Route 66 West – The Main Street of America - Part II

Day 1

Sacramento to Oklahoma City by air – Depart Sacramento at 7am and arrive (via Houston) a little after 4pm. Enjoy complimentary cocktails at your hotel and dinner in historic Bricktown before retiring. Embassy Suites (D)

Day 2

Oklahoma City to Amarillo, 259 miles - With a couple of exceptions, Route 66 leaving Oklahoma City closely follows I-40. (Fact: It took five interstate highways to replace The Mother Road.) Photo opps galore fill the day. The 1930's Texaco Station in El Reno is worth a look, and we might stop at the 66 Monument. The first, and one of the best, small town museums on this side of the route is in Clinton and there's another in Elk City. Each locale is proud of their connection to the historic road.

After lunch, the hometown of Roger Miller ("King of the Road") and Sheb Wholley ("Purple People Eaters") today plays host to one of the road's most interesting characters, Harley Russell. You will never forget this stop…promise. At the end of the day, tie up your horse in Amarillo with dinner at The Big Texan. Hamilton Inn (FB,L,D) 

Day 3

Amarillo to Albuquerque (288 miles) – See the old Cadillacs "rear ends up" as you head out of town. The legendary Blue Swallow Motel is worth a picture just after you pass the mid-point of the route in Adrian. See a few of the murals of Tucumcari, before taking the detour to Santa Fe. There is a choice here, the trolley tour around town or visit to the Georgia O'Keefe Museum (you must make your choice in advance). The last leg of our longest day on the road brings you into Albuquerque about 6:30pm. Hilton Garden Inn - 2 nights (ECB, L)

Day 4

Albuquerque & Acoma Pueblo – The two-night stay allows us an opportunity to tour Albuquerque this morning. New Mexico's largest city is full of Route 66 landmarks. Then it's time for an off-the-highway experience, with a visit to the Acoma Pueblo. Native American guides will walk you through and share the history of their home. This isn't some tourist attraction; this is the real deal. Dinner tonight at the Route 66 Diner (FB,L,D)

Day 5

Albuquerque to Winslow (266 miles) – A lot of open road today, as you leave New Mexico and enter Arizona. In Gallup, learn the story of the unlikely World War II heroes, the Navajo Code Talkers. Cross the Continental Divide and finish the day "Standin' on a Corner in Winslow, Arizona," (like the lyric in the old Eagles song). Stay in some of the desert's most beautiful accommodations, a restored Harvey House Hotel from the highway's glory days. Dine tonight in the Turquoise Room. La Posada Hotel - 2 nights (FB,L,D)

Day 6

The Petrified Forest & The Harvey Girls (112 miles) - The feature today is Petrified Forest National Park. Millions of years of the planet's history is on display for you to view. Back at La Posada, ladies dressed as old-fashioned Harvey Girls will give you a tour of the property, sharing stories of visitors from days gone by. (FB,L)

Day 7

Winslow to Laughlin (238 miles) – First stop on The Mother Road this morning is another unique attraction, The Meteor Crater. Lunch is in Williams and a stretch of the old road brings us into Seligman, home of Route 66 legend, Angel Delgadillo. Often called "The Father of The Mother Road," Angel's life is forever intertwined with Route 66. Have ice cream at the Sno-Cap Drive Inn and soak up some of the small-town hospitality that makes old 66 such a great place. End the day in the gambler's mecca of Laughlin, on the Nevada side of the Colorado River. TBA (FB,L)

Day 8

Laughlin to San Bernardino (237 miles) – The "Main Street of America" has many different looks, but none quite like the one you'll find in Oatman. The burros (friendly) roam the streets, and the people of the town are…well…friendly…and unique in their own right. We'll create our own souvenir before heading on to California!

Afternoon attractions include the Goofs Schoolhouse, where General Patton prepared his troops for WWII, the twice-abandoned town of Amboy, a ranch with trees made of bottles and the story of a retirement home for strippers that was a site of a memorable Sports Leisure moment. Taco Bell and McDonald's both got their start on or near The Mother Road and their stories are told in San Bernardino. Hilton Garden Inn - San Bernardino (FB,L)

Day 9

San Bernardino to Santa Monica (75 miles)/Sacramento - There are two different Wigwam Motels on the route, and this we'll stop for a photo opp at one. Los Angeles is mostly freeways, but there are still pieces of Route 66 and we'll find a few. Lunch is at Filippe's, said to be the place the French Dip sandwich was invented. Yum! 

Finally, it's on through Hollywood to the coast, with time at the pier in Santa Monica, where the nearly 2,500-mile route comes to an end. Our return flight leaves from nearby Burbank airport in late afternoon. (FB,L)