when you drive through Claremore, ok... get some BBQ at Cotton Eyed Joes... tradtional BBQ in Oklahoma is FOB (fall off the bone) ribs, baked beans, coleslaw, white bread and BBQ bolugna (sounds gross but is great).  Claremore also has the JH Gun museum... it was some guys private collection... it is a quick look but prettty cool.  a little north of Foyle, OK is the worlds tallest totem pole.  it is an outdoor park for you dog to run around.  beyond that.. not much else in OK!  wish i could help more

Posted Dec 17, 2010

I've never driven it myself, but a good friend of mine did a couple years ago and chronicled it in this blog:  http://jacob66.blogspot.com/

Posted Dec 17, 2010

OMG I'm about to rock your world... check out http://RoadsideAmerica.com :-)

Posted Dec 18, 2010

Ok, so it rejected my first response, and I can't get it back.  I'm going to try to remember all of what I wrote:

NM-Are you going the old traditional route and going up to Santa Fe?  If so, stop for the sunsets there-they are beautiful.  Backwoods Pizza is close to the route and it's good.

TX-Amarillo has a good cheap Japanese Steakhouse a couple miles away from the route.  It's called the Sakura Japanese Steakhouse.  

IL-About 45 minutes south of Springfield, there's a town called Litchfield.  There's an old cafe that was built in the 20's and nothing has changed inside at all.  Here's the linkhttp://www.ariston-cafe.com/.  In Berwyn (suburb of Chicago), the Cermak Plaza has some crazy art sculptures, and was once home to the famous 'spindle' from Wayne's World.  Again, it's not directly on the route, but it's cool.

Posted Jan 12, 2011

I've always wanted to do this rather than take boring I-40 across.  Report back on the hidden gems you find along the way.

Posted Dec 18, 2010

http://www.rattlesnakes.com/

Get a mug like Craig Ferguson in ABQ!

Posted Dec 19, 2010

If you're an Eagles fan, you must stop in Winslow, AZ and stand on the corner next to the statue of the guy with the guitar.

Visit http://www.historic66.com for a travel guide.

Load Bobby Troupe's (Get Your Kicks on) Route 66 on your iPod and you're set.

Posted Dec 20, 2010

There's a gas station just outside of Oklahoma City that has a giant sculpture of a soda bottle outside; inside, they have the widest variety of bottled sodas I've ever seen.  

Posted Dec 20, 2010

Dodge City is a definite taste of the west (old and new) Flagstaff is a must for a stop as it is a great town check out the Native American museum there. It is on the doorstep to the Grand Canyon so perhaps a small diversion is in order! 

Posted Dec 22, 2010

Jonathan:

1)   In Winslow, AZ, locate the "corner."  Anyone in town will know which one it is.  It is the "standing on the corner in Winslow, AZ..." of the Eagle's song, Take it Easy.  Photograph yourself.

2)  The Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, AZ is definitely quirky.

3)  Absolutely, don't miss stopping in Hackberry, AZ and see if Hippie Bob Waldmeir is still there.  Talk about quirky.  Plan to have stale coffee and a 2 hour visit.

4)  Take in the El Ranch Hotel in Gallop, NM.  It was the location where the casts and crews stayed when so many 1940's & 50's desert and western movies were filmed near there.  It bills itself as 'Home of Movie Stars."  You can enjoy a good breakfast or lunch there.

5)  In Tucumcari, notice all the old time neon mo-tel signs.  Then enjoy a meal at Del's.

6)  Just west of Amarillo, on the south side of the road, is Cadillac Ranch, where eccentric Stanley Marsh buried 10 or so old old Caddie's nose first with the tail fins pointing west.  Stop and cross the field with ink marker in hand to leave your signature.

7)  In Amarillo, on the west end of town, stop at the Big Texan.  You can try the 72 oz. steak and get it for free if can eat the whole meal in the allotted time.  If you don't dine, check out the freeze dried rattlesnakes in the curio shop.  A Canyon State College marketing professor mounted the squiggly little venom spewers as a hobby, but gave up being a school marm when the snake biz became more profitable.  Talk about quirky !

