Hermann, Missouri

Our little family was in need of a day trip. We found the perfect location in the beautiful and historic town of Hermann, Missouri. Our Missouri October day trip began with us running a little late, as usual. And as we scrambled to leave, I smelled the foul odor of a poopy diaper. It never ceases to fail. The moment we are about to walk out the door, we get a diaper that requires changing.

In spite of us being late, my wife places a coffee pickup order on her phone. It is her essential start to the day. It’s an iced, sugary concoction that somehow passes as coffee. She requires her morning caffeine to function, as do I. However, I much prefer a hot cup of coffee. It is one of the many things that the two of us have had in common over the years.

Our projected arrival time at the station is eight minutes prior to the train arriving. As my wife makes a quick turn, hot coffee splashes out of my cup and onto my hand. I remind her that a ticket will not get us there any faster. With the assistance of her lead foot, we arrived at the station a little early, and the train would arrive later than scheduled.

The benches at the station had a dew coating and prevented anyone from taking a seat. The new experience left Benson a little anxious, and he required me to hold him. However, the sight and sound of the train’s arrival added excitement to the experience for him. His eyes got big as the train pulled in, and he pointed eagerly at its arrival.

All Aboard

Amtrak Experience

The first thing I noticed when boarding the train was the condition of the cars. The windows were much larger, and the seats were more nicely upholstered than on my previous Arizona trip. There was even a table for groups of three to four people in the middle of the car.

The first thing Benson did was look out the window at the landscape. Hands pressed against the window as he stands on the chair, looking out at the farm land. The experience even had me beginning to wonder why we don’t travel by train more often. I was quickly reminded why as I attempted to walk to the cafe.

The train was rocking back and forth as I tried to walk the aisle. It was challenging to get used to the swaying motion. Unlike my previous rail experience, this train ride is much shorter. A three-hour train ride through Missouri pales in comparison to traveling from Kansas City to Flagstaff, Arizona. My only regret from both experiences was not using motion sickness medication.

In spite of minor discomfort, the Missouri October day trip experience allowed us to see landscapes we previously hadn’t seen. On occasion, the train traveled tracks over, under, and along the route we drive to Jefferson City every month. Overall, the experience was very peaceful.

Historic Town of Herman, Missouri

As soon as we got off the train, I immediately noticed the beauty of the old-fashioned Missouri town of Hermann. The brick buildings across the town showcased its beauty and age. The Hermann Wurst Haus was one of the first locations we visited. There is a particular appeal to visiting a location and dining locally. The food was good and the store were well-kept. Seeing all of the dried salami and meats got me interested in purchasing some before we left. Unfortunately, when we returned later, the store had already closed.

While in Hermann, Missouri, we visited 2 of the 3 coffee shops on East 1st Street. Both of the coffee shops had great coffee. Seek Coffee and Cocktails had alcoholic coffee beverages and non-alcohol coffees. Espresso Laine had some delicious muffins and breads. Benson loves banana bread and muffins.

We made our way through the town’s boutique shops and antique stores. I found many things of interest but didn’t purchase anything. The state of the walkways was our only gripe about the experience. In certain areas, they were downright awful and, in some cases, best described as crumbling.

The final hour of our Missouri October day trip to Hermann included time at Hermannhof Winery. I sipped an Oktoberfest beer as Dawn sipped a glass of wine. While people drink wine on the patio, a musician performs for guests.

Return Trip Back

We enjoyed talking with several other couples who were visiting Hermann for the day while at the Hermann train station. Benson ran around and behaved like a child, making the passengers in the depot laugh. Both my wife and I hoped he would tire out a bit before boarding the train.

The passenger rail cars, with the exception of one, were not like the ones we had ridden earlier. These rail cars were similar to those from my Arizona trip. The passenger cars on our return trip didn’t have tables like our morning experience. As a result, we were forced to sit apart for a portion of the trip.

I hope this inspires your trip to Hermann, Missouri. Visit them online at visithermann.com or learn more at visitmo.com. If this article interests you, read about other Missouri locations and experiences or browse other adventures I have written about.

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