Chicago:
Famed for its architectural delights and windy weather, Chicago is a quintessential American Metropolis, buzzing with activity – from cultural delights, quirky art exhibits, global culinary spreads and fanatic baseball fans! Float down the Chicago River to witness some of the best sights of the city through a boat ride or spend a lazy day strolling across the city, inspecting the innovative art scene – from the whimsical public art studs on the streets to an abstract Picasso, or witness the sheer energy of a baseball game at a city stadium. Fill your evenings with live musical performances as you experiment with some of the best global culinary spreads across the city. Be it art, music or food, Chicago is offers a peak into the 21st century American dream!
Springfield, IL:
As you leave behind the hustle and bustle of Chicago, a quaint dusty route into rural Illinois marks the beginning of your road trip through Route 66. A scenic drive with rural American landscape lined with cornfields, and attractions like the swinging bridges, Gemini Giant, Banyan Gaints and the Murals of the town of Pontiac, make the 200 miles ride in to Springfield, a memorable one. The capital city of Illinois, Springfield is famed for its association with Abraham Lincoln who practiced law here before being elected the 16th President of the USA.
St. Louis:
Drive through some of the most iconic sites of Route 66, including the original brick topped stretch of Auburn Brick road, as you make your way to the port town of St. Louis. Located on the banks of the MIssisippi, St. Louis is famed for its ‘Gateway Arch’, dubbed to be the gateway to the west, and is the 19th largest metropolis in the USA and a town soaked with history and culture. Revel in the unique blend of historic Native American culture, Beer, Bowling and Baseball, as you hop across the city visiting the Missouri History Museum, National blues Museum, the Botanical Garden and the St. Louis Art Museum.
Albuquerque:
Leave your car and fly into Albuquerque, New Mexico for the second leg of your road trip. The largest city in the state of New Mexico, Albuquerque, nestled in the Sandia Mountains, with rugged, pink desert landscapes and coyote calls, is a far cry from the bustling central mainland. Beyond its urban façade the city is a significant dessert crossroad with iconic Route 66 diners, cottonwood Bosque of Rio Grande, modern museum of Pueblo culture and New Mexican Art and Space. A tramway would be ideal to soak in the city and its surrounding landscapes. With excellent hiking and mountain biking trails, Albuquerque is your quintessential gateway to explore and enjoy American desert wilderness before you hit the road again.
Winslow:
Make your way from Albuquerque to the Arizona state city of Winslow, passing through iconic Sky City Acoma Pueblo and Petrified Forest National Park. Made famous by the Eagles ‘Take it easy” sound track, the city has dedicated a mural depicting the lyrics, with an iconic life size bronze structure of a hitchhiker ‘standing on the corner’ by a mural of a girl in the red Ford.
Grand Canyon:
Head further to North-western Arizona on Route 66 towards the Grand Canyon National park, with a brief stopover to see the 50,000 years old mile wide Meteor Crater. Awarded as a UNESCO World heritage site, the National Park offers some grand Western American vistas and splendid landscapes surrounding the Grand Canyon, a gorge of the Colorado River and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Exploring the glorious Native American History and the dessert way of life by visiting the South Rim Museums or better still, take a guided hiking/ walking trail through the gorge and understand the human evolution along the landscape with some enlightening ranger talk. The Grand Canyon railway is an excellent way to explore the sites while the Desert View watchtower, the Trail of time and Tusayan Ruin Museum are recommended experiences.
Las Vegas:
Head further Westwards, passing derelict gas stations and worn down motels covered with foliage, and the majestic Hoover Dam over the Colorado River to arrive to Las Vegas – the Casino city of American Dreams, Indulgence, Fate, Fame and Opulence! Known for its A-list entertainers and live stage shows, fine dine options with celebrity chefs, and a lavish spread of luxurious living are some of the best offerings of Las Vegas – the most populous city of the desert state of Nevada. Among the must visit at Las Vegas include the towering Stratosphere- 1149ft-high tapered tripod tower housing some of the country’s highest thrill rides and viewing decks offering 360 degree views of Las Vegas. Also on the list are the famed casinos in ‘The Strip’ – The Venetian, MGM Grand, Cosmopolitan and Circus Circus – each boasting of several opulent and luxurious spreads for patrons. Another landmark at The Strip is the Cirque du Soleil, known for its heart-stopping stage shows curated to display the best of human dance, acrobatics, art and dramatics. For the seasoned traveler however, Vegas is as much about its abundant natural treasures as the promise of earthly bounties. Majestic gorges and landscapes sculpted by the wind and baked in sun, the serene Rock State Park and the surrounding splendor invite the weary souls to bathe in the silence of the vast mountains and Alpine forests.
Los Angeles:
Through the final leg of your road trip along Route 66, drive across the Mojave National Preserve, passing picturesque sand dunes, wildflowers and Joshua trees, before arriving into the dazzling Los Angeles – city of showbiz and Hollywood. Perched on the Pacific coast, and with the iconic Hollywood hills, the upscale Beverly Hills and the Santa Monica beach, Los Angeles is nothing short of a phenomenon! Soak in the glamour as you stroll across the Beverly Hills area, browsing through the numerous boutiques and antique shops or, if you are feeling adventurous, take a hike up the Hollywood mountains. Also a must on the list is visit to the iconic Universal Studios and the Disneyland theme parks for a first hand experience of iconic characters, larger than life sets and a magical touch of glamour and entertainment! And after all the excitement, spend the last day soaking up the sun and the sea breeze at the Santa Monica beach – an ideal way to unwind and relax after an eventful and enriching road trip across the Route 66!
