Indianapolis, Indiana

 

Both Jim and I grew up watching the Indianapolis 500 race every Memorial Day weekend, so we knew that a visit to Indianapolis would be incomplete without a tour of the speedway. We arrived at the museum that is located on the inside of the track just as it was opening for the day and spent a long time looking at all of the vintage cars through modern day Indy cars that they have on display. Once we were finished in the museum, we took the Brickyard Tour which took us by bus on a lap around the track. We were able to stop and get pictures at the start/finish line. Everything looked so different than what I had envisioned after watching the race for years on TV. We both agreed that we need to come back to experience the race in person!

An oldie

One of Rick Mears' winning cars

The Borg Warner Trophy

In the evening, we walked from our downtown hotel to find a place for dinner and then walked several more blocks to see the Soldiers & Sailors Monument. It was beautiful illuminated in patriotic colored lights, but we didn’t stay long because it was freezing cold outside!!

The next day, we drove back to Ann Arbor where we saw Brooke compete again - unfortunately I forgot to get any pictures the second time around. Then we flew home the following day, capping off a fun week in the Midwest.

St. Louis, Missouri

The Gateway Arch was the first stop for our day of sightseeing in St. Louis. We enjoyed the museum located under the arch which highlighted the westward expansion. In addition, we watched a fascinating documentary that focused on the construction of the arch. But the most fun was our tram ride to the top of the arch. We got really lucky in that we were the only visitors (plus one ranger) at the top of the arch. We were 630 feet above the city of St. Louis and had the views to ourselves!

In the tram ready for the ride to the top







We were the only ones at the top of the arch




The Old Courthouse across from the Gateway Arch

After a quick bite to eat, we made our way to the Anheuser Busch factory for the brewery tour. This tour took us on a walk through the Anheuser Busch factory campus where we saw some Clydesdale horses and stables, as well as the different buildings for each stage of the beer brewing process. The tour concluded with a free beer in the Biergarten. This was another informative, great time!

The Anheuser Busch Factory









The Clydesdale horses









Parts of the factory are really pretty with intricate iron work and chandeliers.

Stella Artois was being bottled the day we visited




Anheuser Busch makes a lot of different beers and seltzers




Enjoying a beer in the Biergarten after the tour

Springfield, Illinois

 After the first track meet in Ann Arbor, Jim and I hit the road for a quick trip around the Midwest. Our first stop was Springfield, Illinois. We started our day at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. The first exhibit, that we entered via a replica of Lincoln’s boyhood Kentucky cabin, focused primarily on Lincoln’s early years through his presidential campaign. The other main exhibit, that we entered via a replica of the White House, focused on Lincoln’s presidency through his assassination. It was very informative and extremely well done.

Jim standing at the entrance to the first exhibit

The one room cabin in which Abraham Lincoln lived with 6 other family members while in Kentucky.

The entrance to the 2nd exhibit that focused on Lincoln's presidency

A few blocks from the museum is the Lincoln Home National Historic Site. At this site, we were able to tour the home that Lincoln owned and lived in as a young lawyer in Springfield. It was where he started his family and was his last residence before becoming the 16th president of the United States.

Lincoln's Springfield home

To complete a day full of Lincoln history, we visited Lincoln’s tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery. The tomb is the final resting place of Abraham Lincoln, his wife, and three of their children. Unfortunately, the tomb was closed for tours when we were there, but we walked around the exterior of the impressive monument.

We had a few hours drive that afternoon to our next stop - Saint Louis, Missouri.

Ann Arbor, Michigan

With University of Michigan track meets scheduled on back to back weekends, we decided to make a trip to the Midwest which was bookended by the two meets. The first weekend in Ann Arbor was especially fun because my parents, aunt, uncle, cousin, and my cousin’s son joined us. Jim and I arrived ahead of everyone else on Thursday evening in time to meet Brooke and her boyfriend, Patrick for an Italian dinner. The next morning, Brooke gave me and my parents a tour of her apartment, the Ross Business building where she has all of her classes, and the indoor track facility. That evening, the Traverse City part of the family checked into our hotel where we all enjoyed catching up over drinks and snacks in the lobby. 

Brooke giving Grandma and Grandpa a tour around campus

Saturday morning, we all headed to the indoor track to watch Brooke compete in pole vault for U of M. It was lots of fun teaching our family the intricacies of pole vault scoring, technique, etc. Brooke ended up vaulting 13’ 6.25” which she was pleased with.

All set to compete!

Brooke's fan club

Theo, Aunt Sue, Brooke and Stephie

Since we happened to be in town on Brooke’s birthday, we all went to dinner together to celebrate Brooke turning 23. This was the first time in 5 years that we were able to celebrate with Brooke on her actual birthday!