Tag Archives: Route 66

An Old Fashioned Road Trip

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Enhanced view of the Badlands showing colorful layered rock formations, rugged hills, and a winding road with cars and an RV traveling through the landscape under a partly cloudy sky.

The Lost Art of the Road Trip

Ahh, the road trip. It’s a lost art, and this year it’s been on my mind thanks to the 100th anniversary of the Mother Road. Yes, Route 66 — the ultimate American road trip — is still celebrating, if the headlines can be believed.

Thinking about Route 66 made me remember how different road travel was when I was a kid. So buckle up and let’s take a little drive down memory lane. And by the way… we didn’t have seat belts when I was growing up.

Rule #1: Never Let the Tank Drop Below Half

This was the big one. The rule. The commandment.

Never let the gas tank fall below half. No matter what.

And honestly? I still follow that in winter.

Why it mattered:

  • We didn’t have 24‑hour gas stations
  • Fuel gauges weren’t always reliable
  • Stations could be miles apart
  • You needed enough gas to stay warm if you got stuck
  • A half tank reduced condensation in the fuel line

It wasn’t a suggestion — it was survival. Half a tank or bust.

Rule #2: CB Radios Were Our Lifeline

I bet some of the younger crowd doesn’t even know what a CB radio was. But for road trippers, it was essential.

With a quick “Breaker Breaker 1‑9”, you could:

  • talk to truckers
  • learn about trouble up ahead
  • find out where the “Smokey Bears” (police) were hiding
  • get recommendations for the best cup o’ joe

If you wanted to make time, you found a couple of truckers, slipped into the “rocking chair” between them, and put the pedal to the metal.

Rule #3: Map Reading 101

We weren’t just good at reading maps — we were excellent.

No GPS. No cell phones. Just paper maps that folded into more creases than an origami swan.

It helped to have a passenger who could read the map while you drove, but even kids learned how to follow the lines and symbols.

Rule #4: Scenic Overlooks Were Mandatoryrangeley overlook

“What’s that? A scenic overlook?”

Pull over.

Not slow down. Not glance out the window. Stop the car completely.

Kids tumbled out, parents took pictures, and every stop looked exactly like the last one — except for the sign telling you which overlook you were at. We got very good at photographing signs.

Rule #5: Change in the Cup Holder

Before EZ‑Pass, SunPass, or anything-pass, we had:

  • nickels
  • dimes
  • quarters
  • and whatever random coins lived in the cup holder

If you were on the New Jersey Turnpike, you needed toll money every few miles. The cup holder was basically a portable bank.

Rule #6: The Cooler Was Sacred

You’ve heard “Don’t leave home without it”? For us, that meant the cooler.

It was packed with:

  • ice
  • soda
  • sandwiches
  • snacks
  • and “adult beverages” for the folks

No McDonald’s on the roads we traveled. Lunch was whatever Mom packed, eaten at a rest stop picnic table with ants for company.

Rule #7: Entertainment Was… Minimal

Hang onto your hats, kids — there were:

  • no tablets
  • no built‑in TV screens
  • no cell phones

If you were bored, you looked out the window.

Games included:

  • counting cows
  • spotting license plates from different states
  • singing songs
  • and yes… 99 Bottles of Beer (which felt like it lasted the entire trip)

Road Trips Then and Now

Road trips today are easier, faster, and more comfortable — but they’re missing that old‑school charm. The cooler, the CB radio, the paper maps, the scenic overlooks… they were part of the adventure.

And maybe that’s why Route 66 still captures our imagination. It reminds us of a time when the journey mattered just as much as the destination.

 

Celebrating 100 years of the Mother Road

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The mother road is 100 years old and still fascinates travelers

Celebrating a Road That Isn’t All There Anymore

Every now and then something pops up in my feed that feels like a tap on the shoulder. Today it was a notice about the upcoming Route 66 Centennial — a once‑in‑a‑century celebration for a road that’s somehow both legendary and, well… missing in places. I was out and about, minding my own business, when suddenly the Mother Road wanted my attention again.

And honestly? I didn’t mind.

A Road That Crosses Eight States… and I’ve Only Seen a Sliver

The article reminded me that Route 66 stretches across eight states, from Illinois cornfields to the California coast. Eight states of diners, neon signs, motels, migration stories, and dusty postcards. Eight states of American mythology.

