Thursday, March 27, 2008

The Road to Arizona

The desert between Tehachapi, California and Willliams, Arizona is defined as high desert. It is a scrub bristling, ocatilla dotted, yucca bursting, Joshua tree blooming, wide open land. Crossing this green and yellow, burnt land are towns widely spaced with names like Tehachapi, Yucca, Kingman, Seligman, Ash Fork, and Williams.

Most offer little but two stand out and offer lots of visitor possibilities. Aside from Interstate 40 taking travelers from one destination to another, the biggest lure on this stretch of road is the nostaglia of old Route 66. Our destination, Williams, AZ, lies right on the historic route. Though little remains of cafes, motels or motor courts in Williams, there is plenty of preserved nostalgia.

You can visit the Route 66 Museum

Twisters
























the train station, and Harvey house. There is no shortage of memorabelia - everything from magnets, postcards, maps, pictures, mugs, clocks, roadsigns, music, T-shirts and sweatshirts, gasoline pumps and gas signs.

Twisters serves up old fashion hamburgs, fries, onion rings, malts, shakes, and ice cream sundaes. The decor is pure soda fountain Coka Cola chic with Route 66, Elvis, and Betty Boop in the mix.


We stayed at the Buffalo Pointe Lodge and enjoyed our stay there a lot. Our host, Dan, was a friendly, ease-going guy. The cook, Cisco, was terrific. Great food. Great room. Wonderful memories.



Stay tuned. The Grand Canyon is up next.

4 comments:

Naturegirl said...

Annie how wonderful! I know these images well..just breathtaking driving along these highways!
This route 66 is one we hope to take in the next month!
((((Great photos!))))
I'm here In Arizona for another month!
Email me please as I would like to ask a few Q. re: Grand Canyon
sunkissed NG

Lisa Oceandreamer Swifka said...

How exciting and fun! If I've been to the Grand Canyon it must have been as a wee child - I don't remember it. I think road trips are wonderful, it affords you time to really see where you're going (rather than in the sky whizzing by)
I love how you write about your trip and can't wait to read the next installment. (and see photos)
XOXOXO

Beth said...

OH, looks like you had a really fun trip. I have never been to Arizona, but did fly over the GC on the way to Washington State. If you had kept on going East on I-40 you could have come to visit me. We are right off I-40. Can't wait to see the rest of your pics!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

paris parfait said...

How much fun! Great kitschy photos! Thanks for providing a little glimpse into your trip. xo