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Roadside Attractions

ATLANTA, ILLINOIS. Atlanta, IL is one of the original rural communities on Route 66 and has been preserved to look exactly like it did in the 1940s. Driving through Atlanta is like cruising back in time, if only the gas prices were the same as the 1940s!

While in Atlanta be sure to check out the MUFFLER MAN holding a hot dog! The guy is hugely famous around town. Known locally as "The Bunyon Statue," he originally stood in front of a hot dog stand named Bunyon's in nearby Cicero. He was moved to Atlanta in 2003 when the hot dog stand he guarded was sold to new owners.

"The Muffler Men" once guarded the nation's highways and stood as a beacon for weary travelers in need of car parts, tools, or a comforting cup of joe. Muffler Men are an endangered species these days, but a few of the remaining still live along Route 66.

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS. THE HOME OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN – Abraham Lincoln lived in Springfield from 1844 to 1861 before becoming the 16th President of the United States. The Lincoln Home National Historic Site is a presidential memorial that includes a four-block historic district preserved exactly the way it was when Lincoln accepted the presidency.

The house, purchased by Lincoln and his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln in 1844, was the only home that Lincoln ever owned. Located at the corner of Eighth and Jackson Streets, the house contains twelve rooms spread over two floors. During the time he lived here, Lincoln was elected to the House of Representatives in 1846, and elected as President in 1860.

In the event you've built up a hearty appetite after the challenge, you should head on over to the famous COZY DOG DRIVE-IN for a "cozy dog."

The word amongst the locals is that this was the first place in the country to serve what’s now called a corn dog. The "cozy dog" is a battered and deep-fried hot dog on a stick. It might sound like a corn dog, but the special batter makes it a "cozy dog."

MISSOURI. Be sure to check out TED DREWES FROZEN CUSTARD. Ted Drewes has been a St. Louis and Route 66 roadside attraction since 1941. Custard is like ice cream but is richer and thicker due to its high butterfat content. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Ted Drewes' world famous "concrete," a malt so thick that it sticks to the inside of the cup when you turn it upside down. People have driven from all over the country just to sample this delicacy.