A Utah Reunion

It has been 19 months...19...since Karen, Christina and I have all been together. That is a long time...long, I tell ya! I have visited with Christina and Christina has visited Karen and Karen and I have visited each other, but for 19 months we have not been able to all visit together...did you get that?

No?!

Okay, so it has been 19 months....just kidding!

Last week, Karen made the long drive to Utah to begin a new chapter of her life...one that will be awesome because of the dry air and high altitude...anyway, because I am on summer break I was able to go as well.

Utah + Christian + Karen + Mary = Totally Fun Adventures!

To start our adventure, take a drive with us south on I-15 to Pleasant Grove, UT. Only in Pleasant Grove can you eat a purple turtle...I mean only in UT can you eat at The Purple Turtle. We enjoyed hamburgers, tater tots and ice cream (I had a chocolate malt and it was divine!)

Purple Turtle: Yummy, slightly greasy yet delicious hamburger joint in Pleasant Grove UT

"Napoleon, give me some of your tots." Video Clip

Are you finished with your dinner? Yes? Good...time to get back in the car and head North East on Provo Canyon Road. If your windows are not clean, you will want to wash them before you head to the canyon...the views are better through clear windows (most views are).

Once in Provo Canyon, there are several sites to see, but on this trip we are going to veer to the left and take the Alpine Scenic Hwy, more commonly referred to as the Alpine Loop. This trek is going to take us back north and take us through the mountains to Alpine UT.

This drive is one of my absolute favorite places in Utah...it is hands down gorgeous. Christina takes a good photo, but the photos below just don't do the area justice...sorry Christina, you know I love ya!

Headed to the Aspen Loop

Hi Christina!

"High on a Mountain Top"

Reminds me of Brigadoon...

A grove of Aspen trees...hence the name Aspen Grove...haha

Makes me want to run and sing like Maria...

Pretty drive

Heaven?

While on your mini road trip, you must take a few fun photos...here are a few of my favorites

Not complete without a shadow picture :)

Only a photographer...

My what lovely eyes you have...

Daydreaming?

Together Again!

Once your trip through the Alpine Loop is complete you can go back south to Utah County or travel North (like we did) and visit Salt Lake County...

We decided to drive to Draper UT (South East in Salt Lake County) and see the span of the valley...it is quite impressive...lots of twinkling lights.

Salt Lake Valley

Can we say beautiful?

When you are in Salt Lake County, travel North on I-15...you must stop in Salt Lake City and visit Temple Square. Temple Square is the world headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There are so many fun elements of the site; it is just so peaceful and awe-inspiring and well wonderful. Even if you are not a member of the church, you should go. I promise that you will not regret it; if you do send me an email and we can talk.

Before you go, check out this website to get some good information...Temple Square

If you can make your trip on a Thursday evening, you can sit in on a Mormon Tabernacle Choir rehearsal. I have heard them sing several times (in person) and they are amazing!

Check out this link to one of their last concerts...beautiful!
 Pioneer Day Concert

Temple Square: Everyone is welcome

Salt Lake Temple

Beautiful gardens

A wee bit tired...

The tabernacle

The three of us had a wonderful time visiting. Karen and Christina may tell you that I was slightly goofy and there was an enormous amount of giggling, but they are not to be trusted ;) We cemented our long awaited get together with pedicures...matchy blue nail polish.

Hello Toes... 

I sincerely hope that our next visit happens before 2014 but if it doesn't, 

I am sure the get together will be amazing!

Love you girls! I hope you have many fantastic moments in Utah! 

Mary

Back to the Beginning...

Over two years ago, Karen, Christina and I began our St. Louis adventures. On our first trip we visited the Missouri Botanical Gardens and then devoured an Italian supper at Favazza's on the Hill. We had such a good time that we decided to continue our mini-trips and blog about them. Since that first adventure, we have climbed towers, walked with elephants, fought tornadoes and even entertained ghosts. We enjoyed food infused with flavors from Italy, France, Nicaragua and Germany (among others). We had friends and family join us and we have enjoyed ever minute. 

In 2011, Christina and I both moved from St. Louis. Christina across the country and I to rural Missouri. Over the past year Karen and I were able to get together to have adventures, but now Karen is moving...across the country!! In anticipation of her move and to celebrate our time in St. Louis; Karen, Susie and I went back to where we began....Missouri Botanical Gardens to enjoy their current exhibit.

Lantern Festival: Art By Day, Magic By Night

First, I must say that I love the Botanical Gardens, it is by far one of my most favorite places to visit in St. Louis. Any day is a good day at the gardens. But when they have special exhibits...it transforms the gardens into a fantastical place. It is truly wonderful. The newest exhibit, which runs until August 19, is amazing. It celebrates the history and culture of China through 26 creative lanterns.

And I do mean creative, the majority of the lanterns are made of molded wire and silk. But there are three that are just out of this world; porcelain, water bottles and glass vials are pulled together to create awe-inspiring works of art. If you can see this exhibit you must! If you cannot, enjoy our photos and believe me when I say it was Magical!

