Route 66 Adventures – Day 6: Caverns, BBQ and a Rocking Chair That Means Business!
Some days on a road trip seem to fly by, while others feel like you’ve been riding forever. Today was definitely one of those longer days in the saddle. Thankfully, the scenery was beautiful, and there were plenty of interesting stops along the way to break up the kilometres.
We were continuing our journey through Missouri, exploring more of the legendary Route 66. There were caves to investigate, barbecue to devour and a rocking chair so ridiculously large that it deserved a place on our itinerary.
Going Underground at Meramec Caverns
Our first major stop was Meramec Caverns, where we joined a guided tour through this impressive underground cave system.
After spending so much time enjoying the open roads and wide Missouri countryside, heading underground was a bit of a change of scenery. No Harley noise, no traffic and certainly no cornfields down there!
The caverns are famous for their spectacular rock formations and fascinating history, making them a worthwhile stop for anyone travelling through the area.
Naturally, we couldn’t leave empty-handed. We picked up a souvenir shirt and a few other bits and pieces to remember the visit.
Because what’s a holiday without buying something you have to squeeze into your luggage for the trip home? The trick is convincing yourself that every souvenir is absolutely essential!
With our underground adventure complete, it was time to get back on the bikes and find something to eat.
Missouri Hick BBQ – Now We’re Talking!
By lunchtime, we were ready for a feed, and the Missouri Hick Bar-B-Que was just the ticket.
We stopped for lunch and tucked into their pulled pork sandwich, which was absolutely delicious. After a long morning on the road, a decent feed was exactly what the doctor ordered.
American barbecue is practically an institution, and when the pulled pork is done properly, it’s easy to understand why. Tender meat, plenty of flavour and a sandwich that doesn’t mess about.
This was definitely one of the day’s highlights. We arrived hungry and left considerably happier, which is generally a pretty good sign when reviewing a food stop!
If you’re travelling through Missouri on Route 66, this is one worth considering.
Of course, we still had plenty of miles ahead of us, so it was time to climb back aboard the Harley and continue our journey.
Fanning Outpost – Go Big or Go Home!
Next up was the Fanning Outpost, home to the famous giant rocking chair.
Because apparently, when you’re travelling across America, a normal-sized rocking chair simply won’t do!
The chair became famous as the world’s largest rocking chair, making it a popular roadside attraction for Route 66 travellers. It’s one of those wonderfully quirky landmarks that makes this highway so entertaining.
You can’t travel the Mother Road without encountering a few attractions that leave you wondering who first came up with the idea. Somewhere along the line, someone clearly decided that what the world really needed was a rocking chair of enormous proportions.
And who are we to argue?
These unusual roadside stops are part of the charm of Route 66. They’re fun, they’re memorable, and they make excellent additions to the holiday photo collection.
Besides, you can’t spend the whole trip looking at old roads and historic buildings. Sometimes you just need a giant chair!
Devil’s Elbow – A Detour Worth Taking
We continued following Route 66 and made our way through Devil’s Elbow, Missouri.
This little community is another interesting stop along the Mother Road, with a history tied to the old highway and the Big Piney River.
It’s the sort of place that’s easy to overlook if you’re rushing from one major attraction to another. But that’s one of the great things about travelling Route 66: some of the best discoveries are found by taking your time and exploring the old alignments.
We thought Devil’s Elbow was well worth the detour. If it’s not already on your itinerary, we’d suggest adding it rather than simply blasting past.
After all, we’re not riding all this way just to see how quickly we can get from one motel to the next!
Lebanon’s Route 66 Museum – A Bit of a Letdown
Our next stop was the Route 66 Museum in Lebanon, Missouri.
We were keen to have a look, given that we were spending so much time exploring the history of the Mother Road. Unfortunately, this one didn’t quite hit the mark for us.
We found the museum rather disappointing and, in our opinion, it wasn’t worth the stop.
Now, everyone has different interests, and what doesn’t appeal to us might be right up someone else’s alley. But based on our experience, we’d suggest giving this one a miss and using the time to continue exploring Route 66 instead.
There are plenty of other attractions along the way, and when you’ve got limited time and a lot of road ahead, sometimes you need to be selective.
Not every stop can be a winner. That’s travel for you!
Another Long Day in the Saddle
By the end of the day, we’d covered plenty of ground and experienced a real mixed bag of Route 66 attractions.
Meramec Caverns delivered an impressive underground adventure, Missouri Hick BBQ served up a delicious pulled pork sandwich, and the Fanning Outpost provided our daily dose of roadside weirdness.
Devil’s Elbow was another worthwhile discovery, while the Lebanon museum was one we probably wouldn’t rush back to.
That’s the beauty of a road trip. You collect the good experiences, learn from the not-so-good ones and end up with plenty of stories to tell when you get home.
Tomorrow, we’re heading towards Tulsa, Oklahoma, leaving more of Missouri behind as we continue our journey along the Mother Road.
More miles, more discoveries and, hopefully, more good feeds await.
The Harley is ready, the kilometres are adding up, and the Thirsty Tourists are still rolling!
#MeramecCaverns #FanningOutpost #MissouriHickBBQ #Route66
