Family vacation: Day 4

Aaah, Day 4.  The 'aaah' is for any of you still reading.  *smiles*  We came home on Day 5 so you've almost made it.  Day 4 was probably my favorite, although for me Day 5 was a close second.  Now you must come back to read tomorrow's too, huh?  How'd you like that hook?

Anyway, Day 4 was Grant's Farm.  Named Grant's Farm because a cabin/former home of Ulysses S. Grantis located on the property.  The property was eventually purchased by the Anheuser-Busch family and is home to some commercial celebs - the Clydesdales. 

Upon arriving and parking, horse shoe prints lead you to the edge of the parking lot where the security guards stop traffic and let you cross over onto a little bridge.  Once across the bridge the line weaves around to the tram boarding area.  And, if you are travelling with a 3 and 5 year old, as soon as you are in the front of the tram line it detours to the General Store for a potty break, and then back to the end of the tram line.  Fortunately, the lines weren't too long - bathroom or tram. 

The staff asked us to empty the stroller, then they whisked it away to the front of the tram and it magically appeared once the ride was over.  Awesome, because most of the day was spent exploring the zoo-type exhibits, post-tram drop off. 

On the (very nice) tram - not even sure what they were looking at, but I love that all four of them seem so interested.  Probably the two swans on the lake. 

We drove by this gate and statue on the tram.  They were real antlers, found on the property and dipped in bronze.  Also, this gate (tough to photgraph on the tram), is the one the Clydesdales are often seen running through in the commercials.  Kinda cool.

The best of the tram ride was that it took you through all sorts of just open area with free roaming animals - deer, lots of geese, cattle, and these guys.  It's such open area, in fact, that this guy was hanging around on the bridge we were supposed to drive across.  The driver had to stop and honk at them for awhile so they would move.  He then kindly asked us not to stick our hands out and try to touch them.  Umm, fine by me.

As soon as the tram dropped us off, I noticed a show was about to start.  Dave took Max and I took Seth and Luke and the three of us hurried into the show.  Because I thought it was the elephant show.  But it turned out to be a lot of birds.  I don't love birds.  Truthfully, I am really not a fan of birds.  Especially not when the bird trainers are begging everyone to sit still and be quiet (and the audience is full of small rowdy children) so as not to upset the birds.  Ugh.

There were a lot of interesting animals.  Some of them not really "farm" animals - there were two bald eagles.  They had been injured and were unable to fly so they were living here.

"Ooh, Daddy, let's feed the camels," quickly became "Daddy, you can feed the camels."

Goats were another story!  The Farm had a 'fun pass' and for a discounted rate you got a snow cone, a carousel ride, and two bottles to feed the goats.  I must say that watching my little boys seek out hungry goats was quite cute.  They both fed them without much hesitation. 

I was surprised at how much Seth enjoyed it as he's not one to do things like this often.  But, he seemed to really enjoy the goats both at the zoo and here at the farm.

Seth even did some more goat brushing.  I guess he figured out that it was okay at the zoo so he couldn't be so bad here.

After we finished at the animal exhibit part, we boarded the tram again and headed back to the parking lot.  Just on the other side of the parking lot were the Clydesdale stables.  I just thought this was a really pretty "scene" - the truck and the beautiful flowers and the white fence.  Unfortunately, I couldn't convince a horse to wander into the photo.  Bummer.

Luke jumped right up on the fence to put the horse.  Seth alleges he also at least touched the horse.  I never saw it.  [The blue shirt is not mine, but I was melting and couldn't wait for him to be done to take the picture.]

Another horse.  They really are huge animals - very amazing to look at.

Little Max put up with SO much on this trip.   Thankfully, he really loves his stroller and loves to take in the sights (no idea where he gets that slightly nosy gene).  But, to put up with anyone this close to your face when it's nearly 100 degrees outside, he deserves a medal!

Everyday we thought we would go back to the hotel and swim in the little hotel pool.  Everyday we were gone longer than we planned to be.  We never got to swim!  But that's okay.  I don't think the boys cared at all.

This night we went to Moe's for dinner.  I love Moe's.  Seth will eat chips and queso forever.  And I know Luke can eat there without allergy incident.  Funny story:  I kept marvelling at the fact that there was no one else there.  "Isn't this odd?"  "Do people here not like Moe's?"  "Do you think people know something we don't?"  Yes!  They know that this Moe's closed 15 minutes ago!  Oops!  We hurried up and finished our dinner and scooted out.  Again, they were so nice about it.  Anyway, then we went back, got the kids in bed, and started packing for home.