A Parkfilled Morning Commute

Every morning I begin my short commute to work in a bit of a funk, as I think most of us do. But then I turn onto tree lined Magnolia Ave and am graced with the presence of Tower Grove Park. This vast public space is filled with uniquely fashioned pavilions, native foliage and playing fields. Driving down Magnolia Ave is a daily dose of pleasure for my own neighborhood. Opposite Tower Grove Park, I pass the koi ponds of Missouri Botanical Gardens and continue on my route.

More often than not, there's a detour on my route to work that leads me past Tilles park - another great asset for the residents of The City of St. Louis. Driving past these parks always have a calming effect, and now that we're in winter and everything is blanketed in a clean white sheet of snow, the effect is enhanced.

The best part of my morning commute arrives as I pass over the highway and enter Forest Park, another source of pride in my city. Forest Park is home to the (free) St. Louis Zoo, the (free) St. Louis Art Museum, the (free) St. Louis Science Center and the (free) Missouri History Museum, 2 golf courses, multiple restaurants, waterways, native wildlife and much more. It's also one of the largest city parks in the country - larger than Central Park in New York City by 600 acres.

I just love rolling down the hill by the zoo, adjacent to the 1904 World's Fair bird cage. Turning right at the bottom of the hill offers a great morning view of frozen waterways dotted with Canadian Geese atop the ice, tall grasses and city history. I will also note that during my commute over these past few icy days, the clearest streets are found inside this great park. Thank you Parks Department and groundskeepers!!!

A Message to My Readers

Dear Readers,
I apologize for not providing consistently updated content.  I often wonder what I should write about as my focus for this blog is a little here and there.  A lot of my previous content has been the result of recurring questions I get from friends and those I serve through work.  If there's a topic you'd like to see hashed out here, please do let me know.  In the meantime, I'm going to write when I feel I have something worth sharing.

Thank you,
Rachel