Saturday, August 8, 2015

Talking to the animals

 
We've been visiting our town's free tourist attractions with our out of town guests. These photos were taken at Grant's Farm. Ulysses S. Grant's cabin remains on the site of the Anheuser-Busch estate, which is now an animal compound. Visitors ride a tram through the park and view wild animals. There is a mini zoo with huge tortoises and these gorgeous birds that can outlive their owners. An ounce of milk in a baby bottle costs a dollar, but imagine how much fun it is to go into the goat enclosure and feed baby goats from a bottle. The baby goat I fed, chewed the nibble right off.
There were animal shows and bird performances...all free.
 
The camels were at the fence begging for food pellets, which can be purchased from a dispenser for a quarter. As you can see, this Dromedary was opening her mouth and waiting for someone to toss her one. She was a great catch, too. Look at that pellet at her top lip.
 
About ten years ago, I took my grandson here, and as he stood at the fence holding his soda cup, the camel reached over the fence, snatched the cup, turned it up and emptied the Mountain Dew into its mouth, then discarded the cup at Austin's feet. It happened so quickly, we just looked at each other and laughed all the way home.

Do you visit your town's tourist attractions? We have so many free places to visit: the Science Center; a world class zoo; Suson Farm, a park with stocked fishing lakes and barnyard animals; Art Museum, Muny Opera which is an outdoor theater; History Museum; Ralston Purina Farm with animals, cats and dogs; the Botanical Gardens had free admission two days a week, and we have so many parks offering free concerts, and outdoor movie viewing after dark. Our taxes pay for most of these.
 

7 comments:

Sioux Roslawski said...

The Art Museum and the Botanical Gardens are two of my favorites. I'm glad you had so much fun.

Val said...

We out-of-town freeloaders also enjoy your tax dollars! I justify it with my two years of work there, having the 1% city earnings tax withheld from my check. Even though my visits came way before the wages.

The Science Center, of course, is my personal favorite. The zoo and Grant's Farm were also on our visit list, and I've even been to the art museum. We also enjoyed the museum under the Arch when it was open and free.

Merlesworld said...

Not so much now but when the kids were little often.
We have a small zoo and Japanese garden not far from our place. We often go there.
Merle..............

Bookie said...

How I enjoyed this post. Much of it my own life right down to the stolen drink cup of a child! We lived in Hazelwood a short time but packed a lot of newlywed living into the days. No much money and we crawled the area doing free stuff! One of our BIG trips was slipping over to DuQuoin Fair. We met friends we stayed in touch with coming together one every couple of years to redo the zoo and Grants, etc for our children. Such wonderful memories you stirred up while making more of your own!

Connie said...

This was a fun post to read. We have a lot of free concerts and hiking trails in area parks here. There is also a zoo and several historical spots, but those places aren't free. Our local art museum is free on Thursdays.

Pat Wahler said...

It's been years since I've visited Grant's Farm. What a wonderful place!

Pat
Critter Alley

Lisa Ricard Claro said...

Atlanta is loaded with stuff, but we don't take advantage of it now that the kids are all grown up. Guess we ought to dust ourselves off and take some day trips around town!