Tony,

Very pleased you are embracing the concept of quality over quantity! Some of our favorite haunts -- in no particular (certainly not logical) order:

For biggest collection of odd sporting gadgets -- The Bass Pro shop in Springfield -- it is huge! The 2nd Best Margaritas in the world are served in the upstairs cellar of Vivian's Vineyards in St. Charles (http://www.roadtripamerica.com/eats/vivians.htm) . The ride up into the Arch at St Louis is very cool. Nearby are the Cahokia Mounds -- interesting.

Lynn's Paradise Cafe in Louisville, KY (http://www.roadtripamerica.com/eats/lynns.htm) Plus just drive around some of the hidden valleys in KY -- great place names like Rabbit Hash, RubberTit, Big Bone Lick -- you get the drift. Plenty of romantic hide-aways too.