Longtime Route 66 researchers Jim Ross and Jerry McClanahan have endorsed the “Route 66 Attractions” global-positioning system download that became available in December for Nuvi, Zumu, Oregon, Dakota, or StreetPilot GPS units by Garmin.
This is a nice coup for the GPS program. Ross and McClanahan developed the popular “Here It Is!” map series for Route 66 travelers. Ross also published the “Oklahoma Route 66” book, and McClanahan published the “EZ66 Guide for Travelers” guidebook.
From the news release by “Route 66 Attractions” developer River Pilot Tours:
River Pilot states, “We are pleased to receive this endorsement from Jerry and Jim who are known worldwide as two of the most noted experts on Route 66. They have created some of the best content and literature surrounding Route 66 and we intend to continue that legacy through our technology well into the future. We are glad to have them onboard and this endorsement confirms the Route 66 GPS to be the best product on the market.”
Ross told me in an e-mail that he and McClanahan road-tested the GPS download before providing the endorsement.
River Pilot is developing a program that will provided turn-by-turn directions for drivers on Route 66. However, the “Route 66 Attractions” GPS program still contains impressive features, such as:
- More than 850 attractions on Route 66 listed.
- Descriptions, photos, websites, addresses, and phone numbers for hundreds of these locations.
- Attractions include those on obscure Route 66 alignments, including Cuervo Cut-Off and La Bajada Hill in New Mexico, Sidewalk Highway in Oklahoma, Jericho Gap in Texas, and the original Santa Fe alignment.
- Information is up-to-date, as data was gathered in late 2010. It will be updated quarterly.
The download costs $9.99.
I just downloaded the program to my Garmin. My first impression, as they say on Antiques Roadshow, is “Wow”. Can’t wait to try it out this summer (or before) on the road. I’ve been waiting for this ever since I heard about the program.