Illinois is where the Mother Road begins! Connecting Chicago to St. Louis, 301 miles of Route 66 stretch between these two cities. You'll encounter charming towns filled with vintage diners and many beautifully restored filling stations. It's a state of giants, unusual roadside photo-ops, and museums that bring the past to life. In Illinois, you'll experience a nostalgic yesteryear with classic Midwest Americana as you drive past expansive prairies and iconic neon. There's a wealth of history and much to explore here as you set out for adventure on your All-American road trip down the Mother Road.
Illinois Route 66 has been awarded an All-American Road designation, the highest National Scenic Byway designation. This article will guide you through the BEST gems of Illinois Route 66, so you'll be prepared for an unforgettable, fun-filled journey of historical treasures and memories.
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Constructed almost 100 years ago, at the beginning of America's love affair with the automobile and reinvented as a pedestrian and bicycle bridge, the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge is a MUST-VISIT attraction for every Historic Route 66 pilgrimage.
It is an easy two-mile round trip hike or bike across this historic old bridge that soars high above the Mississippi River between Madison, Illinois, and St Louis, Missouri, at one of the river's most scenic locations near its confluence with the Missouri River. Even if you can't go the complete distance, you can drive down the road to the left just before entering the parking lot, where you can admire the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge from the base of the Mississippi River. 
A cave called Cave-In-Rock sits along the banks of the Ohio River in a quiet little town in southern Illinois. The first recorded history of Cave-In-Rock was in 1739 by French explorer M. DeLery, who mapped the limestone cave and named it “caverne dans Le Roc,” which, after being translated into English, is still the name it bears today. Although much of its history is unsubstantiated, the local folklore surrounding this cave started almost immediately after its discovery. It tells the story of riverboat pirates, bandits, fugitives, and murderers.
I have always loved this beautiful old chapel. As early as four or five years old, I can remember staring out the car window in excitement and maybe with just a touch of trepidation as I waited to get my first glimpse of it anytime my parents drove down Route 37. It became even more interesting to me when I discovered that it was built by an ancestor of mine and that the two most prominent tombstones on either side are ancestors too.
I have been planning this image for a long time. It could be called, "Memories of my Youth", for when cemeteries were scary places to visit. In my mind's eye as a five year old, this is what the Goddard Chapel looks like... 
Blue Heron Portrait
This is the closest I have been to a blue heron…
With wildlife, I’m convinced that no matter how much you try to plan ahead it's really just dumb luck that you are in the right spot at the right time. |