Taking a three-week road trip from New York to California to see Wrestlemania 39 took weeks of planning. There were a lot of decisions to make. What did I want to see and do? What route did I want to take? I knew from the beginning that I wanted to drive at least part of Route 66. I wanted to see all the goofy things that everyone talks about along this historic route. Also, I wanted to do what Nat King Cole sang about in “Get Your Kicks on Route 66” — yes, I sang the song!
I knew I wanted to drive on Route 66 for part of the trip, but I also had to decide what I wanted to see and had time to see. I drove Interstate 40 which runs parallel to Route 66 for much of the time because I was on a time crunch. When I wanted to see something, I exited and found that site, and then popped back on Interstate 40 and continued my trip. I met others who were driving a large part or all of Route 66, but I didn’t have that kind of time, so this was a perfect decision for me. FYI, there are parts of Route 66 where you need to slow down so it would have added more travel time onto my schedule.) I’m not upset though because I still got to see and do so much!
Tip: Don’t feel pressured to do what others are doing. It’s your trip, so do what’s right for you.
I already posted about the Big Texas Steakhouse Ranch, Cadillac Ranch, Pops 66, and Hotel El Rancho which are all located on or slightly off Route 66. What else did I see?
Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios on 66
Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios is a small gift shop located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It’s super cute and a great stop on your trip. Get that Buck Atom selfie (see me? above) If you’re there when they serve Country Q BBQ or Cherry & Bark Ice Cream, indulge! I posted a video of what I saw inside on my Instagram page.
Decopolis Discovitorium
As I left Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curious, I turned to the left and discovered (get it?) Decopolis Discovitorium and the Tulsa Art Deco mini-Museum. This shop was one of those stops that I hadn’t planned on and didn’t know existed, but was so excited to find! I have an affinity for steampunk design and clothes so I couldn’t wait to get in the front door. Boy, this shop didn’t disappoint. It’s AWESOME!
See the middle photo — the painting? That was painted by the owner William who is ridiculously talented. He is self-taught — can you imagine the natural talent?!
In addition to the store, there is also the mini Tulsa Art Deco Museum where you can learn about Tulsa’s Jazz Age history, artifacts from historic, lost Tulsa Art Deco Buildings, and beautiful pieces of Art Deco art from around the world. Pick up a FREE Deco District walking tour map where you may be able to see inside some of the many wonderful Jazz Age lobbies, including the Art Deco Philcade building.
I loved the Decopolis! And a shoutout to William who chatted with me about it for awhile.
Blue Whale of Catoosa
Located in Catoosa, Oklahoma, the Blue Whale has become a historic treasure among those who travel Route 66. It’s free to visit and walk around. According to the Tulsa Visitor’s website, “The Blue Whale was originally built by Hugh S. Davis, a zoologist and family man who envisioned the whale as a special place where his grandchildren could play and swim in the nearby pond. His sketches of the mammal grew until they reached 20 feet tall and 80 feet long.”
The Blue Whale photo almost seems like a rite of passage when traveling Route 66. Get that selfie (too many kids were there for mine and I didn’t want them in the photo) and your stamp on your Route 66 passport. Your stamp? Read on…
Ozymandias Legs
Route 66 is home to some interesting art installations such as Cadillac Ranch and two trunkless legs, otherwise known as the Ozymandias Legs in Amarillo, Texas. According to Visit Amarillo, Panhandle artist Lightnin’ McDuff began the project to be a full man, but halfway through, decided to leave it as just the legs. Although it is said that people come by to leave their mark on the art, its access was closed when I was there, so I could only see them from a distance. Art is so interesting, isn’t it?
Midway Cafe
Want to know if you made it to the middle of Route 66? That’s easy! Stop at the Midway Cafe in Adrian, Texas! Here you can step on the midpoint between Los Angeles, California, and Chicago, Illinois (as you can see in the photo it’s 1139 miles in either direction). While you’re there, stop for a bite to eat and take a break from all of the driving. It’s such a cute retro diner. I enjoyed a delicious burger and bought a bunch of souvenirs in their gift shop.
Route 66 Passport
No, you don’t need a passport to get on Route 66. LOL This is a fun passport where you visit various attractions and get your passport stamped. It’s just a souvenir — treat it like a game — to remind you of all the places you have seen. If you complete the passport, you earn a certificate! Unfortunately, the Blue Whale office wasn’t open to get my passport stamped, but you can see I was there from the pictures I took (above). Keep in mind that this is a passport just for Oklahoma, but there is a complete Route 66 passport as well.
Route 66 Motels
There are many places to stay on Route 66, so I chose a few unique and historic places to rest my head for the night. In a later post, I wrote about the Munger Moss Motel in Lebanon, Missouri and the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona.
Have you gotten your kicks on Route 66 yet?!
This is a trip where you want to take your time, read some books on Route 66 ahead of time, and write down what you really want to see and where you want to stay! So much has closed down on this historic route, but there is still so much left to do. I do hope to visit more of this iconic road sometime soon!
