Route 66: End of the Trail

My Route 66 crusade from Chicago to Los Angeles encompassed more than 2,500 miles of driving through the 8 states Route 66 passes through, plus Nevada. And it was a euphoric feeling arriving at the historic "End of the Trail" in Santa Monica, California, and taking a picture on the Santa Monica Pier to mark such an extraordinary accomplishment. My husband and I also took a photo together in front of the iconic ferris wheel on the pier to capture the moment of completing the journey on America's legendary highway from start to finish. If you factor in our entire trip from Houston to Chicago to L.A. and back to Houston, that totals nearly 7,500 miles of driving! Now, imagine if I could have gotten frequent flier miles for that. ;-) I am so grateful to Fund For Teachers for giving me the opportunity and privilege to bring this important part of American history and culture back to my classroom in Houston. I've learned so much about my own country that I otherwise would never have discovered had I not embarked on this FFT fellowship. It's also eye-opening to find out that more Europeans travel the entire Route 66 from Illinois to California, than Americans themselves, to take part in the lore and adventure of the Mother Road. At one stop, where Route 66 travelers were asked to put a stick pin in a map to mark where they were from, I was the only visitor from Houston. Route 66 is a slice of Americana that can be found nowhere else in the world, and the wonderful people and unique places along the way are what make this journey so special. So now that I've finished my Fund For Teachers Route 66 marathon, what am I going to do next?

I'm going to Radiator Springs! Ka Chow!

Train Ride Down The SoCal Coast

If you want to take a scenic ride down the Southern California coastline as a detour from Route 66, then hop on the Orange County Line of the Metrolink Rail System. The train makes 15 stops from L.A. Union Station all the way south to Oceanside near San Diego. I made stops in San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente, and Oceanside. My favorite spot was the San Clemente Pier, where we had lunch on the pier at The Fisherman's Restaurant, where you're right on the Pacific Ocean, and you can watch the surfers ride the waves while you eat. Surf's up!

Giant Cactus Alert!

This stop is a steep detour from Route 66, but after visiting Joshua Tree National Park, I just had to make the trip to the Sonoran Desert of Tucson, Arizona to see the giant cacti at Saguaro National Park. As you drive through the park, there are more cacti than the eye can see in all directions, and to say there was a giant cactus alert would be an understatement -- some of them are 30 to 40 feet tall! The park ranger said there have even been a few that have grown as tall as 50 to 75 feet! I took a picture of my husband standing in front of our SUV, and the Saguaro cactus he was standing next to was at least 4 times the height of the vehicle! The cactus plants are also in full bloom during the summer, so you can see beautiful orange, red, and yellow flowers growing from them. What a magnificent sight to see!

Joshua Tree

One of the more unique detours off of Route 66 is a drive to Joshua Tree, California in the Mojave Desert...it's like driving straight into the Dr. Seuss book, The Lorax, because the Joshua trees look just like the trees in the book! Scientists estimate there are more than 1.5 million Joshua trees in Joshua Tree National Park. No two are alike, and some live to be more than 100 years old. The Joshua tree, also known as Yucca brevifolia, is a member of the Agave family. Driving through the park is a fascinating experience -- you can see thousands and thousands of Joshua trees in one glance anywhere you turn! I actually planned on visiting Joshua Tree National Park earlier on my Route 66 journey, but I postponed it because there was a bee alert at the park. It was well worth the wait.

Colorado Boulevard Bridge

A lovely piece of architecture off of Route 66 is the Colorado Boulevard Bridge in Pasadena, California. The elegantly arching bridge was built in the early 1900s at the western edge of Pasadena, which long marked the symbolic entrance to Los Angeles from the east.

The Donut Man

If you need a sweet tooth fix, then there's a perfect place along Route 66 in Glendora, California that will give you the sugar rush you're craving. The Donut Man has been serving customers for more than 40 years, and you can get just about any flavor donut you want 24-hours-a-day. The special during the summer is the strawberry stuffed donut, which I liken to a donut pita stuffed with freshly-glazed strawberries -- it tastes phenomenal! The grapefruit-sized apple fritters with apples, raisins, and cinammon are also quite delicious. And completing the donut dream trifecta is the chocolate-topped Bavarian cream-filled donut. Need I say more?

Aztec Hotel

If you think you've driven by some Aztec ruins along Route 66 in the city of Monrovia, California, you might not be too far off base. The Aztec Hotel was built in 1925 and designed with both Aztec and Mayan architecture. It was a hotspot for Route 66 travelers back in the day, but is no longer in business. The Aztec Hotel is still a popular site for passers by and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Azusa Foothill Drive-In

The last remaining drive-in on Route 66 west of Oklahoma was the Azusa Foothill Drive-In in Azusa, California. But as with many drive-ins along Route 66, the Foothill finally shut down, showing its last film on December 28, 2001 after 40 years of service. Azusa Pacific University bought the property, and the marquee was preserved for its historicl significance and declared a state landmark.

Watermelon Picking Tour

Orange County, California has so many interesting detours not too far from Route 66. One of them is Tanaka Farms in Irvine, where during the summer you can take a watermelon picking tour in a tractor-pulled wagon that brings you on a tasting feast throughout the entire farm. All the fruits and veggies are organically grown, the samples are fresh from the soil, and everything tastes absolutely delicious! I sampled sweet white corn, carrots, green beans, cherry tomatoes, zuchini, yellow squash, and of course, watermelon. At the very end of the tour, you get to pick your own watermelon from a pile of harvested watermelons, and I can now say that I am an official Watermelon Picker!

Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo!

Just a hop, skip, and a jump down the SoCal coast is Goathill Junction Railroad in Costa Mesa, California. The miniature trains travel on more than 5 miles of track at Fairview Park, and the ride is so realistic, the trains even cross bridges, pass a water tower, and go through a railroad crossing complete with flashing signal lights. All aboard!

Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach, California is one of the many beautiful beaches not too far off of Route 66 on the Southern California coastline that makes a great detour. Known for its surfing and volleyball tournaments, Huntington Beach is also a great place for walking barefoot in the sand, watching the waves crash ashore, and feeling that cool Pacific breeze blow through your hair. What's even cooler are the bonfire pits, where we roasted marshmallows and made s'mores. Mmm! Mmm!

Orange You Glad You Stopped Here?

I had the chance to squeeze this stop into my Route 66 journey -- Bono's Giant Orange in Fontana, California. When it opened up in the 1920s, Bono's offered Route 66 travelers "All The Orange Juice You Can Drink For 10 Cents." Even though the juice stand is no longer in business, it is still a popular photo op for tourists, and even dogs!

Route 66 Corridor

Like many cities along Route 66, Fontana, California does its part to highlight the historical significance of the highway by posting Route 66 signs and emblems on buildings and on the pavement as part of the Route 66 Corridor. Fontana is also the birthplace of the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club.

The Real Cozy Cone Motel

Have you slept in a teepee lately? I've now slept in two! I stayed at the Wigwam Motel in San Bernardino, California, which happens to be the inspiration for the Cozy Cone Motel in the movie, Cars. The motel was built in 1949 by Kentuckian Frank Redford, and was the final of 7 Wigam Motels constructed across the United States. The 30-foot-tall teepees are made out of concrete, stuco, and wood framing, and each has its own individual parking spot next to it. The 19 wigwams are lined up in a village-style arrangement with a swimming pool in the middle. Only 3 of the Wigwam Motels remain, and I was fortunate enough to be able to stay at the 2 that are located on Route 66 (San Bernardino and Holbrook, Arizona). The third Wigwam Motel is located in Cave City, Kentucky.