Family-Friendly Glamping on Route 66

(WORDEN, ILLINOIS) — Just outside of St. Louis on the Illinois side, there are multiple Route 66 towns with small town charm and farmhouse fun.

We spent a weekend away, eating at multiple restaurants in different towns, hanging out with farm animals and glamping in dome tents! For traveling with toddlers, this was the perfect setup. So, let’s get into it!

WHERE WE STAYED:

Boonies Farm | Worden, Illinois

Ready to escape into nature, but not necessarily willing to pitch a tent and sleep in a sleeping bag? Well, then glamping might by for you! We’ve found that to be our preference, as well, and Boonies Farm offers a really unique glamping opportunity. You pull in to the farm, and once you park your car and get your bags out, you’ll find wagons waiting you to take all your luggage to your dome. Pack the wagon and walk on over to the primate glamping area, and say hello to the bunnies, goats and dog along the way.

Once you enter the private glamping area, you’ll see the awesome white domes, with a private fire pit and wood-fired hot tub. This is the perfect place to tell stories around the fire, or heat up the tub and take a plunge after a long day.

Inside the dome (we stayed in Milkweed), you’ll find two queen beds, a seating area with a table, toys for the kids, a mini fridge and a coffee bar. To your left are the dome’s windows which give you a great view of the wooded area as well as your tub & fire pit. Of course, for privacy, there are heavy-duty curtains to go over the windows.

During your stay you can pet the goats and bunnies, play on the fun farm which has things like slides, a jumping pillow, little tricycles for the kids, swings and more. There’s plenty to do, and adding Boonies Farm to your fall adventure list is perfect, as they really go all out this time of year. They also just opened a pizza place & brewery on their property! I haven’t gotten to try it, yet.

WHERE WE ATE:

Over the course of the weekend, we ate at four local restaurants in three different towns! Staunton, Dorsey (or Prairietown, depending who you ask), and Bethalto! Let’s move in chronological order from where we visited.

Friday night | Prairie Inn | Dorsey/Prairietown

The perfect place to be on a Friday night. Enjoy the outdoor patio with live music, good food and fun times. We visited on Fish Fry Friday as well, which was an added benefit! Everything online says Prairie Inn is located in Dorsey, but some people have suggested it’s really in Prairietown! Either way, Prairie Inn is a good time.

Saturday morning | Black Bird Bakery & Cafe | Staunton

A beautiful bakery with a gorgeous mural on the side of it. It’s also right next to a fun Route 66 park! Breakfast items, coffees and pastries are all delicious. I dream about some of those pastries!

Saturday night | Laux Brickhouse Grille | Bethalto

Fun times indoors and outdoors at Laux Brickhouse Grille. You can get the St. Louis staple, pork steaks, and our kids really enjoyed the mac n cheese.

Sunday morning | Cavataio’s | Staunton

With a wonderful salad bar, this Italian restaurant is a great stop in Staunton. All the food was so good and they’ve got great service. Pizzas are delicious and that cheesy bread… yum! It’s a beautiful brick building with a warm, inviting interior and I loved the painting on the wall right next to where we sat.