Is this the beginning or the end? If you were traveling westward, it would have been the beginning. But, if you came from the west, it would have been the end of your journey on Route 66. However, it is mounted so that it is facing travelers coming from the east and driving westward so it's fair to say that this stop is the beginning. Don't forget to stop at the Art Institute of Chicago right across the street which houses priceless works such as American Gothic and Water Lilies.

One of the best movies in American filmmaking featured John Belushi and Dan Ackroyd as "Joliet" Jake and Elwood Blues. Two statues of this shades-wearing duo is frozen in mid-step atop a nondescript ice cream parlor. While the building itself is not a big deal apparently the ice cream is fabulous.

Car-towing is never a pleasant experience for the person who is getting a car towed but at least the customer using Dick's Towing will have a nice little surprise waiting back at the service station. Dick's Towing has a cool collection of Route 66 signs and vintage cars including an old police cruiser and two precariously placed vehicles on top of the roof.

A nine-foot tall statue of the King of Rock 'n' Roll is molded and painted to resemble this legend in his prime. The mutton-chopped guitar hero stands on a platform outside the Polk-a-Dot Drive In beckoning would-be customers with his crooning visage. The drive-in is a 1950s-themed restaurant on the historic Route 66 serving up hamburgers and malts every day between 11 AM and PM.

A beautifully restored 1930s Texaco station helped countless travelers finish their journey on Route 66. It was known by two names - Ambler's Texaco and Becker's Marathon Gas Station. It is also known as the longest-running Route 66 station, fittingly in service for 66 years until it closed down in 1999. It is now a visitor's center complete with a potbelly stove, old soda bottles, and a vintage cash register inside.

It's perfectly restored with an old pump and a vintage sign. If you examine the pump carefully, you can see why we call such a contraption a "pump" - even today. Customers would pump the lever by moving it back and forth until the clear receptacle at the top had the amount needed. After the gasoline was pumped it could then be poured into the gas tank. The little shop which is now a visitor's center is open seasonally; it's best to call 815-998-2133 before heading out.

The charming red building contains a fabulous collection of memorabilia from the legendary Route 66. License plates, photos, old filling tanks, and even some vintage cars are all stuffed inside. America's Mother Road has been the subject of songs and movies and its history is all gathered here in this Pontiac location.

This building, built in 1837, served as the state capitol from 1840 to 1876. A close distance from Abraham Lincoln's home, it is where he served as state legislator before being elected to the presidency. Like many old state capitols, this one became too small for a burgeoning state - and thus became obsolete. Even though matters of legislation are not carried out here the building is still used for ceremonial purposes and festivals.

We all know Lincoln as the statesman, an accomplished orator who is regarded as one of the greatest presidents of the U.S. As historians delve into his life more, the man behind the greatness is coming more into public view. His house in Springfield, IL is the embodiment of his life as a private man, father, and husband. The only home he ever owned, purchased in 1844, is quite humble by today's standards.

This Burr truss covered bridge is one of five such historic bridges in Illinois - and is the oldest of those five - being built at some point in the mid 1800s. It's not open to vehicle traffic but it is safe enough for people to walk through allowing for nice family photos. The area is some distance from major roads but the bridge is a scenic stop for those looking for a road trip adventure.

A large pink trailer pulled by an equally large pink elephant draws the customers into this antique heaven. It's like an amusement park of antiques - where you can browse through aisles stuffed with old things and then eat lunch at a '50s style diner. There's even a Twistee Treat hut with its ice-cream cone shaped building where you can grab dessert after browsing.

With the eastern end on Chouteau Island and the western end on the Missouri shoreline this cantilever truss bridge spans the Mississippi River. The bridge is named for the dangerous rapids that made the river difficult to navigate. A dam helped to solve the problem. The natural surroundings such as a park on the Missouri side and elm trees on the Illinois side make the drive a relaxing experience.

Are you tired of museums with stern docents who admonish you with every step you take? Then head to the City Museum where touching and playing with the displays is not only allowed but encouraged. Unlike stuffy museums, this one is usually open 7 days a week with extended hours until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Run through tunnels, climb up a life-sized slinky, or explore a tree house. Nothing is off-limits here!

