Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
mains a quintessential photo op. To reach it, exit I-55 at Joliet Rd, and follow it
south as it becomes Hwy 53 into town.
Motor 45 miles onward to Pontiac and the tchotchke-and-photo-filled
Route 66
Hall of Fame
( 815-844-4566; 110 W Howard St; 9am-5pm Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm Sat & Sun)
. Cruise another 50 miles to Shirley and
Funk's Grove
( 309-874-3360;
www.funksmaplesirup.com
; 9am-5pm Mon-Fri, from 10am Sat, from noon Sun)
, a pretty 19th-
century maple-syrup farm and nature preserve (exit 154 off I-55).
Ten miles later you'll reach the throwback hamlet of Atlanta. Pull up a chair at the
Palms Grill Cafe
( 217-648-2233;
www.thepalmsgrillcafe.com
;
110 SW Arch St; pie slices $3;
5am-8pm)
, where thick slabs of gooseberry, sour-cream raisin and other retro pies
tempt from the glass case. Then walk across the street to snap a photo with
Tall
Paul
, a sky-high statue of Paul Bunyan clutching a hot dog.
The state capital of Springfield, 50 miles further on, harbors a trio of sights:
Shea's Gas Station Museum (
Click here
)
, the Cozy Dog Drive In (
Click here
)
and
Route 66 Drive In (
Click here
)
.
Further south, a good section of old Route 66 parallels I-55 through Litchfield,
where you can fork into chicken fried steak while chatting up locals at the 1924
Ariston Cafe
(
www.ariston-cafe.com
; S Old Rte 66; mains $7-15; 11am-9pm Tue-Fri, 4-10pm Sat,
11am-8pm Sun)
. Finally, before driving into Missouri, detour off I-270 at exit 3. Follow
Hwy 3 (aka Lewis and Clark Blvd) south, turn right at the first stoplight and drive
west to the 1929
Chain of Rocks Bridge
( 9am-sunset)
. Only open to pedestrians
and cyclists these days, the mile-long span over the Mississippi River has a
22-degree angled bend (cause of many a crash, hence the ban on cars).
are at
www.historic66.com/illinois
.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Around Chicago
Oak Park
Located 10 miles west of the Loop and easily reached via CTA train, Oak Park has two
famous sons: novelist Ernest Hemingway was born here, and architect Frank Lloyd
Wright lived and worked here from 1889 to 1909.
During Wright's 20 years in Oak Park, he designed many houses. Stop at the
visitor
center
(
888-625-7275;
www.visitoakpark.com
;
1010 W Lake St;
10am-5pm)
and buy an ar-
