Entries about missouri

This week we decided to head north to Missouri again to a place called Branson that was recommended by a few people as a heaven for kids ... and let me tell you that it was not an understatement... this place is like a Las Vegas for kids with theme parks all over the place, shows for all ages, and shops galore...

On the way there we went to the biggest hatchery in Missouri called Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery Conservation Centre. Located at the foot of Table Rock Dam they raise up to 2 million trout (rainbow and brown) a year and release them in the surrounding rivers every nights so people can enjoy a great fishing day. You can feed the fishes which the kids enjoyed and if you come at the right time you can see how they breed the fishes... They have also a mini museum which shows you all the venomous snakes and spiders in the area and also informs you how to live in harmony with the wildlife in you own house by creating houses for bats, taking the garbage in every night etc... very interesting place.

We stayed in a wicked hotel called Welk Resort which had an indoor swimming pool with slide, a game room and a crazy golf... that was really cool!

We went to Silver Dollar City one day and this place is a Hilly-billy town built like in the 1880's... very nicely nested in the trees and with shops, craftsmen working in front of your eyes (silversmith, glassblowing etc...) and then rides... and more rides....

The kids did a few just for kids ....and some were very cool .. one of them , the Flooded mine, you were in a boat with water cannons and you basically shoot at targets, obviously, .... but also all the passers-by... That was just wicked... we came out drenched but in stitches and went again for more... We did all the rides but the worst roller-coaster called Wildfire....

Our favourite roller-coaster was Thunderation... and we also like the steam train that takes you round the park and has a mini show with 2 hilly-billies... very funny.

And then we did some of the more sickening ones altogether.... and oh my god!!! do I hate those roller-coaster!!!. We went on one called Powderkeg.. and let me tell you I nearly passed out. I am not the best rider at the best of times but this one felt like you were in a rocket and the acceleration keeps you stuck on your seat... Well the kids did better than me and went for seconds with Frank ...!

Good day that was...

In the evening we went to Dolly Parton show called Dixie Stampede. It is with horses and kind of shows you the life it used to be back in the 1800's and the civil war... There are chicken, piglets and pony races which are very entertaining, a kind of hilly-billy clown also very funny, some lumberjack pole climbing and a great old fashion dinner where you eat with your hands a full size chicken each, corn and potatoes and soup and a nice dessert... Very good evening.. We could not take photos in the arena as the flash could disturb the horses!

This week end as Mithra was just back from spending some time with her dad Kieran offered to take us to Saint Louis in Missouri... so we jumped on the offer...

The 5 hours journey seemed to fly by with 3 movies (felt like an airplane ... plus popcorn!)....

We headed of at 1ish and got to Saint Louis for 6ish and went to a lovely restaurant in town.... we then went to bed to get ready for the City Museum which seemed to be a great place for kids and adults all the same...

The next day we woke up and went to have breakfast in a lovely bread place called the Saint Louis Bread company... I had a souffle with spinach and cheese and a juice.... Teo had a lovely cinnamon cake and a water, Hayden a hot cross bun (who told you he was missing UK hey????) and a chocolate chip muffin and a orange juice.... It was all lovely...

Some views of the city

We then headed off to the City Museum a kids palace made out of recycling materials from wood, old aircraft, printing presses, trees... it is amazing to look at and has a lot to offer from a circus show, a craft room, an indoor skate board park to run on, a myriad of tunnels, a 10 storey slide, a cave, an aquarium (additional charge), a hamster wheel to exercise in, a massive ball patch where people just take each other out literally....

This is what the place looks like form outside ... pretty cool hey!

This is the war zone of ball pit!!!!

Some of the craft we did

We spent from 10 in the morning till 19.30 !!!! unbelievable .... lunch was great with a giant pizza... and we had a great laugh...

The Circus show

The slides

The indoor skate area:

The big hamster wheel:

Some more of the crazy interior... all made from recycled materials:

The next day we needed to head back early so we got a wake up call at 7.30 to see if we could get a ride in a Mississipi boat (you know the ones I mean) and also look at the arch ... a magnificent whilst imposing and simple monument by the Mississipi river....

We could not make the boat as the earliest would be 12:00 and it lasts 1hour so we decided not to go there and instead do the Arch visit....

Guess what !!!! we were early and it was shut !!!! so we headed up to town to our nice bread shop and went for breakfast....

On our return we faced some queues to get into the arch so we spent some time in the museum they had done in the visitor centre... Whao that was amazing .. a true picture of the conquest of the west with some excellent displays, variety of media, immense collection of artefacts... pretty inspiring layout for a museum...

I watch a documentary on Mrs Roosevelt who was British , did you know that??? and then did the Junior Ranger activity pack with the kids (or Teo to be more precise as Hayden gave up within 10 minutes of having to answer some questions that involved reading some of the notes!!!!)...

A very good museum...

In the queue to the train that takes you up the Arch you have some more museum and artefacts to see:

The trip in the arch is also great.. you get put in these minute cells that sit 5 people and get sent up 155 metres into the air!... you then come out on this corridor where you have windows that look out. We had excellent visibility and it was fantastic views!

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