Got the '62 Impala painted, the A/C blowing ice cold, and the 283 purrs like a kiteen, so it's time for a road trip! The Sunday after Labor day, I'm heading for 'Vegas, from Kalamazoo. Stopping in Santa Fe to spend a day with the guy I bought my '47 Diamond T pickup from, and then heading on to my son's home in 'Vegas. I'll be driving his old car, a '68 Mustang convert with 5.0/AOD back, for a re-do. Should be fun, I'm gonna do a little bit of Rt 66 stuff, but time will be a limiting factor, at least on the way out. On the way home, I'll have a little more time, so I'll get to see some things. Ideas for cool old stuff to see are encouraged, what's your favorite Tourist Trap?
Kingman, Arizona. 25 miles before Kingman, stop in at the Hackberry General store. Be sure to visit the mens restroom and look around at the old cars & pickups. Pretty sure most of them are for sale. Take note of the old car sale yard on the west side when entering Kingman from the north. You'll see a signal about a half mile ahead. Note that old Route 66 is also Andy Devine Blvd. Cruise on down to the stoplight at Andy Devine, Hualapai Mountain Road on your left, Stockton Hill Road on your right. The roads change names at that intersection. Stay in the right lane going down the hill, it'll take you into Old Town (Beale St.) lots of great antique shops for your Sweetie, couple of great pawn shops and a good Mexican Restaurant (El Palacio) on 4th St. and Andy Devine. Once you're through in Old Town and through with lunch at El Palacio, turn right off 4th onto Andy Devine. The Powerhouse Museum is on your left with good parking. Mr. D's 50's diner is on the right (great burgers) and Locomotive park is across the side street from Mr. D's and across Andy Devine from the Powerhouse. The loco, a Northern that used to run AT&SF which is now Burlington Northern. Just up Andy Devine from the Powerhouse is the local museum. A worthwhile stop. Used to be and probably still is, when you bought a ticket for either museum, you got a free ticket for the other one. Head on up Andy Devine, gas up if necessary and take Hwy 93 toward Las Vegas. Be careful here, easy to get on Hwy 68 to Laughlin. Right after you get onto 93 take the first turnoff to the right. There's a store there that specializes in turquoise. Ready made jewelry, but more importantly, bulk turquoise and smaller pieces if your Sweetie makes her own jewelry. About 50 miles up 93 from Kingman, an old car salvage yard on your left. At 60 miles, Rosie's Cafe. Good breakfast and burgers. A bit touristy, but a fun stop and there's usually a bunch of Harleys there and now and then some hot rods. Rosie's is about 20-25 miles from the dam. About 10 miles south of the dam is a DPS/Sheriff (DPS = Arizona Highway Patrol) roadblock. Swing in, nice and slow like the signs say, roll down your window to make it easy for the officers to look in and they usually wave you through with no probs. If you have a pickup with covered bed, camper or towing a trailer you'll be directed to the right for further inspection. That goes pretty quick and the officers are most polite. - If you have something along the lines of a loaded box van or car trailer with lots of stuff inside you won't be allowed to go any farther and will have to back track to the Hwy 93/Hwy 68 interchange, go down to Laughlin, cross the river, climb the hill and use Hwy 95 to go to Vegas. No gasoline cans or other drums that carry liquids are permitted. A car in a box trailer is no problem, just as long as it's easy for the officers to inspect the interior. Seems like BS, but losing Hoover Dam would have disastrous economic consequences for the SouthWestern United States so it's a serious deal. Stop at the overview at the top of the grade about a half mile past the new 4 lane road - that's closed - and take a look at the dam. Souvenir shop there as well. Cross the dam and starting down the hill you'll see the Hacienda Casino/Hotel. Good place for a break. Restrooms are off to the right. Put a couple bucks in the slots and see what happens. Couple weeks back, Sweetie and youngest daughter hit jackpots on machines right next to each other at the same time. In Vegas, be sure to visit the casino across the street (Imperial I think) from Caesar's and check out the free car museum. When you leave Vegas, head down Hwy 95 - it parallels the river as does Hwy 93 - take a break in Searchlight if you wish. At the intersection turn east toward Laughlin and go down the hill to the stoplights & turn right. The Northernmost casino - The Riverside - also has a nice and free car museum. Lots of restored bikes, specially British ones right now. Go to the other end of town and stay at Harrahs. They have a great buffet breakfast or lunch. The Aquarius and Tropicana Express are also good places to stay. The Tropicana has a parking garage with direct access to the casino. Laughlin hotels have rooms a lot cheaper than Vegas. Sunday through Thursdays are the best bet. Catch the one dollar Margaritas at the Riverside . . . the bar closest to the River View Walk exit. Go up Hwy 68 to Golden Valley, take note of the F-100 pickup salvage yard on your left when you're at the east end of town. Up the hill to the Kingman turnoff - be careful you don't enter the Highway Patrol weight/inspection station which is easy to do. Seligman about 65 miles from Kingman on Hwy 66 or Hwy 40 is a good place to stop. After that, you're on your own....
Some cool place to cruise and stop and see the sights.... Seligman, Arizona Winslow, Arizona The plaza in Santa Fe, NM Central Avenue in Albuquerque, NM Santa Rosa, New Mexico Tu***cari, New Mexico Good luck and have fun!
Thanks guys! We've been thru Tu***cari and Winslow on an earlier trip. The Kingman hints sound great, and I'll have some time thru NM (and a tour guide!) to do some side trips. My son works for MGM Mirage, so I've got a pretty good 'Vegas activites planner already! Brian
Make sure you take the I-40 business loop through Holbrook AZ. Holbrook was the inspiration for Radiator Springs in the movie Cars. (In fact if you have Cars, watch the bonus features before your trip) In Holbrook is the Wigwam Motel (the tee-pees) and lots of real old gas stations, tourist traps with petrified wood and big cement dinosaurs and route 66's only 90 degree turn.
If you're going through Amarillo don't miss the Big Texan Steakhouse and the "Cadillac Ranch" (also featured in "Cars" as the canyon rim in the back)
MAKE TIME TO SPEND IN SALIGMAN,KINGMAN, AND TU***CARI. You must stay at the blue swallow in tu***cari, one of the cleanest places you will ever stay, tell my good friend bill, Jeff sent ya. Take the time to spend time between kingman and saligman . grand canyon cavens, hackberry, saligman. very kool places for sure. My favorites along the route. williams has the rt 66 magizine, as well as many other things, not to miss.
See also: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=284262&highlight=route+66&showall=1 You should check out the Blue Whale if you're going through the Tulsa area. It's in Catoosa, the northeast side of the city. Arcadia, OK has the Round Barn and Pops(gas station with 10,000 kinds of soda). Clinton, OK and Elk City, OK have Route 66 museums. There are a ton of antique shops along the way. Rest Haven Court in Springfield, MO is a good place to get some rest. I have stayed there several times. Reasonable rates, vintage rooms. Reverend Jake
Thanks everyone! I spoke with the fellow I bought the Diamond T pickup from, in Santa Fe, and will be spending two days there, so he has lots of things planned for me to see and do. Then, it's on to 'Vegas, and I've got lots of time to hit some of the great things to see along the way! Brian
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