Route 66 Revisited

Day One

Arrive in Illinois - Arrive in Chicago today and transfer to your downtown hotel. Meet your Tour Manager and traveling companions at 6:00 p.m. for a welcome dinner.

Day Two

Chicago Sightseeing - This morning, a local guide conducts a tour of Chicago, famed for its bold architecture, impressive museums and friendly Midwest attitude. In the afternoon, climb aboard your river vessel for an Architectural Cruise of Chicago. Experienced guides narrate the history of the city’s legendary architecture. With over 40 Chicago landmarks, learn about the 130-year history that made the city’s buildings, architecture and engineering that made the city famous.

Day Three

Route 66 in Illinois - Depart the city this morning to begin the journey along Historic Route 66. Make a photo stop at the Old Joliet Prison for a quick look at its beautiful limestone façade. In Wilmington, come face to face with the legendary Gemini Giant, a reminder of the old Launching Pad Drive-In. Then stop at Dwight to see the historic Ambler/Becker Texaco Station, which dispensed fuel for 66 continuous years. In Springfield, visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum which documents the life of the 16th U.S. president, one of the most visited presidential libraries in the nation. In the evening visit the Illinois State Fairgrounds for the Legends Neon Park where re-creations or restorations of neon signs of past Route 66 businesses brightly glow.

Day Four

Springfield, Abraham Lincoln and the Old Brick Road - Begin the day at the Abraham Lincoln Home National Historic Site to see where a young Lincoln lived and worked. Then, tour the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Dana-Thomas House. This Prairie School-style home was built in 1902-1904. Before departing town, make a photo stop at Shea’s Gas Station. Then, drive down a 1.4 mile-long stretch of restored hand-laid brick road segment of the original Route 66. Be sure to take your selfies on this National Register of Historic Places attraction. Before coming to St. Louis, stop at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge which spans the Mississippi River. Imagine the sights and sounds of 1930s roadsters as they crossed the bridge.

Day Five

Gateway Arch and St. Louis - Begin the day at the Gateway Arch National Park which features the Museum of Western Expansion that commemorates President Thomas Jefferson’s vision of a continental nation. See the Gateway Arch, which stands at over 600 feet before taking to the water for a narrated cruise along the Mississippi River. After lunch, stop at Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, a Route 66 favorite, for a tasty treat. Then visit the National Museum of Transportation and see why it is considered one of the largest collections of transportation vehicles in the world. See the Bobby Darin “Dream Car” and the rare Chrysler Turbine Car before having dinner tonight at Favazza’s on the Hill.

Day SIx

Route 66 in Missouri - Begin this day on Route 66 with a drive through Lone Elk Park. This wildlife management area is home to bison, wild turkey, waterfowl, elk and deer so keep an eye open as you pass through. Near Stanton, stop at Meramec Caverns, a complex cavern system formed from the erosion of large limestone deposits for over millions of years. See the rare and colorful mineral formations as well as pre-Columbian Native American artifacts. Later, stop at the Fanning 66 Outpost and see the over 42-foot tall Rocking Chair, once the largest in the world.

Day Seven

Route 66 in Kansas - Just a short 13-mile stretch of historic Route 66 runs through Kansas. In Galena, make a photo stop at the Kan-O-Tex Service Station to see the rusty old tow truck that inspired the character “Tow Mater” for the animated movie Cars. In Baxter Springs, stop at the Route 66 Visitors Center to see the exhibits and visit the gift shop. Two miles west of Riverton, cross the famed “Rainbow Bridge,” a single-span concrete Marsh arch bridge. This is the sole surviving bridge of this type on the entire length of the former highway. Then, stop at the Blue Whale of Catoosa, one of most recognizable attractions on old Route 66. At Pops 66, the landmark diner and gas station, see the hundreds of sodas and the 66-foot tall soda bottle.

Day Eight

Oklahoma City and the National Cowboy Museum - This morning a local guide conducts a narrated tour of Oklahoma City including Bricktown, the Stockyards and the Oklahoma City National Memorial. This memorial site honors the victims, survivors, rescuers, and all who were affected by the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995. At the First Americans Museum you will experience the collective histories of 39 distinctive First American Nations in Oklahoma today through state-of-theart exhibitions and exclusive items created by premiere First American artists. The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum features more than 28,000 Western and Native American art works and artifacts. The facility also has the world’s most extensive collection of American rodeo photographs, barbed wire, saddlery, and early rodeo trophies. Tonight, your farewell dinner is a Cattleman’s Steakhouse.

Day Nine

Travel Home - After breakfast, a group transfer to the Oklahoma City International Airport is available for flights out after 12:00 p.m.

FB=Full Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner