Our Route 66 Adventures: Rock Cafe

Date of Visit: June 22, 2025

On our drive of Route 66 from Tulsa to Pops 66, we stopped at Rock Cafe for lunch. I was most interested in checking out Rock Cafe because I had read that their fried pickle slices inspired the dill pickle popcorn in Cars Land, which is my favorite Disney Parks food.

The Rock Cafe was one of the places Pixar visited when researching Cars and the owner inspired the character Sally. There is now a lot of Cars decor and memorabilia inside and out. We ended up in a corner booth next to what seems to be the most popular item as every few minutes it seemed someone came over to take a photo of the movie poster signed by John Lasseter.

Of course, I had to have the fried pickles, which were good fresh and also heated up the next morning for breakfast.

One of their other specialties is späetzle (german style noodles). I had enjoyed the Späetzle & Cheese and Dad had the Rock Cafe Späetzle (noodles w/ onions, bell peppers, and tomatoes).

After eating we also checked out the gift shop, which reminds me of the gift shop in Cars Land at Disney's California Adventure. We got a sticker for our Route 66 journal and a pin that is a fun addition to the Cars Land lanyard I have.

Before leaving we walked over to the park next door, which has a veteran's memorial and a Route 66 Centennial sign.

See full list of Our Route 66 Adventures here.

Destination Info:

Rock Cafe

114 W Main St

Stroud, OK 74079

Our Route 66 Adventures: Driving Route 66 through Tulsa - 1926-1932 Alignment

Date of Visit: June 22, 2025

We drove Route 66 through Tulsa mostly following the 1926-1932 alignment making a few stops along the way.

We started at Tulsa's Route 66 Eastern Gateway.

Next we planned to stop at the Route 66 Interpretive Plaza, but when we got to it there was signage saying closed to public due to littering, so we did not stop there.

As we took the 1926-1932 alignment, we passed the "Route 66 Rising" sculpture that is in the middle of a roundabout.

We parked at the Whittier Square to visit Circle Cinema. We also were going to get She Brews, which we had tried the day before, but found out it was closed on Sundays, although it is confusing because it seems open with there being a church service there (also found there was one at the Circle Cinema).

We had a Tulsa Route 66 map that we had picked up at the Route 66 Road Fest that helped us navigate Route 66 in Tulsa, but there was also signage that mostly helped stay on the alignment. It only became unclear when we got to downtown Tulsa and the map was not labeled well enough and we did not notice any signs to follow.

We liked the lights of the Blue Dome District.

Pedestrian Bridge for Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza

Cyrus Avery Memorial Bridge Alongside Current 11th Stree Bridge

Avery Plaza Southwest Neon Sign Park

Cities Service Station Number 8

We drove into the parking lot for Howard Park, but did not get out because it looked like just a grassy area. As we continued on Route 66, we realized that there were some monuments on the far side of the park near the road.

Goodwill Retail Store Route 66 Sign

Our last stop on our Route 66 drive through Tulsa was at the Route 66 Historical Village.

See full list of Our Route 66 Adventures here.

Check out our other Tulsa area Route 66 posts:

• Circle Cinema
• Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza
• Meadow Gold District
• Route 66 Historical Village
• Route 66 Road Fest
• Route 66 Road Fest Mini Golf
• She Brews

Our Route 66 Adventures: Route 66 Historical Village

Date of Visit: June 22, 2025

Route 66 Historical Village is an outdoor museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It is set up to mostly represent a train depot with a train out front (not original depot, but meant to represent the Red Fork Depot, which was originally nearby). It also celebrates Tulsa's oil history. The visitor center is located in a Phillips cottage style gas station, but it was not open yet when we visited and we did not have time to wait and ensure we got to Rock Cafe in time to have lunch.

Phillips Cottage Style Gas Station Replica

North America's Tallest Oil Derrick

Checking Route 66 Map

Trolley

You can go inside the trolley, but it was full of shattered glass.

Shattered Glass all over inside Trolley

Red Fork Depot

Frisco 4500 Meteor Steam Engine

Main Street Tulsa Route 66 Neon Sign

See full list of Our Route 66 Adventures here.

