Planet 9

I'm planning a road trip this summer and thought I'd pick up Historic Route 66 in St Louis and head west.
Has anyone done this route? Are there any particularly good or particularly disappointing parts?
I'm feeling kind of nostalgic this year.

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Der Schatten ordnet die Nacht an

I have only driven over the parts of the route in Arizona and California, and enjoyed it very much. The stretch between Kingman and Topock is particularly interesting IMO. When crossing Arizona, we always stop for lunch in one of the old Rt. 66 diners in Seligman, which is only a mile or so off the Interstate.
Marty

There's a travel book out by the Lonely Planet. I have that book..somewhere.

It tells you everything about the sites, the whole route and history.

Yes, there are a number of books on the route. But somehow the experience doesn't always measure up to the book.

I know that the midwest is mostly flat anyway but the interstates, while fast, are just plain "boring". So I thought a bit of Americana might be fun. Besides, in general I have found 2 lane roads much more fun in the CS than highway, whether straight or not.

I will likely turn south towards Texas once into New Mexico and not get into much Arizona at all, although good diner food is always tempting.

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Der Schatten ordnet die Nacht an

I've done bits and pieces of it in the Southwest, but most of my experience has been with the parts remaining between Chicago and St Louis. Here are a few pictures of those parts...

It starts in downtown Chicago, in the shadow of the Sears Tower.


In Illinois, it now mostly serves as an access road for I-55. You can see the interstate off to the left in this southbound photo. I suppose it isn't very exciting once you get past the roadside attractions, and the general thrill of its historical significance... and that does wear off a little.


Here is an example of one of the famous roadside "attractions." This is south of Waggoner, IL. It's called the Our Lady of the Highways shrine.

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'90 Miata original owner
120 horsepower, no waiting
Loved and lost:
'84 944 and a '76 912E

...and some parts have a little more "life."

This is a famous ice cream joint in St Louis. In the Summer, trying to get in this place is like a Rugby scrum.



In the St Louis area, it might also be worth making short side trips to the Budweiser brewery and the Kemp Auto museum.

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'90 Miata original owner
120 horsepower, no waiting
Loved and lost:
'84 944 and a '76 912E

Before you hit the road, visit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Route_66

Great stuff, thanks all.
And wow, the Wiki site is like a book of information.

If anyone is interested, one of the links from wiki is very good related to US 66 and other roads, mostly of the west.

Go to http://www.theroadwanderer.net/index.htm

I am really beginning to shape my plans. I'll be going in July, but hey, what is the west without heat!

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Der Schatten ordnet die Nacht an

This probably one of the best books on Historic Route 66:

Route 66 - The Mother Road (by Michael Wallis)

http://www.amazon.com/Route-66-Mothe...9206962&sr=8-2

See this Route 66 article by CNN.
Kind of takes the wind out of the sails doesn't it...

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TRAVEL/05/23....ap/index.html

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Der Schatten ordnet die Nacht an

It is a dream best remembered and not lived. I live in the Southwest and wouldn't do it for money...well that would depend on the amount of course...

I did route 66 as a kid. And I'm siding with SF, it's best remembered and not lived!

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