"...and they come into 66 from the tributary side roads, from the wagon tracks and the rutted country roads, 66 is the mother road, the road of flight." -- John Steinbeck in "The Grapes of Wrath".
Route 66 means different things to different people, but freedom is a common theme. For families like the Joads, it proved an avenue of escape from dust bowl stricken farms. For troops heading to the battlefronts of World War II, it provided a means to combat world tyranny. For countless American families, it held the promise of a new life out West or an old-fashioned family road trip. Known during its heyday as America's Main Street, this byway holds a special place in the collective consciousness as the herald of a new era of travel.
Decommissioned in 1985, the route is fragmented and sections of it no longer exist. The Mother Road is enjoying a restoration as part of the National Scenic Byways program in Illinois, New Mexico and Arizona, making large portions of the Route 66 adventure easily accessible and well signed. Traveling the route through the states between Illinois and New Mexico is a challenging adventure, so pick up one of the many route-specific guidebooks or maps and hit the road.
During the post-war economic boom, many young people felt restless and disillusioned. They sought solace on the open road away from the big cities and suburbia; pointing their car towards the West and driving with no particular destination. Follow in the path of these bohemian voyagers along the restored sections of this historic highway. Beginning in Chicago, the Illinois section takes you through the architectural wonders of the metropolitan "windy city" before heading south to the rural farmland of southern Illinois. Along the way you'll stop in at eclectic restaurants and motels, some of which have been around since the route's inception.
For the road-weary traveler, the nation's interstate system tends toward monotony as the same fast food and hotel chains greet you at every exit. Your trip down Route 66 provides a break from the tedium for the cross-country explorer. Evidence of a departure from the routine abounds as you enter New Mexico. Admire the Art Deco "Roadside Attraction." A tribute to the art and architecture you'll find along the byway, the piece sets the mood for the New Mexico leg of your journey. Stop in at culturally diverse Santa Fe, a hub for artists and southwestern history, to refuel and tuck into some world-class local cuisine.
Natural wonders brought travelers from all over the country to marvel at the desert formations and wildernesses of the Western states. In Arizona, enjoy the natural beauty along the longest section of the original route in the country. Spend some time in Flagstaff, one of the best towns along the byway for reliving the original Route 66 spirit. A hub for such destinations as three national monuments, Sedona's Red Rocks, and the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff is also home to museums, historic mansions, and classic hotels from the 30s to the 60s.
Give yourself a week or so to fully experience the byway, and resist the temptation to think of the end as your goal. Every city along Route 66 offers a little slice of Americana and each mile bears the evidence of kindred adventurous spirits who blazed the trail before you.
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Rediscovering Route 66
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Petroglyph National Monument - A Link to the Past