A gorgeous building, lots of history, and plenty of artifacts and exhibits - and all for free. The Old Courthouse was completed in 1864 but was the site of the famous Dred Scott case before its completion. One of the more detestable historical facts about the building is that it was used to auction off slaves until 1861.

Formed from erosions of limestone deposits about 400 million years ago, the Meramec Caverns is a 4.6-mile cave system in the Ozarks. Rich in saltpeter, the cave was used by the Union forces to extract potassium nitrate for gunpowder during the Civil War. However, Confederate guerillas destroyed the saltpeter plant.

It's hard to miss this Route 66 stop - a giant rocking chair marks it. In fact, this is the largest roadside rocking chair on Route 66. Try some homemade fudge and popcorn but don't forget to check out their soda selection - over 200 flavors of colorful sodas bottled in glass.

Standing 42 feet tall, this rocker has taken the title of World's 2nd Largest Rocking Chair. However, it's cooler than your average giant rocker especially with the iconic Route 66 emblazoned on the seat back. Although it used to rock back and forth, the owner of the chair bolted it securely to the ground to prevent injury to any over-enthusiastic visitors.

As you can imagine this candy shop is rife with puns of your nether regions - all intended, of course. Would we be party POOPERS to note that astronomers usually pronounce the seventh planet with a stress on the first syllable? (YOOR-uh-nus) Probably, so just forget that and have fun. Don't forget your soft, brown hunks of chocolatey fudge! Not so into the chocolate? They've got peanut butter, strawberry, and maple flavors as well.

AZA accredited, the Dickerson Park Zoo is home to approximately 500 animals representing almost 200 species. Not only is this park a zoo but also an wildlife rehab center where trained vets rescue injured or ill wild animals. Among the zoo's efforts is participation in the Species Survival Plan. Currently, the zoo is involved in breeding Asian elephants, maned wolves, and cheetahs.

Very few of us are spelunkers and Fantastic Caverns is perfect for those of us who wish to explore the depths of the Earth from a motorized vehicle. A tram hitched to a jeep accommodates several passengers driving through chambers naturally decorated with rock draperies, flowstones, and cave flowers. It's a 55-minute tour - which is quite a bang for your buck. This tour is perfect for those with disabilities - the tram easily accommodates wheelchairs and walkers.

If you loved the movie "Cars," then you'll love this little restored gas station. A few vintage autos complete with "eyes" affixed to the windshields make this a must-see for little kids. There's a small snack bar with some comfort food too. The station is closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but you can still see the cars and take pictures.

A cute little shop with a brick facade is surrounded by flower pots and trees. Inside you'll find your usual mini-mart victuals and freshly made sandwiches from the small deli. You can also purchase a variety of Route 66 souvenirs. If you're traveling along Route 66 in this area, the store is a must-see whether or not you're hungry.

Ed Galloway was a true artist, self-taught but passionate. He created tall, magnificent totem poles from scratch, a sandstone and metal skeleton covered in concrete and painted by hand. His masterpiece, simply titled the Totem Pole, is the world's largest made of concrete at 60 feet tall and 30 feet in diameter. Also on the grounds is the Fiddle House containing Galloway's other works of art and his fiddle collection.

A gift to his wife who loved whales, this mammoth mammal was built by Hugh Davis. He was purposefully set in a large pond with a slide jutting out from his side and a diving board affixed to his posterior - thus quickly becoming a local favorite among the young locals. He was the first in a series of structures that Davis built for his little homegrown amusement park which sadly closed in the 1980s as his health was failing. Funded by donations, the Blue Whale was restored and lives once again.

The World's Tallest Gas Pump is also an observation deck. Built as a giant replica of a 1920s pump it was finished in 2017. The height is a fitting 66 feet with an oversized Route 66 sign perched on top. This tall gas pump and observation deck stands tall in front of the Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum.

This Route 66 historic attraction was built by William Harrison Odor in 1898. He designed and shaped the dome himself from softened timber. Today the barn is an important local landmark but it is also a great rest stop for drivers on a long road trip. It's usually open seven days a week, from 10 AM to 5 PM but call ahead for current operating hours.

