Palo Duro: America’s Second Largest Canyon

You know how the song goes: “The stars at night, are big and bright…”

Nowhere is that truer than at Palo Duro Canyon State Park in the heart of the Texas Panhandle. If you’ve never heard of it, you’re not alone; it’s not nearly as famous as it deserves to be. Nevertheless, it’s the second largest canyon in the United States – after the Grand Canyon. Of course, it’s impossible to compare the two, but Palo Duro does offer some advantages you won’t find anywhere else.

Size

It’s difficult being the second in anything: families, the Olympics, and – yes! – canyons.

Palo Duro Canyon is 120 miles long, over 800 feet deep, and 6 miles wide on average (but up to 20 miles wide at points). Compare that to the Grand Canyon which is 277 miles long, more than 5000 feet deep, and 18 miles from rim to rim. The Grand Canyon is jaw-dropping, but it almost looks like a painting when you’re standing on the edge of it.

Palo Duro Canyon, on the other hand, feels real. It’s beautiful and approachable, not so intimidating that you question how to tackle the adventure before you do.

Inside Palo Duro Canyon. — Silvio Ligutti / Shutterstock

Access

Palo Duro Canyon is about 30 minutes south of Amarillo, Texas. Once you’ve seen Cadillac Ranch and taken the 72oz Steak Challenge at The Big Texan in Amarillo, you’ll need a good, long walk.

But that may be one of the best parts about Palo Duro: you don’t need a mule, helicopter, or an all-day hike to get to the canyon floor. You don’t have to walk at all if you don’t want to. After paying the $5 per person fee to get in, you can drive down to the canyon floor, follow the road through the park, and drive right back out. There will be places you’ll want to stop, but it can be as quick a visit as you want to make it.

A group takes a horseback ride through Palo Duro Canyon. — Old West Stables

Experiences

Perhaps the biggest draw at Palo Duro is the beautiful system of trails, and the cathedral of canyon walls that surround it. You can walk, bike, even ride a horse through the canyon. (If you don’t have one of your own, Old West Stables will take you on a one-hour guided tour.)

No matter how you experience Palo Duro, you have to see the park’s iconic hoodoo known as The Lighthouse. Hoodoos are slender rock formations with a larger rock on top. You’ll only be able to see it from the canyon floor if you take the Lighthouse Trail, which is about 5.5 miles round trip. You can also get a look at it via the telescope at the Visitor’s Center.

The wonderful thing about any hike at Palo Duro is that you can go as far as you like, and turn around whenever you want. But you should spend the night if you really want to experience the peacefulness of the canyon; the expansive palette stars is worth staying for. There are campsites for RVs, campers, and tents to accommodate you. There are also four cabins on the canyon floor and three more on the rim. You can reserve your spot at the campsites or in the cabins online.

For more than 50 years, thousands have flocked to the canyon floor in the summer to enjoy performances of the musical drama TEXAS. The show takes place at the Pioneer Amphitheater Tuesday-Sunday starting at 8:30 p.m., and portrays the history of the people who settled the Texas Panhandle. There’s singing, dancing, Texas humor, and even fireworks at the end! You can visit backstage before the performance if you arrive before 7:15 p.m. If you care to come hungry, you can eat dinner in the canyon before the show for an additional cost. The producers recommend you get your tickets at least two weeks in advance.

A canyon wall in Palo Duro Canyon. — mhmartin1 / Shutterstock

Nature

The many-colored stone walls retell the 250 million year story of the canyon. Palo Duro was formed by the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River, leaving behind four distinct geologic layers. There are wildflowers, grasses, yucca, and prickly pear cacti, as well as plenty of juniper, mesquite, and cottonwood trees on the canyon floor.

The canyon is also home to its share of wildlife. You may see snakes (some venomous), lizards, wild turkeys, coyotes, roadrunners, bobcats, deer, and several types of birds – including woodpeckers. The fauna may not entice you to come. But if you made it past ‘snakes’, knowing that the largest population of Palo Duro mice is also found here probably won’t bother you. This type of mouse is only found in three counties in Texas. Consider it a warning, consider it a reason to visit – it’s up to you.

