#248: Grants Trail

Growing up and coming from Glen Carbon/Edwardsville, I am no stranger to bike/walking trails. After all, the Ronald Foster Bike Trail is one of the first 'rails to trails' in Illinois, and is still a fun place to ride and walk on. On the other side of the border and river in Missouri, I haven't experienced any until I ventured onto the Grants Trail.

Grants Trail is 8 miles long. I've been on most of the trails in Madison County, where some are longer than others. What makes Grants Trail stand out so much is that its more travel/tourist-friendly. You will always find signs of many things, plus some businesses that are off the trail have water jugs for animals. That's something you don't see on the Illinois side. I parked at the Sappington House & Museum after snapping the cake picture and walked a mile and a half to Grant's Farm, which is off the trail. (Hey, I wanted to dodge the $12 parking fee) Of course, had I known better, I could have parked at Applebee's too (off Watson Road). I also noticed that the trail is taken very seriously, as it has its own traffic signals on the major roads and highways. That's another thing you can't find on Illinois trails...just the yield and/or stop sign.

On my way to Grant's Farm. What? I got another mile?

A cool horizontal, far-away view of the trail, going east

A historical marking of Clydesdale Park (close to the cake)

Another area close to the cake and parking lot, with the Tesson Ferry overpass

Visit the website and it will give you a full-detailed version of what you'll see throughout the trail, as well as where to park and stop.

How do I get to the cake at Grants Trail? It's tricky. It is obviously off of Grants Trail, so if you happen to be walking, running or biking right by it, then....oh wait, you want to drive to get to it? No problem! When you're driving on MO Highway 21, or Tesson Ferry Road (depending on which direction), make sure you turn on Tiffany Square Parkway, which is a subdivision. When on that street, immediately turn right on Tiffany Village Court. Despite of the signs that say 'Private' and all, make sure you turn into the private road that leads to a parking lot to the bike trail. Here are the sides of the cake:

Right side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Left side of the cake

Top of the cake

NOW: The cake sold for $455 on 1/1/2015 (biddingforgood auction).

Wikipedia link
Official website

Located at Tesson Ferry Road & Grants Trail (see instructions above), ST. LOUIS, MO, 63123
Cake artist: Corinne Didisheim

#247: Grant's Farm

Now here's a place I haven't been to since my childhood days in the 80s. It was great to be back. Sure, there are a lot of things I didn't remember and obviously some things had to have changed since 1988.

Grant's Farm, is without doubt, one of the most notable places for families to get together and have fun. I wish I can say this is very travel and tourist-friendly, only because there are no signs off the interstate that point how to get here. Not everyone owns a GPS, you know! Another positive and negative: + it is free, - everything else costs an arm and a leg. You can pay for parking just right in front of the place or you can walk the trail and park somewhere close for free. Either way, its 'grant'ed a great time for anyone, regardless of age.

The entrance from the parking lot

Entrance to the Tier Garden at Grant's Farm

But just think, you can see several, I mean several, different animals you probably won't see anywhere else in America. You'll be able to see them out in the 'wilderness' all over the farm via tram. At the end of the tram ride, just walk around and enjoy nature and the animals. Or just head straight toward the Tier Garden. If you are 21 and over and drink alcohol, you can get 2 free samples of selected Anheuser-Busch brand of beer. It's a great social setting, with old German music playing in the background. Or if you're up for some history, check out some Anheuser-Busch memorablia in the rooms. And, of course, the cake is located here too!

You'll also get a lot of history. Ulysses S. Grant, 18th President of the United States, once farmed here in the 1850s before his Civil War days. His hand-built home is featured here, along with the Busch family mansion. (The land was purchased by the Busch family in later years). It was finally opened to the public in 1954, making this year (2014) its 61st year in operations.

Most of you know I am not an animal person, but I thought I'd share some pics I took during the tram tour

The bald eagle was not part of the tram tour, but right when you get off, you'll see them

The cake, which sits high in the tier garden. I was unable to get the top part, in which hopefully I wasn't missing out on anything!:  (Please note: in order to get this cake, you have to take the tram all the way around to the Tier Garden. In other words, allow yourself plenty of time. Likely 35-45 minutes average, from the time you get out of your car to here.)

Right side of the cake

Right and back side of the cake

Left side of the cake

Grant's Farm on FB
Wikipedia link
Official website

10501 Gravois Rd., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63123   (it is actually located in Grantwood Village)
Cake artists: Ian Greenlee and Julie Krovicka