The stretch of Route 66 from San Bernardino, CA, to Flagstaff, AZ, is full of super-fun museums, striking craters, and quirky diners. These are a few of the must-see attractions. Happy travels.
LessAll 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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.