You do need to be prepared when hiking, biking, or horseback riding on the trails, not just for the critters you might encounter, but for the heat as well. The weather varies greatly in the canyon throughout the year. There are signs at the trailheads which warn of the dangers of heat and urge everyone to carry at least a gallon of water per person (and pet). Hats, sunscreen, and anything else that could protect you from the sun are also a must. Thermometers in the park show the temperature the keep you apprised of the possibility of heat stroke. The park takes the safety of its visitors seriously, and those who work here want to make sure the beauty of the area doesn’t cause you to let your guard down.

View from the top of Palo Duro Canyon. — xradiophotog / Shutterstock

History

People have lived in the canyon for about 12,000 years. The earliest hunted mammoth and giant bison; archeologists have found tools, paintings, and other relics here.

It’s believed that early Spanish Explorers found the canyon and named it Palo Duro, which is Spanish for “hard wood,” because of the trees they found when they arrived. Native Americans called the canyon home until they were forced out in 1874. A few years later, JA Ranch began in the canyon with more than 1,500 head of Longhorn cattle.

Eventually, the State of Texas bought the upper section of the canyon which became Palo Duro Canyon State Park.

Photo Credit: Zack Frank / Shutterstock

Photo Credit: Daniel R Humphries / Shutterstock

Why Future Generations May Not See Venice

Venice is among the world’s most recognizable cities. Its 118 islands – set like jewels in the shallows of the Adriatic – its canals, bridges, cobblestone laneways, and renaissance flavors… All have inspired generations of lovers and pilgrims.

But all that may be about to change. It turns out this timeless city may be living on borrowed time.

A Floating City

According to legend (and, more than likely, fact) the city of Venice was founded in 421 AD, toward the end of the Roman Empire.

This was an era of great peril and chaos for the Romans, whose state was crumbling under the heels of invaders. Peasants in northern Italy could no longer be assured of their security, living as they did in poorly-defended outlying areas.

And so, a group of migrants made their way to a sheltered, marshy lagoon along Italy’s northeastern Mediterranean coast, taking refuge on an archipelago just off the mainland. The settlers were apparently authorized by the government of the city of Padua to establish a trading post in the area; they couldn’t have imagined that they were founding what would become one of the world’s most legendary nation states.

But the glittering city state was not built upon the islands themselves. Rather, long poles were thrust into the muddy earth, where they eventually petrified. These pillars support Venice’s piazzas and terraces above, furnishing her citizens with the illusion that they inhabit a floating city.

Doors open onto a canal. A common sight in Venice.

In the middle ages and through the high renaissance, those citizens enjoyed the privilege of residing in one of the great powers of the old world.

The Most Serene Republic of Venice (as it was called) became the seat of a maritime empire in the Adriatic whose power far exceeded its relatively small size. Venetian merchants made fortunes trading in salt, silk, spice, and myriad other precious goods; the wealth they accumulated is still evident today in the architectural and cultural wonders of the city they built.

Venice styled itself as a Republic, though we wouldn’t recognize it as such today. It was a democracy of sorts, but the only voters were the aristocrats, who elected one of their own to a life term as Doge, or Duke. (The Doge’s Palace remains one of Venice’s most recognizable landmarks today.)

This republic of oligarchs fell into decline when the Atlantic Ocean proved a more lucrative channel for trade, and it was finally dissolved by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1797.

A Sinking City

As you might expect, rising water levels have always been an issue for the city. Higher than usual tides have sometimes given us images of tourists wading through St. Mark’s Square, water up to their waists – and this has only become more common in recent years. The mean depth of the Venetian Lagoon is a mere 33 feet, so even comparatively modest fluctuations in the water level are very noticeable.

Over the last 1,000 years, scientists conclude that Venice’s coastline has risen by just over a foot. However, due to effects of global warming, they now project that it will rise by an additional 5 feet by the year 2100. This puts the city at risk, along with much of the rest of the low-lying Adriatic coastline.

Venice has been plagued by other problems as well.

The population of the islands which comprise the old city proper has declined to 55,000. The city is practically bankrupt and mired in corruption.

The digging of channels in the seabed to accommodate large ships has sucked excess seawater into the lagoon. That fast-moving water has led to more erratic tides which can erode the foundations of the city. (Remember: Venice is essentially held up by petrified stilts in the mud. If these are exposed due to uncommonly low tides, they weaken and decay.)

