A Grand Tour of The Entire Midwest, But Mostly Wisconsin (UPDATE 11/12--BONUS Texas TR NOW COMPLETE)

[Allison Joy]

Haha! Yes, that is the infamous St. Louis question! I moved to St Louis after high school, so no interesting answer there but my husband grew up here and went to Northwest. Our kids are in the Rockwood school district.

I should return the favor. I'm across the river, so Francis Howell North for me. I still claim St. Louis since I'm in the metro area, and no one from outside the area would know what I was talking about if I said St. Charles or (specifically) St. Peters. But I do work Downtown and in North County (two separate offices), just a few miles from the now infamous Ferguson. To you non St. Louisians reading this... I promise, Ferguson is not as the national media might lead you to believe.

 

[akemom]

I should return the favor. I'm across the river, so Francis Howell North for me. I still claim St. Louis since I'm in the metro area, and no one from outside the area would know what I was talking about if I said St. Charles or (specifically) St. Peters. But I do work Downtown and in North County (two separate offices), just a few miles from the now infamous Ferguson. To you non St. Louisians reading this... I promise, Ferguson is not as the national media might lead you to believe.

I work in St. Charles and Chesterfield
The St. Louis metro area really is like a small community! Everyone asks where you went to high school and everyone knows someone that went there! It amazes me how many kids my teenagers know from all different areas/schools!

 

[Terra Nova guy]

You're not mistaken. It's both. There's a Kansas City, KS and a Kansas City, MO. Twin cities, kind of sort of. The Royals and Chiefs are both on the Missouri side.

Ah ha, well, that I did not know before. I guess that explains my confusion. Of course I should probably just check google maps...

 

[akemom]

Hehe "Where did you go to high school?" It tells you where they grew up, and... well... pretty much any demographic type information can be assumed from there. There's that aspect, and the fact that despite St. Louis being a major metro area, it has kind of a small town feel to it at times, and there's the whole "Oh, do you know such and such?" questions, and... yeah. Most people who live in the area grew up in the area too, even if they've moved around, or went away to college.

Ah, I see. Well, imagine that kind of feeling translating to an entire state, and you have an idea of what it's like to live in Delaware!



I moved to St Louis in 2001 and EVERONE I met asked me where I went to high school. I didn't get it then but now I'm asking people the same question! St Louis really has a small community feel and everyone seems to know someone that is from or grew up in the same area.

 

[GoofyFan1515]

Post it already.

Oopsies.

You do know that two wrongs don't make a right.......right? I mean wrong? I mean.................

As soon as I heard about that gimmick, I was scrambling to work the place into our vacation plan. Fritz’s has three locations, but this one proved to be the most convenient. And yes, it’s a much more expensive lunch than peanut-butter-and-jelly, but come on! There’s a train!

Only thing better..........a train that serves PB&J!

There’s a switch above every table that corresponds to your table number, and as the train approaches your table, the switch gets activated and a lever pops out that simply pushes the food off the train and onto another tray hanging above the booth. Then that tray is automatically lowered to your table. We were fascinated watching all of the orders being delivered.

Pretty cool..........need to check that out sometime!

The kids absolutely loved it.

Us wannabe kids love that too!

In any case, the museum is terrific and well worth the visit. The displays and films do a good job of breaking down the various reasons many of the nations entered into the conflict as well as displaying lots of artifacts and weapons from the time period.

Didn't know that existed. Another to add to the list.

Just before you leave, there’s a table set up where the government offers every visitor bags of cash to grab on their way out, and now I’m dying inside, because there are so many great punchlines set up here that I can’t use because of the “no politics” rule. But you can imagine them, and they’re all hilarious, right?

Those are bags of shredded bills that have been taken out of circulation. They estimate there’s approximately $120 in each bag on the table. Drew was suitably impressed.

Let's just hope that one day Drew doesn't happen, and he tries to make his own impressive stash........right out of your wallet!

Naturally, the only suitable response to this question is, “Please adopt me I’m in the car and on my way.” So that settled it.

A definite no-brainer!

And all of the accompanying side dishes. It was enough barbecue to make a grown man weep with joy.

I wept.

I'm weeping for you right now!

 

[Steppesister]

You do know that two wrongs don't make a right.......right? I mean wrong? I mean.................

You are now #3 on the Evil List.

 

[Flossbolna]

(Not that I can count or anything.... )

You know, when there was an issue with a math test, I thought it was the actual math, I had no idea that the counting was already the issue!!

