The American Dream is all about starting with a little and, by means of hard work and perseverance, turning that little into a lot. Or even just turning it into a comfortable life for your family. Some people drive Route 66 so that they might see the remnants of a by-gone era. They want to see the ghost towns of America – evidence of how the “greatest generation” used to live. And these are certainly plentiful on Route 66. Others want to step back in time and see if they might relive these glory days. They drive down the Mother Road, ignoring the interstate highway thundering past. They might even put on the oldies station and sing along to the radio.
I am neither of these. I am driving Route 66 in an effort to step away from my normal life, to be certain. This is affording me the chance to slow down, to travel without a schedule and with no deadlines. But what I search for is both more elusive and amazingly plentiful. I am seeing Small Town, USA in all its glory – thriving, even. I am seeing that the American Dream is still alive in these towns along the Route. Maybe they no longer rely solely on America’s Main Street for their livelihood. But American ingenuity is strong and well for those that are determined to find a way!
So far I have traveled across Illinois and Missouri. The Route through Illinois is clearly marked and very easy to follow. It’s not as well marked in Missouri, but then, the Show Me state has more distance between towns than IL. In MO I have been relying far more on my guide books. But if you keep your eyes open, there is so much beauty to be seen! Traveling into and through the Ozarks is breathtaking! Pull off the road and take some time to look across the amazingly green expanses around you.
I tend to stop at just about every Route 66 gift shop along the way! Just as I was despairing that every shop had all the same stuff, I came across the Route 66 Visitor Center just west of St. Louis, MO. In addition to the “same ol’, same ol'”, they had a number of very cool, unique gift items. In an effort to save money and space, I’m largely limiting myself to postcards and lapel pins. This shop had unique samples of both that I have not been finding in other shops throughout MO. It also had a very cool display of photos and artwork relating to the history of Route 66. It’s totally worth seeing!
I just love looking at the giants along the Route, and the “World’s Biggest” anything! These are almost always outside businesses and are intended to draw visitors – whether Route 66’ers or otherwise. This is the kind of ingenuity I just love! Here are a few I’ve seen so far.
Lauterbach Giant, Springfield, IL
Paul Bunyon Giant, Atlanta, IL
World’s Largest Rocking Chair, Fanning, MO
Elvis! Oh, Elvis!
Gemini Giant, Wilmington, IL
World’s Largest Catsup Bottle, Collinsville, IL
I’ve added pictures to the Route 66 photo gallery, here. I’ve visited a Wild Animal Safari park. And I’ve taken a day trip (that took 2 days) up to Hamilton, MO to visit the Missouri Star Quilt Company. (It was fabulous! Every quilter needs to go there!) And any time I see an interesting billboard, I choose to divert my journey to explore. Route 66 mostly parallels the Interstate so it’s easy to see the advertisements designed to entice the interstate traveler.
Yes, the American Dream is still alive – and even this adventure is part of that dream. The cover photo for this post is a water tower in Atlanta, IL. I think it sums us up beautifully!
In my upcoming posts I’ll describe the motels in which I have been staying – great experiences, all! But I must admit that I recommend adding the EZ66 Dining & Lodging Guide to your travel library. I’ll be picking one up at the next gift shop I find…
Happy travels, my friends!
I am searching for the other side of the next hill where I am certain I will find new recipes, new sights and new fabric.
- Route 66: Navigating New Mexico - November 22, 2016
- Route 66: Touring Texas - November 11, 2016
- Route 66:Over Oklahoma - June 1, 2016
Sounds like lots of fun…let’s see some pictures of some great food along the way! Praying for safety, relaxation, and a chance to share Jesus with someone.
Will do on all the above – pics of food, staying safe, relaxing, and sharing God’s love – and salvation – with all those around me!