After much “encouraging” (nagging sounds so negative), the Great Hunter came up with a day destination for us. I’ve “expressed” (again, complain sounds so negative) that the Great Hunter never suggests anything fun for us to do. The only thing he suggests is “Do you want to go out to eat?” So, when he suggested that we go to the…museum, and although it wouldn’t have been my choice, I readily said yes. He even went so far as to check whether the museum was open on Monday–it wasn’t–so he planned it for Tuesday.

Tuesday morning, we got in the car and I asked him if he knew where he was going and he said no. He looked at me and I said, “I don’t even know WHERE we are going”. We looked at each other and laughed. We decided on the History Museum and although I knew how to get there and told him the way, I plugged the address into the GPS anyway.

The GPS routed us a different way, but I thought he would make the turn I’d told him to take and the GPS would automatically update the direction. I didn’t say anything when the exit approached (I’m trying very hard not to be a “shotgun” driver) but he didn’t take it. After a few miles I said, “I wonder what way the GPS is taking us?” He answered “I don’t know, but it didn’t tell me to turn.” Sigh.

Unfortunately, the GPS doesn’t know the parts of St. Louis you really don’t want to travel through. And to quote Dr. Seuss “Oh the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done!” After passing some of the very unsavory parts of Union Blvd and driving through potholes big enough to swallow the car, we arrived at the History Museum.

We’ve been to the Missouri History Museum before and they have a great exhibit on the 1904 World’s Fair.  Although it was not a part of the World’s Fair, the proceeds from the fair were used to build the original part of the Jefferson Memorial, which opened in 1913.

We ended our day trip (the first in several years) with lunch at the 1818 Bistro in the heart of historic St. Charles.

According to their website:

Originally built in 1818, our building once served as a gathering place for travelers, settlers, and pioneers. Known as Eckerts Tavern, or the Sign of the Buffalo, this spot was a vital stop along the Boon’s Lick route, offering food and rest to those journeying westward.

I’ve had lunch there before and told the Great Hunter he needed to try their Lobster Bisque. Sigh, they didn’t have any, but our Reuben and sweet potato fries were really good (and the portions big enough to take home for dinner). Not having to think about what to cook and not having to cook it was the icing on a really nice day.