(Yes, I am going for the no. 4 spot here.... Marv is great company!)

 

[Flossbolna]

Mark, will reply later in mores detail! Loved the update!

 

[Steppesister]

K, while y'all make fun of me at my expense... I'll comment on yet another stellarly written chapter.....

In the morning, we crossed once more into Iowa.

Oh yay.

<Has 2nd thoughts about calling this a stellar chapter>

one Kansas City attraction stood out to me: the nation’s only World War I Museum

Ok, THAT'S pretty cool. I'd go to that.

a downtown shopping mall. Don’t worry!

I was momentarily... Phew! Dodged that one.

There was a line to get in, even before noon. I looked for the Fastpass+ entry, but couldn't find it. No single diner line, either.

Clearly their business model needs honing.

After making your order, you pass the time by taking Stupid Hat Photos©.

Poopy. You copyrighted it. Was totally gonna steal that.

Love this one.

There are 9,000 poppies present, each representing 1,000 deaths for a total of 9 million who died in the war. World War I often gets glossed over in our history classes, mostly because there was no single factor that incited the war, and the cessation of fighting didn’t really end up solving anything—tensions remained between nations and eventually boiled over into World War II. We seem to spend more time on World War II in our classrooms, probably because it’s an easier conflict to explain.

Pretty fair assessment. And I imagine that display was pretty impactful.

There’s an example of an infantry trench and an explanation of trench warfare, which is every bit as miserable as you might imagine.

Was it full of mud and cholera?

Nicely done even from the base.

In a few more years, this will also represent the amount of money it will take for me and my family to visit Disney World for a week.

Boy, that's sure a generous estimate. Sure it's not closer to 3 days??

But you can imagine them, and they’re all hilarious, right?

Oh yes, I certainly can....

That makes for the best beans ever. You should try them, especially because beans are good for your heart.

Indirectly, yeah.

We really enjoyed our evening with Aaron and his family—they were wonderful, friendly, generous and welcoming hosts. Along with their pet triceratops.

And another successfuly DISMeet in the books.

 

[afwdwfan]

Yeah, I've seen those. Should I be ashamed to say I was calling out the responses before he said them?

Ashamed or proud?

As soon as I heard about that gimmick, I was scrambling to work the place into our vacation plan. Fritz’s has three locations, but this one proved to be the most convenient. And yes, it’s a much more expensive lunch than peanut-butter-and-jelly, but come on! There’s a train!

The train totally makes it worth it!

And your smallest kids can ignore everyone and just watch the model train displays around the restaurant.

Anything that helps keep the kids distracted while you wait on your food is a good thing!

If you’ve never had food delivered to your table by train before, you have to try it at least once. It’s so cool!

Well, I've never had my food delivered, but we do have a local pizza place that delivers the drinks to your table on a train!

We hoofed it back to the museum. Remember all those downhill slopes we walked to get to the restaurant? Well, now they were all uphill.

You need to fire your trip planner for that one.

Well, that and the Hulk damage. Yes, Scotty still "happens", in case you were wondering. We need to stop exposing him to gamma rays.

That's awesome!

I didn’t find the surrounding steps to be very stroller-friendly, so I took matters into my own hands.

That is how you dad! Take a problem and make a solution!

So I took a photo of the city from the base of the tower instead.

Wow... still a pretty impressive vantage point!

Just before you leave, there’s a table set up where the government offers every visitor bags of cash to grab on their way out, and now I’m dying inside, because there are so many great punchlines set up here that I can’t use because of the “no politics” rule. But you can imagine them, and they’re all hilarious, right?

Um... sure.

I think you need to violate that rule, just for a few jokes. Just make them on both sides so that you're an equal opportunity offender and it really isn't a political statement!

“How about we have an Iron Chef-style dinner, where I pick up dishes from a few of the BBQ joints and we taste them all to decide which is best?”


Naturally, the only suitable response to this question is, “Please adopt me I’m in the car and on my way.” So that settled it.

Well, there's logic and there's no-brainer ideas.

Pork and brisket from Gates BBQ

This is one of my faves.

You should try them, especially because beans are good for your heart.

It's true!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I'll take option #6.

Much better than #2.

Only now?

Quiet! We've come this far, and nobody has noticed yet.

That was last night after my Lemon Drop. You should have posted last night.

(Since you weren't going to be on the top of the page anyways. )

<Gets out scoresheet from own Contest. Takes a 2nd look-see>

Wait, so you mess up and I lose points? I thought that only happened in marriage.