Finally, while gondolas remain iconic, motorized boats have become increasingly common. The wake they leave behind is chipping away at the foundations of the ancient domiciles along the canals, which run like capillaries through the city. Venice has also become an extremely popular destination for cruise ships – and who knows what untold damage they’re doing beneath the surface.

A Salvageable City?

In 2003, work commenced on a system called MOSE, which is intended to protect Venice from flooding – at least on a temporary basis. (The name is an Italian acronym, but it’s also meant to evoke Moses and his parting of the Red Sea.)

The idea is straightforward enough: hinged gates are installed into the seabed along the narrow inlets that allow water to pass from the Adriatic into the lagoon. If dangerously high water is expected, the gates can be raised – literally holding back the tide.

The execution, however, has not been straightforward at all.

MOSE was originally projected to cost €1.6 billion, with a completion deadline of 2011. Today, costs have run in excess of €5 billion, and it may not be operational until 2022. Furthermore, the underwater gates have suffered far more water corrosion and damage from fauna like mussels than previously anticipated. Even in a best case scenario, MOSE can protect Venice from surges over 10 feet, but it is apparently (somehow!) useless in preventing smaller, more commonplace floods.

The operation’s efficiency has also been undermined by corruption. Back in 2014, the Mayor of Venice, Girogio Orsoni, was arrested, along with 34 others, on corruption charges relating to MOSE. (Orsoni apparently accepted €20 million in illegal campaign donations from the consortium responsible for the faltering project.)

In any event, even if MOSE eventually exceeds expectations (which is unlikely), it can only protect Venice from temporary high tides. It would still be powerless to protect the ancient city from the depredations of motorized sea traffic, or the rising sea levels that result from the melting of the ice caps.

Unless we reverse the trend of global warming in the coming decades, Venice will be but one of many casualties. The once-bustling metropolis that was founded as a refuge will itself take refuge beneath the waves; the palaces and monuments to its great dreamers, the Marco Polos, the Vivaldis, will wither into a shadow of a memory, an Atlantis in the Adriatic.

One of the many canals that give the city its character.

How To Spend A Sunday In Chicago

The great city of Chicago has plenty to keep you busy for weeks at a time. So, if you are just stopping by on your way through town, you will want to make the most of your brief time in the Windy City. Here are our picks for how to spend a leisurely Sunday in the Midwest’s biggest city.

Sunday Morning

Chicago is a town that loves its brunch. French, Chinese, Mexican — nearly every cuisine you can imagine can be enjoyed in leisure on a Sunday morning.

Mindy’s Bakery

Your first option is sweet, with a hint of savory. Chef Mindy Segal of Mindy’s Bakery is a James Beard Award winning pastry chef. Start with an order of Mindy’s Doughnuts, and follow it with a savory southern grits skillet or latke benedict. Finish your morning with sweet caffeine. There are six different types of hot chocolate from which to choose, each topped with a homemade marshmallow.

Jam Restaurant

Jam Restaurant is in the city’s Logan Square neighborhood. It has been awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand for six straight years. That honor recognizes restaurants that provide tasty food at fair prices. Jam recently moved to a larger space, but you can still count on your favorites like Hot Chicken & Waffles and Wild Boar BLT.

Chicago Art Institute entrance and lion sculpture — Image: Chad Bontrager, Shutterstock

Sunday Afternoon

There are several ways you can spend your afternoon after getting your fill at brunch.

The Art Institute of Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago welcomes you with its stately lions standing guard outside. The museum is one of the best in the country and boasts the works of masters including Van Gogh, Cézanne, Monet, Degas, and Renoir. In fact, it’s home to one of the largest Impressionist collections in the world. In addition to paintings, there are suits of armor, sculptures, pottery, photography, and textiles from around the world. The Art Institute’s collections are extensive, and you can easily lose yourself here. Before you realize it, hours will have passed, and you’ll wish you had more time before closing time. Guided gallery talks take place daily, but the times and topics change from day to day. The museum does charge admission, but it’s part of the city pass if you choose to get that.