The soda bottle with the inserted straw, stands 66 feet tall and looks suspiciously like Mountain Dew. No need to worry - it's not glass; the shape is constructed from numerous yellow steel rings on which LED lights are attached. Inside the mini mart for which it advertises, is a museum-style collection of soda bottles of every brand, every flavor - lining the windows in a surprisingly charming fashion.

This state capitol was built in 1919 in the style of the nation's capitol just like many other U.S. state capitols. It was built with domestic materials such as Indiana limestone and Oklahoma pink and black granite. Amazingly, the dome was always in the plans for the original building but wasn't finished until 2002. This capitol is the only one in the nation that has active oil rigs on its site.

An immersive, interactive museum has plenty of nooks and crannies for kids and adults to explore. Start your experience by finding your way through a giant ear canal to enter the exhibit hall. After creeping down a hall that seems to have amoeba-covered walls visit the disco den and the flamingo den. Crawl through what seems to be a pink air duct and emerge to see a cotton-candy colored heaven. Have a video phone chat in a booth that connects to a sister museum in New Mexico.

Get your Native American-themed apparel, moccasins, and hand-beaded jewelry here. There are also some great photo opps with life-sized buffalo and an Indian Muffler Man. Vintage farm equipment, cool artwork, and modest prices complete the list of reasons why you should stop here. It's also easy to get to - near I-40 and Route 66.

Before the Europeans settled in Oklahoma, this state park was home to the Plains Indians such as the Comanche and Lakota. Today, it is a family-friendly place with a playground, fishing pond, campsites, and hiking trails. More intrepid visitors can rappel down the canyon which was once a rest-stop along the California Road - where westward travelers would replenish their stores and repair their wagons. Their discarded wagon parts can still be seen in the canyon.

The historic but defunct Route 66 is memorialized in great detail at this small museum. Pictures, artifacts, and stories bring back an era where big-band music was the rage. But it wasn't all kicks - there was a lot of despair too. Folks escaping the Dust Bowl and ruined crops, fleeing desperation and hoping for a new life in the unforgiving fields of California, are once again alive here. Old automobiles, gas pumps, and even a '50s diner are displayed.

Enjoy a very authentic glimpse into the period of time when Route 66 enjoyed its place as the most important route from the west. An old schoolhouse, chapel, and train caboose, the largest Route 66 sign ever, and beautiful grounds create a worthwhile experience for people traveling this way. This open-air museum will be enjoyed by people of all ages.

It was the Cadillac of Conoco gas stations, beautifully designed in the Art Deco style and completed in 1936. It seemed more like a glamorous nightclub rather than a stop for petrol. Today, the City of Shamrock owns the well-maintained building, using it as a visitor center and the Shamrock Chamber of Commerce. To get there, take the I-40 to N Main St. and go south. Drive a short distance and the station will be on your left-hand side.

A meticulously restored historic Route 66 gas station has three well-preserved gravity feed gas pumps. Like many gas stations and businesses along Route 66 Magnolia Gas Station became obsolete when Interstate 40 was opened. It's right next to the Pioneer West Museum. The gas station is viewable any time but the museum is open Monday through Friday, 9 to 5.

You learn something new every day - such as discovering that barbed wire is informally called "devil's rope." A Route 66 stop, this McLean, TX museum is also a store, where you can purchase bundles of barbed wire if you are so inclined.

This gas station opened to customers in September of 1929. For more than 50 years people stopped here to fill up their cars while traveling on Route 66. The orange pumps have the distinctive Phillips 66 trademark logo affixed on them. Also there is a vintage tank truck parked right outside of the small cottage-like structure. Definitely a required detour for Route 66 aficionados.

Naturally you've heard that Texans do everything bigger and better. The Big Texan Steak Ranch does everything bigger, better, and crazier - it was even featured on The Food Network's Craziest Restaurants in America. One reason is the 72-oz. steak challenge - which defies the eater to consume 4.5 ponds of steak, shrimp cocktail, baked potato, salad, and bread roll. If you've got some digestion issues, partaking in this challenge is ill advised!