A) You guys are evil. All of you.

You're just realizing this now?

B) Food delivered by train looks like way too much fun. Too bad there isn't a Pokemon Regional there this year. (There used to be, but not this year). But we never have time for real meals, anyhow.

This was faster than a typical sit-down meal, if that helps. Just a neat, fun experience.

C) I can't remember what else I was going to say.

Stunned by the sheer brilliance of the prose and dialogue contained herein, I'm sure.

I love you, Irene!

Hey, just let us be evil in peace here!

 

[Steppesister]

Much better than #2.

ANY option without eggs is a better option.

Quiet! We've come this far, and nobody has noticed yet.

Shhhh.... be vewy, vewy quiet....

Awww, there, there.

Wait, so you mess up and I lose points? I thought that only happened in marriage.

That's in Chapter 3; Section 4. I see you've read it too.

Hey, just let us be evil in peace here!

You mean I can't just be evil myself and stay?

Oh wait... oopsies.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I’m not sure I ever realized that Kansas City is not in fact in Kansas, but rather in Missouri. I'm sure I knew it at some point but then forgot it. I guess my US mid-west geography is not the best. I kind of know both the edges of the map, the stuff in the middle is a bit of a blur.

Looks like the others picked me up here. There are indeed two cities. The Missouri city is the bigger one.

There’s no way you could pass it up. It’s just too cool. There’s something about a train (big or small) in a restaurant that’s fascinating. I can’t remember if you’ve ever been to Universal Orlando, but in the Dr. Seuss land they have a restaurant called Circus McGurkus and the trolley train ride goes around the top. My youngest was obsessed with the place, both wanting to ride the train through it (probably did it 6 or 7 times in one day) and wanting to eat there all the time. (Tip: the food is barely passable, so if you ever end up there, avoid a second visit. Although I didn’t find anything in Universal to be that great)

I haven't been to Universal Orlando (yet), but thanks for the tip! I'm sure Drew would want to ride that all the time as well. One of these days we'll get there. My daughter is begging to visit the Harry Potter world. Truth be told, that's the only part I'm really interested in seeing.

Well at least you found a way to work off the fries and onion rings.

There you go! And now I have an excuse to eat more later!

Hey, they have to pay for Star Wars land somehow.

You'd think the grosses from the last movie would take care of it!

Absolutely, I imagine them to be real knee slappers. Some of the best jokes you've never written.

The first thing that came to my mind was this Simpsons quote:

A table full of BBQ meats. It's what I imagine heaven to be like.

Isn't it wonderful? Rarely have I seen a more glorious sight.

I love whatever in my beans.

Mmmm...whatever...

Absolutely. You know what they say - “beans, beans, good for your heart, the more you eat, the more you absorb magnesium and potassium”. I can’t think of any other saying that rolls off the tongue so well.

That's exactly how I remember it.

I LIVE in Missouri and didn't know this was there! I'll have to cross the state some time to see it.

Well, absolutely! I think it was well worth the time spent.

And I think I'll have to eat here when I make that cross state trek.

Absolutely! How can you pass it up?

Wow. That's a sobering statistic

Those wars were no joke.

Hey, watch it, there. Us St. Louisians rather like our city, thank you very much!

I just thought it was funny when you asked if we found there was more to the city than those two things. As you'll see in the next chapter, we did the tourist thing.

You're not mistaken. It's both. There's a Kansas City, KS and a Kansas City, MO. Twin cities, kind of sort of. The Royals and Chiefs are both on the Missouri side.

Life got in the way and I am finally back and just in the nick of time. Binge reading over multiple days, bottles of bourbon consumed, more than an few chuckles, laugh snorts, and shaking my head. Have to go take a shower now and shave. Maybe then the flies will then leave. Great trip and as always l in awe that no one was irreparably maimed.

Welcome back, CJ! No worries. You have more important things to do than read about some stranger's vacation. I bet the bourbon helped you get through it, though. I don't know why anyone would attempt to read this without it.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I see what you're doing!

Well, I'm glad somebody did!

D'oh! foiled again!

All of my best-laid plans...

The Harley Davidson Plant? That's what we did there.

Missed that one.

OK that sounds pretty cool.

It was!

I wonder if this will be one of those things that they remember as adults, "we had our food delivered by a train!"

I sure hope so! It seemed to be one of the more memorable events of the trip.

If we ever get back there I will remember it.

I doubt you'll be too impressed with the food, but it's more about the experience.

OK, I'll put that one on the list as well.

