Keith -
You had mentioned St. Louis. If you do decide to go that route, then spend a few fun days there, then head west on I-70 to Columbia MO and check out Eclectics Bookstore. 2 more hours west on I-70 and you are in Kansas City - you can then see why The Strand theater gets such rave reviews! Something tells me you would be in heaven at the Strand on a Sat or Sun afternoon. Then just head down to Oklahoma, which you seem to have an interest in doing anyway. What do you think?...