Historic Route 66

Day 1

Arrive Chicago, Illinois

Our Adventure along Route 66, referred to by John Steinbeck as “the mother road” and “America’s Main Street,” begins today in Chicago. Travelers are invited to join us this evening for an introduction to the Windy City by coach.

Day 2

Chicago–McLean, Illinois (B,D)
Chicago Windy City Walk, IL 11 km, rated 1+

Today’s activities start with breakfast at Lou Mitchell’s Restaurant, a Chicago institution since 1923. Our walk includes Windy City classics like the Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum, the John Hancock Building, and the Magnificent Mile along Michigan Avenue. Following the walk, our pilgrimage–a 2,400 mile odyssey to Santa Monica, California, where the road ends–begins with a stretch southwest along the original road to dinner at the Old Log Cabin Inn in Pontiac.

Day 3

McLean–St. Louis, Missouri (B)
Abe Lincoln Springfield Walk, IL 10 km, rated 1

Breakfast at Dixie Trucker’s Home shows us how an icon of Route 66 started in 1928 from a converted garage has adapted during 75 years of change. Our Springfield walk traces the heritage of Abraham Lincoln with stops at Lincoln’s Tomb, the state capitol, and the Lincoln Home. After a stop for a Route 66 lunch (not included) at Cozy Dog Drive-In, where corn dogs were first created, we’ll cross the border to St. Louis.

Day 4

St. Louis–Rolla, Missouri (B)
St. Louis Amazing Arch Walk, MO 10 km, rated 1

This morning’s walk features the city that was considered a major gateway to westward migration in the century before Route 66. We’ll visit the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial or the famous Gateway Arch before our mid-afternoon departure along the Old Road.

Day 5

Rolla–Carthage, Missouri (B)
Victorian Carthage Walk, MO 10 km, rated 1+

Route 66 leads us diagonally across Missouri to Carthage this morning. Our walk this afternoon explores this Ozark community with its quiet neighborhoods, stately Victorian homes, and fascinating Civil War heritage. An optional visit to the unique Precious Moments Chapel (admission not included) will also be offered.

Day 6

Carthage–Chandler, Oklahoma (B)
Riverton Rainbow Bridge Walk, KS 10 km, rated 1

The state of Kansas lays claim to only 13 miles of the Route, and we’ll cover a good percentage of that on this morning’s walk that includes a stroll across Rainbow Bridge, a classic Route 66 landmark. A lunch break at the Eisler Bros. Old Riverton Store (est. 1925) is the only appropriate way to finish this walk. Across the state line in Claremore, Oklahoma, we’ll pause at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum to reflect on the life of this beloved humorist.

Day 7

Chandler–Clinton, Oklahoma (B)
Oklahoma City “OKC” Walk, OK 10 km, rated 1+

A short drive to OKC, as the locals call it, prepares us for our Oklahoma City walk. Featured along the trail are the seven-story, cylindrical Crystal Bridge at Myriad Botanical Gardens and the Oklahoma City National Memorial, eulogizing those lost in the tragic bombing of 1995. After the walk, we’ll visit the renowned National Cowboy Hall of Fame before following the Route west to Clinton on the high plains of Oklahoma.

Day 8

Clinton–Amarillo, Texas (B)

One of our favorite Route 66 museums is right across the street from our hotel in Clinton. After this nostalgic window into the Oklahoma of yesteryear, America’s Main Street leads us into the Texas Panhandle. En route to Amarillo, the Devil’s Rope Museum fills a surprisingly interesting gap in our knowledge of western lore. A memorable visit to the Elkins Ranch at Palo Duro Canyon tonight includes a great steak dinner and introduces us to the largerthan- life legends of the Lone Star State.

Mother Road Out West: Amarillo Santa Monica

Travelers participating only in Mother Road Out West will arrive today in the Texas Panhandle town of Amarillo, the beginning of their Adventure along the western portion of Route 66. Mother Road Out West travelers will rendezvous with the group participating in Mother Road in the Heartland this afternoon at our Amarillo hotel. The combined group will then enjoy an evening visit to Elkins Ranch.

