Saint Louisans, feel free to give your honest assessment of these activities. Some of them are a little B-list; some are more child-oriented. Make your own recommendations as well. (I’m not going to the Arch, though.)
First full week of November, remember. Good outdoors weather.
Mansions! Chatillion-Deminl Mansion and / or Lemp Mansion – I’m considering these because that Biltmore Estate is in Asheville and it is not air-conditioned, so this would be the next best thing. Has anyone been to either? How cheesy is the murder dinner theater at the Lemp? It sounds like we’d be there at the end of a long run.
Things I remember from childhood: The Lock and Dam in Alton, the Brewery, apple-picking at Eckerts. These things must have been somewhat interesting, because they stuck with me.
Things I never did in childhood but was curious about: Mastodon State Park. (I was ready to scratch that off the list, and Gary shrieked, “Mastodons! Cool!”) Bob Kramer’s Marionettes, or the Toy Museum. I’ve always been mildly curious about both, but never enough to go. Oh, and I want to visit the Puppy Farm.
Grownup Stuff: see Lindsey Buckingham. Regina Spektor, and Paul McCartney. Eat at Niche. Go to an Auction. Visit The Hill (I’ve never been.)
We also want to re-visit some old favorites, like Grant’s Farm and Lone Elk park.
Oh, and did you know if you give the zoo people money you can get up close and personal with the amimals? I’ve fed the elephant and petted the snakes, but not the giraffe or the cheetahs.
Museums and animals. What do other people do on vacation?
12 responses to “Tentative Staycation Plans”
Go to the shore, buy fudge, walk the boardwalk and play lots and lots of skee ball.
Demenil Mansion is fun, but most of the fun is in October; consider the Bellefontaine and Calvary cemetery self-guided tours. If you haven’t been to Mel Price Lock and Dam since you were a kid you should go now. There’s a great museum there and a bird sanctuary on the Missouri side of the river. I did Mastodon last year with Bill and it was interesting. I can’t believe you’ve never been to the hill!!! Definitely stop by Missouri Baking Co and get Chocolate drops, drop by Shaw coffee for a rest and a drink, go to Viviano and Sons grocery, see the hall of fame street, visit Missouri Crematory (first one west of the Mississippi) and then call me and I’ll meet you for dinner (since I live there now). One of the coolest things I’ve done was visit Valhalla cemetery and mausoleum. Kuhs Farm in Spanish Lake is beautiful in the fall too; but I don’t know if they have tours available in November. Have you thought about perusing the shops on Cherokee street?
Becs – Gary LOVES Skee-ball. We have fudge here too.
Amy in StL – I have been to Cherokee street with Gary – I particularly remember the architectural remains store. That must have been 20 years ago, though. I have visited the Sunset Hill cemetary – that’s where my grandmother and Auggie Busch are buried, I think.
FYI: I have been to the Biltmore Mansion in late October several times and I assure you that it is plenty cool…no a/c needed! Asheville is very temperate…it’s well worth the trip.
Biltmore is amazing. We went on Dec. 27 a few years back. It was still decorated for Christmas. Gorgeous. Definitely do it on a future go-cation. Also go to the opposite coast and do the Winchester House. It’s a different kind of impressive.
I bet you could coincide a visit to the Biltmore with a show at The Orange Peel. In which case, I might be there!
Lauren T – I keep forgetting the rest of the South isn’t as sub-tropical as Saint Louis.
Caroline – That does sound like fun. The Mystery house would just creep me out, I’m afraid.
Wendy – Now see, I had no idea one of the five best clubs was there. Thank you. Cool!
It’s not creepy. It’s total camp.
Caroline – But the woman was mentally ill. Geh. It would just bum me out. There but for the grace of God. Besides, I condier that big house on D________e a Mystery House.
I wonder what the Rolling Stones criteria was. The fact that the Peel is in a cool town and they booked Smashing Pumpkins? I don’t know. I haven’t been in that many clubs, but it doesn’t seem all that different from the others.
Have you seen Josh Whedon on youtube asking us to vote for Romney–I need a parkour buddy. I am too slow.
Joss Whedon. Lost all credibility. Like saying Hans Solo.
Wendy – Perhaps Mick had the hots for some waitress who works there. Have not seen the YouTube video of Jock Weedom.