Cadillac Ranch may not really be a ranch, but it really is a resting place for non-functional Cadillacs! Created in 1974 by Chip Lord and Hudson Marquez, the un-ranch features Caddies manufactured from 1949 to 1963 half-buried hood-down in the ground. The halves above ground were painted by Robert Smithson. Lord and Marquez fancied themselves as artistic rebels, but it is up to you to decide if they are as original as other breakthrough artists such as Gustav Klimt and Edvard Munch.

This fun specialty shop is your one stop shop for gag gifts, souvenirs, and a bit of Route 66 history. Some cool exhibits such as a Falcon and a "skeleton truck" are great photo opps. Don't forget to purchase some Indian jewelry and pottery as keepsakes of your road trip in New Mexico.

This peach-colored motel is a throwback to the days before chain inns when all a traveler had was a lonely little room for the night. The rooms are even appointed with items and furnishings from the early 1900s although amenities such as air conditioning and wi-fi are provided too. Any road trip enthusiast who wants a real taste of the old Route 66 should stay here.

The La Cita Restaurant features a high-peaked sombrero resting atop the restaurant and is lit in neon at night. Don't know if this was an original landmark on retro Route 66 but it really doesn't matter - the restaurant and hat fit the kitsch and the light up sign on the pole is just as kitschy. You may find the restaurant closed when you visit because the establishment does have occasional dormant periods.

Old Ranch House Cafe Ruins: This dismal-looking structure with its broken neon sign had its heyday in the 1950s. Just as dilapidated but a little more interesting is an old Chevy truck with a strange covered bed. No one is sure when the "Mexican Food" was added to the sign as it is absent from a vintage 1950s postcard photograph of the cafe. This is just one of the many abandoned spots along the "Mother Road" Route 66 which was an important route that ran from L.A. to Chicago.

No, it is not a mirage. This miraculously blue swimming hole is calm on the surface but hides a maze of mysteries. It is not only a place to cool off and relax but it is also the entrance to a system of underwater caves and tunnels which remained unexplored up until 2013. This doesn't include the ill-fated adventure of a couple of SCUBA divers in 1976 who died after becoming trapped in one of the caves.

Wildlife West Nature Park is 122-acres of rescued wildlife featuring over 20 species of native New Mexican animals. The zoo features cougars, wolves, bear, elk, deer, javelina, fox, raptors, and more. Overnight adventures are available by appointment.

Walter White’s Car Wash is a family owned and run business that began in the late 1950s. The founder pioneered the brushless system. At this location, on AMC's "Breaking Bad," you might notice Octopus as being the A1 Car Wash. Recently sold, the Octopus Car Wash has changed its name to "Mister Car Wash."

When you see the 66 Diner look at the wall of the building just across the parking lot just to its west. There you'll see the bright display of vintage road signs which make a great photo opp. So put on those poodle skirts, bobby socks, and cuffed jeans! Afterwards, get a milkshake at the diner for authentic 1950s experience!

This animal conservation museum is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico in Old Town. The American International Rattlesnake Museum is devoted to snakes, especially rattlesnakes, and rattlesnake education. The museum hosts viper research events and has the largest collection of living rattlesnakes in the world as well as an extensive library of study material and educational tools. A large collection of snake-related artwork is housed in the museum along with artifacts, and memorabilia.

Petroglyph National Monument, along Albuquerque, New Mexico's West Mesa, stretches 17 miles across a volcanic escarpment dominating the city's western horizon. The monument is managed by the National Park Service and the city of Albuquerque. It's western boundary features a chain of dormant fissure volcanoes.

It looks more like a portal to another dimension. However, after driving through you'll discover you're still in Grants, NM. Built in 2016, the LED-lit sign commemorated the 90th birthday of this historic route. It was sized to accommodate most vehicles, even RVs!

El Rancho is a famous Route 66 hotel that is known for hosting the movie stars of the western genre (apparently a lot of western films have been made in and around the surrounding area). One thing is certain - you'll feel the nostalgia from the 1950s and '60s because it appears nothing has been updated there for a number of years. The rooms are clean (but small) and the beds are comfortable.