Karen, Susie and Mary

Heavenly Temple: This lantern is based on the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, China.

Porcelain Dragon: This was one of my favorite exhibits...there are two identical dragons made out of over 40,000 pieces of porcelain! I would love to see how they put this one together!

Porcelain Dragon: Again the dragons were amazing! So unique and beautiful.

Sail Boat: One of the best lanterns at the festival, this boat is made out of 4,600 plastic water bottles. Proof that recycling can be fun and beautiful.

Qilin: A rare mythical creature that can walk on water. These are made out glass bottles filled with colored water.

Cherry Blossom: Symbol of feminine power, beauty, and love.

Panda's Paradise

Jiang Tai Gong Fishing: A military expert that fished without hooks.

Butterfly Lovers: A "Romeo and Juliet" tale...the star-crossed lovers die for their love and become butterflies. 

Karen and the year of the...?

Mary and the year of the...?

Susie and the year of the...?

Karen and Susie at the Panda's Paradise

Mary and Karen hiding in the trees

Shadow Man and Susie

Mary on the Moonlit Pathway

Karen and her new bestie...

Nine-Dragon Mural: Nine is the number of the Emperor in China.

Double Seventh Festival: A gorgeous lantern and a even better story...(check the link)

How did they do that?

Check out the links to discover more information about the festival, the history behind the lanterns and our STL adventures. (Most of the caption information was retrieved from the Lantern Festival guide)

Get Your Kicks...

on I-44?

Sometime ago Karen and Susie decided that an I-44 trip between Rolla and St. Louis needed to be made. Each of us spend a significant amount of time traveling up and down this historic corridor yet never take time to get off the interstate and see the unique sites along the way. Some of the sites we visited are historic Route 66 sites, while others are new sites vying for road trippers to stop and take a picture (and make a purchase): A Saturday in June turned out to be a picture perfect day for us to take our mini-trip. We started early and spent the entire day seeing these fun and sometimes bizarre sites...enjoy :)

Starting Out

Stop #1: Cookin From Scratch; why? to take a picture with the El Ramino Rooster...obviously...oh and to buy some Amish candy

Rooster, Susie, Karen and Mary

Stop #2: Mule Trading Post; why? to take a picture with the giant hillbilly...(recurring theme here)

Karen 

Mary

Susie

Stop #3: Vacuum Cleaner Museum; Here we time traveled to the early 1900's and followed the progression and development of every housewives honey, the vacuum. (See below if you don't believe that the vacuum is the housewife's honey...)

Karen apparently overjoyed at the prospect of vacuum cleaners...who wouldn't be?

Stop #4: Fanning Route 66 Outpost; After the stimulating vacuum cleaner museum we needed to take a break...so we headed to the "world's largest rocking chair." Out in the middle of Missouri sits a large metal rocking chair, it isn't far off Hwy.44 so if you find yourself needing to see this creation it won't be a long detour. While we were taking pictures of the chair and snooping around the general store we happened upon a Route 66 motorcycle tour...they were from Sweden. Nothing quite explains United States history like Route 66 (and rocking chairs). 

Fanning Route 66 Outpost

Karen

Mary

Susie

Oh and in case you are wondering...there is only one day a year when visitors can sit on the rocking chair. This year it is Saturday, August 4th.

Stop #5: Jesse James Wax Museum; Quite possibly the weirdest stop on our I-44 tour...at least in my humble opinion. If you are going to visit some historic Route 66 sites, I would encourage you to visit this museum, it reminded me of stops on family road trips. You know the kind where you would stop once and then have a memory for a lifetime...(I file those memories in my mind under quaint summer strangeness.) 

Unfortunately we have no photos of the inside of the museum...the wax figures are closely monitored by a charming and kooky clerk...if you are lucky he will tell you a few stories and play his banjo. We were lucky enough to hear a story about a celebrity (a man that can rotate his legs so he walks backwards--apparently he was on a late night show, which according to his wife made him a celebrity) and a story that involved Superman, Batman, the Green Lantern, a convertible, and a ham (an Italian t.v. show was touring America).

Stop #6 and our Final Stop: Meramec Caverns; Meramec Caverns is home to Missouri's largest commercial cave. If you have never been to a cave this is a good one to start with. The paths are easy to walk on and there is no ducking or crouching necessary. The only challenging part is a set of steps, and if you don't want to go up the stairs to see what is called the "wine" room you can wait for the group. This would be a perfect Missouri summer outing as the cave stays nice and cool around 60 degrees.

Visiting the cave was the perfect end to our Route 66, I mean I-44 tour, we met up with the Swedish motorcycle group again along with several Asian families and Mennonites. This historic stop is not only a fun place to cool off, but it is a perfect spot to people watch and realize how the United States is really for everyone! Something we should all remember this 4th of July...Happy Independence Day!