Like many people, I don’t get to travel as much as I’d like to. Work, house, and “grown up” responsibilities may limit my desire to wander, but I’ve had my fair share of trips, vacations and little adventures. I’ve been able to take a few ‘bigger trips’ over the years, but most have been little road trips here or there with quite a few camping adventures thrown in for good measure. From our bi-annual reunions, and repeated trips to some of my favorite Missouri state parks, to larger trips like the Melanie Memorial Ride or our wedding vacation I’d like to share some of my adventures with you through photographs.
Meinhardt Family reunion at Lake of the Ozarks
Tommy & I at the zoo in Peoria, IL
Tommy’s first of many road trips to see Uncle Matt work. All the way to Peoria, IL to see the Chiefs play ball.
So glad I’m raising a kiddo who likes a good road trip.
Jackson TN, with Ribee, the Jaxx mascot.
Tommy Chillin’ with Grandma at the ballpark in Jackson, TN.
Heading off to visit Cappie and Nona in Utah.
Tommy and I relaxing in Deer Creek, Utah.
Pony rides at the Utah State Fair.
Meinhardt Reunion at Lake of the Ozarks.
Jackson, TN to see another ball game, and my brother.
Our first visit to City Museum in St. Louis.
Jaxx ballfield in Jackson, TN. Where Tommy got to hang out on the field for a bit.
Family fun in Jackson, TN.
Taking mom to finally visit Graceland.
Memphis Baseball. Getting ready to check out a game and watch my brother work.
Memphis, TN and more baseball!
Tommy’s first tent camping trip at Babbler.
Time for some hiking at Hawn in Saint Genevieve, MO. We used to camp here all the time when I was a kid.
Hiking fun at Hawn with my little man.
Magic House, St. Louis, MO. Hard to believe my very own backside was once on that same pully when I was about his age.
Ha Ha Tonka Castle. A real castle, here in Missouri!
Little man and I at Ha Ha Tonka in Camdenton, MO.
Lake of the Ozarks, just relaxing and camping at one of the rustic cabins.
Hammock time with Tommy at Lake of the Ozarks State Park.
Apple Picking at Braeutigam Orchards in Belleville, IL.
Daniel’s Farm & Pumpkin Patch, in St. Charles, MO.
The family after a fun weekend of Memphis baseball.
You can’t come to Key West and not try a coconut.
Arrrrr matey. There be parrots on the beach in Key West!
The Southernmost point in the continental U.S. in Key West, FL. (or at least as close to it as you can get as a civilian)
Relay for Life, St. Charles, MO. My BFF, Angie and I had a team that participated for a few years.
Relay for life 2012 ‘Cancer Sucks’ team
Lego Land in Kansas City.
Omaha, NE. Our last trip to see my brother working as a professional umpire.
Heading out for the Melanie Memorial Ride. We’ll be going from our home city of St. Louis, out to White Sands in New Mexico, and back again. Over the course of a single week.
The Boots Motel in Carthage, Mo. What a fun place to stop.
Rainbow bridge over Brush Creek in Kansas on Route 66. One of the few of these types of bridges still around.
Pryor Creek Bridge, in Chelsea, Oklahoma is a 123-foot, steel-truss bridge, that carried cars along Route 66 from 1926 to 1932.
The world’s largest totem pole. Located in Foyil, Oklahoma.
Blue Whale in Catoosa, OK. Yes it’s weird… Which is why we just HAD to stop and check it out.
Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas, where I stopped and spray painted on a little something in memory of mom.
Relaxing at the Blue Swallow Motel on Historic Route 66 in Tucumcari, New Mexico. The Blue Swallow has been serving travelers along the Mother Road since 1939!
The rising sun just outside of Tucumcari New Mexico.
We made it! White Sands!
At White Sands National Monument. Located in New Mexico, it is part of the northern Chihuahuan Desert.
Enjoying the mountains, somewhere near Taos in Northern New Mexico.
Taking a break and enjoying the Weiminuche Wilderness, the largest wilderness area in Colorado.
Ready for a ride in the rain after lunch in Silverton, Colorado. (Turns out, we got hail too!)
At Joyful Journey Hot springs in Colorado.
Independence Pass in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
Rocky Mountains, Colorado.
More Rocky Mountain fun with my hubby.
Near Silver Plume and Georgetown in Colorado.
Giant version of Sunflowers by Van Gogh in Goodland, Kansas.
Typical Kansas landscape, as taken by me from the back of Rolfs Motorcycle.
Camping at Roaring River State Park in the freezing cold!
Digging for Crystals in Arkansas
Exploring Hot Springs, Arkansas
Floating fun on the Black River in Missouri.
A little adventure at Elephant Rocks state park.