Some call this muffler man the "Dude Man." He's a fiberglass statue wearing a cowboy hat on the roof of John's used car dealership. He can be seen from about 1/2 block away from the main street going through town.

Founded by Frank Yellowhorse of the Navajo tribe this trading post is right next to the Arizona/New Mexico border. Plenty of handmade jewelry crafted by local artisans and the best tamales in the Southwest are what have made this little stop a tourist destination. Unfortunately, Frank Yellowhorse passed away in August of 2020 but his store continues on.

A wide expanse of 93,500 acres, the Painted Desert stretches from the edge of the Grand Canyon to the Petrified Forest to the Wupatki National Monument Indian Ruins. As the name suggests this desert is a colorful palette with hues ranging from brilliant reds to sedate lavenders. After millions and millions of years in the making, this vibrantly tinted desert is at its most spectacular right before sunset.

This United States national park is situated in Navajo and Apache counties in northeastern Arizona. It is named as such because of its large petrified wood deposits. You'll also find many fossils in the area which covers about 230 square miles (600 square kilometers). There you'll see semi-desert shrubs and beautifully colored badlands.

From the interstate you can see why Charles Stewart is doing such good business. He's populated the entrance to his modest rock shop business with a number of large handmade dinosaurs. Some of the dinosaurs have motors in them to make them move. Others are outfitted with Christmas lights and blink all night. Still others have bloody half eaten bodies n their bloody mouths! This is all visible from the interstate urging the curious to investigate what exactly they're seeing.

The small yard of the Rainbow Rock Shop in Holbrook has visitors. Visitors in the form of dinosaur statues congregate there, as they do in the whole town which has a reputation of being a town filled with dinosaurs (statues). The Rock Shop's owner, Adam Luna, took 20 years to build his seven statues and they stand in a concrete patio enclosed within a chain link fence. There are a lot of rocks and petrified rocks for sale there, as well as specialty rocks scattered among the dinosaurs.

Wigwam Village No.2 was opened in 1937 in Kentucky with a smaller prototype (No.1) also built in Kentucky but bulldozed in 1982. An Arizona motel owner bought the rights to that design and built four more Wigwam Villages in 1950. The hotel is one of three in different locations still surviving and operating today! The hotels are furnished with hickory log pole furniture but they have no ice machines or telephones but at least there are air conditioners to keep you cool in the Arizona heat.

This much beloved Route 66 trading post seems to (according to some reports) have changed its name. The sign no longer reads Jack Rabbit Trading Post - the sign now identifies it as "Stop n' Go." I like Jack Rabbit better...but they do sell liquor!

A life-sized bronze statue posing with his guitar on a street corner in front of a large trompe-l'oeil mural painted by John Pugh characterizes this tribute to the Eagles. The name of the statue (created in 1999) is taken from a line in the famous Eagles' song "Take it Easy" - "Standing on the corner of Winslow Arizona." Located in the downtown area of Winslow, this statue is near by some shops and restaurants where you can make the most out of your short stop here.

The town was originally called Canyon Lodge, made prosperous by the Cundiff family in the 1920s. They made a deal with the devil who was disguised as an unscrupulous man named Harry Miller. He set up a business which included a tour of an old cave where 42 Apache warriors died in battle, even using their skulls to attract visitors. Harry Miller paid dearly for his transgressions but not before he murdered Earl Cundiff.

This hiking spot is remarkable for not only its prehistoric geological features but also for its cliff dwellings which the Sinagua people inhabited from approximately 500 CE to 1425 CE. Even though the Sinagua were pre-Columbian, the name was used by an archaeologist in 1939 to refer to the lack of water in the region. As the Sinagua would have had to deal with water shortages, their name means "without water" in Spanish.

It's housed in the Flagstaff Station which opened in 1926 and used to be a depot for the Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. Located on the famous Route 66, this Visitor Center is the go-to for info on Flagstaff and surrounding areas. There's a gift shop with souvenirs, clothing, and books as well as a penny press. The station is still functioning, used by Amtrak, so you'll see plenty of trains coming and going.

The self-styled "Home of Pluto" is a well-deserved name. This is where the dwarf planet/not-a-planet was discovered on February 18, 1930. Since then the debate is ongoing about Pluto and how to classify it. But this observatory will always be known where the controversial rocky sphere in the Kuiper Belt was first spotted.