All I remember is that the assasination of Archduke Ferdinand started it. WW1 was the first one with gas warfare and aircraft.

That was certainly part of it. There was also a lot of unrest between the workers and the ruling parties in a few countries, and then others had formed alliances and felt obligated to honor their agreements in the conflict.

We did the one in DC and it was fascinating.

Cool! I've always wanted to tour a US Mint as well.

Huh. No, I can't imagine.

He sure looks like it.

He likes to try and open the bag and dump out the contents at home.

That sounds awesome! When we were in Kansas City we went to Arthur Bryant's. I got the burnt ends.

Arthur Bryant's was the one famous place we didn't get the chance to try. I guess you can't do everything. I think they didn't have a location close to where we were. Still, I wasn't disappointed with any of the BBQ we had!

It would help me too!

But I had not part in it!

This time...

You beat me to this response.

You can always count on the knowledge of the DISboards!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Ah ha, well, that I did not know before. I guess that explains my confusion. Of course I should probably just check google maps...

Nah, that involves effort. We discourage that around here.

You do know that two wrongs don't make a right.......right? I mean wrong? I mean.................

You tell her, Marv!

Only thing better..........a train that serves PB&J!

Let's not get carried away here. We were all sick of PB&J at this point.

Pretty cool..........need to check that out sometime!

Yeah, I think it's worth the visit!

Us wannabe kids love that too!

Didn't know that existed. Another to add to the list.

Another worthy visit.

Let's just hope that one day Drew doesn't happen, and he tries to make his own impressive stash........right out of your wallet!

He'll be a teenager someday. That will be inevitable.

A definite no-brainer!

Pretty much!

I'm weeping for you right now!

I would go back just for the BBQ.

You are now #3 on the Evil List.

Don't worry, Marv, you're in good company!

You know, when there was an issue with a math test, I thought it was the actual math, I had no idea that the counting was already the issue!!

(Yes, I am going for the no. 4 spot here.... Marv is great company!)

This is turning into a great group!

Mark, will reply later in mores detail! Loved the update!

Thanks! And I need to respond to your latest update as well.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

K, while y'all make fun of me at my expense... I'll comment on yet another stellarly written chapter.....

Why, thank you!

Oh yay.

<Has 2nd thoughts about calling this a stellar chapter>

That's more like it. It's a common occurrence, I'm sure.

Ok, THAT'S pretty cool. I'd go to that.

I was momentarily... Phew! Dodged that one.

Don't worry. I'd never stoop to writing a whole chapter about a shopping mall. I mean, who does that?

Clearly their business model needs honing.

Maybe they underestimated their popularity.

Poopy. You copyrighted it. Was totally gonna steal that.

Well, I stole it from KatMark.

Love this one.

Me too.

Pretty fair assessment. And I imagine that display was pretty impactful.

It was. The whole museum, really.

Was it full of mud and cholera?

And every other vile thing you can think of.

Nicely done even from the base.

Hey, thanks!

Boy, that's sure a generous estimate. Sure it's not closer to 3 days??

It sure feels like it.

Oh yes, I certainly can....

So hard to bite my tongue...

Indirectly, yeah.

The more you eat them, anyway.

And another successfuly DISMeet in the books.

Ashamed or proud?

A little of column A, and a little of column B.

The train totally makes it worth it!

Our thoughts exactly!

Anything that helps keep the kids distracted while you wait on your food is a good thing!

Truer words were never spoken.

Well, I've never had my food delivered, but we do have a local pizza place that delivers the drinks to your table on a train!

That sounds cool enough. Where is that?

You need to fire your trip planner for that one.

You'd think we would be done with this guy by now.

That's awesome!

I'm glad somebody appreciates true art!

That is how you dad! Take a problem and make a solution!

(gasp) Thanks! (wheeze)

Wow... still a pretty impressive vantage point!

It was a great view of the city, for sure.

Um... sure.

I think you need to violate that rule, just for a few jokes. Just make them on both sides so that you're an equal opportunity offender and it really isn't a political statement!

I'd be cool with that. I don't have a home in either party, anyway. I did post the Simpsons line it brought to mind.

Well, there's logic and there's no-brainer ideas.

This is one of my faves.

Their ribs were huge. Sarah was a big fan of them.

It's true!

The more you eat them...

 

[irene_dsc]

You're just realizing this now?

Of course not! But, it seemed a good time to point it out.

Stunned by the sheer brilliance of the prose and dialogue contained herein, I'm sure.