Cancer Sucks Relay for Life team in Webster Groves, MO
Relaxing with an adult beverage at Oak Glenn Winery in Hermann, MO.
Hiking and exploring at Johnson Shut Ins State Park.
Exploring Graham Cave on one of our many camping trips of 2013.
A fun trip to the tintypery in Old St. Charles.
The Schaufert Family at the Meinhardt Reunion in 2014
Enjoying the old CCC structures at Meramec State Park
Exploring Starved Rock State park and their amazing totem poles made from trees.
Beach fun at Indiana Dunes and Lake Michigan.
Blueberry picking in Michigan.
Kite flying fun on the beach at lake Michigan.
Part of the 3 dunes challenge. Mt. Tom is 192 feet above lake Michigan.
River swimming fun at Sam Baker State Park.
Out hiking with the hubby at Ferne Clyffe in Illinois.
Hubby and I hiking and checking out the caves at Ferne Clyffe.
Pretending I’m a climber.
Our first trip out in the trailer. We went to Cuivre River state park since it was nice and close.
Enjoying nature at Onondaga State park.
Getting ready for some hiking at Onondaga.
Doing a little fall apple picking at Brautigams in Illinois.
Another fun fall day of apple picking.
Fall fun in the pumpkin patch
Fresh off the plane in St. Thomas, USVI
Down by the harbor in Charolotte Amalie, the only town on St. Thomas Island.
Climbing up the 100 steps in Charlotte Amalie.
The sunrise from our room on St. Thomas.
Eating local goodies while walking around town in Charlotte Amalie.
Feeding the stingrays with Tommy at Coral World, St. Thomas.
Tommy and I with our new sea lion friend, Remo.
Swimming with the sea lions was the neatest adventure. I’m so glad that Tommy and I decided to do it.
Lots of fun swimming with a sea lion.
Sweet kisses from my new sea lion friend.
Tommy and I bonding a bit before Rolf and I get married.
Tommy and I relaxing a bit, hangin out in the trees along Lindquist beach.
Getting hitched on the beach! What could be better!
Walking along Lindquist beach with my new hubby.
Don’t we just seem like such a fun couple?
Were officially a family! Lindquist Beach, St. Thomas.
Rolf and I decided to photobomb Tommy, Donna and my Dad.
We stopped by Bones Rum after the ceremony for some celebratory drinks. Tommy even had one! (Non alcoholic of course!)
What a cute newlywed couple!
Relaxing by the pool, drink in hand as I enjoy my first few hours of married life.
Checking out the point on St. Thomas.
We did LOTS of swimming in St. Thomas.
We took a half day sail around St. Thomas. It was a great time filled with food, swimming and fun!
The crew after our wonderful day sail.
We headed over to St. John to explore the ruins.
Me and new hubby exploring the sugar mill ruins on St. John.
Not every couple gets to pick up their marriage certificate in an old grungy parking lot with dumpsters in the background…
Cheers to a wonderful vacation and fantastic wedding.
Exploring Charlotte Amalie again. What a neat little town.
Enjoying the view from our rental.
Who knew that fish loved dog biscuits so much?
Yep, another cute couple picture. What did you expect? It’s our wedding trip!
Another fall, another trip to Braeutigam’s Orchards for pumpkin picking.
Exploring City Museum, in St. Louis.
A very rainy camping trip to Onondaga.
Splish Splash in the water at the Castor River Shut-ins.
Acting goofy at Hawn state park.
Getting ready to dig for diamonds in Arkansas.
Hiking around lake Ouichita in Arkansas.
More hiking while we camp at Lake Ouichita in Arkansas.
Goofing around at Lake Wappapello.
Chillin’ in Daytona Beach
Spending a little time on the beach in Daytona Beach.
Taking in a cardinals baseball game.
Cooling off in the river at Sam Baker State Park.
Exploring Elephant Rocks with the teenager.
Camping fun, pandemic style in 2020
Visiting Sundance during our Utah vacation.
Family fun at the Stein Eriksen Lodge in Park City, Utah.
Camping fun at Meramec Springs.
Red Rock Bluffs, perhaps the best spot we’ve camped at so far!
Enjoying 5 years of marriage by taking a mini-vacation to New Haven.
Day trip to Washington to poke around downtown.
Celebrating 5 years with a drink at Pinckney Bend Distillery.
Took a motorcycle ride down to Sandy Creek Covered Bridge.
Celebrating the first day of school by visiting Cave winery and vineyard.
Holiday fun at the Missouri Botanical Garden!
Geocaching fun while we hike and camp
Visiting a distillery in the Oazarks.
A weekend getaway at Aunt Phoebe’s Cabin (Rock Eddy Bluff Farms)
Creek sittin’ to cool off when we stayed at Aunt Phoebe’s cabin for the weekend.
