National Association of Counties * Washington, D.C.            Vol. 31, No. 12 * June 21, 1999

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Spouse and Youth Tours bring you best of St. Louis

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Although the registration deadline for the conference’s spouse and youth tours has passed (June 15), there may still be slots available. Call 1-888-421-2005 for availability and reservations. Or check at the tour desk in the convention center when you get to St. Louis.

CHILDREN’S TOUR
Saturday, July 17 – 10 AM – 4 PM
Your first stop is the new City Museum. A place of fantasy and wonder where you can walk through the mouth of a bowhead whale, enter the Enchanted Forest with secret caves and wiggle into the bird’s nest. Your next stop is Grant’s Farm. Ride through the game preserve on a trackless train where you will see bison, antelope, elk, and deer and restored log cabin built by Ulysses S. Grant in 1854. Visit the miniature zoo, Clydesdale barn, and see bird and animal shows. Your tour concludes with a stop at Ted Drewes Frozen Custard. Enjoy a specialty "concrete" on your way back to your hotel. Lunch included.
$34 Adult
$32 Child (under 11)

GETTING TO KNOW ST. LOUIS
Saturday, July 17 – 1–5 PM
Begin your tour with a drive through Laclede’s Landing where cobblestone streets and cast-iron street lamps surround century old buildings. Continue your tour along the historic riverfront past the magnificent stainless steel Gateway Arch. Your first stop today is the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. A visit to this magnificent church is definitely one of the highlights in any tour. Built in 1907, it contains the largest collection of mosaic art in the world. Continue on with a drive through Forest Park, site of the 1904 World’s Fair. Take a step back in time as your guide describes one of the most famous World’s Fair ever held.
Take a delicious break with a stop at Ted Drewes Frozen Custard. A St. Louis tradition since 1929 and voted by Midwest Living as "Best Frozen Custard in the Midwest." Next visit Lafayette Square, one of the country’s leading restoration areas of Victorian homes. Conclude your tour with a visit to Soulard. St. Louis’ oldest neighborhood. Many of these homes were built in the early to mid-1800s and the area has preserved its original look.
$22 All

BEER AND BASEBALL
Saturday, July 17 – 1–5:15 PM
Your tour begins with a visit to Anheuser-Busch. Enjoy a one and a half-hour tour of the world’s largest brewer of beer, which includes a close-up view of the famous Budweiser Clydesdales. The tour concludes with a visit to the hospitality room for a sample. Your next stop is the International Bowling & Cardinal Halls of Fame museum. These two great sports museums offer over 5,000 years of bowling history and more than a century of St. Louis Baseball.
$23 All

ST. LOUiS HIGHLIGHTS
Monday, July 19 – 9AM – 4 PM
Your St. Louis Highlights tour begins with a visit to the Missouri Botanical Garden. Stroll through this beautiful 79-acre National Historic Landmark where you will see the country’s largest Japanese garden, as well as a variety of other equally beautiful specialty gardens. Be sure to visit the lovely gift shop before boarding your motor coach for your next stop, the 9th Street Abbey where lunch will be served.
Following lunch, board your motor coach to continue your tour to St. Louis’ historical South Side. In this area, you will see the DeMenil antebellum mansion, built in the 1800’s and the Lemp Mansion, former home of the wealthy, eccentric and tragic Lemp family. Then drive through Lafayette Square, one of the country’s leading restoration areas of Victorian homes.
Next on your tour agenda is the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. A visit to this magnificent church is definitely one of the highlights in any tour. Built in 1907, it contains the largest collection of mosaic art in the world. Conclude with a drive through Forest Park, site of the 1904 World’s Fair. Take a step back in time as your guide describes one of the most famous World’s Fairs ever held. Forest Park is also our cultural center where our city’s science center, history museum, art museum, zoo and the "Muny Opera" theatre are located. Lunch included.
$45 All

RIVERBOAT CRUISE AND CAHOKIA MOUNDS
Monday, July 19 – 12:30– 4:30 PM
Begin your tour with a 15-minute ride from the downtown area to Cahokia Mounds, "City of the Sun." Recognized as the largest pre-historic Indian City north of Mexico, it was placed on the United Nations list of World Heritage Sites in 1982. Visit the $8 million facility where you will experience one of the most complete and fascinating stories of the vanished Native American Civilization. See "City of the Sun" a wide-screen production of the story of Cahokia Mounds. Walk through the many exhibits, which highlights the culture, religion and life-style of these pre-historic Indians who lived here over 1,000 years ago. Return to the riverfront and step into the past as you board a replica of an 1800’s paddlewheeler to enjoy a one-hour Riverboat Cruise. Guests will be treated to a narrative river tour along with a spectacular view of the St. Louis skyline.
$26 All

RAGTIME TO ROCK N’ ROLL
Tuesday, July 20 – 10AM – 4 PM
Begin with a short drive to the Fox Theatre where arrangements have been made to tour the incredible site built in 1929 by William Fox of 20th Century Fox fame as the crown jewel of his empire. This theatre must be seen to be believed!
Continue your tour to University City, home to the St. Louis Walk of Fame. Bronze starts are imbedded in the sidewalk to pay tribute to famous men and women. Enjoy lunch at Blueberry Hill famous for its sandwiches and pop culture memorabilia. Then have some time to explore unique shops. Next enjoy a backstage tour of The Muny, the world’s largest municipally owned theatre. This famous outdoor theatre is where Gary Grant, Vincent Price and Tommy Tune got their start.
Conclude with a visit to the home of Scott Joplin. This turn-of-the-century home has recently been restored and includes displays of Joplin’s music and life, and exhibits of African American history and culture. Lunch included.
$39 All

FAUST PARK AND FOREST PARK
Tuesday, July 20 – 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Today’s tour will take you to St. Louis’ County’s newest attraction, the Sophia Sachs Butterfly House. The 8,000 square foot glass conservatory is where visitors mingle with more than 60 species of the world’s most beautiful butterflies in flight. Be sure to include a stop in the Madame Butterfly Shop before visiting the restored 1920’s Dentzel Carousel and Faust Historical Village. The village displays architecture from the mid-1800-s.
Your tour next takes you to Forest Park, site of the 1904 World’s Fair. Enjoy a lunch at the Lakeside Café before exploring the Saint Louis Zoo, which is considered one of the top five zoos in the United States. Located in an 83-acre garden-like park, the zoo contains over 2800 animals in their natural settings. See Big Cat Country, the Jungle of the Apes, and "The Living World," a state of the art building. Or if you prefer, visit the Art Museum. The museum was the Fine Arts Palace of the 1904 World’s Fair, and is today considered among the top ten arts museums in the country. Or perhaps you would enjoy the Saint Louis Science Center. The four galleries represent Ecology and the Environment, Human Adventure, Technology, and Space Science. Lunch included.
$45 All

ST. LOUIS COUNTY SPLENDOR
Tuesday, July 20 – 9:30 AM – 4 PM
Your County Splendor tour begins with a visit to Hawken House. Built in 1857 by Christopher Hawken for his bride, this elegant farmhouse is a blend of Federal and Victorian styles. Next on your tour agenda is Sappington House. Built in 1808, it is believed to be the oldest brick house in St. Louis County. Furnished with authentic antiques of the period, the house appears as it was when Sappington and his bride moved in. Lunch will be served in the charming restaurant, Sappington House Barn. The tour concludes with a visit to Laumeier Sculpture Park, one of the few contemporary sculpture parks in the United States. Tour the collection and exhibition of monumental contemporary sculptures. The museum shop offers carefully chosen selections of jewelry, art books, cards and gifts. Lunch included.
$45 All