St. Louis Trip, Days 2 & 8, July 25+31, 2015
On our trip, we spent two nights at Super 8 motels, one in Bowling Green, Missouri, and the other in Macon (below).
Of all the hotels I have stayed at, I would rate Super 8 as the most economical. The rooms were not particularly fancy or spacious, but when one is is travelling, arrives late and leaves early, all that is needed is a bed!
And Super 8 actually provides much more...a nice, hot continental breakfast! Both locations provided waffles, cereal, pastries, and yogurt. Bowling Green also had delicious biscuits and gravy on the menu.
It's beyond me why some of the pricier hotels skip continental breakfasts (probably my favorite amenity), while Super 8 gets it right. The Macon dining area (above right) was small, but sufficient, as we were probably the first guests to eat and check out (at 6:15 A.M.). Bowling Green had a more spacious dining area.
I would not hesitate to visit either motel again. They both well served their purpose of providing a good night's sleep.
After leaving Macon, we headed up toward the Iowa border. As we got closer and closer, we began to notice fireworks stores everywhere...out in the middle of nowhere! Firecrackers are illegal in Iowa, and entrepreneurial Missourians have good business tempting Iowans to smuggle this southern contraband across the border.
The Iowa legislature has considered legalizing firecrackers again and again, but somehow the bill never gets through. That doesn't stop locals from having their own fireworks shows on Independence Day. How much trouble would Iowans be getting into if they didn't have this routine crime/smuggling operation to keep them busy?!
What are your favorite hotels and why?
Are fireworks illegal where you live? What is the strangest law in your area?
Haha! Some fireworks are illegal here in MN. So sad because I love them! :-) They are completely illegal in my other hometown in Mexico. We can't even do the small, ground ones. Some people smuggle them from Texas (border town), though, so there are still some that go off on our Independence Day and New Years. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteOh and there is a federal law in Mexico that prohibits the sale/consumption of alcohol on Election Day...I believe it starts at 6 pm the day before. ;-) I always found it strange (but it makes sense!). I think only a few states have that law in the USA, but I am not sure if it's just state wide or also for a presidential election.
DeleteI would never guess fireworks would have to be smuggled from Texas into Mexico! We pretty much only hear about the smuggling going in the opposite direction.
DeleteThat is something that there is an Election Day Prohibition! Sounds like a good law to me! Very interesting to read your comments Gabriela! Thanks for sharing.
Most people drive up to Alabama from here in Florida to get their fireworks. I like any hotel that has a continental breakfast and these both look good!
ReplyDeleteGood to hear Iowans aren't the only illegal fireworks smugglers out there. Thanks for stopping by, Lois!
DeleteThey are in city limits of Spartanburg, SC. You can't even have them in city limits yet stores inside city limits sell them. My new house is technically still in Spartanburg and not part of a town. I'm guessing I can have them if I wanted.
ReplyDeleteHa! That is strange that the law is so blatantly disrespected with stores in the Spartansburg selling them. I sort of wish un-enforced laws would just be taken off the books.
DeleteIt's good that Super 8 has continental breakfast! I definitely appreciate those. :) One time my family stayed in a Best Western Plus; I think part of the plus was the nice breakfast, though I don't remember it. :P
ReplyDeleteHow funny that firework smuggling is a thing! In CA, fireworks are legal, though I think some kinds aren't, and they are only sold (publicly) around Independence Day.
Best Western does have a good breakfast! Interesting that fireworks are legal in CA! Thanks for stopping by, Paige!
DeleteBethany In Poland you can use fireworks only on New Years Eve in your private property.
ReplyDeleteThat is interesting that they make an exception for New Year's Eve!
DeleteI don't know the strangest law or if fireworks are illegal here. But I do know that I love me some waffles!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWell, we don't need strange laws or fireworks to keep us alive, but we do need food!
DeleteHere in N. Ireland after the long history of "The Troubles", fireworks are illegal. I do enjoy a well organised public firework display though!
ReplyDeleteThe public displays can be fun to watch!
DeleteWe are allowed to have some fireworks here in Oregon and enjoy mainly fountains here at home. I have found the Motel 8s to be among my favorite motels to stay in, too, for the reasons you cited :) xx
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Gracie! Enjoyed seeing the photo of the fireworks at your blog!
DeleteWe appreciate a breakfast at the hotels we stay at too. We often use Holiday Inn Express and they serve a good one, saving us money and time.
ReplyDeleteFireworks are not legal in Michigan, but they are in Indiana, so we see the same thing as you did!
I've only stayed at a Holiday Inn once, and unfortunately did not have time to check if they had breakfast. Good to hear they do!
DeleteOur favorite hotel of all is Country Inn and Suites. We just love staying in them. They are not that expensive, and they always have fresh-baked cookies in the lobby!! LOL! Thanks for sharing about your journey. Sounds like you had fun!
ReplyDeleteFresh-baked cookies sound wonderful! I've never tried staying at Country Inn and Suites before. Maybe I should give it a try one of these days.
DeleteHehehe! Fireworks are illegal here too so we occasionally drive up to a nearby state to get them. :D
ReplyDeleteI won't tell anyone! ;)
DeleteI live in an older suburb in the near St. Louis area. Fireworks are completely illegal in our city. But in real life, the bottle rockets and fire crackers start being set off a couple of weeks before July 4, and on July 4 most people set them off in their backyards at family gatherings. There is a big celebration called Fair St Louis that has a couple of nights of huge fireworks displays, and then it seems like people still come home and have their own backyard displays. Usually all of the firework noise stops a few days after the Fourth. Not a happy situation for people with pets that fear fireworks. Fireworks are not allowed to be sold in the city of St. Louis or close suburbs, so people travel to some of the adjoining counties that still sell fireworks to get their fireworks for July 4.
ReplyDeleteWe went through Missouri (and St. Louis) on the 4th of July weekend in 2010. Along the highways in the countryside there were fireworks billboards everywhere! It's not hard to see how people could find the fireworks hard to resist. Too bad about the poor pets! Our dog, Ginger, is afraid of lightning/thunder, so I wouldn't be surprised if fireworks would frighten her as well.
DeleteMy husband would LOVE those waffles; one of his favourite things. I'd be perfectly happy with yogurt. Fruit would be nice, too, if they'd offer it.
ReplyDeleteI don't need a fancy place to stay; just a functional room that is clean!
That's especially true when basically the only time spent in the room is when I have my eyes closed! Sometimes Super 8 just makes a lot more sense!
DeleteI'm getting hungry just thinking of breakfast!
Hi Bethany, This post makes me want to get out on a road trip. Re Super 8, my experience has been the same ... they are very efficient and economical. Who needs a fancy room when all you need is a good night's rest? Fireworks are illegal in Seattle but that doesn't seem to stop quite a few people. Maybe we are lucky there is only one big holiday in the middle of the summer!
ReplyDeleteI remember neighbors setting off fireworks in town when we lived in Portland. It seems it would be more dangerous in the city than out here in the country.
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