My own experience? A tiny sliver — the stretch near Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon. A few miles, a few minutes, and yet it still felt like stepping into a vintage travel poster. The kind with a smiling family in a station wagon and a promise that adventure is just one more mile down the road.

 

It’s funny how a place can be both new to you and instantly familiar.

The Centennial That Sparked This Post

The blurb I saw summed it up perfectly:

The centennial commemorates the original designation of Route 66 on April 30, 1926, celebrating its cultural, historical, and economic impact across eight states. The celebration also highlights preservation efforts, tourism, and the ongoing legacy of the Mother Road.

That’s the heart of it — not just a birthday party, but a celebration of everything Route 66 has meant to travelers, dreamers, and the communities along its path.

Whether you’re attending the kickoff in Springfield, joining a satellite event, or just driving a surviving stretch, the centennial is being billed as a “once‑in‑a‑century opportunity to experience the heritage and spirit of America’s most iconic highway.”

And that’s what got me thinking.

Why Celebrate a Road That Isn’t Whole Anymore?

Route 66 isn’t intact from end to end. Some pieces have been rerouted, abandoned, or swallowed by the interstate system. Some towns faded when the traffic did. Some stretches survive only as cracked pavement and fading paint.

But maybe that’s exactly why it deserves celebrating.

Because Route 66 was never just a road.
It was a promise.
A pathway west.
A symbol of possibility.
A ribbon of stories stretching across eight states and nearly a century.

Even in fragments, it still carries all of that.

 

My Little Piece of the Mother Road

Standing on that stretch near Flagstaff, I remember thinking how strange and wonderful it was that a simple road could hold so much history. I wasn’t driving cross‑country. I wasn’t chasing the whole route. I was just passing through — and yet I felt connected to something bigger.

And because the universe has a sense of humor, one of my favorite photos from that trip is of Mater the tow truck — yes, that Mater from Pixar’s Cars — sitting proudly along Route 66. A fictional character on a real road, reminding me that Route 66 lives just as much in our imagination as it does on the map. Pixar didn’t just make a cute movie; they captured the heartache and hope of all those little towns the Mother Road once carried.

Maybe that’s the magic of Route 66.
You don’t need all 2,448 miles.
Sometimes a few feet — or a rusty tow truck with a big grin — are enough.

Looking Ahead to the Centennial

The centennial feels like an invitation — not just to celebrate the past, but to appreciate what remains and to honor the communities keeping the spirit alive. To wander a little. To remember that roads don’t have to be perfect or continuous to take you somewhere meaningful.

Maybe I’ll explore more of it someday.
Maybe you will too.

Either way, the Mother Road is turning 100, and that’s worth a moment of appreciation.

Maybe a road doesn’t have to be whole to take you somewhere.

 

Is the Great American Road Trip Running Out of Road?

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**🚗Road Trip, the call of a generation

Rt 66 in arizona has a load of attractions including more modern ones like Mater from Cars

A Cross‑Country Daydream from Route 66 to Route 20**

America’s Love Affair With the Open Road

With gas prices climbing and no relief in sight, it’s fair to wonder whether the classic American road trip is slowly becoming an endangered species. Then again, air travel isn’t exactly a walk in the park these days either.

Still, before we declare the road trip obsolete, it’s worth pausing to appreciate the romance, freedom, and pure Americana that grew out of our national love affair with the automobile.

The Mother Road: Route 66

One iconic road immediately comes to mind — and I’m pleased to say I’ve explored a small slice of it.

Route 66, the legendary “Mother Road,” was established in 1926 and stretched 2,448 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica. It wound through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, carrying generations of dreamers westward.

Though officially decommissioned, roughly 85% of the route is still drivable. Vintage neon signs, retro diners, quirky roadside attractions, and weathered motels still line the way, offering a nostalgic glimpse into a bygone era.

America’s Longest Road: Route 20

If Route 66 is the most famous, Route 20 is the heavyweight champion. At 3,365 miles, it’s the longest road in the United States — and it starts right here in Boston.

A Route 20 adventure would take you through 12 states and across the entire country, ending in Newport, Oregon. Along the way, you could:

  • Stroll the Boston Esplanade
  • Visit the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield
  • Wander the Finger Lakes of New York
  • Detour to Niagara Falls
  • Swing up to Lake Placid, home of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice”

Then it’s onward through Pennsylvania and into Ohio, where Cedar Point awaits with some of the best roller coasters in the nation. Once you catch your breath, Route 20 rolls into Indiana and the Indiana Dunes National Park.