Naturally. And dh saying, "It's time to leave!" But, I did remember. The WWI museum - I have to admit, in school, we didn't really learn much about it, either. It seems like I've heard more about WWI in the last 10 years or so than the rest of my life combined. It keeps showing up in fiction settings, etc. Both fascinating and horrifying. There's also the Division I Museum at Cantigny, which talks a lot about WWI. (It was the estate of Robert McCormick, who published the Chicago Tribune, and re-named the estate after his experiences in France in WWI. He also dedicated camp grounds for Scout groups when he donated it as a museum campus, so our Girl Scout troop has camped there a couple times. It also has a huge collection of tanks that you can climb on, among other things.)

Hey, just let us be evil in peace here!

That seems like an oxymoron to me...

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

ANY option without eggs is a better option.

I like eggs on my breakfast sandwiches. Spam I could do without.

Shhhh.... be vewy, vewy quiet....

We're hunting wabbits!

Awww, there, there.

Reminds me of one of my favorite Homer Simpson lines...

"There, there...shut up, boy."

That's in Chapter 3; Section 4. I see you've read it too.

You mean I can't just be evil myself and stay?

Oh wait... oopsies.

Oh, you know you're in the club already.

Of course not! But, it seemed a good time to point it out.

Naturally. And dh saying, "It's time to leave!" But, I did remember. The WWI museum - I have to admit, in school, we didn't really learn much about it, either. It seems like I've heard more about WWI in the last 10 years or so than the rest of my life combined. It keeps showing up in fiction settings, etc. Both fascinating and horrifying. There's also the Division I Museum at Cantigny, which talks a lot about WWI. (It was the estate of Robert McCormick, who published the Chicago Tribune, and re-named the estate after his experiences in France in WWI. He also dedicated camp grounds for Scout groups when he donated it as a museum campus, so our Girl Scout troop has camped there a couple times. It also has a huge collection of tanks that you can climb on, among other things.)

It's a huge event and worthy of study. Just hard to distill down to simple explanations. Interesting that you're able to camp out and explore the museum grounds! Anything with tanks to climb on has to be a good thing.

That seems like an oxymoron to me...

You caught that! Nice job.

 

[cj9200]

Did I mention that the food is delivered to your table via train?

What? You mean at the house you don't have a train deliver your food? And you call yourself an engineer.

We were finally inside the museum in the early afternoon. After a short introductory film, we crossed a glass bridge over a field of artificial poppies.

My Grandfather was a new arrival from the old country and volunteered for WWI. Was wounded and got a medal. Every Remembrance Day, he would wear an artificial poppy in his lapel. The stories he would tell got me interested in WWI history.

There’s an example of an infantry trench and an explanation of trench warfare, which is every bit as miserable as you might imagine.

Halloween Horror Nights did a WWI scare house. Doubt it touched the hell they really went through.

What, no Walt Disney reference?

There was a window into the actual Federal Reserve. No photos were allowed, but you could see automated robots transporting stacks of cash for storage, and others to be taken out of circulation.

Did they give out free samples?

Just before you leave, there’s a table set up where the government offers every visitor bags of cash to grab on their way out, and now I’m dying inside, because there are so many great punchlines set up here that I can’t use because of the “no politics” rule. But you can imagine them, and they’re all hilarious, right?

Never mind.

And all of the accompanying side dishes. It was enough barbecue to make a grown man weep with joy.

Dusty in here. Never visited KC but was in heaven when I stayed in Texas, Kentucky, and N. Carolina. Love me some BBQ.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

What? You mean at the house you don't have a train deliver your food? And you call yourself an engineer.

I've been trying to get Julie and the kids to do that for me.

My Grandfather was a new arrival from the old country and volunteered for WWI. Was wounded and got a medal. Every Remembrance Day, he would wear an artificial poppy in his lapel. The stories he would tell got me interested in WWI history.

Yeah, that would definitely be fascinating. My grandfather fought in WWII and I had a similar experience listening to his stories. He won a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.

Halloween Horror Nights did a WWI scare house. Doubt it touched the hell they really went through.

I'd have to agree.

What, no Walt Disney reference?

Sorry, I'm blanking on that one.

Did they give out free samples?

Never mind.

Ask and ye shall receive.

Dusty in here. Never visited KC but was in heaven when I stayed in Texas, Kentucky, and N. Carolina. Love me some BBQ.

Oh, man. I can't wait to get to Texas in a couple of weeks. I'm going to gorge on as much BBQ as I can possibly get.