AN ANIMAL SAFARI ADVENTURE
A Missouri safari brings the wild to you!
Established in 1971, Wild Animal Safari in Strafford tends to 350 acres of beautiful land and over 65 animal species that call it home. Along the cage-free, five-mile, drive-through trail, guests will cruise at their own pace by animals like wildebeest and hyenas. Guests can also enjoy the safari’s petting zoo, restaurant, and gift shop.
To enhance their experience, guests can purchase additional tickets to be up close and personal with species like giraffes, lemurs, or sloths. “The giraffes are definitely the star of the show here,” explains Pati Blain, zoo director at Wild Animal Safari. “They are friendly, a little slobbery, and always ready to see people.”
The Wild Animal Safari is also involved with charity events and organizations, such as fundraisers for children, the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, or local sports teams, Pati says.
One of Pati’s favorite moments was with Drako, the park’s white tiger. During a group presentation, Pati called on Drako. “After saying his name a few times, he came out of his night house, jaunted towards me, chuffed (their vocalization), I chuffed back, and then he lay down close to where I was standing by the secondary fence,” she explains. “I will never look that cool again.”
The unique animals and passionate small staff at Wild Animal Safari make for a great Missouri experience.
—Sydney Jones
YOU PICK, YOU LOVE, YOU COME BACK
Hidden away in the rolling hills of northeastern Missouri, near Brashear, is a cute little homestead called Farmhouse Hill where you can pick fresh flowers. Eager to check it out, my toddlers and I packed up the juice boxes and hit the gravel roads.
Three friendly and fluffy canines welcomed us as my we pulled into the driveway and parked under a beautiful big tree.
Next, owner Stacie Hudson and her husband, Brad, greeted us as my kids oohed and aahed at the peaceful, vast, green playground that awaited them, with tree swings dotting the landscape from the parking lot to the flower fields.
Eager-to-snip guests can wander the one-anda-half acres of blooms to fill a jar or vase for $15 or a pitcher for $100; you can refill the pitcher weekly with fresh flowers. Sunflowers, yarrow, dahlias, marigolds, cinnamon basil, cosmos, zinnias … the flower choices are gorgeously overwhelming.
Stacie enjoys the challenge of learning to nourish new flowers. Family is important to the Hudsons, and so is the need to provide a place for families to gather and stop and smell the … well, you know.
My children were as reluctant to leave the old wooden tree swing as I was to part from the beautiful sights and sweet scents of Farmhouse Hill.
—Danielle Bopp-Breshears
A DISCO-DIVE DREAM
This 70s-inspired disco dive raises the bar for downtown St. Louis
On any given night in midtown St. Louis, the local bar Hidden Gem can be found bursting with music, dancing, and a standout lineup of mixed drinks. Walking in, you’ll find splashes of bright pink covering the walls, lime green leather barstools, and even a catwalk above the bar leading to a carpeted conversation lounge.
This 70s-inspired bar on Locust Street was created by two sisters, Amanda and Susan Helman. Opening Hidden Gem was the perfect way to accomplish their dream of owning a bar, while simultaneously creating a safe and inclusive place for anyone older than 21 to come and enjoy a night out.
Their inspiration for the bar came from mixing elements of dive bars (cozy booths, neon signs, cheap beer on draft) and disco bars (shag carpet, cocktails, disco balls), says cofounder Amanda. “And of course, we had to infuse a bit of golden gems, so definitely pink. From there, it evolved into a disco dive bar,” Amanda adds.
Hidden Gem is unlike any other bar in the St Louis area not only for its decor but also because of its mission. Amanda and Susan desire to celebrate individuality, authenticity, femininity, diversity, and inclusion. “Life isn’t easy, so let’s make it fun. Hidden Gem is a safe space for all,” Amanda says. Think of Hidden Gem as more “Stayin’ Alive” than “The Hustle.”
Another original element that the sisters have introduced is Hidden Gem’s dog-friendly policy. Bring your dog with you (if leashed and friendly), and enjoy a drink with your furry friend from 4 to 7 PM, Tuesdays through Fridays each week.
—Sydney Jones
GRANDMA GANDER; A TRIBUTE TO THE SHELBINA ANGEL
Many of us are familiar with the Salvation Army Angel Tree program, which helps provide thousands of gifts for children around the country each year. Veronica Gander, a Shelbina native, was not only familiar with the program, but left a legacy behind as one of northeastern Missouri’s most generous contributors, skillfully creating heaps of homemade doll clothes each year to donate to young girls across the state. Veronica passed away on July 21 just before her 100th birthday. Her spirited generosity impacted the lives of many.
I spoke with Veronica just a few weeks before she passed.
“If a little girl smiles, that’s all the thanks I need,” she said earnestly, and I could tell she meant it. The miniature outfits Veronica has made over the years are undeniably impressive, with lattices of lace, meticulously embroidered flowers, and seamless pattern crossovers that fit every kind of doll and every kind of personality.
With a small station set up in her craft room, Veronica would spend several hours a day on her “factory line,” cutting and sewing and creating up to eight outfits at a time.
If Veronica wasn’t making doll clothes, she found herself making blankets, artwork, pies, and big Sunday dinners for whoever wanted to swing by. Homemade pie and ice cream were always on the menu, and you never knew who was going to show up to sit and chat, from any of her 33 doting grandchildren to a neighbor down the road who was just checking in.
Veronica created and donated up to 300 crocheted hats a year, giving to homeless shelters in the greater St. Louis and Kansas City areas. “I’m just an ordinary person who likes to do things and is blessed with a good memory,” Veronica quipped as she rocked in her recliner, but the smile on her face let you know her life had been extraordinary.
—Danielle Bopp-Breshears
This article was originally published in the September 2024 edition of Missouri Life magazine.