Maxwell Street Market

One Chicago Sunday tradition is Maxwell Street Market. It’s basically a flea market in the South Loop on Desplaines where they sell everything from socks to scarfs. The market is known for its excellent Mexican and Latin street food and its polish sausage sandwiches. The most interesting thing about the market is its history. It’s basically the oldest flea market in America, started in the late 1880s by Jewish Immigrants. It grew to include a vast array of products, especially during its heyday in the 1920s. After World War II, the area also became known for the Blues musicians playing on the street alongside those selling their wares.

Oak Park

If it’s a beautiful day, a walk or bike ride around Oak Park is a perfect way to spend an afternoon. That town is home to the largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings in the world, including his home and studio. A walk or bike tour allows you to see a lot of Oak Park, which is just west of Chicago. During the tour, you’ll see more than 20 of Wright’s designs. The group leaves at 9:30 a.m. and lasts two hours. You can bring your own bike, but if you don’t have one, it’s included in the cost, which is about $50. The guided walking tour lasts three hours and costs $60. You’ll be walking less than a mile, but you’ll see about 10 of his designs. It’s a good idea to make a reservation for either tour.

Untouchable Tours

A fun afternoon activity with a bit of a seedy element, takes you back to 1920s Chicago when gangsters ruled the city. The ‘boys” at Untouchable Tours will show you the old stomping grounds of Capone, Moran, and Dillinger. You’ll see parts of Chicago you otherwise wouldn’t, and see the history of the city through the eyes of its villains. The guides have fantastic names like ‘Shoulders’ and ‘Slippery Sloop’, and they make it worth your while. They even dress the part! It costs just under $40 per person, and you do need to make reservations. Keep in mind: while they won’t break your knees if you cancel, you also won’t get your money back. No refunds once you’re booked.

Sunday Evening

Chicago-Style Pizza

End your day with the pizza for which Chicago is famous — deep dish. Uno Pizzeria lays claim to inventing the pizza style, which features tall crust and sauce on top. If you’ve never tried it, don’t worry, there’s plenty of cheese below that sauce. Sample a slice at Uno’s original location at Ohio and Wabash.

In addition to Uno, Gino’s, Giordano’s, and Lou Malnati’s have been pleasing locals and guests for decades with multiple locations downtown. The pizzas take a while to bake, but many joints allow you to order before being seated so that it bakes while you wait. One piece can be a meal, and you don’t even want to know the calorie count. Surely you walked enough in the Windy City to warrant a slice or two! If you do leave wanting more, the good news is all of these places will ship a pie right to your door.

Skydeck Chicago

Willis Tower

If you have a few minutes left in the evening, and you happened to buy a city pass, you might as well use it to travel to the top of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. Skydeck Chicago is located on the 103rd floor of Willis Tower. You probably know it better by its former name, Sears Tower.

The Ledge is the star of the show when you get to the top. The experience allows you to step onto an inch and a half of glass to see straight down! While that may not seem very thick, The Ledge’s glass boxes can hold up to 10,000 pounds. If stepping out onto a sheet of glass more than 1,300 feet in the air isn’t for you, you can still enjoy seeing four states from the observation deck: Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. It’s a perfect way to end your day, bidding the Windy City and its neighbors adieu.

12 Things You Have To Do When You’re In St. Louis

St. Louis is known for the Gateway Arch, Cardinals Baseball and the Anheuser Busch Brewery. While all three should be on your to-do list during your visit, that’s really just the beginning. And get this: a lot of the coolest things to do in St. Louis are free!

One tip though: St. Louis’ public transportation isn’t great. Renting a car is usually best, but don’t leave all your belongings in plain sight. (Car break-ins do happen.)

Art Hill in Forest Park. — STLJB / Shutterstock

While planning your stay to explore the heart of St. Louis, choosing the right accommodation can enhance your experience. Opting for the best hotel in St. Louis Missouri can provide you with comfort and convenience as you navigate through the city’s numerous attractions. Several of the best hotels in St. Louis are strategically located close to these popular sites, ensuring you don’t miss out on any fun.

1. Forest Park

This is where Judy Garland wanted everyone to meet her for the 1904 World’s Fair. (Today, the Art Museum building and the bird cage at the zoo are the only two remnants from the fair.) It’s where you’ll find the best of the best when it comes to free experiences in the city.

The St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis Art Museum, Missouri History Museum, and St. Louis Science Center are all free, every single day, for everyone. There are some special exhibits that charge an entrance fee, and you must pay to ride the train or see the sea lion show at the zoo (but the prices are very reasonable).

