place to visit is the Harry Truman Home in Independence Mo. It%26#39;s amazing to see how Harry and Bess lived, whether you%26#39;re a Democrat or a Republican, I think you will be surprised to see their humble dwelling. Both of these destinations are within 10 - 15 minutes of downtown KC.

Check this out - REAL QUIRKY! LOL!

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/KS-Lucas.html

Link to Glore Psychiatric Museum

legendsofamerica.com/MO-PsychiatricMuseum.ht…

eye application

drawing a circle

Any suitable evening places for 5 and 3 yr old- loop maybe?

My sister-n-law and I are taking my 2 daughters 5 and 3 to STL for 3 days the beginning of April. I plan to see the zoo for sure, pobably the city museum, maybe botanical Gardens, butterfly house and magic house. We will also see Union Station since we are staying at Mariott at Union Station

I remember last time I was in Memphis with my Mom(I was about 17) there were a handful of families that had children with them down on Beale St, watching the piano players/ musicians.

I would love to expose the girls to a little bit of that local type music culture and I think they would enjoy it. Is there anywhere that I could take them taht would have live music, I dont care the type of the music I just would not want a real crazy scene or a campus type environment. I have in mind someplace like Coops Place or Napoleans in New Orleans,(for any of you who might be familiar) where you might see a crazy few but also would see another family.

Any suitable evening places for 5 and 3 yr old- loop maybe?

I haven%26#39;t been to the places you%26#39;ve mentioned, so I don%26#39;t know how they%26#39;d compare, but Brandts and Riddle%26#39;s Cafes each have live jazz and blues several nights per week. They are probably the most calm places in the Loop to hear music. Most of the other venues, like Cicero%26#39;s, Blueberry Hill and the Pageant are LOUD and aimed at college kids and above.

http://www.brandtscafe.com/

http://www.riddlescafe.com/

RV park

We will be visiting Branson this summer and are looking for an RV park near Table Rock lake that allows a small dog, has a swimming pool and lake front access so the boys can fish while the girls layout near the pool?

Can someone give me some recommendations?

Renaissance St Louis Airport

Has any booked this hotel using Apple Vacations? My paperwork says to bring park and fly voucers.Not sure what they want.

Renaissance St Louis Airport

I%26#39;m not sure if I am answering your question but I will try. It sounds like you booked a ';park and fly'; package which means you can leave your vehicle in their lot while you are on your vacation. You would use the hotel%26#39;s shuttle to get to and from the airport. The price to leave your car in their lot would be included in the price of the room. I don%26#39;t know what paperwork they are referring to. When I have used the park and fly option, I had to give my vehicle information at check in and they gave me a sticker or piece of paper to display in my vehicle window.

I hope that helps.

Rodeway Inn

has anyone ever stayed here? we got a good nightly rate for this place. i think it is right by the tanger outlet mall. they are changing over to the prince charles inn. any information would be greatly apprecaited. thanks!

Rodeway Inn

I%26#39;ve never stayed there myself and I don%26#39;t remember reading anything about them on the forums I read. If no one here answers you, TA has them listed on their site. They have reviews there. If you are not happy with the reviews on TA, go to www.1branson.com/forum and read over the lodging threads. You%26#39;ll find all sort of ideas there for different price ranges and amenities.

Have a great time in Branson.

Can't miss shows

What are the best shows in Branson that one should be sure to see? We will be traveling there in May 2009. Just doing a little advanced planning.

Can't miss shows

So many different types of shows are in Branson, so it depends on what %26#39;type%26#39; of show you prefer ;;;; country music, 50%26#39;s, 60%26#39;. or 70%26#39;s music, comedy, magic, cowboy music, THe Dixie Stampede, Any Williams, outdoor drama, just to name a few. Our preference is traditional country music, and that is why we purchase season tickets to the Clay Cooper Country Music Express show. Clay is our %26#39;FAVORITE'; and we see his show at least once every trip to Branson! He changes it a little bit throughout each season, so we enjoy it each and every time. Tell us what kind of show (s) you are looking for, and I%26#39;m sure you%26#39;ll get some recommendations!

Can't miss shows

Hi phone the chamber of commerce and get the 2009 Branson vacation guide. Its free.

1-800-214-3661

We enjoy Clay Cooper, Joe Riley---he has lots of comedy. also a good show is Penny Gilley at the RFD theatre. We were very impressed.

Eat at the Golden Corral and take in Allen Edwards in the back room. Very good. Sings Jim Reeves songs. The Haygoods, a family of 7 boys and 1 girl, very fast paced and very good. Wonderful talent, also we enjoyed 14 Karat country.

We are going in April or early May.

There is so much to see and do.

Take in Branson Landing, nice place to shop and eat.

Have fun

The Pressly%26#39;s seems to be a show that everyone has seen. I%26#39;m not sure if it%26#39;s because they%26#39;re good or it%26#39;s becasue they have been in Branson since the beginning of time! My husband really like Shoiji Tabuchi (sp?). I really like the Jim Stafford show. Andy Williams theater is one that always seems to fill up quickly too but that%26#39;s not really my kind of music so I%26#39;ve never been. Like the other said, there%26#39;s ton and it really depends on the type of music and comedy you like.

When are your trip dates in May? The Branson theater owners assn. has just announced that the Springtastic Show Spree will be May 11-17th. We went last year (first year offered) and saw 10 shows for $100 each. They haven%26#39;t posted the cost or list of shows yet, but if those are your travel dates it is a GREAT deal!

We love the Presley%26#39;s and Shepherd of the Hills. I have also heard that Noah%26#39;s Ark is great but have not been myself.

Wow! Thanks for all the tips. I like all types of music but lean toward country. We will have to get the show guide from the C of C as suggested. I had now idea there was such variety.

Since you mentioned you like country music, I%26#39;d definitely suggest you see Clay Cooper%26#39;s show. He%26#39;s pretty traditional country, but also has some modern country in his show. Great comedy and dancing thrown in too! Branson 2 for 1 tickets is a good place to purchase your tickets. IS NOT A TIME SHARE DEAL!!!! You purchase 1 ticket and they give you the 2nd ticket.....So that makes the tickets almost 1/2 price of what you would pay at the theater. They don%26#39;t offer tickets to all theaters (but do sell for Clay Cooper!) It%26#39;s also cheaper if you pay them with cash instead of credit card! They give you vouchers, which you take to the theater and exchange for tickets. We%26#39;ve used them several times and never had a problem. The Shepherd of the Hills outdoor drama is another very good choice. This is a production about the history of the Shepherd of the Hills. Dixie Stampede is a good choice for a variety show that includes lots of animals and gives you dinner (no silverware offered) with the show! A bit pricey, but not bad when you factor in dinner with the show.

JOey Riley has good country music and comedy.

Forgot to mention the Roy Rogers Jr Museum and Theater. Don%26#39;t know your age, but if you are a fan of cowboy music, this is a good one. A small, intimate theater, and Roy and his band only do cowboy music, no country, bluegrass or modern country. If you were a fan of Roy and Dale, you%26#39;ll enjoy going through the museum (will like it even if you%26#39;re not a fan!) Roy Jr devotes part of his %26#39;show time%26#39; to a period of talking about his life growing up with Roy and Dale and takes the time to answer questions. After the show, Roy also goes to the gift shop, mixes with the people and poses for all the pictures you want to take with him.

I highly recommend SIX! They are simply the best in Branson and a show you will want to see again and again. Read the reviews. They are rated #1 on Trip Advisor!

Really haven%26#39;t seen any shows that I didn%26#39;t like, although some are better than others. Really liked the Haygoods. Mickey Gilley puts on a nice show. SIX is a newer offering and really unique. We liked Pierce Arrrow but haven%26#39;t seen them in 3 years. The comedian Yakof Smirnoff (sp) is also very good.

Just try%26#39;em all.

How's the weather in May?

Thinking of staying here for the first time in May or June. Is the lake warm enough for swimming in May?

How's the weather in May?

It wouldn%26#39;t be for me. But I would just as soon wait until the weather is in the 90s.

How's the weather in May?

