About five hours into my drive yesterday, I began having trouble keeping my eyes open. According to my GPS there was a rest area about fifteen miles ahead, so I slapped myself on the cheeks until I got there, then cracked the windows, reclined the seat, wadded my jacket behind my head and propped my feet on the dashboard for a short nap.
When I awakened I decided a walk was in order. The sign in front of the tourist information center was hard to miss.
I headed over to the play area; I’m somewhat addicted to bouncing on the spongy surface of rest area playgrounds. I noticed a fake gas pump behind the play surface.
Cute! I walked around behind the tourist information area and found myself transported to old Route 66.
The path through the picnic area had a yellow line painted down the middle of it and was lined with old-fashioned street lamps.
The picnic tables were adorned with false fronts of businesses along Route 66.
It was a beautiful day and a fun rest area. Probably better than actually driving on Route 66. I’ve heard all those famous businesses that are still around have gone somewhat to seed.
Trip Crazed would like to thank our Xanga user
Saintvi for submitting her photos from Route 66!
Have you ever traveled on Route 66? What was your experience?
True 
Premium
Comments (19)
I dont think we been on Route 66, nice entry.
Just last week I traveled on Route 66! I got on at Edmond, Oklahoma traveling east to Stroud because I wanted to see the round barn at Arcadia. The barn is quite large, round, and red. It's also right next to the road so you can't miss it, quite amazing. Traveling is fairly slow on the stretch I was on (45-55) but I wouldn't be comfortable going much faster as the road is narrow and there are guards in some places that made it seem even narrower. About the only traffic I met on that beautiful Saturday afternoon was motorcycles. Lots of motorcycles. If you need to go fast in that area you'd best get on 44 and go 75 but I rather like the slower pace of Route 66.
I seen the historic Route 66 in Albuquerque.
This rest area is about 1 hour east of me, and was recently opened earlier this summer. All you can see from the highway is the neon sign (first pic) and since I have no need for a rest area near my home, I didn't know about the rest of it.
Very cool! Thanks for sharing the photos!
:O You said, say Hi... So, Hi! :D Also, I've never been, but Route 66...reminds me of the animated film, Cars :)
@bravestar@xanga - If I lived near that rest area, I'd be planning fun theme party/picnics there.
When we lived in Idaho Falls, we and our friends had picnics at the nearest rest area all the time. It was the nicest park in the area back then. I'm hoping things have improved in the past 25 years!
@shellisland@xanga - I'll have to look for that barn next time I'm that far west. We have a big, white round barn just outside The 'Duh. It's been bought by a local winery and is now used for wine tasting. There's supposedly another round barn about an hour away. I've looked for it twice and haven't found it yet.
I've driven alongside Route 66 a number of times and this past spring I saw the very beginning of the Route in Chicago.
I would love to drive the whole thing from Chicago to L.A. with a good friend one of these days!
I have lived in Oklahoma for 40 years and have only been on Rt 66 a few times. Just this spring I "made" my husband take it for awhile on the way from OKC to Tulsa. We saw the barn in Arcadia (just from the outside, Hubs is not the tourist type.) It was a nice drive for an hour, that's all he could take of it! As a kid I remember going by the blue whale around Catoosa. (We never stopped there either. Dad too was not much of a tourist .) And I have been on it for maybe 15 minutes out in Western Ok. There were lots of abandoned businesses...it was sad.
Route 66 Is Alive and Well! A lot of those mom & pop establishments along The Mother Road are doing well on a highway that will never die. Probably not a good idea to say something like, "I’ve heard all those famous businesses that are still around have gone somewhat to seed," as those businesses count on tourist trade (worldwide) to keep them open. Not scolding, just letting you know that Route 66 alive and well! There's always something going on, on America's Main Street. Learn more about Route 66 at Route66People.com. Best wishes to you all and take a road trip soon!
Cheesy but cool :)
click the link below!!!!!!!!!!!!
"FREE WATCH MY ONLINE HOT VIDEOS"
or visit to my weblog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://urlcover.com/7t4
http://urlcover.com/7t4
http://urlcover.com/7t4
http://urlcover.com/7t4
http://urlcover.com/7t4
http://urlcover.com/7t4
http://urlcover.com/7t4
http://urlcover.com/7t4
@snippetsofstories@xanga - A lot of the details in Cars were based on Route 66
http://rwarn17588.wordpress.com/2006/06/09/a-route-66-guide-to-the-cars-movie/
that seems really nice. :]
so touristy lol
Only bits and pieces of Route 66 actually remain today because the old high way was resulting in a lot of deaths. It wasn't very safe because it was so windy. It's been replaced by 4 lane highways moving in the same general direction, I think it's mostly route 40 now? Sometimes the 4 lane highway follows the orginal route 66, sometimes it cuts in a slightly more direct direction, and you have to get off at an exit to follow "historic route 66" But I have travelled that highway many a time en route from Wisconsin to Arizona. Can't say I've gotten off at too many historic route 66 exits though. I never have enough time in which to do so
Neat idea, different than the usual boring rest areas. I went to the Route 66 Museum in Clinton, OK.
Awesome post! I love these little 'hidden' gems. Great pics.
i've been there - just a few months ago! it was awesome!