Destination Info:

Route 66 Historical Village

3770 Southwest Boulevard

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74107

Check out our other Tulsa area Route 66 posts:

• Circle Cinema
• Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza
• Meadow Gold District
• Route 66 Road Fest
• Route 66 Road Fest Mini Golf
• She Brews

Our Route 66 Adventures: Circle Cinema

Date of Visit: June 22, 2025

While driving through Tulsa on the 1926-1932 alignment, we stopped at Circle Cinema for the Oklahoma Route 66 Passport stamp. We also checked out the Oklahoma Walk of Fame in the sidewalk in front of the theater.

Circle Cinema Oklahoma Walk of Fame


Circle Cinema Oklahoma Walk of Fame

Will Rogers Circle on Oklahoma Walk of Fame

Gene Autry Circle on Oklahoma Walk of Fame

SE Hinton Circle on Oklahoma Walk of Fame

Reba McEntire Circle on Oklahoma Walk of Fame

Of course, Mom got some popcorn and soda even though we didn't see a movie.

See full list of Our Route 66 Adventures here.

Destination Info:

Circle Cinema

10 S. Lewis Ave.

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104

Check out our other Tulsa area Route 66 posts:

• Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza
• Meadow Gold District
• Route 66 Historical Village
• Route 66 Road Fest
• Route 66 Road Fest Mini Golf
• She Brews

Our Route 66 Adventures: Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza

Date of Visit: June 21, 2025

The Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza is located on the east side of the 11th Street bridge that crosses the Arkansas River in Tulsa. It celebrates Cyrus Avery, who is considered the Father of Route 66.

There is a parking lot for the plaza across the street up a hill and a bridge can be used to cross the road and access the plaza.

The main feature of the Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza is the East Meets West sculpture with a horse-drawn carriage coming from the West meeting Cyrus Avery with his wife and daughter in a Model T coming from the East.

Cranking the Model T

Whoa!

On the west side of the plaza is the original 11th Street bridge that took Route 66 over the Arkansas River. It is now closed off with a gate and named Cyrus Avery Memorial Bridge.

Definitely plan to visit this plaza again on our Route 66 trip in 2026 because we did not realize until later that there is a pedestrian bridge behind it that goes under I-244 across the river and over to the neon sign park on the other side.

See full list of our Route 66 Adventures here.

Destination Info:

Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza

Tulsa, OK

Check out our other Tulsa area Route 66 posts:

• Circle Cinema
• Meadow Gold District
• Route 66 Historical Village
• Route 66 Road Fest
• Route 66 Road Fest Mini Golf
• She Brews

Our Koffee Trail: Mea Cuppa Coffee Lounge

Date of Visit: July 9, 2025

Location: Mea Cuppa Coffee Lounge, Charleston, WV

Rating: ❤️ (Love)

As we passed through Charleston, West Virginia this morning, we stopped at Mea Cuppa Coffee Lounge.

I got a Pistachio Rose Latte. Mom got an April Shower (Lavender White Mocha). Dad got a Velvet Elvis (Dark Chocolate, Blackberry).

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

Our Koffee Trail: Winans Coffee & Chocolate

Date of Visit: July 8, 2025

Location: Winans Coffee & Chocolate, Wapakoneta, OH

Rating: 👍 (Like)

On our way to the cottage last week, we noticed a Winan's Coffee & Chocolate, but did not have time to make a stop since we wanted to make sure we made the last barge. We planned to visit the one we saw on our way home, but ended up at the one in Wapakoneta when I was searching to add it to the route and it popped up as the first one along the route. The other one would have been good, but it was much more fun to end up in Wapakoneta - Neil Armstrong's hometown.

Of course, when I saw the Route 66 Latte (pistachio, white chocolate) on the seasonal menu, I had to order that. Nora got a Frozen Hot Chocolate. Mom got a Caramel Kiss Latte. Dad wasn't going to get anything, but then he was intrigue by the seasonal Loopy Matcha Latte (matcha w/ lavender, raspberry, and blueberry).

There was a variety of coffees including a good number of decaf options. We got 2 bags of decaf and one regular for making at home.

Neil Armstrong Statue

On the way back to the car, we checked out some of the sculptures and memorials.

Astronaut Helmet Statue

Footprint on the Moon in Sidewalk

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