Here are our thoughts on many of the states we passed through in our first half of the cross country road trip. The pictures are in the second half.
DC – Taxation without Representation OR the American experience
Traffic, expensive transportation, and cars are all the quintessential American Experience. I had never really had to get around DC during the week with a car- there is NO reason to have a car in DC during the week. We left DC with a $100 parking ticket.
We also had the Native American experience, sort of. There is much debate about the Native American Museum. I found it worth the visit and especially enjoyed the landscaping and dining hall. Please cast your opinions here about the museum but be sure to say when you visited as it has changed a lot since opening.
Virginia – Virginia is for lovers.
We reentered VA as we moved west toward St. Louis. “VA is for Lovers” has always perplexed me. Maybe I should visit the office of tourism and get a good explanation for this slogan or you could help me understand with your perspectives. Perhaps VA is for lovers of many different things – mountains, the Bay, the Rivah, history, wine, privately out-of-state funded public education (UVA!), history, tobacco, capital of the confederacy, democrats and republicans, the meeting of the north and south, history, seasons, humid summers, history, fertile family farms, hospitality, my home state. Did I mention “history?”
Maryland – Seize the Day Off
I have no idea. Maryland drivers suck…they all seem to drive like it’s Sunday, the day off? Any ideas?
Pennsylvania – State of Independence
Beautiful farms, rolling hills, and coal. It independently holds the highest gas price of our trip so far at $2.99. We budgeted for $4.00 so we’re not that upset.
West Virginia – Open for Business (not anymore)… Wild and Wonderful
For a period of time, WVA switched their slogan from Wild and Wonderful to Open For Business. Anyone that cares about fresh air (anyone in their prevailing winds to the east, thank you very much) knows that this was despicable and was happy when they reversed it a few months later.
I’ve visited the wild and wonderful area of WVA many times to climb and play in the New River and Gauley River gorges. I never saw a place on the east coast quite as beautiful as Summersville lake – climbing next to crystal clear blue waters on a hot summer day is blissful. But this visit was for only 10 miles across the “finger” of WVA. I found out that I am not as dexterous with my left hand as my right in describing the shape of WVA. See below that I cannot flick someone off with my left hand…I mean I cannot describe the shape of WVA.
Apparenlty I cannot make the WVA symbol with my left hand.
Ohio – So much to Discover
So much to Discover…..you just have to look really really hard to see it and we did not. It was the longest state of our day. We discovered vast expanses of concrete and corn; and contrary to popular belief there were some undulations in the land.
Indiana – The Crossroads of America
And yes there were…many intersections though we only took one to get gas. Wait, nope, too expensive. Lots of trucks and lots of roads.
Illinois – got nothing to say here. Obama?
Missouri - “The Show Me State”
St. Louis certainly had a lot more to show us than we expected. We were both blown away by the size and beauty of the Arch. We excitedly bought our National Park Pass ($80 for the year) and got discounts on a ride to the top! I had no idea you could go all the way to the top of the arch. We were whisked to the top in a pod the size of the Apollo return modules. It was a cool experience to look down out the viewing windows and know nothing was below you.
Touching the Mississippi under the Arch
Then we scooted down to the Budweiser brewery were we ended our free tour after the first stops at the Clydesdales (Aren’t all beers brewed the same? You’ve been on one tour, you’ve been on them all) and went to the tasting room.
Suze and Jake with a Budweiser Clydesdale
Let’s be honest folks, isn’t the tasting room the entire point of a brewery tour? First, the tasting room had about as much ambiance as my elementary school cafeteria. And the pretzls came in 100calorie packs – sad. But we got two free samples; high marks for that much free bear. Did you know that Budweiser makes a wheat beer called “Shock Top?” We were impressed (and should be since they are now Belgian owned) but that’s where it ended. The American Ale was moderate but then we decided to branch out. The Michalobe Ultra Pomegranate Raspberry excuse for a beverage and the Amber Boch where horrible.
Suze and beer
Jake and beer
After a little afternoon brew we were primed to cross town to the City Museum – the reason for our visit to St. Louis. Many have asked why we decided on St. Louis as our mid-west stop over Chicago. Well, first off, this trip is about going places we will never go again because I don’t plan to drive cross country anytime soon. So, I will likely go to Chicago sometime for a visit. I will not likely visit St. Louis for any reason again.
Thus, the City Museum beckoned us at the suggestion of a few friends who had recently visited. The City Museum is an enormous playground. It is a creative wonderland of tunnels, slides, jungle gyms, ball pits, and secret passageways. It is in a portion of an enormous warehouse which still holds some museum collections and large spaces for weddings or other parties. I really can’t describe it accurately with words so a few pix will help and you’ll just have to visit. They even has a fire pit for roasting marshmallows.
Jake in space
and this is just the outside! look for the little people crawling and playing around!
Iowa – “Field of Opportunity” – Yes, field after field. Still has a pastoral beauty. We stopped for gas in Iowa afternoon. What’s wrong with this picture?
Apparently this is what ethanol does to the gas pump?
Read carefully
