Our Route 66 Adventures: Homestead Rest Area Northbound I-55

Date of Visit: May 4, 2026

While doing Route 66 we mostly plan to avoid the I-55, but when we were heading from Springfield, MO, to Indiana, we stuck to the fastest route other than doing some Route 66 in Springfield, IL. We stopped at the first rest area in Illinois (Homestead Rest Area) because we had heard there was an Illinois Route 66 passport and thought maybe we would find it here since it is also a Welcome Center.

The Welcome Center part wasn't open, but we did grab some of the Route 66 information they had available and found some Route 66 murals on the walls.

See full list of Our Route 66 Adventures here and Google map here.

Destination Info:

Homestead Rest Area Northbound I-55

5905 I-55

Edwardsville, IL 62025

Our Koffee Trail: Ozarks Coffee Trail

While in Springfield, Missouri, for the Route 66 Centennial Kick Off, we discovered the Ozarks Coffee Trail. It is a digital passport that you earn points for checking in at participating coffeeshops. Most of the coffeeshops we visited during our time in Springfield were part of the trail.

We stopped checking in once we had enough points for the stickers as we did not want the t-shirt and it was also kind of a pain to ask for the code to get the check in sometimes. I did notice that some places have an extra check in deal, which is worth paying attention to such as 10% off a bag of coffee or Buy One, Get One, but none of the coffeeshops we visited this trip had any of those deals.

Towards the end of the weekend I realized there are exclusive drinks just for the trail at some (or maybe all?) of the locations. You have to click the Exclusive Menu at the top of the passport to find them instead of them being listed on the check in page for the location, so we never remembered to even check if we wanted to try them.

Our Stops on the Ozarks Coffee Trail

Brick & Mortar Coffee 👍 - Ube Latte and Spring 4ward (Lavender, Caramel, Coconut, Cardamon Latte)

Trailer Perk Coffee ❤️ - Cruise Control Latte (Almond Roca) and Flamingo (white coffee white chocolate, raspberry mocha)

Echelon Coffee 👍 - Rosemary Latte and Columbia Huila pour over and 

The Coffee Ethic ❤️ - Cherry Brulee Latte and Peanut Miso Cortado

Eurasia Coffee Co 👍 - Iced Almond Croissant Latte and Yuzu Elderflower Espresso Tonic

Roots Coffee Bar 👍 - Roots Brew Latte and Lavender Cookie Butter Latte

See full list of Our Koffee Trail stops here and Our Koffee Trail Google Maps list here.

Our Route 66 Adventures: Disney Pixar Cars at Gillioz Theatre

Date of Visit: May 3, 2026

The Gillioz Theatre does a free Sunday movie once a month. The May 2026 movie was Disney Pixar's Cars in honor of the Route 66 Centennial and the movie's 20th anniversary.

We got our free tickets when the box office opened at noon and then went to Big Whiskey's nearby to get some food while we waited for the doors to open.

The free movie also included a free bottled soda and a box of popcorn. There was also leftover boxes of popcorn you could grab on the way out and goodie bags that had little racing flags and Cars activty sheets.

Seeing Cars in a theater that has been on Route 66 for nearly 100 years was a fun activity to finish our weekend exploring Route 66 in Springfield, Missouri.

See full list of Our Route 66 Adventures here and Google map here.

Destination Info:

Gillioz Theatre

325 Park Central E

Springfield, MO 65806

Ranger Dan: 118.1 Wilson's Creek National Battlefield

Date of Visit: May 3, 2026

On our last day in Springfield, Missouri, we visited the nearby Wilson's Creek National Battlefield as a national park unit we have not been to before and, of course, collect another America 250 stamp. We learned about the battle in the Visitor Center and drove the Tour Road.

As we wanted to make sure to make it back to Springfield for Disney/Pixar's Cars at the Gillioz Theatre, we did kind of rush our visit and only stopped at a few of the stops on the Tour Road. At one stop we took a short hike to the Gibson's Mill and House sites. At another stop, we walked up to the Ray house and I did a sketch of it.

Timeline Marker on Sidewalk up to Visitor Center

Lyon Bed in Visitor Center

Major General Sterling Prices' Revolver 

Gibson's Mill Site

Gibson's House Site

My Sketch of Ray House

America 250 Stamp

Ray House

Cannon

Backoff's Battery

See full list of Ranger Dan's National Parks visited here.

Mini Golf Adventures: Getaway Golf - International Course

Date of Visit: May 2, 2026

Location: Getaway Golf, Springfield, MO

Course: International

After playing the United States course at Getaway Golf, we played the International Course. This course features a variety of landmarks from around the world including the Pyramids of Giza, Leaning Tower of Pisa, and the Great Wall of China.

Hole 1 - Egyptian Pyramids

Hole 3 - Leaning Tower of Pisa

Hole 4 - Komodo Island

Hole 5 - Macchu Picchu

Hole 6 - Stonehenge

Hole 6 - Stonehenge

Hole 7 - Torii Gate

Hole 9 - Christ the Redeemer

Hole 10 - Great Wall of China

Hole 11 - Great Barrier Reef

Hole 12 - Eiffel Tower

Hole 13 - Taj Mahal

Hole 16 - Roman Colosseum

Hole 18 - Moai Statues

Final Scores

• Kjersti - 52
• Dad - 53

See full list of our Mini Golf Adventures here and Mini Golf Adventures on Google Maps.

Mini Golf Adventures: Getaway Golf - United States Course

Date of Visit: May 2, 2026

Location: Getaway Golf, Springfield, MO

Course: United States

While in Springfield for the Route 66 Centennial Kick Off, we took a detour from Route 66 to play some mini golf. Getaway Golf has a travel theme with a United States course and an International course. We played the United States course first.

Hole 1 - Gateway Arch

The course features a variety of landmarks in the United States including the Gateway Arch, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Mount Rushmore.

Hole 1 - Gateway Arch

Near each landmark, there is a sign with a little bit of information about it.

Dad got a hole-in-one on Hole 2.

Hole 2 - Empire State Building

Hole 4 - Golden Gate Bridge

Hole 6 - Breckenridge Ski Resort

Old Faithful near Hole 8

Hole 9 - Grand Canyon

Mount Rushmore near Hole 10

Hole 11 - Niagara Falls

Hole 14 - Nashville

Statue of Liberty near Hole 15

Hole 16 - Glacier National Park

Hole 17 - Miami, FL

Hole 18 - Las Vegas

Final Scores

• Kjersti - 44
• Dad - 43

See full list of our Mini Golf Adventures here and Mini Golf Adventures on Google Maps.