Carthage, Missouri — Route 66 Gem

As the airline industry continues to price itself out of business, I believe more and more baby boomers are going to tap into their childhood memories of family vacations and rediscover the easy fun of road trips. Sure, our experiences as kids were times of being forced to spend our long anticipated release from school with the people who annoyed us the most, on a journey that seemed to rival The Odyssey in terms of arriving at our destination... both ways... in the heat... drinking lukewarm water from thermoses that had our brothers' cooties on them. But, even those fantasized discomforts seem infinitely more pleasant than the regulatory torture meted out by the TSA, which seems hellbent on justifying its existence by eliminating all vestiges of the joy of travel.

Road travel now offers more convenience, more relaxation and infinitely more personality than air travel. And, most of the time, it can be spontaneous and reservation free, especially day trips or weekend getaways. 

Grand Avenue B&B, Carthage, Mo.

About 150 miles south of my home of Kansas City, is Carthage, Missouri. I had the pleasure of visiting this historical gem this weekend. As soon as I entered the city limits, I became aware  the town has a rich history. There are many old, stately homes with large windows and wide porches hearkening to a day when air conditioning was a cool breeze. The town has a laid back appeal, probably the result of its wheel of fortune existence.

Residents of Missouri learn early about the role Missouri played in the Civil War as a pro-Confederate state. It was the epitome of neighbor against neighbor, especially in the areas near the Union state of Kansas. Two weeks before the Battle of Bull Run, there was the Battle of Carthage, fought on July 5, 1861, and the beginning of non-combatant hostilities that threatened every family in the state. In 1864, pro-Confederate guerillas burned the city to its foundations. 

That tragedy was overcome with a rebuilding of the city's fortunes based on lead and zinc mining, until the environmental dangers of those elements was discovered. Another setback.

However, fortune smiled again when it became a part of the legendary Route 66. There are many landmarks reminiscent of the heyday of the Mother Highway, including Boots Court, where according to the Carthage Visitors' Guide, the room pictured below was used by none other than Clark Gable. How cool is that?

Boots Court, Carthage, Mo.

Just a few miles outside of town is a shutterbug's dream location, called Red Oak II. The brainchild of Lowell Davis, it's a rural depository of all things Route 66, including buildings and cars of the era, as well as his own metal sculpture artistry. 

Lowell and his wife live on the property and are eager to make your acquaintance and share their story of how the property came together. 

Of course, as road travel became more and more popular, an Interstate Highway System because necessary to divert traffic away from residential areas and city centers. But the Main Street of America is still a favorite route for the casual traveler, and Carthage uses the Route 66 nostalgia to its advantage. 

A fun place to eat, Iggy's diner literally reflects the bygone days of Route 66's prime. The spirit of the Elvis welcomes you to the restaurant... literally, his voice emanating from a life-sized cut-out of the King of Rock and Roll. The food is pure road fare, but worth every calorie and cholesterol gram, served by people who seem to love what they are doing. 

And, speaking of kings, at White Rose Winery and B&B, a Victorian mansion surrounded by massive trees, you will be greeted by Ri, the most laid back pooch I've ever met. 

Ri, whose name is Gaelic for "King," rules the roost at White Rose, obviously, since his throne is a Victorian antique.

One of the bedrooms at White Rose Winery and B&B

Beautiful fountain on the grounds of White Rose Winery and B&B, with vineyard in the background

The town square of Carthage surrounds the impressive Jasper County Courthouse and offers unique stores and antique malls, as well as a Civil War Museum.

  

So, if you are wanting to get your kicks on Route 66 or just in the area of Southwest Missouri, Carthage is a great place to visit. There's lots of history, beautiful scenery and unique sites, including the world-renowned "Precious Memories Chapel."