In the summer, you can watch soon-be-stars under the stars at The Muny amphitheater in Forest Park. The last nine rows are free for every performance. Gates for these free seats open at 7 p.m.

As for seasonal activities at Forest Park, movies are shown on Art Hill on Fridays in July and early August, the zoo hosts Jungle Boogie Concerts on Friday evenings from late May through early September, and in June you can enjoy Shakespeare in the Park. If you’re visiting during the winter months, the Steinberg Ice Skating Rink is open November 15th through March 1st (although this attraction is not free).

Additionally, Forest Park boasts countless gorgeous trails that offer great views of the park and all of its attractions.

Though the park is fairly walkable, some visitors may be interested in the Forest Park Explorer. This hop on, hop off bus service is provided by the St. Louis Metro and runs daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the summer months (tickets are completely free on Saturdays and Sundays).

Forest Park has so many other wonderful attractions for locals and visitors alike (the Jewel Box, the Boat House, the World’s Fair Pavilion, and more). Bring a picnic, your drink of choice, and enjoy all that Forest Park has to offer!

Inside the Missouri Botanical Garden. — Rob Neville Photos / Shutterstock

2. Missouri Botanical Garden

The Missouri Botanical Garden is home to one of the largest Japanese Gardens in North America. If you’re taking a trip to St. Louis with children, there is a hidden gem inside the Garden itself: the Children’s Garden is one of the best venues to entertain kids in the entire city. There are places to climb and slide, a general store, and an area where you can make music. It’s open from April through October.

The Botanical Garden is free to St. Louis City and County residents every Wednesday and Saturday before noon, except during special admission rate events. In the summer, anyone can get in free on Wednesdays after 5 p.m. for the Whitaker Music Festival. Bring some chairs, a blanket, a picnic basket, and enjoy the evening.

Some of the most popular seasonal events at the Botanical Garden include the Japanese Festival (Labor Day weekend), Garden Glow (November through December), and Chinese Culture Days (April).

Inside the Fox Theatre. — STLJB / Shutterstock

3. The Fabulous Fox Theatre

The Fox Theatre is located in Midtown St. Louis and hosts Broadway national tours and other performances. It’s a wonderful space with an opulent interior. If you can’t catch a show, tours are offered most Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. (Tickets for the tours go on sale starting at 10 a.m.) Each tour lasts about 1.5 hours. The Saturday tour includes an organ presentation, which is a Fox Theatre tradition. (The multi-talented Stan Kann played the theatre’s Mighty Wurlitzer for nearly three decades.)

4. World Chess Hall of Fame in the Central West End

This is another gem, especially if you play chess (although you don’t have to be into the game to enjoy it). The World Chess Hall of Fame is free and open every day, although a small donation is suggested. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you see the World’s Largest Chess Piece outside. There are unique chess boards, information about the grandmasters, and other special exhibits that rotate. If you know how to play, you can even join a pick-up game outside!

The World Chess Hall Of Fame is located in the Central West End neighborhood, just east of Forest Park. If you’re looking for a bite to eat, this is definitely the neighborhood to visit.

Though most places in this area can get a bit pricey, some local favorites nearby include the Kingside Diner (appropriately named for the gigantic chess piece next door), the Drunken Fish (modern Japanese restaurant), The Cup (local gourmet cupcake bar), Taste (upscale cocktail bar with a small, locally-sourced menu), or Up-Down STL (fun arcade bar with cheap pizza and over 60 beers on tap).

5. Anheuser Busch Brewery

The free tour at the Anheuser Busch Brewery is well-attended by visitors to St. Louis. It lasts about 45 minutes, and while learning about the brewery process is interesting, the highlight is seeing the Budweiser Clydesdales and their stables. The building dates from 1885 and a chandelier from the 1904 World’s Fair hangs in the center. (Of course, the free samples at the end aren’t bad either!)

Tickets for specific tour times are given out at the brewery on a first come, first served basis, which means you may have to wait a bit. You can also reserve a time in advance, which will cost $5 per ticket. There are other tours with varying experiences and prices available.

