Mile for Mile – There's More 66 in Illinois Than Anywhere on Earth

April 2014 – Historic U.S. Route 66 is one of the most famous roads in the world – and it begins, right here, in Illinois. Spanning over 2400 miles across the United States – travelers from around the globe start their Route 66 adventure “where the Mother Road begins” in Chicago, Illinois. From there, Illinois offers 421 miles of the historic road just waiting to be discovered. From Buckingham Fountain and Grant Park on the shores of the beautiful Lake Michigan, to the Chicagoland and Route 66 Speedway in Joliet, to the famous Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac – your Illinois Route 66 experience in Illinois is unlike anything anywhere.

After spending a few days exploring one of America's most exciting and friendly cities – Chicago – travelers take off heading south on U.S. Route 66. The journey will take you through several Route 66 communities worthy of a quick stop – perhaps the Berwyn Route 66 Museum just outside of the city or lunch at Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket in Willowbrook. Continuing on, don't miss Joliet. In addition to the Speedway, make sure you stop by the Joliet Area Historical Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center to enjoy their Route 66 experience and get great information.

For a complete Route 66 experience, plan to spend some time in Pontiac – home of the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame and the Pontiac‐Oakland Automobile Museum for one of the world's best collections of Pontiac and Oakland autos and artifacts. Stroll through the charming downtown and enjoy the wonderful Murals on Main Street, as well as the International Walldog Mural and Sign Art Museum. And, there's so much more. Plan a full day or an overnight stay to enjoy all that Pontiac has to offer.

Next stop – Bloomington, Illinois. Bloomington is the home of America's first Steak & Shake Restaurant, Beer Nuts Factory and Company Store, and the McLean County Courthouse & Museum of History – with its brand new Illinois Route 66 Visitors Center.

Just a little further south, you won't want to miss the maple sirup and Route 66 Gift Shop at Funk's Grove or stop in for a piece of award‐winning pie at Atlanta's restored Palms Grille Café. Your next overnight stop has to be Springfield, capital city of Illinois and home of Abraham Lincoln. In this lovely Midwestern City, you'll experience a quintessential Route 66 icons like Cozy Dog restaurant and the Route 66 Twin Drive In. You'll also step even further back in time to the days of America's most beloved president, Abraham Lincoln. Springfield is home to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, and many other historic Lincoln attractions.

Now, it's on to the South – with the only stretch of original US Route 66 brick road still driven by travelers every day near Auburn, IL; the Route 66 community of Litchfield and the Litchfield Route 66 Welcome Center and Museum as well as the famous Ariston Café – a fixture on Route 66 since 1926; and Henry's Rabbit Ranch in Staunton. Next ‐ don't miss a stop at Weezy''s Route 66 Bar & Grille for true Route 66 hospitality. And, finally as you make your way to St Louis for your trip to the American west and Santa Monica Pier, you'll want to visit the UNESCO world heritage site known as Cahokia Mounds.

These are just a few of the literally hundreds of possible stops along the 421 miles of historic US Route 66 in Illinois. Mile for mile, Illinois offers more to see and do on the Mother Road than anywhere else. Your adventure is anything you want it to be. Come experience U.S. Route 66 in the great state of Illinois!

For more information contact:

Bill Kelly

217‐525-7980

wkelly@illinoisroute66.org