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.