TEXAS( 178 MILES)
In addition to Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo boasts The Big Texan Steak Ranch & Brewery( BigTexan. com), famous for the 72− oz. steak challenge: If you can eat a salad, a baked potato, a shrimp cocktail, and 72 oz. of beef in one hour, it’ s free. If you can’ t, you’ ll have to pay the $ 72 price of the meal. The Big Texan also offers lodging at its RV park, cabins, wagons, Airstreams, and Airbnbs on property.
Resources: Rt66ofTexas. com, TravelTexas. com Landmarks: Cadillac Ranch( Amarillo), Leaning Tower of Texas( Groom), U-Drop Inn( Shamrock)
Top, the Flagstaff Visitor Center. Directly above, The Museum Club in Flagstaff, AZ, a former Route 66 roadhouse and taxidermy shop turned country western nightclub.
spot downstairs for refined comfort food and craft cocktails.
Most historic hotels await in Oklahoma City, such as The National, Autograph Collection( TheNationalOKC. com). Housed in the 1931 First National Bank building, the hotel embraces its history with The Vault, a speakeasy cocktail lounge in the old bank vault, and Tellers, an Italian-inspired eatery that uses the original teller stands as booths.
Next door to The National, the Colcord Hotel( Colcordhotel. com)— housed in the city’ s first skyscraper— blends early 20th-century elegance with modern comforts including locally inspired cuisine at Flint, botanical cocktails on Flora’ s outdoor patio, and pet-friendly“ paw-tio” menus.
Check out the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum( OKHistory. org / sites / Route66) in Clinton for a deep dive into the history of the Mother Road with interactive exhibits. The museum offers visitors a personal journey through the revered highway, showcasing the iconic ideas, images, and myths of Route 66.
Resources: OklahomaRoute66. com, TravelOK. com National Park Sites: Oklahoma City National Memorial Landmarks: Blue Whale( Catoosa), Round Barn( Acadia), Rock Cafe( Shroud)
NEW MEXICO( 380 MILES)
Santa Fe, which was part of the original Route 66 before being bypassed in 1937, was founded in 1610 and has a walkable historic district. Milk of the Poppy( MilkOfThePoppy- Bar. com) is a new immersive apothecary-meets-craft cocktail bar that evokes the experience of stumbling into a traveler’ s tavern in the modern era. Its beverages draw inspiration from historical and fictional libations, and its limited menu features dishes influenced by the region and taverns of the Middle Ages.
Heading into Albuquerque, Vara Winery and Distillery( VaraWines. com) has several tasting rooms to enjoy after a long day of driving. Vara aims to redefine how and when Americans enjoy sparkling wine, positioning it as a value-driven, everyday option with a high-quality domestic alternative with Spanish character and French winemaking.
Resources: Rt66NM. org, NewMexico. org National Park Sites: Pecos National Historic Park, Petroglyph National Monument, El Malpais National Monument Landmarks: Blue Swallow Motel( Tucumcari), El Rancho Hotel & Motel( Gallup), Maisel’ s Indian Trading Post( Albuquerque)
ARIZONA( 401 MILES)
Stop at the Flagstaff Visitor Center( FlagstaffArizona. org) at the train depot and ask for the Arizona Historic Route 66 Passport. There are numerous eateries and bars in the historic downtown district, including Lumberyard Brewing Co.( LumberyardBrewingCompany. com), with an outdoor patio overlooking the train tracks.
If you’ re looking for nightlife, The Museum Club( MuseumClub. net) in Flagstaff is a former Route 66 roadhouse and taxidermy shop turned country western nightclub, complete with line dancing and live music.
And if you need a place to stay in Flagstaff, the Americana Motor Hotel features 89 artful rooms with design touches such as 1970s skiwear-inspired headboards and disco balls. It also boasts a year-round heated pool, an expansive backyard with firepits, telescopes for stargazing, rentable bikes, EV
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