May is border-line, but June should be fine. I would try to stay somewhere with a heated pool just in case.

The water temp in May would likely be in the low mid 60s (F). Obviously this will vary based on weather this spring. Currently it is running 48-50 degrees F.

Have a great trip.

eye application

Live Blues Mar 19,20?

My husband and I will be in St.Louis on March 19 and 20. We would love to go hear some live blues music while we%26#39;re there. Any suggestions?

Live Blues Mar 19,20?

Broadway Oyster Bar, BB%26#39;s Jazz Blues %26amp; Soups, and Beale on Broadway are my favorites. They play a lot of Blues, but not every night. The website riverfronttimes.com will list who is scheduled for a particular night.

Live Blues Mar 19,20?

Tara%26#39;s suggestions are good particularly if you will be staying in the downtown area.

There%26#39;s a group of clubs just south of the baseball stadium: BB%26#39;s Jazz, Blues, %26amp; Soups, Beale on Broadway, and the Broadway Oyster Bar that always feature good, live Blues, some local, some national.

We have an excellent community radio station in STL, KDHX, which maintains an excellent music calendar here: www.kdhx.org/index.php…

Thanks fo much Tara STL and STL Kingfish. We%26#39;re on the road (have been for 7 weeks) so it%26#39;s taken a while to get caught up. We%26#39;ve looked into your suggestions and have a plan. I%26#39;ll post after our trip to let you know how it went. Thanks again.

Check out this link for more info on the St. Louis Blues music scene:

…metromix.com/facets/music/topic.music.music…

You should tune into KDHX, 88.1 FM, while you%26#39;re tooling around town, particularly between 4:00 %26amp; 6:50 pm weekdays. If you like blues, it will make you happy.

One more suggestion: Blues City Deli.

They have acoustic blues early on Thursday evenings, and damn fine sandwiches.

Website: http://www.bluescitydeli.com/

Thanks again TaraSTL, STLKingfish and JKJohnsonf. We ended up only spending one night, March 18 in STL as our plans changed at the last minute. We did a little sightseeing then heading to the Broadway Oyster Bar for dinner. They had a private party that night so no live music. Then we went to Beale on Broadway and listened to Johnny Fox. Had a great time. Hear they have a terrific singer that does a lot of Etta James. We%26#39;ll have to go back. We plan to return again next year on our way home from Arizona. Take care

Augusta nice romatic cottage lodging ?

Want to stay around Augusta and Hermann and do the wineries - need lodging ideas ?

Cottage, B%26amp;B, Lodge, etc.....

Augusta nice romatic cottage lodging ?

Try this link for lodging in Hermann. Lots of B %26amp; Bs and guest Haus

http://www.hermannmissouri.com/bandb.htm

Augusta nice romatic cottage lodging ?

Love the Hermann area.....and have both links for there and Augusta. Hoping for a more personal view of some where someone else has stayed and know it%26#39;s nice, etc. without having to go through all the links if anyone has some thought on that. Wish I was there right now!!!

Just trying to help. Your request wasn%26#39;t very specific.....sorry to bother you with the links you already have.

The only place I have stayed at is Hermann Hill Inn. I loved it though! The accommodations are nice. I believe there is a fireplace, jacuzzi tub, two person shower, mini fridge (stocked with candy and soda and stuff for about $.50 - $1 each) and deck or patio in every room. There is also a library downstairs with books and dvds that you can use in your room (there is also a dvd player in every room). Next to the library is a coffee/cappucino machine that uses those little single serve packets. Breakfast is great and can be eaten in the kitchen, dining room, on the patio, or served to your room. They also bring by homemade cookies (more like mini cakes) with ice cream and their own port rasberry chocolate sauce every night.

They have also recently opened up cottages near Hermanhoff, but I have not yet stayed in one. Their website for the Inn and cottages is www.hermannhill.com.

I know you posted a while ago but I was wondering how your overall experience was when you visited.

Where did you end up staying? I have a friends who is going with his girlfriend later this month so I was doing alittle research for a number of resaons.

Thanks for your help,

bay66

horseback riding

Anyone know of a good place to go horseback riding in Branson? Thank you!

horseback riding

for starters, try www.theshepherdofthehills.com. I would imagine you can take trail rides there. I%26#39;ve seen horses and signs for trail rides around Branson, but don%26#39;t know names of any of the places. Next time I%26#39;m in Branson, I%26#39;ll keep a watch for places and try to post it for you! Sounds like you are trying to plan a %26#39;fun itinerary%26#39; for your Branson trip! tele # for the Shepherd of the Hills is 417 334 4191.

horseback riding

Your great!! I feel like you are my vacation planner. LOL Really do appreciate your help. This is our first trip to Branson and who knows if we will get there again so I like to do everything we possibly can. Trying to keep the kids occupied makes for a peaceful trip. If you ever come to the east coast maybe I can answer some of your questions. I will check out that web site you gave me to see if I can get any info. Thanks again!

In looking thru my Branson book, found another option for you --- Wild Eye Ranch, located in Galena M0, between 15 - 20 miles from Branson. Their tele # is 417 357 6346, and web site is wildeyeranch.com I don%26#39;t know anything about this place, just saw them in the book. Maybe someone else has had experience with them?

And I just checked out another place - Big Cedar Lodge. This is an upscale resort owned by Bass Pro Shops. We have toured the grounds and everything is really nice. You can stay in lodge-type rooms or individual cabins Noticed in the brochure that they have a 1 hour ride ambling through the woods, offering a scenic view of Table Rock Lake. Says riders must be 6 yrs and over. About 15 minutes outside Branson. 417 335 2777 bigcedar.com

I%26#39;ll keeping looking for another places! I like challenges!~

I checked out the web site of wild eye ranch and I wasn%26#39;t too impressed. I found one called Uncle Ike%26#39;s and that looks nice. Its between branson and west branson. I%26#39;m going to check out Bigcedar.com. Thanks again and let me know if you find anything else.

Uncle Ikes has been there for many ,many years. I went on a trail ride there as a kid and had a very good experience. (of course things could have changed since then!). Its very close to the entrance of Silver Dollar City.

Since Uncle Ike%26#39;s is very close to SDC does this mean I should plan around the traffic? From what I gather the traffic to SDC is horrendous. Thank%26#39;s for your reply!

I think that depends on what time of day your are traveling on that stretch of road. Busiest time seems to be in the morning between 9ish and noonish. They have added lanes going into SDC and Indian Point in the last few years so its not as bad as it used to be. Personally, I wouldn%26#39;t worry about it. . . just go with the flow! :)

try www.eliteequineexcursions.com very nice place and he does all day trips,camping and also hunting.

My daughther (age 10) and I went last year to Dogwood Canyon. If you all like the outdoors, this is a beautiful place. The horseback ride was reasonable and the guides were fun. They pointed out wildlife (deer, turkey etc.) along the way. The trailride wasn%26#39;t real scenic, but taking the hike or tram ride while there more than makes up for it. They have several activities for the whole family. It was a good drive out of Branson, but so worth it we are going again this year. If I remember right, the same man that owns Bass Pro Shop bought and developed this canyon. Make sure you take a camera, because the pools, waterfalls and wildlife are just glorious. You can google Dogwood Canyon in Branson,Missouri and it will take you to their web site. Hope you enjoy!

Kansas City Art Institute visit; need a car?

My daughter is considering attending KCAI in the fall. We are planning to go for a short visit (Thursday to Sat pm the first week-end in April). We mainly want to hang around campus and go to First Friday. Will we need a rental car to get to/from airport and to get to First Friday from campus?

Kansas City Art Institute visit; need a car?

Unfortunately, yes you will need a car. Even though the rental prices and outrageous taxes are high, they will probably be less than what you would spend in cabs going to/from the airport and First Friday events. Sadly, most of KC does not support mass transportation.

If your arriving before noon, be sure to see what the rental prices will be if you wait and get the car at 12:00pm. I%26#39;ve often found that weekend rates tend to start on Thursdays at that time.

Kansas City Art Institute visit; need a car?

