An original Dutch operating windmill (the only in the United States!), Lake Michigan feels like an ocean, there is actually an overlook (we miss climbing up to a view!), B&Bs that really feel like you’re in Europe, and an iconic red lighthouse – what more could you want?

TODAY IS/WAS THE DAY!!!! We finally reached the beginning — or our end — of ROUTE 66! Thanks for coming on this journey with me! Especially Krystal and Steph who were physically next to me and endured all the long driving, car singing, and overall craziness of each day.

Without further ado...

Day eleven itinerary: 

• Shaw Nature Reserve (mentioned it in previous, and not technically in ideal itinerary, but we did it this day anyways) {Gray Summit, MO}
• Cahokia Mounds {Collinsville, IL}
• World's Largest Catsup Bottle {Collinsville, IL}
• Abraham Lincoln's tomb {Springfield, IL}
• Cozy Dog Drive In {Springfield, IL}
• Dana-Thomas House {Springfield, IL}
• Drive-in Theater {Springfield, IL}
• Funks Grove (Maple Syrup!) {Funks Grove, IL}
• Route 66 Museum {Pontiac, IL}
• Rocket Man Statue/ Gemini Giant {Wilmington, IL}
• BEGIN Route 66 Sign (in front of Art Institute) {Chicago, IL}
• drive to friend Madeline's in Evanston, IL for the night

*Because we backtracked a bit this day to go to Shaw's Nature Reserve and spend some time there, and because I always seem to schedule too many things into one day and forget that places close around 5pm, we did not get to see Abe's tomb, the Dana-Thomas House, the Drive-in Theater (is only open select dates of the year and wasn't showing any more movies), Funks Grove, or the Route 66 Museum.

Approximate mileage: 382

Approximate driving time: 6 hours

Approximate expenses: $49.39

• Gas: $29.39 @ $2.199/gallon, 13.367 g
• Food: $15 
• Experience: $5 Shaw Nature Reserve

Read more for map, trip details and photos...

Every day just gets better. Especially when that day starts with a sunrise in a field of sunflowers. But I'm getting ahead.

Day ten itinerary:

• Grinter's Sunflower Farm {Lawrence, KS}
• The Corner Restaurant {Kansas City, MO}
• Mini Stonehenge {Rolla, MO}
• Great Wall of China Restaurant {Rolla, MO}
• World's Largest Rocker {Cuba, MO}
• Meramec Caverns {Sullivan, MO}
• Shaw Nature Preserve {Gray Summit, MO}
• Purina Farms {Gray Summit, MO}
• Chain of Rocks Bridge {St. Louis, MO}
• arrive on the Illinois side for sleep

*the sunflower farm and Corner Restaurant were not in our original plans, but worth the sacrifice of not going to Mini Stonehenge, the Great Wall of China Restaurant, Purina Farms and saving Shaw Nature Preserve for the next day. We initially intended to stay the night in St. Louis but canceled our reservation because we found out our place was in a bad area and we wouldn't get there until after dark. So we stayed on the Illinois side instead for that night.

Approximate mileage: 389

Approximate driving time: 6.2 hours

Approximate expenses: $172.98

• Gas: $25.58 @ $2.039/gallon, 12.544 g
• Food: $25 
• Experiences: $21 Meramec Caverns 
• Stay: $101.40 Comfort Inn & Suites

Read more for map, trip details and photos...

Yay for one whole day where we stayed in one city! We slept in, and then we got going. We didn't really have an itinerary, except to spend time with Whitney. But this is what we collectively decided/did:

• River Market Antiques
• Liberty Memorial
• Star Wall
• The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
• Char Bar 
• Uptown Theater

Approximate expenses: $40

• Food: $10 
• Experiences: $30 Ratatat Concert 

See below for all the deets, snap video, and photos...