This was not the original plan. The original plan was to come into Edmund Babler memorial state park and camp. But we came into town really late, and the campground was not encouraging about our chances of finding a spot without a reservation. Getting hotels rather than campsites turns out to be a developing trend.
The Magic House
The good thing about the hotel: it was 10 minutes from our first main attraction in St. Louis: The Magic House.
The Magic House (photos) is essentially a very well done kids science museum: van de graaff (sp?) generator, climbing towers, optical illusions, etc.
In retrospect, I find it hard to put my finger on exactly what distinguishes it from what I think of as the cookie cutter kid's science museums -- the one in Boston and the one in Baltimore are basically the same museum. But Magic House was superior.
Perhaps it was just the thought/flow. The museum itself is kind of a maze in a good way -- everything flows into everything else in multiple ways. It's kind of like a casino -- you lose yourself in it. It's unlike a casino in that (a) we didn't mind, and (b) great things were usually just around the corner.
The highlight: a "crime solvers" exhibit. Basically they had the kids walk through 20 or so tasks to solve a crime -- it included decrypting various secret codes, pattern matching, magnifying glasses, secret doors, hidden passages, climbing through ceilings, microscopes (fingerprinting, fiber matching), and computers. In all, much brain engaging and exercising in pursuit of a clear goal. Really cool. SPOILER:, the air conditioning repairman did it.
We stayed 2 nights here. A nice place. The nearest state park with camping to St. Louis. Located in Wildwood -- which is apparently (judging by shopping and vehicles) is a really money part of the metro area.
Notable events at the park:
We make foil dinners and 'smores. Mitch claims that they are the best foil dinners ever -- even better than mom's. Upon learning of this, mom demands a foil dinner roast-off with a 3-judge panel.
Most aggressive raccoons I have ever personally encountered. They brought to mind the chipmunks on Angel's Landing in Zion National Park. They tried to get into our car while we were not 20 feet away and looking at them. Kinda freaked Mitch out. Really annoying b/c you couldn't leave the car open at all, or leave the picnic table alone for a second.
Side-benefit of having electric in the campsite for infernal sleeping/breathing device: movie night is always an option.
2 comments:
Can we have that foil dinner roast off in Oregon in July? I offer to be on the panel ...
Sorry, "Unknown", I don't invite strangers to dinner.
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