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"THE BEST OF ROUTE 66"
TOUR HITS THE ROAD FROM ST. LOUIS TO CHICAGO
TOUR HITS THE ROAD FROM ST. LOUIS TO CHICAGO
"If you ever plan to motor west, travel my way. Take the highway that's the best. Get your kicks on Route 66!" - Bobby Troupe
Searching for the real America? You've just found it on "The Best of Route 66," a six-day itinerary that takes you on a loop through America's roadside history.
From the big city excitement of Chicago to the historic charm of Springfield, Illinois and the mighty Mississippi River in St. Louis, this once-in-a-lifetime trip takes you back to the past and down America's Mother Road - Route 66.
Founded in 1926, this highway stretched 2,448 miles from Chicago to the Pacific coast of California, opening the road west for countless 20th century pioneers.
Today, Route 66 is more than just a memory of fast cars, drive-in movies, diners and dreams. It is a living piece of American history. Modern interstate highways tried to kill Route 66. Instead, the road became a legend. And today you can drive the most exciting part of this legendary concrete trail on "The Best of Route 66."
For itinerary suggestions, click on www.explorestlouis.com/uniquelystl/route66.asp or dial 1-800-916-0040 and ask for "The Best of Route 66" information.
See the Sights on 66
The trip starts in Chicago with a slice of big city life. You'll hit the road downtown, wave goodbye to the dramatic skyscrapers and head out on the most famous road in the world.
The first photo opportunity comes in Wilmington, Illinois where the quirky Gemini Giant looms over the road. A working maple syrup farm, truck stops that house Route 66 museums and home-style diners dot the road south through Illinois.
In Springfield, Bill Shea's Route 66 Gas Station Museum beckons visitors to sit a while and contemplate the history of the Mother Road. His memorabilia spans the lifetime of the famous road and his anecdotes are shared with all.
Springfield also offers visitors a rare glimpse of America's most famous president, Abraham Lincoln. Visit the Great Emancipator's home, his law office and his final resting place. At the New Salem Historic Village interpreters reenact young Lincoln's pioneer days.
The road also winds past the Dana Thomas House, designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the Illinois State Museum of Natural History, the Springfield Children's Museum and the Illinois State Capitol Building.
Back out on the road, you can stop at Cahokia Mounds, a World Heritage Site. Preserved here are the remains of an ancient city built on earthen burial and ceremonial mounds that flourished from 700-1400 A.D. and then mysteriously disappeared.
Heading into the state of Missouri, you'll visit the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. The Mississippi River span has been turned into the world's longest pedestrian and biking bridge. Stunning views of the unspoiled river greet hikers and provide an excellent photo opportunity of the St. Louis skyline.
In the heart of St. Louis, ride to the top of the magnificent 630-foot-tall Gateway Arch for a panoramic view of the city and the river. The Museum of Westward Expansion, located under the Arch, explains how pioneers traveled the trails in covered wagons before the days of Route 66. Spend the evening listening to the sounds that made St. Louis famous - the St. Louis blues. This is where Chuck Berry, Ike & Tina Turner, Miles Davis and many other American originals got their start.
Just outside St. Louis, the road takes you to Missouri's new Route 66 Visitor Center and on to Meramec Caverns, the oldest tourist attraction on the Mother Road. Outlaw Jesse James hid from the law in the famous cavern that still welcomes visitors from around the world to its cool, dark interior.
The Museum of Transportation displays an array of road machines sure to excite fans of the historic highway. You can see Bobby Darrin's one-of-a-kind Dream Car along with carriages, trains and automobiles that blazed down America's rails and roads for generations. A stop at Ted Drewes frozen custard stand is a sweet way to end the St. Louis portion of Route 66.
Leaving St. Louis on a loop back to Chicago, the open road rambles along the Mississippi River north to Hannibal, Missouri, boyhood home of Mark Twain. The author's boyhood home and the Mark Twain Museum are open for tours.