Not a typical petting zoo but surely an interesting one! First purchase a cup of food and proceed past the parrot which may be a hit or miss - sometimes you see him, other times not. Then, enter the enclosure and small deer will approach you without fear. The many curious and hungry deer may nibble at you and knock the cup out of your hand but if you're an animal lover this will be of no consequence as you pet them.

This drive-thru animal park houses around a dozen bears wandering around and doing what bears do, so keep those cars a movin' if they get too close! Open 7 days a week, Bearizona opens at 8:30 am and closes when the daylight fades. There's also a walk-thru exhibit and a petting zoo (not with bears but with goats and chickens).

The Canyon Motel offers you some adventure by having you sleep in one of two 1929 Sante Fe Train Cabooses, a rail car from the 1950s, or you can go conventional and sleep in one of their motel rooms - the choice is yours. What makes the Caboose Motel even more interesting is that one caboose suite has been certified by a team of "paranormal specialists" as being 100% haunted - boo!

You don't have to be a car buff to enjoy this gas station, you only need an interest in the history of Route 66. While most gas stations from this era are abandoned this one has started a second life as a souvenir shop and museum. You don't have to pay anything to check it out, but leaving a small tip might be a nice gesture.

Built on the legendary Route 66 in the 1950s, this highway stop has been largely decorated by the travelers who have stopped here. It has been a landmark for people traveling the longest stretch of this road where they can grab homemade onion rings and a cream soda.

The owners are local activists - they led a movement to save the historic and culturally significant Route 66. As a testament of their love for the "Main Street of America" this diamond in the rough shop is well-stocked and reasonably priced. Call ahead if you'd like to visit while the owners are there; they are a treasure-trove of information.

A stop here is kind of like stepping into the "Twilight Zone"; at any moment you expect to hear Rod Serling do a voiceover. Around 20 strangely dressed showroom dummies are relaxing around this little souvenir shop. This is what Route 66 is all about- the quirky, weirdly extravagant roadside attractions. Linda, the owner, sells Route 66 memorabilia inside the shop.

Full of miscellaneous collectibles and located in one of Seligman's oldest structures built in 1905, this is the town's only gift shop and coffee bar. Even though many towns along Route 66 were abandoned Seligman still brings in tourists with its quaint Main Street and independently-owned businesses.

As the name suggests the people who would have the best time here are hearty meat-eaters. Enjoy your catfish or charbroiled burger while gazing upon the taxidermized bodies of various animals. The fare is typical Southern comfort food served up fast and greasy, to be washed down with beer and cocktails. Make sure you bring your sense of humor along - you'll need it when you read the menu items which include Chunk of Skunk and Canine Cuisines.

Doing business on Route 66, this mercantile is a throwback to the days when a gas station attendant pumped your gas for you and a glass bottle of soda cost whatever change you had hiding between your seats. Still in business, the store now caters to tourists. It's a great place to take pictures - the building looks pretty much the way it did when it was established at the end of the 19th century, albeit much, much older.

Reminiscent of the giant sculptures on Easter Island this green larger-than-life head was fashioned out of metal, wood, Styrofoam, and chicken wire. It was created in 2004 by New Jersey-native, Gregg Arnold who is also the owner of the A-frame house standing nearby that has ants crawling up the side.

Bubblegum-pink seating and a black-and-white checkered floor make the perfect setting for a retro diner. The fare is what you'd expect - hamburgers and milkshakes - but it's good. Some famous faces have stopped here such as Oprah Winfrey and Angus T. Jones.

Located in Kingman's Historic Powerhouse this museum is one of the more noteworthy Route 66 stops. Everything from the beginning of this culturally significant thoroughfare to its current status is found on the second floor of the building. It's not your typical curios shop or roadside stops; the collection has been carefully curated and is tastefully displayed.

Cool Springs belies the dry landscape of Kingman. This stone station built in the 1920s serviced motorists making their way across Route 66. For them Cool Springs was definitely an oasis on a long stretch of barren landscape. Today the station is a privately owned gift shop and museum.