Monks Mound at Cahokia Mounds. — Vladislav Gajic / Shutterstock

6. Cahokia Mounds

Just across the Mississippi River in Illinois, you’ll find the largest prehistoric native site north of Mexico. In fact, its population was larger than London in AD 1250, estimated to be between 10,000 and 20,000 people. During your visit, you’ll learn about the Mississippian culture, see a reconstructed ancient sun calendar, and climb Monks Mound (the largest prehistoric earthen structure in the country). Guided tours are available. Admission is free, but there is a suggested donation.

7. Gateway Arch, Old Courthouse, and Riverfront Cruises

A trip to St. Louis wouldn’t be complete without visiting The Gateway Arch. Known as the “Gateway to the West,” it’s the tallest monument in the country. If you’re concerned about taking the tram to the top – yes, the ride up is cozy, but that’s part of the fun! Once you get to the top, you’ll be able to see for miles and get a great view of the city. If it’s windy, there can be a bit of a sway. But fear not: the Arch has been standing tall for almost 60 years and has withstood all the elements the Midwest has to offer.

We recommend you reserve your tickets online prior to visiting. The entry fee to ride to the top of the Arch is just $3.

2018 marked the completion of major renovations at the Gateway Arch National Park, including an updated Museum (entry is free) at the base of the Arch and gorgeous landscaping throughout the Arch grounds.

“Featuring 201 years of history within six themed exhibit areas, this innovative and interactive museum celebrates America’s pioneering spirit and explains the westward expansion of the United States with an emphasis on St. Louis’ role in that era.”

– The Gateway Arch

Part of Gateway Arch National Park, The Old Courthouse has played a significant role in U.S. history. In 1847 and 1850, Dred and Harriet Scott sued for their freedom here. It’s also where Virginia Minor fought for women’s rights to vote in the 1870s. The Courthouse offers guided tours daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

If you’ve got extra time and want to get on the river, try a Riverfront Cruise. These one-hour cruises are designed to help visitors “discover the mighty Mississippi’s important role in America’s past and in the present-day.” Reservations for the cruise are recommended, and prices can vary. Purchase tickets ahead of your visit on the Gateway Arch website.

The Daniel Boone home in Missouri. — GPA Photo Archive / Flickr

8. Daniel Boone Home & Wine Country

The Daniel Boone home is about 35 minutes west of St. Louis on a beautiful 300-acre site. As you take the winding roads to get there, you’ll wonder how the Boone family made it here in the 1800s. The rooms of the home are very detailed, and the guided tours are fantastic. You do have to pay admission to look inside, but you can walk through the village behind the home for free.

This area of Missouri is also known for its vineyards. There are several wineries in nearby Defiance and Augusta. Chandler Hill Vineyards is actually on the way to the Daniel Boone Home! Stop by, enjoy a glass of wine, and admire the Missouri countryside.

The National Blues Museum in St. Louis. — dvs / Flickr

9. National Blues Museum

If you’re a music fan, this is a must-see attraction. The museum has several interactive displays, including one that allows you to create your own blues song! There’s also plenty of memorabilia, and, of course, fantastic information about the history of the blues and how it influenced other styles of music. Be sure to check out their events calendar and go when there’s a live performance scheduled. The museum is located in downtown St. Louis and charges admission. (Additionally, if you’re interested in more blues history, be sure to stop by St. Louis’s Delmar Loop to visit the statue of Chuck Berry across the street from the legendary Duck Room music venue at Blueberry Hill!)

The James S. McDonnell Prologue Room museum. — Boeing

10. James S. McDonnell Prologue Room

St. Louis has a rich aviation history, and there’s a fantastic display that many (including locals!) have never heard of: the James S. McDonnell Prologue Room at Boeing St. Louis headquarters. You’ll be able to see large-scale models of the F/A-18 Hornet and AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, a full-scale model of a JDAM smart weapon, and full-size replicas of the Mercury and Gemini capsules. It’s only open during the summer, but it’s free. It’s located northwest of the city near St. Louis-Lambert International Airport.

Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals. — Leonard Jerry Horsford / Shutterstock

11. St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Blues

St. Louis takes great pride in its sports teams. It’s fun to catch a Cards game, or see the Blues take to the ice if you’re more of a hockey fan.