Day 9

Amarillo–Santa Fe, New Mexico (B,D)
Amarillo Panhandle Walk, TX 10 km, rated 1

Following a Texas-sized breakfast at the Big Texan Steak Ranch, our walk for the day explores the parks and neighborhoods along historic Route 66 in Amarillo. Continuing our westward pilgrimage, we’ll stop for a photo of the eclectic Cadillac Ranch then pay homage at the remains of Glenrio, a Route 66 ghost town straddling the Texas/New Mexico border. A brief stop in the Mother Road town of Tucumcari, an early supper at the Lake City Diner in Santa Rosa, and a scenic drive north to Santa Fe round out another classic day on the Road.

Mother Road in the Heartland: Chicago–Amarillo

Following the walk in Amarillo this morning, travelers participating only in Mother Road in the Heartland will be transferred to the Amarillo International Airport.

Day 10

Santa Fe–Albuquerque, New Mexico (B)
Santa Fe Spanish Heritage Walk, NM 10 km, rated 1+

The majority of today is devoted to a popular walk through New Mexico’s capital, the oldest town (established in 1610) west of the Mississippi. A captivating weave of Native American, Spanish, and Anglo cultures gives travelers insight into the heritage of New Mexico as they stroll past the capitol building, the original Palace of the Governors, and the 17th century San Miguel Mission Church. This evening, we’ll be down the road at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. The largest hot air balloon event in the world draws hundreds of balloonists with craft of all shapes, sizes, and colors. Tonight’s event is the Special Shapes Glow, when all balloons created in unusual shapes fire their burners and light up at the same time – it’s breathtaking!

Day 11

Activities from Albuquerque, NM (B)
Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Walk, NM
10 km, rated 1

Today’s Fiesta highlight is a Mass Ascension of all balloons, including the Special Shapes. You’ll see why Fiesta coordinators claim that this is the most photographed event in the world! Following this hot air high, we’ll return to town for breakfast and our walk through Old Town Albuquerque’s shops, galleries, and eateries. The Route from Albuquerque leads west across the high desert, arriving this evening at the historic El Rancho Motel in Gallup, a busy trading center for the Navajo nation.

Day 12

Gallup, NM–Flagstaff, AZ(B)
Flagstaff Route 66 Walk, AZ 10 km, rated 2

We’ll follow the open road westward into Arizona this morning, cruising past old Route 66 settlements like Holbrook and Winslow before arriving around lunchtime for today’s walk in Flagstaff. Prior to its Route 66 days, this town’s “flagstaff” marked the trail for wagon trains bound for California.

Day 13

Flagstaff, AZ–Needles, California (B)

Our mid-morning rest stop will be in Seligman at the fabled Snow Cap Drive-In restaurant, a Route 66 icon. One of the bestpreserved sections of the old road takes us to Kingman for a lunch stop, followed by the steepest portions of the Route that lead to the old mining town of Oatman, known for the semi-wild burros that wander the main street. We’ll overnight in Needles in preparation for tomorrow’s final run to the Pacific.

Day 14

Needles–Santa Monica, California (B)

Beyond Needles, the dreaded heat of the Mohave Desert awaits; feared by drivers of less reliable, older model vehicles more than any other stretch of Route 66. We’ll better understand their anxiety as we cruise the parched, unforgiving desert en route to a morning break at Roy’s Café, a Mohave outpost since 1938. We’ll stop for a lunch break and our last Route 66 Museum in Victorville before embarking on the last leg of the journey through Los Angeles to Santa Monica.

Day 15

Activities in Santa Monica (B,D)
Santa Monica End of the Route Walk, CA 10 km, rated 1

The Mother Road ends at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Ocean Avenue in the popular ocean resort of Santa Monica, a stone’s throw from the waves of the Pacific. Our last walk features the Third Street Promenade, colorful Santa Monica Pier, and Palisades Park. You’ll have all day to explore “the end of the road”– consider a visit to one of Santa Monica’s many museums, enjoy the public murals and other monuments, or sample the shops and restaurants along the pier.

Day 16

Santa Monica–Hometown, USA (B)

We’ll make our way to the Los Angeles International Airport this morning, saying farewell to our fellow pilgrims efore returning to our own corners of America. As the old song goes, we “got our kicks on Route 66,” enjoying a nostalgic dose of the Mother Road and a slice of all things Americana along the way.