Traveling with Flat Stanley in Illinois and Indiana

click picture to enlarge and see detail

Do you know Flat Stanley?  Has your child or grandchild done a Flat Stanley project at school?  It's fun, it's educational.  A co-worker's nephew is doing a Flat Stanley project and so we're doing what we can to add to his project.  I took my Flat Stanley tailgating last wkend; but due to the old camera only working some of the time.  The pictures I thought I had....weren't there.  Errrrrrrrrr, I so need a new camera.  My regular camera broke while on vacation a couple of weeks ago, thus I've been trying to use the old one.  Very frustrating.  So, while Flat Stanley was appropriately colored to be Buckeye for tailgating, those pictures are non existent.

He also traveled with hubby and I last wkend to St. Louis with a car load of stuff for our daughter.  On the way back we made a couple of stops and Flat Stanley got his picture taken in Indiana, and in Illinois.  These 2 pictures with The Bison and TeePee were taken in Illinois on US Route 70 exit 76.  This is a fun stop for all.  The kids will love the TeePee and The Bison, parents will love the very unique gift shop; and furry friends have some room to roam and stretch their legs.  It's not the first time we've stopped here; nor will it be the last.

Here's Stanley in Indiana, again on US Route 70.  He got his picture taken by a nice memorial to our men and women in service.  The Blue Star Highways were started as a way to honor our military after the close of World War II, by ladies garden clubs all across the country.

If you'd like to join in on the project it would be great.  You can color your own Flat Stanley and take him places, photograph it and email it to me.  Or...you could take my Flat Stanley, print it and go visiting.  It's a geography lesson primarily for this particular group of kids; but the kids learn so many other things as well.  I like to add some history info, they can find locations on the map etc.  It started out as a way to get kids to write letters, to journal; but there are many possibilities.  Let me know if you're interested.  Here's a link if you'd like to color your own Flat Stanley

Florida Sunshine in Palm Beach

This is the sunrise I enjoyed this am while drinking my coffee and sitting on my balcony.

The suitcase is out and about, therefore I won't be dropping on my fellow EntreCarder's.  My posts will be limited in terms of pictures using different computer and I don't really good photo software at the moment.  Please bare with me, folks.  Will post more on return.

If you've voted for me, THANK YOU, if you haven't yet you still have a few days, please and thanks.  Click on the badge at the top of my blog.

Do you love Southwest Airliines as much as I do?  We always have good service, with friendly nice hostesses.  Even though we were delayed twice yesterday on our quest to get to the Florida Sunshine, everyone made the best of it.  Our captain mingled about the cabin talking with people, the hostess sang two funny songs and really entertained people.  Thanks to them, no one got irritated and that made the trip so much more plesant than it might have been with the delay. 

Did you know pets, small dogs in small carriers are now permitted on Southwest?  I didn't, but spotted two yesterday at 2 different airports.  No time right now to do research and give you the details, but rest assured for my friends with furry friends I will do a follow up post.

Budweiser Brewery, St. Louis, Missouri

We toured The Budweiser Brewery when we traveled to St. Louis. It was still an American owned, family owned company at the time. Sad to know after all the traditional things we saw it no longer fits that category. The plant is spotless, the guided tours are interesting and educational. I particularly enjoyed the historic buildings, and pictures of the original family members.

The building that served as the school for family and workers is still in use, occupied as office space now.

This is a good tourist item for a rainy day and general travel throughout St. Louis.

At the end of the tour you do have options of tasting. I'm not a beer drinker; but my husband and daughter enjoyed that part. I'm a wine drinker. Didn't want to give the wrong idea here. There's pop for the kids too, so no one is left out.

Forest Park, St. Louis, Missouri

**Few more days left to vote for me, please and thanks. Click above widget

This statue was the symbol of the city, until replaced with The famous Arch. Apothesis King Louis IX of France resides in Forest Park.

Forest Park:
City owned
Opened to the public in 1876
One of the largest parks in the country
500 acres larger than Central Park in New York (1,293 acres)
Location of The 1904 Worlds Fair
Historic Buildings
Golf...3 courses
Beautiful landscape
Trails for walking, biking, roller blading
Zoo
Art Museum
History Museum (Missouri Historical Society)
Birding paradise
Muny for opera, Shakespeare and more
Science Center
Ice skating rink (largest outdoor rink in the midwest)
fishing, boating, picnicing

No wonder 12 million people visit this fantastic park every year. My post is a bit unusual above, just listing some of things one can do or find to enjoy while visiting Forest Park. Winter, Spring, Summer, or fall....day or night or both. You really must tour this park, and really once is not enough.

I've lost, from computer to computer I think some of the many pictures I took on various trips there. Here though are a few I took at night. I highly encourage everyone, people of all ages, people with or without pets....come romp and enjoy!