If you’re interested in touring the beautiful Busch Stadium, you can purchase tickets online ahead of time ($18 for adults, $16 for seniors or active military), although you can get a good look at the stadium simply by taking a lap around the sidewalk outside. Across the street in Ballpark Village, you’ll find plenty of bars and restaurants, as well as the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum (which boasts one of the largest team-specific collections of artifacts and memorabilia in the world).

The home of 2019 Stanley Cup winners the St. Louis Blues can be found several blocks west of Busch Stadium at the Enterprise Center. Unfortunately, the Enterprise Center does not offer tours, although there is a huge gift shop of Blues souvenirs that is open daily (check out their hours on the Enterprise Center website).

Ted Drewes Frozen Custard. — Nagel Photography / Shutterstock

12. Ted Drewes and Crown Candy Kitchen

These family-run businesses will easily be some of your sweetest experiences while in St. Louis!

Ted Drewes is a St. Louis staple, serving delicious frozen custard on Historic Route 66. Order a concrete, and don’t be concerned when they flip it upside down before they hand it to you (just don’t try it yourself, especially on a hot summer day)! If the lines look long when you arrive, don’t worry – Ted Drewes is accustomed to large crowds and moves through them quickly.

You’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time at the famous Crown Candy Kitchen, which opened in 1913. You can get a milkshake to go, but try to grab a table, order a BLT or a Rueben, and then order a malt, shake, crown sundae, or the fire chief special. You will be full! If you happen to visit during Christmas or Easter, their chocolate Santas and Easter Bunnies make wonderful gifts.

*This article was updated in July of 2019.

Driving Route 66 in Kansas

Kansas has the shortest span of Historic Route 66. Just 13 miles of the road winds its way through the state, punctuated by three small towns. Despite the brevity of the stretch, there’s still plenty of history and places to stop and visit along the way. If you’ve been following the itinerary from Chicago, and just left Joplin, this is a perfect way to spend the second half of your day.

Eisler Brothers Old Riverton Store Kansas — Eisler Brothers Old Riverton Store.Wikimedia Commons

The first town you’ll come to is Galena. It’s an old mining town and named for the abundant lead found in the area in the late 1800s. Stop at Cars on the Route (formerly 4 Women on the Route), the former Kan-O-Tex Service Station.

You may notice some familiar characters sitting outside, especially if someone in your family is a fan of Disney Pixar’s Cars movies. Tow Mater may call the Southwestern United States home in the movies, but the inspiration for his character came from Kansas. “Tow Tater”, a 1951 International boom truck, sits outside the service station, along with his friends Red and Sarge. And yes, that’s part of the reason this business changed its name. A change in ownership was the other factor.

You can also grab a bite in the garage and there are souvenirs for sale. Across Route 66, is a restored home with a disputed history. Some say it was a bordello, or brothel, whose Madame was also a serial killer. Historians disagree, but it makes for a great tale for residents to tell.

As you pass through, you’ll notice faded signs on the side of buildings: advertisements for businesses that used to call the town home. The Galena Mining and Historical Museum pays homage to local history. It’s your last stop on the way out of town. There’s military equipment out back and mineral samples inside. There are also oil paintings on display that once hung in the Smithsonian.

Phillips 66 Gas Station — Independent Oil and Gas Station. Flickr / ahisgett

The second of the three towns on this short 13-mile journey is Riverton. You’ll want to stop at the Eisler Brothers Old Riverton Store. The neighborhood grocery store opened in 1925 and you can still buy groceries and produce there today. You can also find gifts and lots of Route 66 memorabilia. Its deli is the perfect place to grab a sandwich for your trip.

Just outside of Riverton, is the Brush Creek Bridge. It was built in 1923 and is the only Marsh Rainbow Arch bridge that remains on Historic Route 66 in Kansas. Local traffic has been rerouted, but you can still walk across it.

The third and final town in Kansas has two possible stops. The Baxter Springs Heritage Center and Museum and the Independent Oil and Gas Station. The museum has 20,000 square feet of displays about the town’s history and might take you an hour to go through.

But, you’ll definitely want to pull over at the former gas station. It was built in 1930 and now serves as the Kansas Route 66 Visitor Center. It’s picture worthy to say the least.

How To Budget For Disney World

A trip to Walt Disney World is a magical experience, but no one would ever mistake it for a cheap little jaunt. But depending on how your family likes to travel, there are ways to save money and places to splurge. Putting some thought into what you want to get out of your trip will allow you to enjoy it even more when you arrive.

