Trains, trains and more trains

For most people, the scenery along the Amtrak tracks to St. Louis would be boring at best, or grim more likely. Running almost entirely through an industrial corridor, this trip provides a close-up view of factories, warehouses and run-down houses. But, it also provided an almost-uninterrupted view of freight train after freight train.

Hopper cars, box cars, tanker cars, gondolas, engines of all sorts. "Look, it's another Canadian National train." "Mommy, I see another Burlington Santa Fe engine." "Daddy, look, there are more tanker cars."

Ethan was enchanted for the entire 5 and a half hours (minus the 30 minute nap) of our trip to St. Louis. The journey was capped by the fact that the Amtrak station shares track with a freight yard, and our hotel was next to the Metrolink line. What more could a little boy who loves trains possibly ask for?

After we checked into the hotel, we explored the mall adjoining our hotel. And it got even better. Because the mall and hotel are in a converted train station (Union Station), everything is train themed -- including two old baggage cars permanently parked outside (with ramps to let you get up really close) and a train museum of sorts inside the mall. Ethan thought he'd gone to heaven.

While in St. Louis, we took the lightrail train to both ends of the line, stopping to visit the zoo (briefly), the airport (a special Ethan and Daddy trip) to watch planes, and the Arch (to take pictures and collect "treasures"). But the highlight of the visit was the City Museum -- a giant warehouse of little and big kid heaven. It's like an enormous jungle gym with tunnels and hidden passage ways and slides -- and, of course, trains.

Ethan proved again that he is a unique individual. He refused to climb over a small (probably only 3 foot high) bridge in the "toddler room," but when we went outside to check out the 6 story-high sculpture/climbing mecca/ball pit, he immediately (with John) scaled the heights to the top of the airplane at the highest point. We ended up eating dinner at the museum so we could stay and play, and he and John went back the next day for more.

The trip was just the right amount of time, because on Sunday, the night before we were schedule to leave, Ethan told me, "I'm ready to go home now. I want to be back in Chicago." And the next afternoon, we were.