Solve a Murder Mystery for New Year's Eve

http://www.examiner.com/x-1948-St-Louis-Senior-Travel-Examiner


Climb aboard the St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railway for an evening of murder mystery and fireworks. Bring in the New Year by solving a murder mystery during dinner at the station. Then climb aboard the train and head down the tracks to welcome the New Year with a midnight fire works display

Jest Entertainment will present a comedy mystery dinner show “The Christmas Killer!” during the meal at the station. Everyone who survives the murder mystery, will board the train around 11:00 p.m. The train pauses to celebrate the New Year with a fireworks display before returning to the depot.

All tickets are $50.00 and include meal, mystery, train ride and midnight fireworks. Register in advance by calling Tel.: 573-243-1688 Toll Free: 1-800-455-RAIL Dinner begins at 8:00 p.m. The evening’s activities are from 8:00 PM - 12:30 AM.

This New Year’s celebration does not require a designated driver. Alcohol free celebrations are noteworthy because they are just as much fun but usually a lot easier on the liver and the pocketbook. If you are looking for a grown up and alcohol free celebration, consider riding into the New Year on diesel locomotive Number 5898.

Jackson station is about 6 miles northwest of Cape Girardeau, located at the intersection of highways 25, 72, and 61. Highway 61 & 25, Jackson, MISSOURI, 63755 USA. Tel.: 573-243-1688 Toll Free: 1-800-455-RAIL

For more info and photos: of Diesel Locomotive Number 5898 visit the website.
Built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors (also known as EMD) in 1950, the diesel locomotive was assigned number 5898. It is designated as an E8 type diesel locomotive rated at 2,250 horsepower and capable of speeds up to 120 miles per hour.

Sunsets in St Louis

The Examiner: http://www.examiner.com/x-1948-SE-Missouri-Senior-Travel-Examiner

One of the great views of St Louis is from the top of the Gateway Arch. On a winter day, the last few tram rides to the top have two great advantages. First, there are no lines in the winter. Second, this may be one of St Louis’ great sunset spots in the winter.For most of the year, the Gateway Arch and Museum of Westward Expansion are open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (winter hours). Tram tickets are $10.00 on site. Or, you can order tickets on line at www.gatewayarch.com A $3 processing fee is charged per transaction on line.

Save a few bucks and buy tickets when you get there, because there is rarely along line in winter.

The park is beautiful and a great place to walk on clear winter days. Parking is never crowded when the weather is cold. Once inside, the weather is of no concern. There is plenty to do with movies, the fabulous interactive museum and the tram ride to the top of the arch.

Take Your Best Shot

When we got to the top, lots of people began taking bad photographs in the sun’s setting glare. The windows are only seven inches tall. Still, the city scape is gorgeous from the western view. Illinois seems to stretch out forever on the eastern side of the Arch. One lady wasn’t getting any photos, good or bad. Since she was aiming her tiny camera out several windows, I asked as we were leaving, if she got some great photos.

“No,” she said sadly. “I couldn’t figure out how to work the camera.”

Going up to the top of the Arch is something I’ve been meaning to do for years. Now that I’ve been there and done that, I probably won’t go back on the tram to the top. I figured this lady wasn’t ever going to get her photo if she didn’t get it today. “My daughter gave the camera to me before we left on vacation. We are on our way to Branson,” she said.

“Come on, lets go back, I’ll help you,” I said. She was grateful, and we raced back to the tiny windows to get that photo.

Turns out, we didn’t get the shot with her camera because the camera battery was dead. So this photo is for that lady. It’s always good to check your camera and know how to use it before you plan to use it.

“Thank you anyway sweetie. At least you showed me how to use my camera. Now, I’ll be able to recharge and take pictures in Branson.”

For more info: For pricing and group reservations, call toll free at (voice) 1-877-982-1410 (Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. CST). Another good thing, very knowledgeable park rangers have more time to answer questions and talk to you in the slower hours of winter.

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When the electricity went out at my house and I was facing a writing deadline, I headed to Drury Suites Cape Girardeau, which is listed in Geektels in Missouri. Small town hotels may be listed as having free internet service, but often it is weak or or costs more. Both Drury Lodge and Drury Suites have great high speed access.