1. Travel

Drive or fly? You have to weigh the cost of gas plus wear and tear on your car versus the cost of flying and possibly renting a car.

If you stay off property, you will need a car and you’ll pay $20 for parking each day you go to the parks. If you fly and stay on property, you can get free transportation from the Orlando airport to your resort and use the free transportation from your resort to the parks.

Disney's Coronado Springs Resort. — Steven Diaz / WDWNews.com

2. Lodging

Your room and your tickets will be your greatest expense. On property, you have the choice of value, moderate or deluxe accommodations. Off property, there are hotels, condos and homes for rent. The size of your group will greatly affect this cost. Are you bringing your kids, their spouses and your grandkids? If so, it may be cheaper to rent a house or a large condo off property.

Some of the resorts on property do have one and two-bedroom options. You can book through Walt Disney World, but Disney Vacation Club members also have access to some of the more spacious rooms. There are agencies which rent points for DVC members at a much cheaper rate than you can book through the resort. You’ll want to book this option at least nine months in advance to take advantage of the best room and price options. Some members sell specific times they’ve booked on websites like ebay.com and redweek.com as well.

If there are five or fewer traveling, the difference between staying off property versus staying at a value resort on property, may be negligible. Most value resorts are cheaper than moderate resorts, but not all. Deluxe resorts (obviously) are the most expensive.

Another benefit of staying on property is getting extra time at the park. Each day, there’s at least one park that allows those staying on property to arrive earlier or stay later than those staying off property.

No matter where you stay, you can still visit the resorts, eat in their restaurants, and shop in their stores. We’ve even had s’mores at Animal Kingdom Lodge while looking at the giraffes and zebras – and both were free!

3. Tickets

Depending on where you stay, tickets can be the biggest part of your budget. The cost per day gets cheaper with the more days you purchase. If you only go to one park per day, you can cut out the park-hopper expense. If you are someone who wants to start the morning at Magic Kingdom, eat lunch at Epcot, and end the day at Animal Kingdom, then the extra money for park-hopping is worth it.

If you are visiting during the fall or winter, there are events that require special tickets. The cost for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party depends on the night you choose to go. The ticket allows you to enter the Magic Kingdom at 4 p.m., even though the party doesn’t start until later. Both parties have special treats and the lines for rides are shorter. The special parades and fireworks also make the events nice for family members of all ages. The events go until midnight, so if you’re not a night owl, it may not be worth the extra cost.

A chef prepares food at a Disney World event. — Todd Anderson / WDWNews.com

4. Food

One thing that surprises many about Walt Disney World is the quality and variety of the food. You will definitely want to try some of the food on property, especially if you’re visiting during one of the festivals at Epcot. If you are traveling with younger kids, a character meal is worth the splurge. You get to meet and take pictures with some of your Disney favorites. (The characters vary depending on the restaurant.)

Walt Disney World is also home to several very nice, upscale restaurants, including AAA Five Diamond award winner Victoria & Albert’s. Dining here is an experience, especially if you decide to splurge for the 10 course Chef’s table!

But there are also ways to save money on food. You can actually bring your own non-alcoholic drinks, sandwiches, and snacks into the parks. It can be a huge money saver, especially if you are traveling with kids who may only eat half a hot dog or a few fries and are then ready to go again.

A game changer when it comes to food is free dining! Disney will offer this during the slower times of year. It’s really a win-win because the parks are less crowded, and you get free food! You must stay on property, but the cost of your room may be the same amount you would spend on food each day for your family, especially if you book a value resort. As long as you understand the rules, you can eat well and it’s a terrific way to save money. Be aware, the free dining offer goes fast, so when you see it, grab it!

5. Souvenirs

This expense is totally within your control, but it won’t feel like it if you’re traveling with what I like to call “a super shopper” (like my mom) or a child who wants every toy, stuffed animal, or balloon he sees.

One way around this is to bring surprises from home or to buy a similar (but cheaper) item at an Orlando area grocery store or Target. You can also allow each child to pick one item within a certain price range during the trip. This is also where the free dining could pay off big. You can’t buy stuffed animals with your credits, but you can buy decorated Rice Krispie treats or special cupcakes for them to enjoy, which some might say is better anyway!