ARIZONA – EXPLORING SCENIC WONDERS
As soon as you cross the Arizona state line you find yourself in the Petrified Forest, the only National Park crossed by Route 66. Actually not a forest, this scenic area is known for the prone remains of 200-millionyear-old water-soaked trees which, as they hardened, were crystalised into various colours.
To the north of the park is the 1,500 sq-mile Painted Desert, which is enhanced by strata of pink, orange, red, purple and greyish-blue sediments. A visitors' centre tells you more about such things as the Spanish explorers who once passed through the area, the 19th-century camel corps that helped map the area, and its wealth of current animal inhabitants, which includes coyotes, foxes, porcupines and prairie dogs.
And, of course, the route is also enhanced by unique man-made attractions. Holbrook is home to one of only three remaining American Wigwam Motels – two of which are on Route 66. Built in 1956 and on the American Registry of Historic Places, it offers unique overnight accommodation in a series of painted concrete teepees.
And there's more memorable accommodation in Winslow's landmark 1930s La Posada Hotel, and if a fan of The Eagles rock group, you can take a selfie next to the town's bronze statue of its co-lead singer Glenn Frey. He's standing on a corner, a guitar at his feet, as a reminder of the Standin' on the Corner lyrics from the group's first single, 1972's Take It Easy.
Twenty-six miles along the road you come to the earth's best-preserved meteorite impact site where The Meteor Crater Visitor Center provides information on the impact nearly 50,000 years ago that left a mile-wide, 750ft-deep crater.
Just under 44 miles farther west and you are in Flagstaff, population nearly 77,000, the tourism hub for northern Arizona and only 68 miles from the southern rim of the awesome Grand Canyon. As it's full of restaurants and hotels, you might want to overnight there, perhaps at the Little America Hotel, set in 500 acres of ponderosa pines and encompassing an outdoor swimming pool and hiking trails.
In fact, the city offers many hiking options along some of the nonmotorised portions of Route 66 as well as gondola rides to the top of Mount Humphreys and the remarkable Lowell Observatory from which you can gaze
THE METEOR CRATER VISITOR CENTER PROVIDES INFORMATION ON THE IMPACT NEARLY 50,000 YEARS AGO THAT LEFT A MILEWIDE, 750FT-DEEP CRATER.
at the stars. Not only was it the site of the discovery of Pluto in 1930 but it helped such astronauts as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin learn more about the surface of the moon.
At Williams, farther west, you can take a daily Grand Canyon Railway day excursion to the southern rim of the Grand Canyon while seated in an atmospheric 1901 rail car that has musical entertainment and actors portraying western characters.
When you reach Ash Fork you can opt to continue west to Kingman on I-40 or follow one of the longest unbroken stretches of the original Route 66.
Follow this route, and at Seligman you can enjoy a chilliburger, tacos and/ or milkshake at colourful Delgadillo's Snow Cap; at Peach Springs, the capital of the indigenous Hualapi Nation, descend in an elevator the equivalent of 21 storeys into Grand Canyon Cavern, one of the largest
DROP BY MR D'Z ROUTE 66 DINER, DECORATED WITH ROUTE 66 MEMORABILIA AND OFFERING SUCH TREATS AS ROOT BEER FLOATS – SODAS TOPPED WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM.
such caves in the USA. (In fact, you can even pay to overnight underground); and then take a photo of picturesque Hackberry General Store before rejoining I-40.
From there it is about a 30-minute drive to Kingman, home to the Historic Powerhouse Museum, which features murals, photos and dioramas of Route 66 as well as an electric vehicle museum. For more Mother Road ambiance, drop by Mr D'z Route 66 Diner, decorated with Route 66 memorabilia and offering such treats as root beer floats – sodas topped with vanilla ice cream.
Then head on down I-40 to the California border or take a detour through the picturesque former mining town of Oatman, with its historic buildings and wandering burros.