Take your car across the Mississippi and back into Illinois to Nauvoo where you can visit the state's oldest winery and learn about life in the 1840s at the Joseph Smith Historic Center.
Then it's back to Chicago and home. Your memories of "The Best of Route 66" will last a lifetime.
Road Food
Hungry travelers who made their way along the concrete trail of Route 66 found a series of delightful and delicious indigenous foods. Today travelers who recreate this trip into American history find many of the same establishments still catering to an appetite for fun.
In Chicago, start your trip with breakfast at Lou Mitchell's, a Loop landmark since 1933. They serve breakfast all day and each female customer still gets complimentary Milk Duds candy.
The Dixie Truckers Home in McLean, Illinois is widely recognized as the best Truck Stop in America. And who knows good food better than those big rig drivers. The Dixie also is home to the Route 66 Hall of Fame, a display that pays homage to the heroes of the highway.
Springfield, Illinois is home to the Cozy Dog. Known as a "corn dog" all across America, the tasty treat is a true original in the world of road food. Take a hot dog, dip it into a rich batter and deep fry it until it's hot and crisy. The result is an unforgettable Cozy Dog.
Past Springfield, the Ariston Diner is another Route 66 landmark. Serving food that sends you back to grandma's kitchen, the Ariston is a must stop.
Still hungry? Named for the concrete trail of Route 66, the Concrete is St. Louis' favorite dessert. Welcome to Ted Drewes frozen custard stand - a fixture on the Mother Road since 1929, Ted Drewes has been serving these milkshakes to generations of hungry travelers from its original location on old Route 66. Today you'll find locals and visitors lined up every night for the custard milk shakes that are so thick they're handed to you upside down. Across the street from Ted Drewes, the Donut Drive-in lures visitors with glazed, jelly-filled and sugar-coated confections 24 hours a day.
Big Cities on 66
You'll start in the "Windy City" and finish in the "Gateway to the West." "The Best of Route 66" trip begins and ends in the American Midwest's two most interesting cities.
Located on the shores of beautiful Lake Michigan, Chicago is known for its stunning architecture, world-famous museums and vibrant ethnic neighborhoods.
Home to nearly three million people, Chicago is one of America's great metropolises where visitors come from around the world for the music, food, shopping and ever-present air of excitement.
Shop the Magnificent Mile, take a sightseeing cruise on the lake, head for the top of the Sears Tower or stroll through an amazing collection of museums. Chicago is the perfect starting point to discover the best of America.
At the other end of "The Best of Route 66," the St. Louis skyline welcomes visitors to the place where America's north, south, east and west merge on the banks of the Mississippi River.
Founded as a French fur trade center, St. Louis has welcomed pioneers, explorers and visitors since 1764. Today Route 66 travelers will find a city that preserves its past in historic sites and grand homes. Site of the famous "Meet Me in St. Louis" 1904 World's Fair, this is the city that launched explorers Lewis & Clark into the American West and gave Charles Lindbergh the "Spirit of St. Louis."
Visitors can ride to the top of the Gateway Arch, explore historic neighborhoods, hear the St. Louis Blues in music clubs, ride a paddlewheel riverboat and much more.
Wherever the road takes you, no place will capture the spirit of big city America quite like the two cities that begin and end "The Best of Route 66."
MEDIA NOTE: "The Best of Route 66" partners are the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission; the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs; and the Springfield (IL) Convention & Visitors Bureau.
MEDIA NOTE: For more information or photography of St. Louis, send an e-mail to pr@explorestlouis.com or call Becky Sharp at 1-314-992-0652. For up-to-date information about St. Louis, your readers should call the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission at 1-800-916-0040 or check out our website at www.explorestlouis.com. This news release is also available in electronic form. To obtain an electronic version, e-mail your request to pr@explorestlouis.com or go to St. Louis’ online media center at www.explorestlouis.com/media.