If are staying on the Plaza (near KCAI) and you take a shuttle from the airport, you could potentially do this without a car. What you propose is walkable, but distances could be as much as a couple of miles and some of it is through neighborhoods you might prefer not to walk through (at least at night and when you don%26#39;t necessarily know your way). A car would definitely give you the most freedom and flexibility.

We just returned from a Saturday afternoon visit to the Nelson Atkins, Kemper Contemporary and Artspace Museums. They were all within walking distance of one another.

The majority of the Crossroads Art District is 20 blocks North of the Campus, albeit spreadout.

First Fridays is do-able without a car if you have transportation from your hotel to the Crossroads Art District. There is FREE trolley service featured in the Arts District with many trolley stops near the galleries. (You might check with your hotel to see if they offer transportation to the Crossroads Art District on First Fridays. Many do.) Once you are there you can take the trolley around to the galleries and restaurants.

When you are done, you can easily catch a cab to your hotel in front of the Westin Hotel across from Union Station. You can enter Union Station using the walkbridge in the parking lot for Lidia%26#39;s and then take The Link (enclosed walkbridge) to the Westin.

Enjoy your visit.

one web hosting

shows for kids

We%26#39;re heading down to Branson in June and was wondering what everyone thought about a few shows. There will be a 3 year old with us so it has to be kid friendly! These were the options we discussed:

Magnificent 7

Jim Stafford Show

Tony Orlando show

Presley%26#39;s

Sight and sounds theater

Roy Rogers and Dale Evans museum/show

Shanghai acrobats

Shepherd of the hills

I think we%26#39;ve decided that we are going to see the Dixie Stampede but that can always change if there%26#39;s something better.

Thanks!!!

shows for kids

well, A three year old likes bright lights and music,,

So most show would attract a 3 year old.

But , I think the 3 year old would enjoy the sights and sounds theater..

It is amazing,,,,

Shanghai acrobats would also be good, as well as the presleys.

There are rumors that the museum of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans is going to close,,,

So you might want to call on that one..

The branson belle at lunch time has a show, lunch and cruise that she would like,,

There is a magic and dog show...

I love the Belle,,,,,,

shows for kids

What we did and are still doing is Silver Dollar City. Lots of things to do and see. Places to play including a 3 story play house, water sprays, balls, noise makers, ball air guns, more…… They have some rides a 3 yo will enjoy. Our kids even enjoy the shops and craftsmen. We wear the kids out a little. Then we go to one of the shows. All family/kid friendly and short 20 – 55 minutes which is about the right length for a 3 yo. As soon as the show starts, snacks magically appear if needed. They always seem to sit through the show snacking, resting and most of the time paying attention to the show and enjoying it. They also know, as soon as the show is over, the grown up time is over and we’ll go do the “kids” stuff again. After the park closes they have a 1 ½ hour show in Echo Hollow. It is huge so you can spread out and sit away from people a little so they can wiggle all they want or even dance in front of their seat without disturbing others. Our 2 yo grand daughter changed laps several times last year, sat on her own and even with her brother and never once disturbed anyone around us because you are not sitting close like you do in a theater. We’ve found this is the best way to enjoy shows with a 3 yo. BTW, ours love this 1 ½ hour show and the fact that they are not required to sit in one seat and never move out of it for a couple hours helps a great deal.

Unless your 3 yo sits better than mine did or my grand kids do, I would skip most shows. Most are at 2 or 3 hitting nap time or the evening shows start around bed time. Either way they are fussy and not interested in sitting in a chair for 2 hours.

The only ones I feel that may keep their attention the whole time are:

Dixie Stampede. Between the show and the meal they should keep busy the whole time. Lots of action too. Take them early so they can see the horses up close. BTW, also allow time for the pre-show included with your ticket.

Branson Belle as mentioned. This also includes a meal. Not as exciting as Dixie but it may keep their attention with lots of variety, plus you’re on a boat.

As far as the shows you mentioned, if your 3 yo sits for long times, the one’s I would select are Presleys and Mag 7. Shepherd of the Hills is a play outside.

If you have never been to Branson before, Ride the Ducks.

BTW, Noah at Sight and Sound is longer than most shows.

Have fun.

America's Best Value Inn--has it improved?

We are looking for a place for our team to stay for Show Me Games in Columbia. Best Value Inn had good room rates. The woman I spoke with at the desk said they were under new ownership and management and had done extensive renovations, which were still ongoing. I%26#39;m glad she warned me about the reputation the place had under prior ownership because the reviews were AWFUL, except for one dated in January, 2009. Has anyone been there lately? Have they done a lot of renovations in the past few months? I%26#39;d really appreicate your input?

eye application

Ted Drewes Frozen Custard

Hello!

I see on their website there are 2 locations, would you recommend one of them above the other or are they basically the same? I see the one is on the old route 66, should we rather visit that one?

thanks as always

Ted Drewes Frozen Custard

The on on 66... it%26#39;s at least nostalgic and part of STL history. I%26#39;d take ice cream over custard anyday.

Ted Drewes Frozen Custard

The S. Grand Ave. location is still closed ';for the season'; until mid-May, so the Watson Rd./Rt. 66 location is your only choice at this time.

The selection is the same at both locations. However, I believe that the location on old route 66 (Chippewa St) is bigger and has a bigger parking lot (and lots across the street that you can use if the Ted Drewes lot fills up). Also, depending on when you come the location on South Grand may not be open. The location on Chippewa is only closed for about a month sometime around January and/or February. At either store, if you want to get the famed Ted Drewes ';experience'; be sure to order a concrete rather than a sundae.

Contrary to Zoke2%26#39;s reply though, the location on South Grand opened 10 years before the location on Chippewa. As far as ice cream vs. frozen custard, it all depends on your personal tastes. Some people prefer one to another and some people don%26#39;t even notice much of a difference.

We tasted it for the first time last year in Wisconsin, we don%26#39;t have it in South Africa, closest thing will be frozen yoghurt. The Route 66 location it is then, thank you very much all!

Trip report with teen boy

I thought I%26#39;d report on our spring break visit with teen son. Because it is too early in the season, Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun were still closed. I wish Worlds of Fun had been open to break up the trip because my son was on museum overload by the end.

Free visits included the Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank, the Harley Davidson tour, and the Oz exhibit at Crown Center. The Money Museum is a quick, easy stop if you%26#39;re near the WWI Museum. It was worth it just to watch the people working the sorting/shredding machine and the robots going back and forth with stacks of money. The Harley Davidson tour was very good and my son%26#39;s favorite part of the trip. The Oz exhibit was not what I expected. I thought it was going to be an exhibit of props from the movie, but it is really a play area for small children. It was just a quick walkthrough for us, but it would be a good free stop if you are taking younger children to Kaleidoscope.

The other museums that we went to were the WWI Museum, the Steamboat Arabia, and the Truman Presidential Library and Museum. The WWI was very good and my son enjoyed it. The trip to the tower was a waste. Maybe KC natives enjoy it, but without knowing what I was looking at, the view from the bottom was just as good. The Steamboat Arabia Museum is very well done, but my son was a bit bored. I would definitely recommend it for adults though. We were very surprised when one of the men that found the Arabia walked in the room to talk to our tour group. As for the Truman Library, it was a good museum for adults to visit, but my son had absolutely no interest in it. I think he expected more items from WWII on exhibit, rather than reading about it and watching movies. He didn%26#39;t really care for any of the information on Truman%26#39;s life or other aspects of his presidency, and things like his decision to drop the bomb were barely discussed.

We stayed at a Country Inn %26amp; Suites near the Legends. While this is a good area to stay in with Dave %26amp; Busters and T-Rex cafe, we were not happy with the hotel and wouldn%26#39;t stay there again. The service there was very poor and it is right next to the minor league stadium and the Speedway, so I wouldn%26#39;t want to be there when there are events. There is more in my review of the hotel.

We ate at Fritz%26#39;s in Crown Center (always fun), T-Rex (son is getting a little old for this, but still enjoyed it) and Arthur Bryant%26#39;s (on Brooklyn Street). Arthur Bryant%26#39;s was good, but a little greasy and a pretty basic, fast food type meal. It was fine for lunch, but I%26#39;d want something a little nicer if I was going for dinner.

