9 a.m. – Breakfast at Chapter’s Bookstore on Route 66
A one of a kind, unique bookstore and coffee shop will help you get your morning started. After a “caffeine fix” and some homemade muffins or cookies, you will be ready to set out on your adventure.
Morning Options
A. Tour the Historic Coleman Theatre, the jewel of Route 66
Tours begin at 10 a.m. Allow plenty of touring time to be able to take in the beauty and uniqueness of Oklahoma’s Grandest Vaudeville Palace. Call 918.540.2425 for more information. Open everyday except Sunday and Monday.
B. Visit the Dobson Museum, home to thousands of historical artifacts, treasures and native belongings that are sacred to Ottawa County. Open Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 1 p.m.
C. Drive north to Commerce, Oklahoma and view the Boyhood Home of Baseball Legend Mickey Mantle. You can get out and walk around the lawn where Mickey learned to hit and throw baseballs many years ago. The old garage still stands today and I am sure you could find some “dingers” in the metal if you look close. Inside home tours are available to groups by making arrangement in advance. Call the CVB to inquiry about tours.
Noon – 1 p.m. – Lunch at the Famous Waylan’s Ku-Ku Burger, an international hotspot on Route 66! Be sure to order the Ku-Ku fries and get a Cyclone! Waylan’s is currently closed for inside dining. Picnic tables are available around the property so you can take a break from your trip and enjoy your treats from the legendary Ku-Ku. Other Miami dining options are available at www.visitmiamiok.com/eat.
Afternoon Options
A. Recreation Time! Choose from bowling at Playland Lanes, golf at Peoria Ridge, or take in a movie at the Miami Cineplex. If the kids or grandkids join you for the afternoon, bring your swimsuits and make a splash at the Miami Municipal Pool, the largest municipal water park in the state! The Miami Route 66 Splash Pad is now open annually from early to Spring to September 30.
B. Gaming Fun- If the group is ready to try their luck, then choose from nearly a dozen of Indian Gaming Casinos. Many of them are located right here in Miami! Find casino listings on our website at www.visitmiamiok.com/visitors/miami-area-casinos.
6:30 p.m. – Dinner
If you want steak, we gotcha covered in Miami! Choose from Chicken Fried Steak at Charlie’s Chicken & BBQ or a perfect grilled steak from Montana Mikes. Great options are available at Zack’s Cafe Miami offers great options along historic Route 66. (Refer to the dining section in the Miami Visitor Guide for additional choices.)
Finish out the evening cruising Miami’s Main Street, the longest main street on Route 66.
9 a.m. – Enjoy a free breakfast at participating Miami Hotels.
Morning Options
A. Take a drive south to Grand Lake. Just 20 minutes from Miami, you can view the gorgeous Lake of the Cherokees.
B. While south of town, follow Highway 125 to Ribbon Road, the last original section of Route 66. Walk along this historic pavement which was put in place before Route 66 was even named. It’s your chance for double history in one spot! Make sure you bring along your camera for this one. Your neighbors won’t believe you without photos!
C. Grab your list of Historic Places in Miami and get ready to experience some fabulous findings. With 15 places on the registry, you could make a full day of this option alone. Don’t miss the Coleman Mansion or the Marathon Oil Gas Station. You won’t find those places anywhere else but in Miami, Oklahoma!
Noon – 1 p.m. – Back to the Coleman Theatre for a special luncheon on the stage (Advanced Reservations are required)
Afternoon Options
A. Shop until You Drop! It’s time to find deals! –
B. NEO A&M College awaits your presence. This college was once a mining school. It sits a few blocks off of Route 66. The library has a gallery that tells about the British Flyers. They trained in Miami and some soldiers that died during this time are buried in G.A.R. Cemetery in Miami. We still honor those soldiers today. The college campus is gorgeous and you will be glad you took the time to see why they are one of the top 2-year colleges in the state of Oklahoma. Go Norsemen! New to campus is the state of Steve Owen’s, the Miami Wardog graduate of 1966 that won the Heisman Trophy at the University of Oklahoma in 1969. Steve played his high school games on Red Robertson Field and the Heisman Replica Statue sits in the south end zone in his honor.
C. Take a drive south to nearby Vinita and experience some of the wineries that call Vinita home. Or, drive north to the Kansas state line and view the beautiful murals that have been painted on buildings along Route 66 in Quapaw. If you’re brave, wait around for the Spooklight near Devil’s Promenade. New murals are all around the Central Business District in downtown Miami, Oklahoma.
6:30 p.m. – Dinner
Restaurant Dining is fabulous in Miami. We suggest, you pick!
Take in a concert at a local casino or some classic entertainment at the Coleman! Find current events on our website at www.visitmiamiok.com/calendar.
When planning your Route 66 Trip, make sure to remember that Miami is a 2-day stay! Don’t drive through without stopping to take some of our history back home with you.
Contact Sherry or Amanda at 918-542-4435 to schedule your group and find out about special hotel rates and welcome activities. We love our Groups in #MiamiOK.
