Adult Field Trips are spelled F-U-N!

This weekend I took a little day trip to the heart of Missourah and it was AWESOME. One of the best Missourah Saturdays I've ever had, I'm disappointed I didn't start this day trip thing earlier. 

Stop #1: National Shrine of our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

I never expected to find such a beautiful church in the middle of Missourah. To think of the time and devotion they spent building this...absolutely amazing. The church took 10 years to build, and at the time cost $2,000. That stained glass window you see to the right? Yeah...designed by Raphael. Raphael. In the middle of Missourah. INSANITY. 

Whenever I enter a church, especially a beautiful, old one like this I am not only taken aback by the architecture and attention to detail, but just the thought of the thousands and thousands of people who have brought their triumphs, their joys, their sorrows, their tears, their worries to these pews. How many bended knees have prayed here, pouring their thoughts out to God. It's really awe-inspiring. 

The actual shrine. Above the altar the following words are painted:

"Come to the foot of this alter, here graces will be showered on all."

It is a shrine to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. If you're not familiar with Catholicism, this is a pretty common image/token that you see on jewelry, etc. It has Mary on one side, and the other has some symbols representing Mary's relationship to us and the Church, the 12 apostles, etc. Catholic belief is that Mary gave this symbol in an apparition to Saint Catherine Laboure in 1830 and instructed her to have it engraved and sent across the world. And now it is literally...everywhere. Whoever wears it is believed to receive special graces and protection, etc. There are thousands and thousands of stories of the "Miraculous Medal."

Behind this door is the room of petitions. 

They switched to electric candles a few years ago due to the fire hazard

of having 1,200 candles burning at the same time. 

People from all across the world send their petitions in.

Notice the candle design in the overlay--stunning details!

After touring the inside of the church, I took a walk across the absolutely beautiful grounds to the grotto. So relaxing to just sit outside in the sunshine and stare at the beautiful surroundings.

Stop #2: Historic "Ste. Genevieve" and the Buldoc House

This house was built in 1810 by Louis Buldoc, one of the original traders in Missourah. What you need to know: the entire house was built without a single nail. That's right, NO NAILS. The roof can hold up to 30 feet of snow! 

I also learned about their love for multi-purpose furniture. There was this hideous chair with a huge back to it...flip the back on top of the chair's arms and boom--instant table. Tiny bed, fold it in half and boom--bench for visitors to sit on. There was also a creepy portrait of the "Most Dangerous Man in Missouri." He is notorious for surviving 16 duels. He also commissioned the first portrait of himself to be done on rounded wood, so that no matter where you are in the room it looks like his eyes are following you. I call him "The Original Creeper McCreeperton."

Day trip? I say YES!

And that's it. Day tripping was awesome and I cannot wait to do it again. It was so much fun to get out into the country and see some cows, shrines and historical houses. And you can't really beat the $3/gallon gas and 50 cent nachos. 

How about you? If you treated your state like a tourist for a day, 

what would be on your day trip schedule?