8)   The national Route 66 museum is in Elk City, OK and Oklahoma's Route 66 museum is in Clinton, OK.  Both are definitely worth the stop.

9)   In Oklahoma City, stop at Bricktown.  It is a very worthwhile entertainment district.  Lots to do and see.

This is where I get off and head for the house.

Very Happy Travels,

Lance Johnson / Oklahoma City

Posted Dec 23, 2010

El Rancho in Gallup New Mexico.

The entry is three stories high filled with cowboy movie photos. The furniture in the motel rooms is priceless. The rooms are nice, small and all of $39.95.We never asked if they took dogs, we just brought ours in the back door.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g47042-d115238-Reviews-El_Rancho_Hotel_Motel-Gallup_New_Mexico.html

You will save so much money you can then afford Inn of the Anasassi in Santa Fe where they love dogs. Yeah I know, Santa Fe is not on route 66 but it should have been. On your return use the Santa Fe trail from Santa Fe to Wichita Kansas.

When you get to Flagstaff, beware the motels that are along the train tracks, the trains make noise all night.

Posted Dec 27, 2010

Just before you get to LA, in a little town called Oro Grande, there's an ostrich farm called the OK Corral Ostrich farm. It's a fun place to stop and pick up some ostrich jerky, and meet the birds. The owner (Doug) is really nice, and always welcoming to visitors. Tell him I sent you.

Posted Dec 27, 2010

Definitely make your way through Barstow, CA and check out the funky diners and original 66 signage. The worst Chinese food in California is located here. Also, they have a quirky railroad museum, adjoining a massive freight train corridor. There is a "Route 66" curio shop next store the musem (located near the town Amtrak station), but I'm sure you'll encounter dozens of those. Have fun!!

Posted Dec 28, 2010

Jonathan,

Here are some things we do with visitors to the Albuquerque area. Tour ancient Acoma Pueblo, the Sky City (south of US 66 and I-40 west of Albquerque). Take the world's longest aerial tram from NE Albquerque up 4,000 vertical feet to Sandia Crest. Hike at the base of Sandia Crest in the wilderness. Eat at one of the many diners on old US 66 (Central Ave in Albuquerque). Eat authentic NM food at Monroes (a couple of blocks off Central/US 66 on Lomas Blvd in Albuquerque) and shop at The Palms, an authentic trading post next door. Visit Albuquerque's Rio Grande Zoo (just south of US 66 on east side of Rio Grande river). Drive to top of Sandia Crest (10,400') from Tijeras on US 66 (east of Albuquerque). Tour Old Town Albuquerque (just north of US 66 and just east of river). Take Rail Runner commuter train to Santa Fe (1 hour from main station on US 66 in downtown Albuquerque, many trains daily). Have fun in the Land of Enchantment!

Posted Jan 11, 2011

You Must stop at the El Rancho Hotel in Gallup!!! Totally worth it.

http://listverse.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/vfiles2558.jpg

However, do NOT have the green chili at the Atomic Cafe in Grants N.M.

Posted Jan 11, 2011

I don't know about the drive, but traveling with a golden retriever can be tricky.  Unless you're taking a RV, most of the really interesting/cool hotels won't take pets.  La Quinta is the exception with almost all branches accepting pets for a modest charge.  I prefer to stay in less chain style hotels but when I had to drive across country for two work moves, La Quinta was a huge help for my Husky...

Posted Jan 12, 2011

At the end of Route 66 in Chicago is a historic Chicago diner called Lou Mitchell's. You must have breakfast there when you wrap up your trip! It's one of my husband's favorite breakfasts in town, and the line snakes around the corner after 10am on weekends so get there early...

Posted Jan 16, 2011

Hi Jonathan-  If you like nature type of stuff try the ice caves near Gallup New Mexico.  There are lava fields in the area, a park and places your dog might enjoy.  Imagine what it was like when the volcano erupted.

beres8011

Posted Jan 17, 2011