So if one had 2 weeks and were to take a road trip from the DFW area to the north end of the PCH down to L.A. Disney to see the new Carsland and then back on part of Route 66, what would be a
A) good northern starting point B) route or sights to see on the inbound northern leg C) what part of Route 66 would we definitely want to see. Possibly the parts that were the inspiration for Cars. I have no idea where that is.
I live in Amarillo. The dead center of the route 66/ I40 run. That would be a good start point. It would take you through New Mexico, and the good parts of Arizona. Not a whole lot of cool stuff to see here, but there are a few things. Sixth street here is the original route 66 and has many antique shops, restaurants, and bars (several of them biker bars). Down I-40 there is the Big Texan (don't waste your time to be honest unless you like craft beer), and the other direction there is Cadillac ranch. Which is really a bunch of cadillacs half buried with graffiti all over them. For the real car enthusiast the best thing to check out is every weekend there is a car rally at the region 16 (school administration building). There are plenty of old money car enthusiasts there. If you like old rods there are a ton there. Along with a few Vipers and exotics. The local speed shop is right down the street. FWIW they are VERY good at what they do, but as with most things there is a price to pay for that.
Email me if you like and I can tell you whats worth your time once you get here. We have a TON of restaurants here and the food is excellent. dillonslawnservice@gmail.com
Tulsa is the "home" of Route 66, although there isn't too much here that I remember. Home meaning the guy who originally was pushing for Route 66, IIRC.
There is supposed to be a famous fried onion burger place in El Reno, OK. A couple of places between Tulsa and OKC as well.
I stumbled upon Route 66 right after Cars came out. I also stumbled across the Indian Teepee notell motel and ate across the street, but this time I'd like to know where to get off the interstate and where to wander a bit.
I've driven L.A. south on PCH and was mostly unimpressed. My wife rode with my daughter for a ways going north and said it was a trip we just HAD to take in the S2000 so I guess it's time.
But if we end up camping I'll have to trade the S out for an F150, which is a great highway vehicle, but wouldn't be nearly as much fun on the curves of PCH.
So, this is about as lame as it gets, but my best friend's favorite movie is HUD with Paul Newman. HUD was filmed in Claude, Texas. The city wasn't on Route 66, but if you are going to Amarillo from Dallas, you'll hit it right before you get to Amarillo.
Anyway, my pal loves the movie so much we drove there from Dallas to the the Alamo Rolling Roadshow presentation of HUD at the Claude courthouse. While there we scouted the town for filming locations and came up with some of the easier ones. They're chronicled in this photo album.
http://s683.photobucket.com/albums/vv198/aaa-111/vacation/Roadtip_Movies/
As an example, here's the "6am House" in the movie and the empty lot that is there today.
And here's the car we took on the trip. A mild custom '59 ElCamino. That BBQ joint we're parked at is Prines in Wichita Falls. I can highly recommend it.
In another thread Synthetic Blinker Fluid wrote: If you do, watch the end credits of Cars. They do a Special Thanks to all the places that they visited that gave them inspiration for the movie.
That would be WAY too easy. Kinda like asking a guy to read directions BEFORE getting started on a project. But thanks, I'd have never thought of that.
Even without the weekend in Cali, if you can get away from DFW to OK, they have embraced their Rt 66 Heritage.
The Rock Cafe in Stroud OK. The owner was the inspiration for Sally Carrera in Cars.
If you are willing to go a bit farther up, there is The Blue Whale of Catoosa
Stroud has The Shoe Tree.
Davenport OK has really cool old murals on the side of the buildings downtown.
Arcadia has the Round Barn, and just a few miles down the road is Pops, which was built to be a Rt 66 Icon.
That dumps you right at my residence in Edmond OK. Not a landmark, really more of an eyesore according to my HOA.
Lucille's Gas Station in Hydro, the old one (the new one, Lucille's Roadhouse is in Weatherford).
The Tom Stafford Museum in Stafford (he was an astronaut).
Windmill Farms
Two museums; Clinton has the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum and the National Route 66 Museum in Elk City
There are a lot of Rt 66 attractions in OK. This place is a great source
and you don't have to go all the way to Cali.
I have made the drive from home to Las Vegas and a few years ago, my wife and I drove to San Diego. New Mexico has a lot of the RT 66 next to the highway, but the road itself is pretty much gone.
But if you are headed that way, swing by London Bridge, if for nothing else, the photo op
modernbeat wrote:
WANT!!!!!
Thanx Mental. How do Iive so close and not realize all the Route 66 stuff so close to home?
Cool, another Amarillo guy.
If you are passing through, you could kill 30 minutes here.
www.vaitx.com
I used to work there, and my brother does now. Besides the for sale stuff on the website they have about 50 storage cars you can look at.
carguy123 wrote: ...I've driven L.A. south on PCH and was mostly unimpressed. My wife rode with my daughter for a ways going north and said it was a trip we just HAD to take in the S2000 so I guess it's time....
The southern part of PCH (Malibu area) really isn't that impressive. The upper part (near Ventura) is OK though. The best parts of PCH are north of Ventura. Heading toward Santa Barbara has some pretty impressive Ocean views (depending on weather of course). Be careful when you drive this, on a nice weekend this can get VERY crowded. North of Santa Barbara you go inland for more hill views.
North of San Louis Obisbo you get into more ocean views. As you head up to Carmel area, you get ocean and cliffs and forest.
The basic rule is, the farther north you go the better. If you want a quick and dirty try to a least go to Santa Barbara, and if possible just north of there before it heads inland.
Be aware though (not sure what your timing is). We are now in what is commonly call "June Gloom" which basically means morning coastal fog.
Rt 66 through Arizona and New Mexico is especially breathtaking and cool. Places like Tucumcari and Albuquerque, NM, Kingman, Winslow, and Flagstaff, AZ, are great places to visit. Seligman, AZ has a very neat old main street, too. And don't forget all the natural wonders to be seen.
It goes without saying, a Rt 66 trip must be done in an old convertible, preferably something American.
I always forget about VAI. I need to go out there some time.
If you go through albuquerque beware there is some truth to what they play on breaking bad. The crime rate is horrible there. If you stay in a hotel bring everything in with you. Last time I was at Sandia casino there was some pretty good gambling. I didn't lose too much money. :)
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