Trip report with teen boy

If either of you would like to see Wizard of Oz sites, just drive west from KC to Wamego, Kansas (there is a museum there that is fun...and Wamego is only about 20 minutes east of Manhattan so lots of things to do there)

You can also drive to the southwest part of the state to see the house (it wasn%26#39;t worth the drive for me but others think it%26#39;s fun)

www.liberal.net/info/events/oz.html

Thanks for posting about your trip, because we haven%26#39;t been to the Money Museum so think we%26#39;ll check it out sometime!

Trip report with teen boy

Thanks, I didn%26#39;t know about the Oz sites in Kansas. I may have to check them out next road trip to KC.

New here

Is there eanywhere in Branson that will be open for Christmas dinner. We were there last year rented a cabin had Thanksgiving dinner a t the college up the road it was greeat but they wont be serving on Christmas

find a white satin duvet cover

Show(s) feedback?

I%26#39;m taking my mother to Branson to celebrate her 85th Birthday. We will be accompanied by her sister. We will be there two nights. I have already booked the Branson Belle and am looking for recommendations on which show to take them to.

Advertisements practically gives all shows 5 stars?! I know that cannot be accurate.

Any Personal favorites? Disappointments? Shoji? Stafford?, Etc.

Thanks in advance.

Show(s) feedback?

Hello!! These are just a few we really enjoy ourselves. Presley%26#39;s, Clay Cooper, John Tweed, Joe Riley, Mickey Gilley, Penny Gilley at RFD Theater.

Hughes Brothers, Haygoods. Also at the Little Oprey Theatre---Leroy News show is good too.

Enjoy your time there. There is so much to do.

We love our yearly visit to Branson.

Carla

Show(s) feedback?

Based on what we’ve seen and what our guest’s have said most of the people in that age bracket enjoy:

Ricky Boen %26amp; the Texas Mud (Texas Swing)

Roy Rogers Junior (same music as his Roy %26amp; Dale)

also she may enjoy the Roy %26amp; Dale’s Museum.

Presley’s (variety music and comedy)

Dutton’s (variety music and comedy)

Grand Jubilee (variety music and comedy)

50’s at the Hop (50’s)

Red Kneckers (one man show, comedy, gospel)

The Branson Belle is a good choice.

I spoke to a man that attended preview of a brand new 2009 show, Cassandre, the Voice of an Angel. He said it was very good. I%26#39;ve not seen this show but I%26#39;ve seen her perform many times and she is good. I%26#39;ve also read a couple very positive reviews on it. She is the wife of one of the Haygood’s listed above. I believe it may also be a good option.

BTW, the Haygood’s are very, very good but they may be “too loud” for an 85 yo. Also, depending on who you are sitting by, sometimes the young fans are very vocal.

All of the music shows seem the same to me. I personally like the Dixie Stampede. It is always fun and entertaining. Hope that helps!

Of the shows you listed, I would definitely give a %26#39;thumbs down%26#39; to Stafford......We%26#39;ve seen it a couple of times and don%26#39;t feel the value is there for the $$. Strongly recommend the Roy Rogers theater, very small, intimate theater and Roy does a great job talking about life in the Rogers%26#39; household! Shoji will probably be the biggest %26#39;production%26#39; type show you%26#39;ll see in Branson, wide variety of music, lights and costumes. Noah also gets great reviews, but I%26#39;ve never seen it. For country music, we love Clay Cooper. His interaction with his audience is great. Great music, hilarious comedy, and entertaining dancers, a little bit of everything on his stage! Enjoy your trip to Branson!

Hi!

We took my Mom and Dad to Branson 2 years ago at age 85%26amp;87. It was in December so not all shows were available. Of the ones we did

Shoji-they liked this a lot

Andy Williams-they like him ';their style'; and they recognized the songs

Dixie Stampede- They were not thrilled about eating the meal with their hands- also, at that age, hard to pick meat off the half chicken- also announcers talked very fast - sometimes the more seasoned adults need it a little slower. It was quite a mish mash of entertainment to them

Celebrate America- they LOVED this- went through history and by that age they have lived through quite a bit of it. We loved it too.( and this is a less expensive show)

I hope this helps.If you book ahead through reservebranson.com, do it as soon as you decide- you will get closer center seats by booking earier,and that helps with seeing and hearing impaired , and you can cancel or change show up to a short time before

Have a great time- we went to take my parents and have been back twice since then ourselves from Pennsylvania!

networking

Sightseeing

Could anyone suggest a reliable %26amp; reputable sightseeing tour for the city of St. Louis ?

Sightseeing

http://www.tourstlouis.net/

http://www.stlouistours.net/

I don%26#39;t have experience with either of these. I do see the trolleys all over town.

Good Restaurants Downtown

We will be in St. Louis for the Women%26#39;s Final Four in April. We have booked the Westin. Any recommendations for good, non-chain restaurants in walking distance. We won%26#39;t have a car, but like to walk.

We are leaving the husbands and kids at home so we need a safe environment for early evening. Of course, there are always taxis if we need them.

Not looking for elegant, just really good local restaurants!

Thanks,

vaca99

UCONN Husky Fan

Good Restaurants Downtown

The Metrolink station is very close to the Westin. Hop on it and take it to 3 stops east to Lacledes Landing. There are some good restaurants and pubs located there.

lacledeslanding.com/cgi-bin/destinations.pl…

If you are up for a short walk, check out J. Bucks and/or Mike Shannons.

http://www.jbucks.com/

http://www.shannonsteak.com/

I%26#39;m sure I%26#39;m missing other great places, but I bet some other posters can fill in some of their favorites.

Have a great time!

Good Restaurants Downtown

Any other suggestions???

vaca99

Try toasted ravioli at Charlie Gitto%26#39;s at 6th %26amp; Pine. Lucas Park Grille and the Dubliner, both on Washington Ave, are a longer walk or short cab ride. J Bucks is just west of the Westin. Sen Thai at 12th %26amp; Locust is good too.

J Buck%26#39;s is the fan gathering site for the Trenton region which is the UCONN draw section so I%26#39;ve booked there.

The Dubliner menu looks intriguing! I think that might be another option. We won%26#39;t be packing dress clothes so casual is the rule.

Thanks for the suggestions!

--vaca99

I%26#39;ve got to agree with Charlie Gitto%26#39;s. We love their lasagna and the toasted ravioli. I also had Shannon%26#39;s last summer and the steak was GREAT.

Ditto to Charlie Gittos. Excellent portions, good prices, very good food, old fashioned STL ambiance.

At 6th %26amp; Pine, usually closed Sundays unless the Cards are in town.

Calecos Bar %26amp; Restaurant. It%26#39;s right by the baseball studium.

Tin Can Tavern on Locust (www.tincantavern.com)

I would heartily disagree w/ the Caleco%26#39;s recommendation.

From the Westin, if you walk east to the other side of the baseball park, then turn right (south) for just about 2 blocks past the stadium, you will find a group of great local clubs/restaurants anchored by:

http://www.broadwayoysterbar.com/

and

http://www.bbsjazzbluessoups.com/

And UCONN (Men) are going down tomorrow.

Go Mizzou!

Is Downtown St. Louis Pedestrian Friendly???

We will be staying at the Westin during the NCAA Women%26#39;s Tournament. Is this area pedestrian friendly? We will be taking in the games at the Scott Trade Center.

Is it safe for two females to walk back to the Westin after the games around 10:30 p.m. or should we take a cab? There are usually crowds of people walking back to the hotels in the area of the game sites.

This is a girl%26#39;s only trip. We%26#39;re leaving the husbands and kids at home. Just wondering what our game plan should be.

Thanks to all you Missouri residents who have given me lots of great advice so far!

Vaca99

Is Downtown St. Louis Pedestrian Friendly???

Take the Metrolink. There is a station for Scottrade and the next station east of Scottrade is the station for Busch Stadium. The entrance to the Westin is next to the Busch Stadium stop. Unless you really want to walk. I%26#39;ve walked it (along Spruce)- but it was during day Cardinal games. You will walk past some old warehouses and surface parking lots.

