1. Home – Hannibal, MO
Travel to Hannibal, Missouri for our first overnite.
Included Meals: Dinner
Hotel: Holiday Express

      
2. Hannibal to Sullivan, MO
We arrive in St. Louis and join Route 66 as it crosses into Missouri and make our way under the Gateway Arch. A  fantastic treat awaits us at Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, a Route 66 landmark, famous for their extra thick “Concretes”. They started selling from the rear of a 1919 Cadillac truck with a custard machine on it in 1929. Has been a favorite stop ever since. Leaving St. Louis we stop at the Route 66 State Park Visitors Center & Museum. Winding thru the Ozarks we make our way to Meramec Caverns, described as “The Greatest Show Under the Earth” The scale and grandeur of the Meramec Caverns is unsurpassed. The first major cave discovered on the North American continent contains more than 26 miles of underground passages. It features “the Stage Curtain”, a mineral deposit, recognized as the largest single cave formation in the world. We will enjoy a meal together in the Caverns dining room.  Later we visit the Antique Toy Museum, home of over 3000 antique and collectible toy tractors, trains, cars, trucks, dolls, doll houses and furniture. We will also enjoy the Jesse James Wax Museum before arriving at our hotel in Sullivan, birthplace of George Hearst, father of William Randolph Hearst.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Comfort Inn


3. Sullivan to Springfield
Continuing on as much of the original pavement as we can find, we make our way to Cuba, by the Wagon Wheel Motel and on to the St. James Winery for a tour and wine tasting. Leaving there we travel a very scenic section of original divided road, forerunner of the super highways. On to Rolla for a stop at Mule Trading Post featuring a great section of Route 66 memorabilia and tons of great antiques. We also see the Totem Pole trading post, the oldest original trading post, the only business that sells Route 66 brand gas from Route 66 gas pumps.  We enjoy lunch at Zeno’s Steakhouse, an original on Route 66, still open for business. As we travel on, we will view more old resorts, cabins and motels such as Vernelle’s Motel and John’s Modern Cabins.  We wind past many historic spots to Devils Elbow, home of the Elbow Inn Bar, Sheldon’s Market and a 1923 steel truss bridge still in use. From the river the road climbs the bluffs and offers many spectacular views of Big Piney River, listed as one of the seven most scenic spots in Missouri.  St. Robert is the host city of Fort Leonard Wood Military Base.  In Lebanon, we will see the famous Munger Moss Motel before making a stop at Wrinks Food Market. Wrinkle passed away in 2005, but his son now owns and operates the business. Pick up a cold drink or snack as we head for the new Route 66 Museum and Maries Route 66 Diner.  The steep forested hills give way to a more rolling topography as Route 66 makes it’s way west to the bustling city of Springfield, Missouri’s 3rd largest city. We will settle into the Route 66 Rail Haven Court, built in 1938 as cabins with a rail fence around the property, later joined together to create a motel. As of 2006 it is a newly and completely refurbished historic Inn in search of road weary travelers.  Tonight enjoy a fun filled dinner at Lambert’s, home of the “throwed rolls”
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner  
Hotel: Route 66 Rail Haven Court


4. Springfield to Joplin
We will enjoy breakfast at an original Steak & Shake built in 1962 and still offering curb service. Visit Landers Theatre, the oldest and longest running theater in Missouri and travel past the Wishing Well Motor Inn. As we journey west from Springfield, the original pavement takes us thru many small towns offering us countless photo opportunities of old cafes, stores, gas stations and other old buildings.   This is a very scenic section of Route 66. A highlight will be a stop at Gay Parita Sinclair Station. You won’t soon forget this fascinating experience.   Just before we arrive at Carthage, another highlight will be a stop at fascinating Red Oak Village, an authentic ghost town of relocated old buildings and automobiles from Route 66. We will visit beautiful downtown Carthage, sight of the most photographed courthouse in the country. It is a true architectural wonder. Leaving Carthage we travel past the Route 66 Drive In Theater, still in business. It was built in 1949, closed in 1986 and then reopened in 1998. It is the last of six Drive-Ins with Route 66 in the name.  Our travel from Carthage to Webb City and on to Joplin takes us over 15 miles of the very first paved section of Route 66 and Missouri. Joplin is a city that sits atop old mine tunnels now filled with water to support the city above.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Drury Inn – Joplin
  


5. Joplin – Des Moines
This morning we will tour the world famous  Precious Moments Inspiration Park and Chapel.  Our home for the evening is in Des Moines.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Hampton Inn – West Des Moines


6. Des Moines to Home
After breakfast at the hotel we depart for home.  We’ll enjoy
the company of friends we have made on this journey
down memory lane. 
Included Meals: Breakfast

Motorcoach Per Person Pricing Information

Double: $799
Single: $1,019
Triple: $749
Quad: $67

Passport Needed

No

Price Includes

Price Per Person:
Double: $799   Single: $1,019 
Triple:
$749   Quad:
$699

Travel Protection pp:

Double: $53   Single: $67

Price includes: 10 meals, activities as stated

Deposit due: $100 deposit at time of reservation,
Full payment due 30 days prior to departure

Travel Bucks: $20 towards future trips with R & J Tours

 Footnote:
The trip across Missouri touched on the beautiful wild and historic country. But now the road plummets southwest as she heads for the American West. Huge cities like Chicago and St. Louis are behind and will not be experienced again until we reach the Los Angeles area. On our next Route 66 excursion, we will head west thru Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas with a completely different look and discoveries than we had previously experienced in Illinois and Missouri. We look forward to it already!



Motorcoach Departure Date:
10/13/2008

Make a Reservation Online

Tour Highlights

10 Included Meals

A perfect start at the
Gateway Arch, in St. Louis

Landmark Ted Drewes Frozen
Custard Stop, Zeno’s Steakhouse,
Lamberts, and St. James Winery

Route 66 State Park Visitor
Center & Museum

Tour Meramec Caverns

Antique Toy Museum

Jesse James Wax Musuem

Mule & Totem Pole Trading Posts

Devils Elbow, Gay Parita Sinclair Station,
Red Oak Village authentic ghost town


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