Across the Heartland and Into Big Sky Country

In Illinois, Route 20 carries you straight through Chicago before crossing the Mississippi River into Iowa.

Then comes Wyoming — Big Sky Country at its finest. You’ll pass through Lost Springs, the least populated municipality in America, and you’re just a side trip away from Yellowstone. Keep an eye out for bison; they don’t yield.

Getting ready to pass by

Montana only gets about ten miles of Route 20, but it’s close enough to tempt you toward the famous Going‑to‑the‑Sun Road, a bucket‑list drive if ever there was one.

The Final Push to the Pacific

Idaho brings a breather in Boise before the home stretch. The last state is Oregon, but don’t be fooled — there are still 451 miles to go before you reach Newport and the Pacific Ocean.

Quite the road trip indeed.

And Then… Maybe the Overseas Highway?

Once I’ve conquered Route 20, maybe I’ll head south to Florida for the Overseas Highway — 113 miles and 42 bridges ending at the Southernmost Point in Key West. A completely different kind of road trip, but just as iconic.

So… Is the Road Trip Doomed?

Maybe gas prices will rise. Maybe travel will keep changing. But the American road trip isn’t just about miles or money — it’s about freedom, curiosity, and the irresistible pull of the horizon.

As long as there are roads to follow and stories to chase, I don’t think the great American road trip is going anywhere.

 

Travel Daydreams: The Finale

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As I wrap up this three-part wander through the “40 Trips Every Woman Should Take Before She Dies” list, I’m still amazed at how many of these adventures I’ve already checked off—or at least dreamed about. This last batch brings back some big memories and sparks a few new ideas too.

Grand Canyon

#27 – The Grand Canyon (Again, and Worth It Every Time)

We’ve talked about the Grand Canyon before, but honestly, it deserves another mention. If I were ranking this list, it would be sitting proudly at #1. I’ve been twice, and the second visit was every bit as jaw-dropping as the first. Even with my adrenaline-junky streak, I still have zero desire to take that mule ride into the canyon. Watching from the rim suits me just fine—plenty of awe without the saddle sores.

#32 – A Weekend in Las Vegas

I’ve spent many weekends in Las Vegas, but not for the reasons most people go. The casinos don’t tempt me at all, but the shows? Absolutely. Still, if I return, I’d rather trade the neon lights for the fiery glow of Valley of Fire State Park. Those red sandstone formations and ancient petroglyphs are calling my name. And if you’re already in the area, a side trip to Hoover Dam is well worth the time. I’ve done it, and it’s every bit as impressive as the postcards suggest.

#33 – Leaf Peeping in the FallFall leaves

Living in Taunton, MA puts me right in the heart of leaf-peeping country, so this one feels like home. One of my favorite fall memories is riding the Kancamagus Highway on the back of my brother’s motorcycle—no car windows, no distractions, just pure color exploding around every curve. The list also recommends the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon, and honestly, that would be spectacular in any season.

#34 – A Road Trip on Route 66

Ah, Route 66—the Mother Road. Not all of it survives today, but the stretch I explored in Arizona near the Grand Canyon still carries that nostalgic charm. Vintage neon signs, old-school diners, quirky souvenir shops… it’s a living postcard from America’s road‑tripping heyday. You can almost hear the hum of classic cars cruising by.

The Ones I Skipped

Wine-tasting tours from California to France didn’t make my personal list—I’m not much of a drinker. And the shopping trips to NYC or the Mall of America? Also not my style.

 

I’ve been to New York City, but I went for the history and the sights: Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, the Museum of Natural History… and of course, a Broadway show. And ever since 9/11, no trip to the city feels complete without visiting the 9/11 Memorial. It’s a powerful, solemn place that reminds you how deeply the city—and the world—was changed.

A Final Thought

If I were adding to this list, I’d say any relaxing Hawaii trip should include a stop at Pearl Harbor. It’s a beautiful, solemn memorial and a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by so many.

So now I’m curious—what do you think.
Which trips did these professional travel writers overlook. Check out the full list here
Do you have a favorite getaway that always calls you back.
And how many of their 40 have you crossed off.