ALTON CONTINUED

This first night, we dined at Gentelin's on Broadway owned and operated by Sarah and Ryan Gentelin (the chef). This restaurant is a fine dining genre with a beautiful view of the Clark Bridge, which is lit up at night to define the multitude of cables.

So what did we sample from their eclectic menu? An appetizer described the Toasted Wild Mushroom Ravioli as, "House made ravioli stuffed with wild mushrooms, wilted spinach and boursin cheese. Served crisp with a drizzle of white truffle oil, parmesan cheese and fresh herbs." Had to taste this one! I love wild mushrooms and didn't expect two large ravioli's...I guess you have to make them bigger than the usual to put that amount of "stuff".

The soup of the day was one with smoked pork and veggies. You won't find soup listed on their online menu as they make two soups each day; one meat and one vegetable.

I would have had a regular salad until I saw this one. "Goat Cheese – Panko breadcrumb and herb encrusted goat cheese tokens served with mixed greens tossed with spiced walnuts, poached pears, and dried cranberries in white balsamic vinaigrette. Garnished with cracked pepper and sea-salt crackers" on the bill of fare. What a great combo and quite tasty, too.

Entree choice was the half roasted duck, slightly smoked with a savoy cabbage and bacon potato puree in a light natural jus with fresh asparagus. Umm Umm good!

One of my group had the Black Bean Cakes served over a southwestern cilantro and roasted red pepper sauce with house made guacamole, fire roasted corn relish, drizzled with chipoltle sour cream and garnished with tempura fried avocados and crisp tortilla strips. I tasted. Pretty good for no meat.

We left room for dessert. It's off the present menu but...give me chocolate. Chocolate and Chambord mousse in a chocolate cup and a brownie topped with vanilla bean ice cream.

The next morning we were out for a Segway Tour for a view of the river starting at the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center. This particular operation comes out of St. Louis' Science Center where an equipped truck is hauled to the segway site. It's mostly bicycle path. I would have taken the entire tour but it is difficult for me to stand for such a long period of time. I'm getting out of shape the more I age. Besides, the tour also goes into downtown Alton and I had already took in the area.

Having experienced the Lewis & Clark Trial tour a few years ago, it was the Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower that hadn't been built. The structure allows you to see the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers from platforms at 50, 100 and 150 feet. Between a tour guide and signs you can learn about the history of nearby Hartford, the Industrial Revolution, Lewis & Clark and the scenic byway. Yes, they have an elevator.