Is Downtown St. Louis Pedestrian Friendly???

Thanks! This is a good option. What%26#39;s the charge for the Metrolink?

--Vaca99

www.metrostlouis.org/Fares/FareChart.asp

2.25 one way (1.10 seniors,children,disabled)

There is a 2 hour pass available for 2.75- good option if you want to ride it to Lacleds Landing or Union Station for a quick meal.

If I am not mistaken, you can also get an all day pass for the metrolink for $4.50

Yeah- you can but I thought it was around $7.50 or something like that.

The MetroLink will likely be very crowded after the game. It is not a very long walk and you should be fine if there is a decent size crowd at the event.

My direct answer to your question is ';Yes';.

And I agree w/ Faith that you will be wasting time and money waiting to ride the Metrolink. Walk with your friends.

Advance reservations for Arch on a weekday

Do I need advance reservations for the Arch on a weekday (specifically April 21)? If so, can I call or must they be on line? If not, how long is the wait midday?

Advance reservations for Arch on a weekday

I wouldn’t worry about crowds except the possibility of a school group touring since it’s not yet summer vacation. If you’re concerned about that, you can contact them a few days before your visit to see if any large groups have made reservations.

Call toll-free: 877-982-1410

E-mail: info@gatewayarch.com

You may purchase tickets in advance here: ticketsforthearch.com/ecom/eacts/home.do…

Other info about the Arch tour: www.gatewayarch.com/Arch/info/arch.top.aspx

Advance reservations for Arch on a weekday

Great. Thank you.

Just a bit of follow up --

I did indeed visit the Arch in St. Louis. There was a line mid-day but it was not long and moved quickly. By the time we bought tickets and got to the line, it was almost our turn. Advance purchase is possible through their website but doesn%26#39;t seem necessary (perhaps you%26#39;d need it on a summer weekend) - you%26#39;ll wait essentially the same amount of time at the elevator anyway. It%26#39;s a small space on top without much to do - so people don%26#39;t spend much time -- still it%26#39;s kind of an interesting experience if you like that sort of thing (my kids and I do).

I don%26#39;t think advanced reservations will be necessary for that date. We went this past Monday afternoon at approx. 130pm. There was absolutely no wait whatsoever. We walked right on.

Where to stay between KC and St. Louis

I%26#39;m wondering if someone can recommend a town to spend the night in between KC and St. Louis in mid-June. It could be away from the freeway...a quintessential Missouri if that is possible. I%26#39;ve looked a little at Columbia and Jefferson City. Any comments about these places or any others? My wife and I are travelling with a baby.

On another note: Are there any type of foods (besides BBQ) that are unique to KC or Missouri? How about soft drinks or beer?

Thanks--

Where to stay between KC and St. Louis

I should also probably mention that we don%26#39;t want to go all the way to Branson because we only have one day to get between the two cities. Is Lake Ozark worth it for an afternoon/evening or is it too far away as well?

Where to stay between KC and St. Louis

Stoney Creek Inn at Columbia, MO, www.stoneycreekinn.com/locations/index.cfm… is a nice place to stay. It is a family friendly hotel, with attention to detail. As for food, nearby is Murray%26#39;s. It is a small place with a great menu. Lots of fabulous appetizers.

Kansas City offers a broad range of unique dining experiences, with not all being BBQ. KC is also well know for great Steaks. Restaurants such as Benton%26#39;s Chophouse above the Westin Crown Center offer a fine steak. The Italian community is also well represented in restaurants such as Cascone%26#39;s (several locations) and Lidia%26#39;s near Union Station. If you enjoy Mexican, Manny%26#39;s is a great place just north of Union Station. You can check out the KC restaurant guide at: http://www.kcrestaurantguide.com/

Mid-June is the perfect time to visit the City Market on a Saturday morning. http://www.thecitymarket.org/

Columbia and Jefferson City are both pretty nice. Columbia will be the most accessible since it is right off the interstate. Lake of the Ozarks might be a little out of your way. It%26#39;s probably another 30 minutes to an hour past Jefferson City. It wouldn%26#39;t be bad if you are up to it, but it will probably be crowded and places will probably start booking up early since that is peak season. Hermann is another nice, but smaller town. There isn%26#39;t a whole lot to do there... mostly wineries, b%26amp;bs and some antique shops.

I%26#39;m not too sure about what unique foods KC has to offer other than barbeque, but St. Louis has several: toasted ravioli (can be found on the menu of pretty much any italian restaraunt in St. Louis), St. Louis style pizza (thin, crackery crust with provel cheese - Imo%26#39;s is the big local chain, but also Cecil Whittakers and several other smaller chains and restaraunts), Ted Drewes Frozen Custard (frozen custard... most people that aren%26#39;t from St. Louis will tell you that it is pretty much your typical frozen custard stand... at least that%26#39;s what my inlaws say), and gooey-butter cake (can usually be found at bakeries or grocery stores). No really unique soft drinks. If your travels continue to take you into southern Illinois, you might come across Ski, which is a citrusy soda that is really only found in the area... with limited sightings in the St. Louis area. As for beer... there is InBev. Just kidding. Nothing really special, but there are several smaller breweries like Schlaffley (downtown and Maplewood), O%26#39;fallon (O%26#39;fallon, MO), Morgan Street (Lacledes Landing), Trailhead (St. Charles), etc. Oh, and Kansas City is home to Boulevard.

Enjoy your trip!

If you haven%26#39;t seen the capital...Jefferson City would be a good place to stop. Like the other poster said..it%26#39;s a little way%26#39;s off I70 if you go that way. But worth the trip if you have never been there. You could also take US 50 to Jefferson City and then swing up to I70

Thanks for all of the great tips! I%26#39;ll make sure that I try some of the food options in St. Louis.

taking a leisurely trip i assume? you can easily make the trip from KC to St louis in a few hours

I%26#39;m not sure I%26#39;d stop anywhere before Saint Charles. That area is very nice with restaurants, shops, a Lewis %26amp; Clark museum, and the old state capitol. But it%26#39;s literally just outside Saint Louis.

I prefer Columbis, and especially downtown. Unique shops and cool bars in ';the District'; My favorite is Flatbranch for some micro brews and great food.

In KC you gotta get some Boulevard beer and for different food my favorite is Ponaks (Mexicon down on the boulevard where Mexican is king)... their margarittas are lethal.

';town....between KC and St. Louis';:

Take a look at the historic Hotel Frederick in Boonville, MO. It%26#39;s about 100 miles east of KC off I-70.

We tried the Frederick for the first time last summer and loved it. A TripAdvisor search on ';Hotel Frederick'; should yield some reviews for you to peruse.

Hotel%26#39;s website: www.hotelfrederick.com

Best.

I%26#39;d suggest stopping at Arrow Rock:

http://www.arrowrock.org/

You won%26#39;t believe the town---it%26#39;s a real step back in time.

There are several B%26amp;B%26#39;s and a campground at the state park. We like stay at the Down Over:

tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g29662-d670500-…

If you go, take the route that takes you through Black Water.

lip blush

cars for sale11

Theatre

My wife %26amp; I love performing arts theatres. We will be staying in Chesterfield in June of 2009, and would like to know what theatres you would recommend in the local area. Thank you.

Theatre

I%26#39;m probably missing some, but here are some sites to get you started:

www.fabulousfox.com

www.repstl.org

www.muny.org

www.stagesstlouis.com

www.opera-stl.org

Theatre

I also forgot to add this if you are into Shakespeare, there are free shows in Forest Park May 20-June 14, 2009

www.shakespearefestivalstlouis.org

Thank you very much for your input.

Party?

My sister is getting married in the area May 23rd and a large group of gals are interested in having a ';bachelorette'; type party. There are some under 21 and we%26#39;re looking to keep it more of a PG-13 type kind of party. We really liked the Lucky Strike Lanes place but they are 21+ after a certain time.

Please help me if you%26#39;ve got ideas!

Party?

Try dave and busters at the legends

Party?

