Travel the Illinois stretch of historic Route 66 and discover the small towns and attractions that keep the spirit of the Mother Road alive. Snap a photo with a giant spaceman, snack on a Cozy Dog and chat with the friendly folks who call Route 66 home.

Start your road trip with breakfast at Lou Mitchell's in downtown Chicago, a fixture on Route 66 since 1923. Then head to Jackson Boulevard at Lake Shore Drive, considered the official start of Route 66. Drive out to suburban Joliet and stop at the Route 66 Welcome Center in the Joliet Area Historical Museum. Have lunch at Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket in Willowbrook, a Route 66 favorite since the 1940s. For dinner, enjoy elegant Old World cuisine at Barolo Ristorante followed by a play or concert at Joliet's historic Rialto Square Theatre.

Head to Wilmington to see the famed Gemini Giant, a 28-foot-tall spaceman in front of the Launching Pad Drive-In. Motor over to the historically preserved Odell Station. Have lunch at the Old Log Cabin in Pontiac, which has been dishing up comfort food to Route 66 travelers since 1926. Pick up a sweet treat in Shirley at Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup. Next stop is the Dixie Trucker's Home in McLean, an expansive restaurant and gas station that houses the Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame. And don’t forget a bite at Springfield's nostalgic Cozy Dog Drive In.

Stop at Shea's Gas Station Museum in Springfield to hear stories from Route 66 business owner Bill Shea. Have lunch in Litchfield at the Ariston Cafe, still decorated with 1920s furnishings. Henry's Rabbit Ranch in Staunton celebrates Route 66 with memorabilia displayed in a replica vintage gas station. End your trip at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge in Madison, built in 1929 to span the Mississippi River and is now the largest pedestrian bridge in the world.