Before embarking on our international travels, we had a special mission: to take our three-year-old grandson, Teddy, on his special trip with Pappy and RuRu, no parents allowed.  After collecting Teddy and his suitcase, the three of us left for a four-night adventure in St. Louis, Missouri. 

Our first destination was the St. Genevieve National Historic Site. Nestled along the Mississippi River, this city holds the distinction of being the first permanent European settlement west of the river. Teddy diligently worked and earned his Junior Ranger badge, which he proudly displayed on his Junior Ranger vest, which was already adorned with numerous badges from various National Park sites.

We arrived in St. Louis and settled into a family-friendly hotel in Fenton, Missouri. Our next stop was Gateway Arch National Park. Teddy was captivated by the “funny” elevator that whisked us to the top of the arch, where he spent a delightful time gazing out the windows at the cityscape and the river below. Afterward, we embarked on a relaxing paddle boat tour on the Mississippi River. While Teddy mostly slept in his stroller, the hour-long tour provided a peaceful respite.

The following day, we visited the City Museum, a place that defies description and demands to be experienced firsthand. It’s a massive, whimsical architectural playground and museum, constructed entirely from repurposed industrial and architectural salvage. We spent the entire day, from open to close, exploring its nooks and crannies, and everyone, including Teddy, thoroughly enjoyed the architectural marvel.

Our final stop was Grant’s Farm and the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site. Grant’s Farm, an historic 281-acre family park and animal reserve, was once farmed by President Grant and is now owned by the Busch family. Teddy delighted in feeding the animals and admiring the majestic Clydesdale horses housed in the stables.

After an exhausting but very, very fun time, we returned Teddy to his parents in Tennessee.