Thank you!

Where to eat dinner with 5 and 3 year-olds

Hey Forum members

My DH and I are going to Branson with our 5 yo son and 3 yo daughter this weekend, to see SDC and the Ducks. We are staying at the Hilton Convention Center. What are some good restaurants 9family-friendly yet with tasty food) that we can hit, preferably within walking distance from our hotel? I envision going out during the day, refreshing up in our hotel room late afternoon and then heading out for dinner, hence the request for something near our hotel.

TIA

Where to eat dinner with 5 and 3 year-olds

New here

Was in branson last year for thanksgiving had great time had thanksginving dinner at the college there it was great but i see they wont be doing it for Christmas is there anything open for Christams dinner

New here

Google Christmas+Branson and lots of items show up

Hiking and waterfalls

Hey everyone!

I am going to be in Branson from May 30 - June 6 and was wondering if anyone can tell me where some great hiking trails with waterfalls are. I am hoping to see some larger ones (higher than 20%26#39;) but am not sure if there are any around.

Thanks so much for your help!

Hiking and waterfalls

If they happen to have the dam open (most likely not, though), you could hike along the trail by the dam and see the water fall down several hundred feet. ;)

We didn%26#39;t see any waterfalls on the trails off of Fall Creek Rd. Maybe in Dogwood Canyon they would have some - I don%26#39;t know.

Have a great time!

Hiking and waterfalls

There are a lot of great hiking trails but I can%26#39;t think of one with a 20%26#39; and higer waterfall. The only place that may is Dogwood as mentioned above. They have waterfalls but I%26#39;m not sure of how high they are. Contact them direct. The website is http://www.dogwoodcanyon.com/. They have a lot of outdoor activities available besides hiking.

I read that you have to pay to get into Dogwood Canyon to walk or hike-is it worth it? What other places are there for hiking? We are coming the last week in April and are looking forward to seeing the scenery and finds places for nice hikes.

Thanks for your help.

Well, you%26#39;re only going to be a little drive from the tallest waterfall between the Appalachians and Rockies. At about 200 ft. Hemmed in Hollow Waterfall near Ponca, AR is the place you want to go. You can get there by floating in a canoe on the beautiful Buffalo River then hiking 3/4 mi. up a trail. Or you can hike it from a trailhead for a much longer hike. I recommend the float---a true Ozarks experience and not difficult for a beginner. Here%26#39;s a link, you can google it and see several videos. It is a true freefall waterfall very unique. It would be a great way to spend one of your days---the area around Jasper has LOTS to see.

http://www.ozarkmountainregion.com/node/761

streamreader

Great steak place in the landing area?

I have eaten at the same steak restaurant in the landing, last time was in May of 2002. I cannot remember the name of it.

We are going to be in town in late April and would love to go back. The only thing I remember as far as location is that we parked in an open pay-lot a block away.

Thanks for any help.

Great steak place in the landing area?

My guess would be Jakes Steaks

http://www.jakessteaks.com/

Great steak place in the landing area?

Maybe Hannegan%26#39;s?

http://www.hannegansrestaurant.com/

If you want to get dressed up and really blow it out in an old school kind of way, you could try Al%26#39;s. It%26#39;s just on the north edge of the Landing, and is one of my favorite special event dining spots:

http://www.alsrestaurant.net/

Food Finds of KC?

I will be making two long weekend trips to KC - late April and early August, probably staying in the Crown Center area, and will have a rental car.

Besides barbecue, are there any other food finds - that I should try? New Orleans has king cakes, mufalettas, Zapp%26#39;s chips, etc. What are Kansas City%26#39;s special food treats?

Food Finds of KC?

head to city market on Saturday am. hit Cascones for breakfast- the best- take a stroll thru the market area- not far from your hotel

Food Finds of KC?

Here are a few of my local favorites. Googling them will give you the info you need to decide whether or not they meet your criteria:

Stroud%26#39;s Restaurant on Shawnee Mission Parkway.......family style home-cookin%26#39;. Pan-fried chicken. Artery-choking gravy, garlic marinated pork chops, sticky rolls, etc.

McGonigle%26#39;s Meat Market...multi-generational family butcher shop and market on south Ward Parkway. Excellent cuts of beef.

Christopher Elbow Chocolates...1819 Mcgee St. Downtown. Artisan chocolates. Just a couple blocks north of Crown Center area.

Strawberry Hill Povitica Bread. May have to contact them to locate the closest retail outlet when you%26#39;re here. http://www.povitica.com/

Waldo Pizza...74th %26amp; Broadway

Besides BBQ - steaks. :) Check out Pierpont%26#39;s @ Union Station. A skywalk connects Crown Center with Union Station, the Westin and Hyatt Regency.

herefordhouse.com/content/…all_menus.php

You%26#39;ll be relatively close to the ';Power and Light District'; - lots of bars %26amp; restaurants in a relatively safe area - don%26#39;t stray away from the P%26amp;L District, though. Downtown can be a bit sketchy at night.

Lots of places around town have live Jazz on the weekends - The Phoenix is one of my fav spots - a bit further downtown than the P%26amp;L District. Pick up a local mag ';The Pitch'; it will have all the happenings all over town as well as restaurant reviews.

Power and Light has a lot of places, but with only a couple of exceptions, they are the same chains you would find at home. If you do go there, Peach Tree Restaurant is an exception.

The recomendation of Strouds is very good.

To my taste, the Povitica at Old Country Bakery in Lenexa is much better than Strawberry Hill (which is also in Lenexa).

Garozzo%26#39;s Ristorante at the orignal location at 526 Harrison St is a special local treat. http://www.garozzos.com/

Or the Savoy Grill at 219 W 9th St. Good food and a great history - 106 years old and a favorite restaurant of Harry Truman. You can%26#39;t eat the history, but it is worth reading some of it here: http://www.savoygrill.net/history.html

Thanks for all of the recommendations! I have plenty of choices during my two stays in the KC. The Povitica bread looks delicious.

They sell the bread at City Marker on saturdays in the summer

IMO, strawberry hill povatica is overpriced. I like the povatica and of course sausage from Krizman%26#39;s House of Sausage. The povatica there is only like $6, and they have the best sausage in the city.

Private Bed and Breakfast or Hotel for honeymoon

I%26#39;m doing research for my daughter. She and her fiance are getting married in the Lees Summit area and want to stay somewhere with travel time 1/2hr or less. Bed and Breakfast would be nice, or quiet hotel. Not interested in Steeple Inn. Weston would be too far away, I think. Anyone ever stay at Mulberry Hill in Pleasant Hill? Or perhaps something in Independence? Or even Lees Summit...Blue Springs....thanks!

Private Bed and Breakfast or Hotel for honeymoon

Have you looked at Chateau Avalon near Legends and the Kansas Speedway? (along I-70 and I-435)

The area isn%26#39;t quiet, but the rooms on the website and services provided look neat.

Also The Elms comes to mind :)

Private Bed and Breakfast or Hotel for honeymoon

I think the Elms is pretty outdated

Dinner recommendation: typical St. Louis food

Hello!

We have 2 nights in St. Louis and for one I have opted to try %26#39;the pizza with toasted ravioli on the side%26#39; and I%26#39;ve found a couple of options for that on the forum.

We%26#39;d like to try something else typical St. Louis on the other night as well, do you have any other suggestions?

thanks as always!

Dinner recommendation: typical St. Louis food

Typical STL food other than thin pizza and toasted ravioli, eh?

This could go anywhere from a bratzel from Gus%26#39; Pretzels ( http://www.guspretzels.com/ ) with a cold Budwieser from the gas station across the street, to fine dining.

I guess my answer is to go for more of an overall experience unique to STL.

On the fine dining side, I would suggest Mike Shannon%26#39;s Steaks %26amp; Seafood, particularly if there are fans of American baseball in your party ( http://www.shannonsteak.com/ ). It%26#39;s in the heart of downtown with a view of the Arch and Old Courthouse, and lots of STL sports memorabilia.

The chef @ Niche (http://www.nichestlouis.com/ ), Gerard Craft is getting national notoriety these days.

