The length of the original U.S. 66 is commonly cited as 2,448 miles (although Wikipedia lists it as 2,451 miles). Stefan Joppich's research indicates through bypasses and improvements, the length of Route 66 dropped in miles to 2,278 by 1947 -- much of it through the bypass of Santa Fe, which lopped off almost 120. How long … Continue reading What is the length of Route 66?
Category: Road trips
North Coast 500: ‘Scotland’s answer to Route 66’
Yeah, that slogan caught my eye, too. The North Highland Initiative launched a campaign this year in an effort way to lure visitors to the so-called North Coast 500, a circular route that hugs the edge of Scotland, starting and ending at Inverness Castle. Claire Farquhar, communications and project manager for the North Highland Initiative, explained in an email … Continue reading North Coast 500: ‘Scotland’s answer to Route 66’
Andy Warhol’s visit to Clanton’s Cafe
Pop artist Andy Warhol's pivotal 1963 highway journey from New York City to Los Angeles -- including much of Route 66 -- was chronicled in Deborah Davis' new book, "The Trip." But a recent interview with Davis by the Tulsa World newspaper reveals a tidbit from Warhol's journey not included in the book -- Warhol dined in the famed Clanton's Cafe … Continue reading Andy Warhol’s visit to Clanton’s Cafe
12 useful tips for traveling Route 66
By Emily Priddy During the recent Miles of Possibility conference in Edwardsville, Illinois, guidebook authors Jim Ross and Jerry McClanahan offered advice for travelers planning a trip on the road. Here are some of the suggestions they offered during the hourlong session: Do your homework ahead of time, and go beyond guidebooks — learn the … Continue reading 12 useful tips for traveling Route 66
“Route 66 in Illinois”
The "Route 66 in Illinois" presentation by Joe Sonderman and Cheryl Eichar Jett -- who co-wrote a book by the same name -- during the Miles of Possibility conference in Edwardsville, Illinois, contained a few tidbits of information even veteran roadies might not have known, such as: An explosion in 1942 at the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant … Continue reading “Route 66 in Illinois”
“Route 66 Bicycle Tourism”
By Emily Priddy Route 66 communities looking for ways to attract tourists with a fondness for mom-and-pop businesses might want to start courting cyclists. S.J. Morrison, director of marketing and planning for Madison County Transit in Illinois, said trail users in his area spend an average of more than $30 each at restaurants, gas stations … Continue reading “Route 66 Bicycle Tourism”
“Route 66 as Seen Through Europeans”
Tourism directors and businesses on Route 66 want to draw more European travelers but aren't sure how to do so. So who better to give advice than a European who's a longtime Route 66 fan? Swa Frantzen of Belgium fit the bill during his presentation at the Miles of Possibility conference in Edwardsville, Illinois, on Oct. … Continue reading “Route 66 as Seen Through Europeans”
“Cultural Heritage Tourism: Why People Travel Route 66”
A marketing professor revealed a little-known word -- anemoia -- he'd discovered only in the past year that probably explains why many people explore Route 66. Nick Gerlich, a professor at West Texas A&M and an avid explorer of old Route 66, explained during his presentation Oct. 31 at the Miles of Possibility Conference in Edwardsville, Illinois, that anemoia … Continue reading “Cultural Heritage Tourism: Why People Travel Route 66”
Motorist attacks cyclist on Sapulpa’s Ozark Trail
A New York cyclist exploring the Old Ozark Trail alignment of Route 66 near Sapulpa, Oklahoma, when he was attacked by an inexplicably enraged motorist, according to the Tulsa World. Jeffrey Tanenhaus, 35, of Scarsdale, New York, who became bored with his office job and decided to see the country by bicycle, had spent an … Continue reading Motorist attacks cyclist on Sapulpa’s Ozark Trail
Book review: Lonely Planet’s “Route 66 Road Trips”
You know the renaissance of Route 66 has become a global phenomenon when the biggest travel guidebook publisher, Australia-based Lonely Planet, released its first guidebook on the Mother Road this year. With that in mind, one should consider "Route 66 Road Trips" (128 pages, soft cover, illustrated color) as an appetizer designed for an international audience, not … Continue reading Book review: Lonely Planet’s “Route 66 Road Trips”