What a beautiful state! Missouri was lush and green and, this early in the Spring, there were no bugs! (Mosquitoes and the rest come later.) When you get off the interstate and drive Route 66 through the countryside, you can really feel as though there are no cities, no bustling business. The route winds through neighborhoods and fields. Roll your windows down and breath deeply. The air is clean and filled with the scent of newly mowed lawns and freshly turned earth. People take care of their homes and will wave as you pass. Wave back – you’re neighbors here!
St. Louis
Big cities make my jaw ache from gritting my teeth. I drive with my tour book in my lap and am constantly checking the driving instructions against the signs posted (or not). There were so many things to see in and around St. Louis that I chose just a few and moved on.
This is me too cheap to park and walk up to the Gateway Arch!
You cannot come to St. Louis and not see the Gateway Arch. However, you are not required to pay $25 or whatever it is to park and walk around the Arch. Maybe it’s worth it for you. I used my gps to get this close and I was already tense from the traffic.
Ted Drewes, St. Louis, MO – fabulous frozen custard!
It was a warm day, so one of my stops was to visit Ted Drewes Frozen Custard. It is worthy of its great reputation! It doesn’t have organized lines – lots of people seem to be milling about waiting to order or to get their order. But wow! That was really good!
World’s Largest Catsup Bottle, Collinsville, IL
Collinsville is a suburb of St. Louis on the IL side. I found it interesting that it was not intended to advertise any particular business. In fact, it is a water tower for the town. Something tells me it never actually held catsup…
Cuba
I could literally feel my shoulders relax and my jaw un-tense as I left the city. My tour books point out a great many closed businesses and ruins that show the by-gone era of Route 66’s heyday. I’m not so into that. But I love seeing businesses that have survived, or perhaps have taken a relic of the route and made it beautiful again. So I was excited to drive a little farther than usual to reach the Wagon Wheel Motel.
Wagon Wheel sign
I’m a bit bummed that I didn’t get a picture of the sign lit up with its neon at night.
Wagon Wheel Motel, Cuba, MO
A fully delightful place to stay! Rooms range from the very small up to suites. I stayed in one of the smallest rooms ($69). There was just enough room for my suitcase next to the bed. But it was comfortable and clean. And the entire grounds had a feeling of peace and relaxation with places to sit outside under the shade trees.
Cuba refers to itself as Mural City and it is well worth the time to wander around downtown looking at all the paintings on the sides of buildings.
Awesome murals in Cuba, MO
Awesome murals in Cuba, MO
Awesome murals in Cuba, MO
Awesome murals in Cuba, MO
Awesome murals in Cuba, MO
Awesome murals in Cuba, MO
Awesome murals in Cuba, MO
Awesome murals in Cuba, MO
Awesome murals in Cuba, MO
Awesome murals in Cuba, MO
Awesome murals in Cuba, MO
Awesome murals in Cuba, MO
Fanning
Big alert! The world’s largest rocking chair sits just outside a pretty decent gift shop/trading post. It’s worth the stop!
World’s Largest Rocking Chair, Fanning, MO
Waynesville
Frog Rock
On the side of the road, watching traffic from high on the hill, is Frog Rock just outside Waynesville. I wasn’t able to get my own picture, so I have borrowed this one from here.
Lebanon
It was a relatively short drive from Cuba to Lebanon. Here I checked into another Route 66 classic: the Munger Moss Motel.
Munger Moss Motel – Awesome neon sign!
Clean and comfortable, and spacious enough for my sewing machine. I arrived early enough in the day that I pulled out the machine and made a few blocks. Sewing relaxes me and this was a nice afternoon for me. Munger Moss also has a nice patio on which to relax in the cool of the evening.
