Southern Living magazine cited the Mother Road during its annual Readers' Choice Awards: The Blue Ridge Parkway, in Asheville, N.C., the Natchez Trace Parkway in Tupelo, Miss., and the portions of Route 66 that run through Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas were named best scenic routes by readers, while editors picked The Bluegrass in Lexington, Ky. … Continue reading Route 66 makes Readers’ Choice Awards
Category: Attractions
Tilting at the Mill
The Decatur (Ill.) Herald & Review has a good article about Geoff Ladd, executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County, and his efforts to save The Mill on old Route 66 in Lincoln, Ill. He was looking to promote connections and objects associated with Route 66 and his optimistic eye soon … Continue reading Tilting at the Mill
Activity in Arcadia
On Sunday, I took a drive on Route 66 to Arcadia, Okla., to check the progress of POPS, the bigger-than-life convenience store envisioned by Chesapeake Energy CEO and Route 66 fan Aubrey McClendon. The above photo is the 66-foot-tall pop bottle and straw, which will be swirled in LED tubing when it's finished. I spied … Continue reading Activity in Arcadia
Ring was lost; now it’s found
Here's a story from the Tulsa World that involves the iconic Blue Whale of Catoosa, Okla., on Route 66. A woman lost her class ring at the site in the early 1970s, when the Blue Whale was still a swimming hole. She searched for it at least one time, but assumed it was gone for … Continue reading Ring was lost; now it’s found
Sky City Pueblo of Acoma named a National Trust Historic site
Sky City Pueblo of Acoma west of Albuquerque, which is the oldest continually inhabited community in North America, has been named the 28th National Trust Historic Site, according to a news release. Overlooking a vast desert-and-mountain sweep of northern New Mexico and dating back to 1150 A.D., Acoma Sky City is a vibrant community characterized … Continue reading Sky City Pueblo of Acoma named a National Trust Historic site
The other side of Arizona
Having traveled Route 66 a few times, I often forget that people who've never traveled the northern part of the state don't know that much of it is a land of pine trees and mountain air, not cacti and blistering desert. For those who want to be in Arizona but escape the summer heat, the … Continue reading The other side of Arizona
Route 66 among Arizona’s top spots
The Arizona Republic has named the top 10 travel spots in the state. One of them was Route 66, and the newspaper compiled a list of things to do on the Mother Road, where to eat and where to stay (although I wish it hadn't chose a chain hotel in Kingman when historic mom-and-pops were … Continue reading Route 66 among Arizona’s top spots
Three Route 66 additions to the National Register of Historic Places
Three pieces of Route 66 were recently added to the National Register of Historic Places. One is the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, which links Madison, Ill., to north St. Louis over the Mississippi River. It was designated on Dec. 1. This story in the Suburban Journals of St. Louis provides a nice overview of … Continue reading Three Route 66 additions to the National Register of Historic Places
A visit to the Museum of Transportation
Elisa Crouch, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Along for the Ride columnist, recently paid a visit to the Museum of Transportation in west St. Louis County, Mo. It's a cool museum -- lots of displays of trains and antique cars. But Route 66 fans will like it because of this display: There were many other interesting … Continue reading A visit to the Museum of Transportation
Precious Moments park will close some attractions
The Joplin (Mo.) Globe reports today that the Precious Moments Inspiration Park, located in the Route 66 town of Carthage, Mo., announced it will close several attractions because of a steep decline in bus tours. Among the attractions slated to close and likely won't reopen are the Fountain of Angels, Wedding Island, an RV park … Continue reading Precious Moments park will close some attractions