Alpinia Travel

Welcome to this new blog post! Join me in this blog post to a trip along one of the most famous routes in the world – the Route 66 in the United States.

An unique journey through the United States

When I drove along the Route 66 in 2016, it felt like a journey back in time. I became closer to the “old” America. It was an unforgettable experience seeing all the beautiful landscapes and small desert towns.

The road has a long but very interesting history and there is much to see on the journey.

Popular highway

The Route 66 was originally a 2,451 mile (3,945 kilometer) long highway from Chicago in Illinois to Los Angeles in California. The road is also known as „The Mother Road“ and has a long history.

The Route 66

This was the first highway of its kind – created in 1926. The highway became famous very quickly because of the promotion from the U.S 66 Highway Association. They advertised it as the shortest and most scenic route from Chicago through St. Louis to Los Angeles.

Over time, more and more small towns emerged along the route with restaurants and accommodation for commuters. The road crosses many parts of the Unites States – including Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona – and you can see various landscapes along the road.

The Route 66 is no longer an officially recognized route, since it has been decommissioned in 1985. Today, only specific parts of the original highway can still be traveled. Some parts have been replaced by modern interstate highways. The road was the first highway to connect the Midwest with the Pacific Coast.

Williams, Arizona

In the small towns along the way you can find many (historical) gas stations. Pete’s Route 66 Gas Station Museum in Williams (Arizona) looks especially like a movie set. Generally, when you walk through this lovely town you feel like you are in an old American film.

Williams is a kind of „gateway“ to the Grand Canyon. The small town is the southern terminus of the Grand Canyon Railway. This train takes tourists to the Grand Canyon Village.
As the winter season approaches, it is also a fitting opportunity to mention that the Grand Canyon Railway’s Polar Express runs during the winter season. It was inspired by the popular children’s book and film „The Polar Express“ by Chris Van Allsburg.
Williams also hosts the “Historic Route 66 Car Show” (during the summer months), where cars from the old Route 66 days are presented.

Seligman, Arizona

Not far from Williams is another charming town, Seligman. Seligman is known as the the birthplace of the Historic Route 66, since the acknowledgement of the route from Seligman to Kingman as Route 66.

In Seligman you can find many photo opportunities, souvenir shops and restaurants, so you can easily spend a few nice hours there.

Cars

In the various towns along Route 66 you can find numerous cars from the earlier era – where Route 66 was still the main traffic route instead of Interstate 40.

You can find these old cars on more or less every corner – one more colorful and flashy than the other. For anyone interested, it is recommended to visit a car show as mentioned above.

Shops

There are also numerous souvenir shops along Route 66. You can buy everything from magnets and postcards to Route 66 signs and clothes. The list of things you can find there is quite long. It’s very exciting to go to the shops because you find a lot of interesting treasures.

Accommodations

The route is long and if you want to take your time, it is recommended to stay overnight in one of the towns. There are many options here too. You will mainly find small motels. They are simple, but it also makes you feel a little bit back in time.
In addition to restaurants and cafes, there is of course also a selection of grocery stores.

Landscapes

Let’s get to another impressive part, which is why most people travel there: the breathtaking landscapes. As you drive along the eternally long road, beautiful landscapes stretch out to the right and left to the horizon. Sometimes you are forced to stop to admire it. Especially at sunrise or sunset, the surroundings are simply breathtaking.

You can take some spectacular shots and create lifelong memories along the famous Route 66.

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Thank you for reading this blog post! I wish you a nice day and see you soon!

Zsofia