Back across the midwest
St. Louis Arch and Grant's Farm


Day 26 (still):  We left Dayton, Ohio and the National Museum of the USAF behind, and sprinted from Dayton, Ohio, across Illinois and into Indiana. The weather cooperated by providing varied backdrops from blue skies with fluffy clouds...

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...to rolling clouds pierced by shafts of light.

This field of wheat beyond the green crop.looks like a pool of gold.

We spent the night in Indianapolis. Greg and I both have sensitivities to animal dander and cigarette smoke. It's been easy to find non-smoking rooms for several years now, but, many motels have become "pet-friendly," no doubt to attract more business. I understand that people like to travel with their pets, but we shouldn't all have to travel with them, too! However, we found that Comfort Inn and Suites are often all non-smoking and pet-free. We like to call them "people-friendly." The one in Indianapolis was very nice.

We especially like the suites because they have more space and offer sitting rooms as well as desks, tables and chairs.

Indianapolis skyline

The next morning, we flew by St. Louis, Missouri on the way to our next stop. We didn't stop for the awe-inspiring Gateway Arch, so I snapped pictures from the freeway, which takes you surprisingly close. The 630-foot tall arch is also called "The Gateway to the West," and was built as a monument to westward expansion. I've visited before, and thoroughly enjoyed the museum and visitor's center.

 We did stop at nearby Grant's Farm, which is operated by Anheuser-Busch, Inc. This is the home of the famous Clydesdales.

So why, you might ask, is it called Grant's Farm? Because Ulysses S. Grant once owned and farmed some of the land, and his original cabin, where he carried his new bride Julia Dent over the threshold (well, maybe) is located there.

Grant's cabin

We took the train ride around the 281-acre "farm," which is now a zoo, and strolled around the central area. Here are a few of the more exotic animals.

The gift shops and restaurants have a Biergarten theme.

 

 

               

There is a carriage museum.

...and, of course, the Clydesdales.

All in all, a delightful break in our day of travel!

We left Grant's Farm refreshed and ready to resume our travels, all the way across Missouri to Kansas City, Kansas.

Join us next week for a look at Witchitah, Kansas, Denver, Colorado and the Rocky Mountains.