Morning: Head up the road to Carthage, MO, to visit the Jasper County Courthouse and the Battle of Carthage Civil War Museum. Grab a map and stroll the Carthage historic homes tour (participants will walk 3-5 blocks) or take the driving tour. Make sure to leave time to browse the unique shopping around the Carthage Square.Lunch: Groups can choose to dine on the Square, at the Historic Phelps House, or at Red Oak II, where visitors can stroll through yesteryear along the gravel path to view the re-creation of an early 20th-century country village featuring a general store, country church, one-room schoolhouse, town hall, a 1920’s cottage-style Phillips 66 gasoline station, Belle Starr’s home, and much more.

Afternoon: with a step-on guide who will take you to Joplin and share stories about what made Joplin the 4th largest metropolitan area in the state of Missouri. Stops may include gourmet ice cream at Supertam on 66 (the nation’s largest privately owned Superman collection), Grand Falls, Joplin’s historic City Hall, the Route 66 Mural Park, the Bonnie and Clyde apartment, Candy House Gourmet, the tornado memorials at Cunningham Park, or Historic Murphysburg.

Evening: Allow individuals to dine at one of the eight unique restaurants and explore the wonderful local shops of Downtown Joplin on original Route 66.

Local hint: Plan your group’s visit during a First Thursday Art Walk or Third Thursday Community Cultural Event, which takes place in Downtown Joplin between March and October.

Morning: Venture over to Kansas, only 7 minutes from Joplin. Start off in Galena to learn about how this quaint town was the inspiration for the Disney•Pixar Cars movie. Continue west to Baxter Springs to view the iconic Rainbow Bridge and visit the Baxter Springs Heritage Center & Museum to learn about America’s first cow town and its ties to the Civil War.

Lunch: Cater in lunch to the Heritage Center & Museum. Or make your way into Miami, OK, for lunch at the Coleman Theater Beautiful, followed by a tour of this beautiful and historic building.

Afternoon: Take in the sites of Miami, OK. Visit the Charles Banks Wilson Art Gallery, Dodson Museum and Home, and the nearby boyhood home of Mickey Mantle.

Evening: Complete your Route 66 adventure beneath the neon lights at Wilder’s Steak House. Wilder’s has been a part of the Joplin community since 1929 and is known for its elegant meals.

Local hint: April through mid-September, groups can take in a flick under the stars at 66 Drive-In Theatre, one of five drive-ins in operation on the Route.