By Denise Lorenz, BRN 5862
Caravan Leader, Grapes & Grains First Lady
Join us for the first Sipping Across Missouri Caravan created and hosted by Grapes & Grains members.
This Caravan will be held Sept. 20-30, concluding just in time for the International Rally in Sedalia, Missouri. We will visit four cities in Missouri, each with its own character and charm.
Kansas City
Our first stop is in Kansas City (KC) where we will kick off our caravan gathering for some famous KC barbecue catered at the campground.
On our first full day we will travel by coach bus to Weston, established in 1837, it was the farthest western settlement in the United States and thus named “West Town.” Weston boasts over 20 city blocks listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
While there, we will tour the oldest distillery west of the Mississippi River, still operating in its original location. We will also visit a “snug” that boasts over 1,100 domestic and international whiskeys.
On the way back to the campground we will dine at an award-winning distillery that, in addition to an expansive display of KC distilling and prohibition history, offers the “coolest way to exit a bar” by sliding down a 40-foot slide.
Your free day can be spent exploring KC’s beautiful downtown. Start at the iconic Union Station that boasts a planetarium in addition to several shops and restaurants.
You can then hop on the free streetcar that connects many museums, shops and restaurants ending at the famous River Market dating back to 1857. Adjacent to Union Station is the National WWI Museum and Memorial, home to the world’s most comprehensive WWI collection as well as rotating events and exhibits.
Union Station
Columbia
Our second stop will be in Columbia where we will tour the Warm Springs Ranch, home of the Budweiser Clydesdales. Our journey back to the campground will include a stop at The Blufftop, where in addition to breathtaking views and delicious food, you can choose to sample local beers, wine, or spirits.
A short 20 minutes from the campground you will find Rock Bridge Memorial Park, which, in addition to being home to miles of hiking trails, boasts a large cave system including an underground spring called the Devil’s Icebox.
Our host campground for this stop offers a wonderful gathering space which will be filled each evening with much conversation, laughter and games.
Clydesdale horses at Warm Springs Ranch
Hermann
The third stop on our trek is Hermann, a quaint town located on the Missouri River. It was founded by German Immigrants in 1837 and in 1904 was home to the third largest winery in the world.
The campground is an easy walk/bike ride into town where you will find in addition to several shops and restaurants, three museums as well as numerous historic buildings to tour including the county courthouse built in 1898.
The Katy Trail, the nation’s largest rails-to-trails project is easily accessible and less than a 4-mile bike ride from the campground.
Group activities include a catered dinner at Fernweh Distilling housed in a beautiful 1867 historic building and trolley transportation to your choice of several wineries and distilleries.
Hermann Trolley
St. Louis
Our final stop will be in St. Louis, home to the first Anheuser-Busch brewery founded in 1852. We will be transported by coach bus for a tour of the brewery as well as two locally-owned distilleries.
Your day on your own offers so many options. The Gateway Arch is a structural phenomenon and a must-see. Standing 630 feet high, it is the tallest monument in the United States. Even if a fear of heights keeps you from taking the tram to the top, the free museum at the base is world-class. Offering six interactive galleries, it provides multiple perspectives of our country’s expansion to the West.
Also not to be missed is The Hill, located near the highest point in the city, a 52-block Little Italy smack dab in the Midwest. The Hill is known for being the origin of toasted ravioli, as well as numerous exceptional restaurants, bakeries, and unique architecture. All city-owned museums, parks and even the zoo offer free admission.
With four days between the end of our Caravan and the start of the International Rally in Sedalia, you will have plenty of time to soak in all that this beautiful city has to offer.
The Gateway Arch in St. Louis
My husband and I had so much fun exploring Missouri scouting sites for this caravan, we can’t wait to return.
We hope you will join us as we revisit the old and discover new treasures in this beautiful state.
If you have questions, you can contact the caravan leaders directly at Sam.caravan.leader@gmail.com.