Near the Oatman Post Office on Main Street, you're likely to spot the cutest attraction in town: Oatman's wild burrows. Perhaps these are the happiest donkeys in the world. They only roam about and are hand fed pellets and carrots by the tourists who come around. Their descendants were not as fortunate - they came here as pack animals of the miners who then abandoned them. These burros are wild but they are taken care of by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

The gift shop with a funny sign is in the town known for its adorable burros roaming around untethered. Inside you'll find all kinds of goodies - from vintage signs to Native American pottery. Prices here are lower than other tourist shops.

This Old West-style building has walls and ceilings covered in dollar bills signed by tourists. If you get there at the right time, you might find yourself dining next to an outlaw and witness a Wild West shootout. Call ahead of time or check the website to get a calendar of events.

Amboy Ghost Town: Located in the heart of the Mojave, Amboy is a legit abandoned town that was made obsolete once our U.S. highways were fully developed from coast to coast. A few films have been shot here and the cafe has opened/closed repeatedly. The town itself was once for sale on eBay! Latest population puts the count at 4 townsfolk. Spooky at night!

Off historic Route 66 is this extinct volcano believed to be about 80,000 years old. Located in the midst of a plain that was once the bottom of a prehistoric sea, the crater measures about 1,508 feet in diameter - just over a quarter of a mile. Hikers can walk to the center of the crater via a breach in the surrounding walls. The breach was created by flowing lava but now makes a nice entry way into this pock-mark on the Earth's surface.

Life imitates art! This cafe was once known as the Sidewinder Cafe but to capitalize on its fame as the setting for the 1987 movie starring CCH Pounder, the name was changed to its namesake. Plenty of memorabilia and flags from seemingly every country decorate the walls. By all accounts the restaurant is charming, the service friendly, and the food tasty. Definitely a must if you happen to travel through Newberry!

In 2000, Elmer Long welded a metal tree bedecked with colored class bottles to catch the California sunlight on Route 66. That tree turned into an enchanted forest made, not only of metal pipes and soda bottles, but an airplane propeller, a parking meter, a old cash register, and other everyday objects turned magical by Elmer’s welding wizardry.

Oro Grande Shops: A string of antique stores on Route 66 housed in an Old-West style building is frequently cited as one of the best shopping stops in the area. There are all kinds of antiques to be found here - from shabby chic to vintage elegance. Naturally, you'll find the traditional Route 66 memorabilia and kitsch here too.

This interactive museum, housed in a nondescript boxy building, covers about 4,500 square feet of space. When you step inside, you understand why the museum needs so much space - to showcase a '50s diner, a Model-T Ford, and plenty of memorabilia from the mid 1900s. If you're looking for the perfect Insta shot, you can dress up in '50s costumes and pose in the VW Love Bus!

This odd “museum” is not officially owned by McDonald’s corp, but by another restaurant called Juan Pollo, purveyors of rotisserie chicken. Although this is the site of the first McDonald’s restaurant owned by the McDonald brothers, it was the business’s new owner, Illinois-bred Ray Kroc, who made it what it is today. Today, the fast food giant disavows this as the location of the “first McDonald’s” in favor of a restaurant in Illinois. All very confusing.

All right, so this motel chain is reminiscent of the days when silly on-screen portrayals of Native Americans that “smoke’m peace pipes” were rampant, but the business was established in 1933 after all. Today, tourists and curious locals can still retreat to the Rialto Wigwam Motel on historic Route 66—a fun, campy “campground” that hearkens back to simpler times when li’l Jonny brought a cowboy hat on family trips instead of a handheld game console.

Established 1915 this former Richfield gas station in the Inland Empire is remarkably maintained. The city of Cucamonga has preserved the station well and restored it to its original appearance from a century ago. The museum and gift shop hours are Thursday through Sunday from 10 AM to 3 PM.

The famous Route 66 goes through barren landscapes and desert regions only to finish in beautiful Santa Monica. This sign marks the end of the line and also an end to the myth that Route 66 only goes through dried-out ghost towns along the southwest. Being in Santa Monica you'll find plenty of other things to do such as walking the pier or shopping on 3rd Street Promenade.