For more casual, but unique local venues, I suggest

The Schlafly Taproom, http://www.schlafly.com/brewpubs.shtml, for an excellent selection of their own microbrews and good food;

Iron Barley, http://www.ironbarley.com/, featured on Food Network last year;

or any of the clubs/restaurants just south of the baseball stadium on Broadway,

http://www.broadwayoysterbar.com/

and

http://www.bbsjazzbluessoups.com/

For whole areas of concentrated restaurants and shops, I suggest looking into Grand South Grand, the University City Loop, and the Washington Ave. entertainment ditrict.

Dinner recommendation: typical St. Louis food

Be sure and try gooey butter cake for dessert if a restaurant has it. It%26#39;s uniquely St. Louis...

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g44881-i234-k21722鈥?/a>

oh boy I saw what the cake looks like, just as well I%26#39;m packing my running shoes...

thank you all for the suggestions :)

Another place I recommend for both for quality food and service, and unique for the view of downtown STL, is Vin de Set.

http://www.vindeset.com/

You could walk it from the Union Station area, but I would suggest a cab ride since you%26#39;re not familiar with the area.

Reservations are also recommended.

Good call on the Gooey Butter Cake Blue eye!

You should also try to make a stop at Ted Drewe%26#39;s Custard. They are famous for their Concrete%26#39;s! Located on Watson Rd. between Hampton and Jamieson and another on S. Grand. One of Fred Willard%26#39;s (the Today Show) favorite spots.

Another surprisingly St. Louis food seems to be Crab Rangoon. It is a Chinese appetizer that I have a difficult time finding outside Missouri. It is like a fried wonton but stuffed with cream cheese and crab. There is an abundance of great Chinese restaurants around town. If you like Italian, we have plenty of that too. For your thin crust pizza, if it is St. Louis style it must be Imo%26#39;s.

lip blush

Ideas for an overnight stop in Missouri?

Our family will be traveling through Missouri this summer on a trip to Arizona. We%26#39;re looking at stopping for an overnight stay and are researching possible cities for that. Is Joplin, or somewehe in that vicinity, decent. Thank you very much for any input!

Ideas for an overnight stop in Missouri?

The Joplin area is decent,and there are a lot of hotels and motels to choose from and most of them are within a couple of miles of the interstate. I would not hesitate at all to spend the night in Joplin.

Restaurants walking distance from University Plaza?

Can anyone tell me if there are any restaurants/breakfast places within walking distance of the University Plaza Hotel?

Thanks! kcvh

Restaurants walking distance from University Plaza?

You%26#39;re in luck; only a few blocks west of the hotel around the Square are many fine places to eat. Ask at the front desk for directions to Milles or Gilardi%26#39;s, my two choices for dinner. For breakfast you can%26#39;t beat Gailey%26#39;s; second choice would be the French Quarter Cafe. For lunch hit up the Springfield Brewing Co. There are also several fine dining choices downtown that are pricier and all within an easy walk. Oh, best coffee is the Coffee Ethic on the Square next to the library.

Restaurants walking distance from University Plaza?

';Oh, best coffee is the Coffee Ethic on the Square next to the library';

Amen to that. And its peacefully quiet, unless I%26#39;m there with my young daughters. I apologize in advance.

If you want pure coffee essence, try a machiato. Your hair will stand on end. The food selection is limited, but the muffins are baked by Nonna%26#39;s Italian restaurant, some of the best I%26#39;ve had.

the university plaza has a great breakfast buffet. and there is a good restaurant/bar that has simple but good bar food right down walnut street--ebbett%26#39;s field.

Lots of restaurants within walking distance. Just head west from the hotel toward the square.

Best Transportation to Downtown from the Airport?

What%26#39;s the best way to get to the Westin near Busch Stadium from the airport. We will have suitcases, so I am guessing it would be wise to take a taxi.

Anybody know the approximate cost?

Thanks,

vaca99

Best Transportation to Downtown from the Airport?

I don%26#39;t know the cab fare from the airport to the Westin, but the Metro light rail system will take you directly from the Airport to the Busch Stadium stop immediately adjacent to the Westin for $3.75 per person (#1.85 seniors %26amp; adults).

http://www.metrostlouis.org/

Best Transportation to Downtown from the Airport?

That should be $1.85 seniors %26amp; children in the post above.

Thanks! No problems wheeling a piece of luggage on the light rail line???

Vaca99

As long as you are not coming in right before a Cardinals game, there should be plenty of room for luggage.

Okay, I am assuming exact change. Do you buy your tickets BEFORE getting on or AS you board?

Can you tell I like to know what to expect? :-)

I so appreciate all the great feedback.

Final Four Games AND the Cards%26#39; home opener, here we come!!!!

--vaca99

I wouldn%26#39;t hesitate to take Metrolink for the difference in price between that and a taxi. They have ramps at the Busch Stadium station, so as long as your luggage has wheels, there should be no problem. Tickets are purchased prior to getting on train. I don%26#39;t believe exact change is required, but I am not 100% sure. Maybe someone else knows. Enjoy your stay!!!

I don%26#39;t believe exact change is required. There are automated machines at the stations that you get your tickets from.

isthismarriedmanjustflirting

Crown Plaza

original booking @ the days inn. changed reservation to the crown plaza. crown plaza to the scottrade center - walkable? after the games, 11:30pm+, ok to walk back? anything suggestions on what to do monday? anyone been to flannerys pub - OU%26#39;s ';official'; place to meet?

thanks for any help.

Crown Plaza

The Crown Plaza is on 4th St, the Scottrade Center is on 14th = 10 blocks, a nice walk. Use Market St. as your east/west thoroughfare. I%26#39;m sure many others will be taking the same path. Have you checked to see if the hotel is running a shuttle?

Flannery%26#39;s is a nice sports bar, lots of import beers on tap, average bar food. There are also many other places with a variety of food and drink along that stretch of Washington Ave. The Side Bar, right across the street, is another good place.

Monday is opening day of baseball season which is an unoffical local holiday. There will be lots of events all over downtown, and particularly around the stadium.

The weather forecast is less than ideal for Sun - Mon, so be prepared for cool, wet weather.

Have fun.

Crown Plaza

i%26#39;d been keeping up with the weather - here in oklahoma we usually wait and look out the window in the morning, the weather guys are about 50-50 on getting it correct.

can you give me any info on casinos? any close by, any i should avoid? neighborhoods to avoid? i know we have some areas here i would recommend avoiding.

thanks for the info.

I%26#39;m not much of a casino person, but in general, the newest and reportedly nicest casino in the area is the closest one to your hotel - Lumiere Place, immediately north of the Arch grounds. You won%26#39;t be able to miss the glow of their giant video billboard.

Hermann

We want to stop in Hermann this Sat, on our way to the lake, we have 2 boys 11 and 8 and they want to take a winery tour, does anyone have any suggestions which winery, and any restaurant suggestions?

thanks

Hermann

Stone Hill is the only winery that I know has a full blown winery tour. As for the other wineries, in my opinion, Adam Puchta has the best tasting and Oak Glen has the best scenery. Bias also has a brewery associated with it.

There is a restaurant at Stone Hill winery (Vintage Restaurant) that is pretty good for German food. If you want barbecue, there is a place called Montagues. For lunch counter type food check out the Downtown Deli and Custard Shoppe (I highly recommend the smoked chicken salad sandwich). Sharp Corner Tavern has very cheap bar type food.

And, since I tell this to pretty much everyone that goes to Hermann... if you like good sausage, be sure to check out Swiss Meat Company. They are a few miles south of Hermann on Highway 19, you can%26#39;t miss it. They make some of the best sausage around and they have samples that you can try in their ';showroom';. Some people recommended it to us when we went to Hermann the first time and we try to make it a point to stop by every time we%26#39;re in the area.

Hermann

jvalh06 summed it up prefect! I second Adam Puchta- the tasting was great. We ate at the Deli too and enjoyed it. We also liked ';Time for Pie'; which I think is serving sausages from the Swiss Meat Co.

