Built in 1923 this bridge is in the style of the Marsh arch. Its gleaming white color is due to the city's diligence in keeping the bridge fresh-looking and graffiti free. It's almost a hundred years old but the bridge is still safe to drive across!
A cute little shop with a brick facade is surrounded by flower pots and trees. Inside you'll find your usual mini-mart victuals and freshly made sandwiches from the small deli. You can also purchase a variety of Route 66 souvenirs. If you're traveling along Route 66 in this area, the store is a must-see whether or not you're hungry.
If you loved the movie "Cars," then you'll love this little restored gas station. A few vintage autos complete with "eyes" affixed to the windshields make this a must-see for little kids. There's a small snack bar with some comfort food too. The station is closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but you can still see the cars and take pictures.
One of the highest rated attractions in Missouri is a recreation of an early 1900s small Midwest town. It was designed by Lowell Davis who was often likened to Normal Rockwell for his bucolic depictions of provincial American life. The town has a lot of restored and relocated buildings such as a schoolhouse, feed store, dine, town hall, jail, and some homes. It looks like a ghost town but is really an open-air museum.
Created, loved, and owned by Gary Turner (who passed away years ago), this Route 66 gas station is a 2014 recreation of the original one that was built in the 1930s. With great attention to detail the Sinclair Station is a favorite stop for locals and out-of-towners. New ownership but the same old warmth is abundant - George and Barbara love to greet their guests with free soda and ice cream. Donations are always welcome!
Very few of us are spelunkers and Fantastic Caverns is perfect for those of us who wish to explore the depths of the Earth from a motorized vehicle. A tram hitched to a jeep accommodates several passengers driving through chambers naturally decorated with rock draperies, flowstones, and cave flowers. It's a 55-minute tour - which is quite a bang for your buck. This tour is perfect for those with disabilities - the tram easily accommodates wheelchairs and walkers.
AZA accredited, the Dickerson Park Zoo is home to approximately 500 animals representing almost 200 species. Not only is this park a zoo but also an wildlife rehab center where trained vets rescue injured or ill wild animals. Among the zoo's efforts is participation in the Species Survival Plan. Currently, the zoo is involved in breeding Asian elephants, maned wolves, and cheetahs.
As you can imagine this candy shop is rife with puns of your nether regions - all intended, of course. Would we be party POOPERS to note that astronomers usually pronounce the seventh planet with a stress on the first syllable? (YOOR-uh-nus) Probably, so just forget that and have fun. Don't forget your soft, brown hunks of chocolatey fudge! Not so into the chocolate? They've got peanut butter, strawberry, and maple flavors as well.
The bridge is named for the bend in the river below and comes from the days when loggers would transport logs by floating them on the water. The loggers themselves would stand upon the floating logs, but the devilish turn in the river made the logs hard to control. This steel and concrete bridge has the Route 66 shield logo stamped on the pavement going through, marking it as an important and historic thoroughfare.
Open since 1933 this mom 'n' pop shop has been serving travelers for decades. Small but interesting, at this trading post you can find all kinds of curios, antiques, snacks, and clean bathrooms. Pick up a handcrafted Ozark souvenir too. This is one of the essential small businesses that helped to make Route 66 the historic landmark we know today.
Located at the Missouri University of Science and Technology this Stonehenge is a refined masterpiece with clean lines and smoothed surfaces. There are plenty of interpretive signs to give you information on how Stonehenge works with the planetary cycle. This is a great place to relax and take photos. Parking is free!
A giant mule neon sign tells you you're at the right spot. You can purchase souvenirs, snacks, and fireworks as well as tackle, knives, and swords! Friendly staff and interesting trinkets make this a restful place for the weary driver.
Standing 42 feet tall, this rocker has taken the title of World's 2nd Largest Rocking Chair. However, it's cooler than your average giant rocker especially with the iconic Route 66 emblazoned on the seat back. Although it used to rock back and forth, the owner of the chair bolted it securely to the ground to prevent injury to any over-enthusiastic visitors.
It's hard to miss this Route 66 stop - a giant rocking chair marks it. In fact, this is the largest roadside rocking chair on Route 66. Try some homemade fudge and popcorn but don't forget to check out their soda selection - over 200 flavors of colorful sodas bottled in glass.
Take a nostalgic step back into the mid 1900s and view the largest collection of Route 66 memorabilia in the Midwest! Vintage signs of old, forgotten brands, neon-lit signs, miniature donkeys and llamas, or clocks with beverage logos are only some of the knickknacks to be found here. They are open by appointment only.
Along with your usual American fare the Fourway serves up Mediterranean dishes such as hummus, gyros, and spanakopita (spinach pie). Even if you're not hungry this cozy cabin-style restaurant is a must-see if you're in Cuba. Either get a table or get take-out, just make sure you order a meal at this eatery with exceptionally high customer ratings and reviews.
Formed from erosions of limestone deposits about 400 million years ago, the Meramec Caverns is a 4.6-mile cave system in the Ozarks. Rich in saltpeter, the cave was used by the Union forces to extract potassium nitrate for gunpowder during the Civil War. However, Confederate guerillas destroyed the saltpeter plant.