I actually did a little sewing at the Munger Moss Motel
Wild Animal Safari, Strafford
So as I left Lebanon, I was feeling as though I may be missing a lot of stuff. The tour books have pages and pages of different things to see and explore, but I was just driving past. I don’t care to snap photos of rusty cars and empty buildings. So when I came across this Wild Animal Safari park outside Strafford, I knew I had to stop in! It was a fabulous couple hours.
Don’t be fooled – the animals aren’t all that wild. Lions and tigers and other dangerous animals are kept in their own pens, but the bus ride takes you through the park where the hoofed animals reside. You are allowed to feed them from the bus (food is available for purchase) and the animals come right up to the bus looking to be fed. It was fun!
The giraffe was so friendly!
Kangaroo photo opportunity!
Watch your fingers – he pecks!
Zebra smile made my day!
More! More!
Feed me, Seymour! Feed me!
Shedding his coat
Carthage
Here I made one my best discoveries! I wanted to stay in Carthage because the next day I was taking a day trip off the Route and this was where I was picking up the northbound interstate. But I couldn’t find a place to stay. My tour book had mentioned Boots Court, but implied it was closed. I drove around, praying that God would show me where to stay. I passed Boots Court, but then I accidentally drove in a big circle and found myself in front of Boots Court again. Finally I stopped and asked if they were open for business. Yes! Of course!
Love Boots Court in Carthage, MO!
Love Boots Court in Carthage, MO!
It’s a small place, but Debbie, the manager, gave me a tour of each of the rooms, showing their efforts to refurbish the entire property. She shared the history, changes that had been made and fixed, and finally offered me room #6 – the room Clark Gable stayed in before WWII ($66). Wonderful!
Side trip – Hamilton, MO
I was telling a quilting friend about my trip and she asked if I was going to Hamilton, MO. I had no idea why I would, and she pointed that Hamilton is where the Missouri Star Quilt Company is headquartered. This is a fast growing internet company that has actually opened 11 different store fronts down the main street in Hamilton. The company continues to grow, too and they are determined to expand in such a way as to create more and more jobs there in Hamilton.
Day trip up to Missouri Star Quilt Co in Hamilton, MO
While I was there, I got to take a tour of their warehouse. The warehouse is currently 30,000 square feet, being expanded to 100,000 square feet! MSQC currently employs 270 people, up from 15 just 7 years ago – and this will continue to grow.
Thousands of bolts of fabric and shelves and shelves of patterns, books, tools and more! Ah, the quilts I could make with all of this!
It was a 3 hour drive from Carthage up to Hamilton, so I stayed the night at the Home Inn Hamilton, a little bed & breakfast just outside town. It was wonderful! And they had the most comfortable bed I think I’ve ever enjoyed. I highly recommend staying there. Since I was visiting MSQC, they gave me a discount on the room ($70).
On this detour, I decided to take the occasional side trip and explore various places being advertised on all the bill boards I was seeing. Jones’ Boots was not quite the megastore I was expecting from the signs, but they did have the perfect pair of black boots for me! I paid a little extra to have them shipped to my home. I also visited a pecan store and a couple quilt shops. It’s really fun to just do whatever strikes your fancy!
It’s worth noting that from St. Louis through Carthage, the weather was warming up to the upper 70’s and lower 80’s. Driving north to Hamilton, I drove through some pretty heavy thunderstorms and experienced some cooler weather. This is why it is necessary to have plenty of layers of clothing on hand. It all changes so rapidly! Personally, I love waking to a chill, misty morning, driving out through the rain, and ending the day in bright sunshine and warm weather.
Since I’d spent a little extra time in Hamilton, I decided to stay in Carthage at the Boots Court again. Happily, room #6 was available ($66).
And here we leave Missouri, laden down with memories and other treasures. It felt good to get back on Route 66 and continue my primary adventure.
Next up: Kansas!
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
I’m glad Missouri treated you well. Hope you aren’t thinking of moving and getting a job at that quilt palace!
I wouldn’t mind being a remote designer for them. But my dream is still to have a quilt palace of my own in Elizabeth, CO!