Have a good time.

prefect=perfect. I need to lay off the sauce.

lip blush

wireless mouse

Royals Game

We have a group of about 5 guys coming into town in July to catch a Royals game. We are wanting to enjoy some night life in addition to the game. Our thought is to get a hotel downtown and drive to the game instead of staying at the hotels right there. Any recommendations on a good hotel? Also, any recommendations on good bars/hot spots that we should get to. We are all 30ish and married/attached so not looking for clubs or anything like that, just a good sports bar type place.

Royals Game

The power and light district down town might work for you. alot of bars and dining options are there. You are right_ no activity around the stadium

limited time in saint louis local advice please?

We are doing a tour of parts of route 66 in july.

Have already booked up for Chicago / santa monica at each end, and now trying to fill in the gaps!

We expect to arrive in saint louis early evening have a nice meal (recommendations? - I%26#39;m vegetarian), stay the night (recomm? - accessible by car, with parking), see one or two sights (arch, mississippi, budweiser tour??? recomm?), then fly out about 4pm.

I look forward to some expert advice from locals!

Thanks in advance!

limited time in saint louis local advice please?

You may not be getting any replies here because it%26#39;s hard to know where to start.

Coincidently, (and somewhat oddly) someone started a similar discussion on one of the local restaurant blogs here:

www.stltoday.com/forums/viewtopic.php…

limited time in saint louis local advice please?

Can you fit in a Cards baseball game?

The Miss. river will take about 5 minutes to look at.

The Arch and Bud tour are doable in one day.

Stay at the Drury Inn or Hilton Ballpark both are downtown and nice. And right near the activities you listed.

Many thanks Cards fan....the hotels you suggested are all booked up already...what do you think of the Omni Majestic hotel on Pine street?

Also, is there parking at the Anheuser-Busch building where they do the distillery tour? (It%26#39;s not clear on their website)

Thanks so much

lip blush

Where to eat around Forest Park area....

We are going to the Zoo on Monday and wanting to know what are some good places to eat that are kid friendly. I have a 8 and a 10 yr old.

Where to eat around Forest Park area....

The Boathouse in Forest Park...It%26#39;s convenient to the zoo and offers both indoor/outdoor dining. You can rent paddleboats after lunch.

http://www.boathouseforestpark.com/

rodents

What to do around Union Station

I%26#39;m hoping to get a hotel room near Union Station and I need advice on what to do that is around Union Station. Thinking of taking metro to the Arch. Problem is that we are bringing our youngest with us: 12 yr girl that loves to see the sites and a 15 yr boy that is ';bored'; with seeing the sites everywhere we go. He%26#39;s into music (alternative rock) and likes to play sports but not watch. In order to not make this trip excrutiating for us (or him) what can we do on our short trip (3 days)? Museums are out-we%26#39;ve been to alot and we visited museums here in St. Louis when he was 6. Thanks so much for your help!

What to do around Union Station

Forgot to say our trip is scheduled for Mar 25-28. We were trying to visit somewhere close enough to drive since my husband is scheduled for eye surgery March 30 and do not want to take a chance on air travel delays. We live in southeastern Iowa and St. Louis is about 4 hours away.

Anyway....thanks!

What to do around Union Station

Well...for your son there is an upper limits rock climbing gym right by Union Station. I haven%26#39;t been to that one, but rock climbing gyms in general are fun for athletic-minded people.

Not around Union Station....but what about Dave and Busters in Earth City? That can be fun for the whole family, particularly the 15 year old, though.

I know you mentioned not going to museums but what about the City Museum? It is not a museum in the traditional sense. Check out the link. It is a cab ride from Union Station. Go at night to make it more exciting for the kids. It can get pretty lively.

http://www.citymuseum.org/home.asp

http://www.citymuseum.org/3D.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbz2F7R29i8

As you mentioned- The Arch is great.

I second the City Museum.

I couldn%26#39;t be LESS of a City Museum fan, but I know others dig it.......

When my nieces and nephews visit I cave in and take them to Six Flags. It is about 30 minutes west of St. Louis. That is their favorite. Another activity they like is going rollerblading around Creve Coeur Lake.

A while back I took my niece to The Focal Point (www.thefocalpoint.org) . It is about 15-20 minutes from St. Louis. It is a non-smoking venue for watching folk/Indie bands. When we were there we saw the Scottish band %26#39;Old Blind Dogs%26#39;. We had a great time. Plus there are numerous restaurants nearby. For an awsome indy radio station for your son tune into 89.1. It is run by students at Lindenwood University and by far the best radio station out here although the weekend format can get funky.

The Zoo and Science are sure to please just about everybody. I have not been to The City Museum so I have no opinion there.

I think you and your kids would have a great time at the City Museum. A AB brewery tour is always a big hit for visitors also.

';I couldn%26#39;t be LESS of a City Museum fan, but I know others dig it.......%26#39;

That may be, but it%26#39;s a pretty good suggestion for a 12 year old and 15 year old... particularly since one is on the athletic side. It%26#39;s really pretty close in concept to a climbing gym. You climb around in both places. The difference is that one is on walls with a more structured environment and the other is on well, pretty much everything.

Also, you might want to look into which shows are at the Pageant in the Loop when you are in town. There are quite a few alternative groups that come through there, and not all of the shows (if any) require you to be 21 to enter. Depending on when you are in town, you could also see who is playing at the Verizon ampitheater. It is a little ways from Union Station though (about 30-45 minutes).

We are just going to have to agree to disagree on the City Museum thing...I don%26#39;t liken it to a climbing gym at all. I don%26#39;t think it is great for anyone besides small children, really...I just didn%26#39;t dig it.

That isn%26#39;t to say that hoards of people don%26#39;t LOVE it because I know they do...just not something I recommend to anyone.

I was very disappointed when we went....maybe because everyone bragged on it so much?? I enjoyed the big slides but that was the extent of it...I, personally, found it to be....dark...weird....dirty looking....but lots of small children were having a blast! Great for them...just not somewhere I will ever go again.

We just returned from two nights in St.Louis with two 14 year old boys. We saw Cirque Dreams at the Fox Theater (what I wanted to do) on Sunday afternoon--I wasn%26#39;t sure the boys and my husband would be thrilled with the performance, but they willingly went and really enjoyed it. The theater in itself is awesome--check the website--www.fabulousfox.com. The show is full of contortionist/gymnast acts. Your 12 year old will love it and your 15 year old will probably even like it. We stayed at the Drury Inn at Union Station, and I would highly recommend it. Free hot breakfast--not just muffins and bagels--from 6:30 to 9:30. Free cocktails, pop, and snacks from 5:30 to 7pm. All in a beautifully restored historical building with free parking and 2 minute walk to the metro. Union Station is a beautiful building. Be sure to check out the whispering arch. Shopping there is dismal at best, but the building is beautiful. Take a 20 minute drive to the Galleria for shopping--well worth the effort.

Is anyone going to Maifest?

If you have been to or are going to Hermann Maifest, won%26#39;t you share your experiences with the crowd? I thing lots of people will be interested in your opinion.

wedding

IM getting married here soon and im looking for a place in or around springfield mo. i need a place for my reception where we can have a live band and where alcohol is allowed...please let me know someting....

wedding

Mille%26#39;s or Springfield Brewing Co. might fit the bill. Hotels also have space that would work for you.

Call the Convention %26amp; Visitors Bureau and ask for a free Group Travel Guide. It%26#39;s very helpful for planning a wedding. 881-5300 or 800-678-8767.

PS - Congrats!

wedding

Do a search on the Springfield Forum, I just entered ';wedding'; and came up with eight hits. I hope you have a wonderful wedding.

I%26#39;m not sure how much it is, but the Historic Fire House on Commercial St. has lots of weddings. It has a neat outdoor place where you can have the ceremony. I haven%26#39;t been inside, but I hear its very unique. I%26#39;m pretty sure they have a stage for a band and a bar type thing for the alcohol. If you%26#39;re looking for something unique, its definitely something worth looking into. And if you need a photographer my husband is one and has very reasonable rates. colbymoorephotography.smugmug.com

Good luck!

Monday, December 12, 2011

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