Weekend Getaway to Saint LOO-AY

I couldn't have been more excited to embark on a day of biking through one of the most well-equipped cycling cities in the U.S. 

Seriously, every single road had a bike lane/route—amazing! Not to mention, there were cyclists everywhere using them! Many of the trails even had two separate paths—one for wheels (cyclists), and one for heels (walkers/runners). I love you Omaha, but please take a lesson about the importance of having roads and trails conducive for the many cyclists and runners who live in your city.

#stl #bikeheaven

We hit up every end of St. Louis and all the places in between. To fuel up for the day, we started off with a hearty breakfast at Half & Half, a friendly breakfast/brunch joint located in the midtown Clayton area. I had a scrumptious over-easy (cage-free) egg, locally-sourced bacon and housemade aioli sandwiched between two made-from-scatch buttermilk biscuit halves. I topped that off with a generous serving of organic fresh fruit and some of the silkiest drip coffee I've ever come by. I was one happy girl and ready to get my bicycle on. 

#stlfood #half&halfstl

St. Louis got hit pretty hard with rain all of last week. With all of the debris in the roads, my husband and I knew there might be a good chance one of us would get a flat tire at some point in the day. I was wrong—we both actually ended up getting flat tires! Fortunately, we came prepared with some extra tubes and a repair kit. If you're a beginning rider, I'd recommend checking out this great video on How to Change a Flat Bicycle Tire. It may take you a few times to get the hang of it, but, with practice, you'll be a tire-changing pro!

 
Near the culmination of our 52-mile ride, you'd better believe we were ready for a good beer and some grub. We made our way to Schlafly Brewery in southeast St. Louis. It was approaching 90 degrees outside, and my palate was craving a light, refreshing beer, so I opted for the dry-hopped American Pale Ale. The assertive hop flavors paired so seamlessly with the pine/citrus aroma characteristic of the American hops. The beer was well-balanced and had a full body. Also pairing so nicely with my beer was a Cuban sandwich and summer salad topped with dried cranberries, feta cheese, sunflower seeds and a house-made white balsamic vinaigrette. Needless to say, this turned out be one hella perfect day.

#schlafly