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I will chime in about this...the Truman Library is nearing the end of a massive renovation, and you might want to check the website about their re-opening plans. I went back about 20 years ago and loved it. Really embodied the spirit of the man.
Ditto for the Reagan Library, and I'm not even really a fan of the guy. I live nearby and have visited with family members a handful of times. Really a class-A operation. I don't recall there being a stealth fighter there, though.
I guess the Stealth went in in late December 2019, can't wait to go again!
It's.. More about time together than anything. I mean, we've done a number of trips while he was growing up. We've done DC, Vegas, New York, Boston, Gatlinburg, Iowa (My dad was living there). This is.. Just an area we haven't done.. And there's lots of little things on this route that we'd find interesting.. He's very excited about Roswell.. But, who would vacation JUST to Roswell? Or have Meteor Crater as their vacation destination?
So, this trip, we get to see alot of those type things.. And.. Alot of Americana. Ghost Towns fascinate both of us.. and.. Honestly.. I'm not sure a route where we'll be able to see more of those than this one. We also both love caverns.. There's alot of those on the route. He loved Luray up in Virginia, as do I.
I've seen that site before. But appreciate the info.. And I totally agree with you about the route being the destination. Seems that's what many are missing here. I mean, going on a cruise to some people is the best thing to do on vacation.. While I can see some of that in that you stop at different ports (I'd love to cruise to Cuba and spend a day or two there).. Time on a boat doesn't fly for me.. I burst into flame in the sun, so beach style destinations don't hold interest for me. But.. a cruise doesn't.. Float my boat, so to speak. At least on a road trip.. Pull over, go walk in the desert a bit. He'll actually love all the little kitsch shops along the route..
Plus.. He's just starting to drive, so.. Some wide open stretches of deserted road will be perfect for him.
His brother.. Who will graduate in 4 years.. this would be awful for him. I'm kicking around ideas now to figure out what we're going to do then. He's.. Much wilder. So.. That will be tougher. An initial thought is going to San Diego and popping over to TJ.. that's probably more his speed. I'm.. Certainly leery of that idea.. Thankfully, I've got a while to think about that one. Of course, he keeps bringing up some "Bunny Island" that he wants to go see and that one's just a flat no. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%8Ckunoshima
Really enjoyed this whole thread. Some negative stuff and a lot of good, helpful stuff. Its a trip I would have loved to take with some of my grandsons. Have done a few things, closer to home.
Good luck and enjoy whatever you do !! Keep us posted if you can find the time, maybe a few pictures.
I just drove by Acoma Pueblo and it is closed to visitors (April) so it could be still closed. Albuquerque has the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center that offers an overview and ceremonial dancing. There is also the National Hispanic Cultural Center there as well.
El Malpais is interesting near Grants — a volcanic lava flow covered a valley floor and makes for interesting hiking or photography.
I just drove by Acoma Pueblo and it is closed to visitors (April) so it could be still closed. Albuquerque has the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center that offers an overview and ceremonial dancing. There is also the National Hispanic Cultural Center there as well.
Did not see your earlier post as was just skimming through. Hopefully I was not too repetitious but La Posada and Acoma Pueblo are also some of my favorites.
To me the Arizona and New Mexico some of the towns are pretty interesting and Central Ave. Alb. (Knob Hill) is really cool at night.
The Texas panhandle doesn't have too much except for Amarillo and the big cross at Groom.
In western Oklahoma, the there are Route 66 Museums in both Elk City and Clinton. The Clinton one is right off the road and is considered one of the best ones on the route.
In Oklahoma to me the one "you can't miss this" thing to do is eat an onion burger in El Reno. Onion burgers are a depression era food item invented in the depression literally on Route 66 in El Reno. There are three or four burger places there that specialize in them. Sid's downtown is my favorite.
OKC has very little promotion of the road but several OKC attractions have been mentioned earlier. The AFB would have to be Tinker AFB which is located about 10 miles SE of highway.
Arcadia is where Pops is. Then if you lunch in El Reno, you could eat dinner at either the Rock House in Stroud or Bristow or Sapulpa at one of the Lebanese places that have been there for decades.
11st in Tulsa is interesting and obviously Tulsa has other things not necessarily related to the highway. The Blue Whale is just outside Tulsa. Claremore has the Will Rogers museum and a gun museum that is popular. Miami has the Coleman theater. Commerce is the home of Mickey Mantle and is the site of the last murder committed by Bonnie and Clyde before they met their demise a few weeks later.
That will get you to Kansas and Baxter Springs. The only Kansas town on the highway before entering Missouri. Once in Missouri you get to Joplin and again, see the site where Bonnie, Clyde, Buck and Blanche shot their way out of a garage apartment in south Joplin.
Although it's not a true ghost town, Oatman, Az. is a former mining town that charms visitors with its shops and wild burros that roam the streets. There is also a cemetery in Oatman.
Arcadia is where Pops is. Then if you lunch in El Reno, you could eat dinner at either the Rock House in Stroud or Bristow or Sapulpa at one of the Lebanese places that have been there for decades.
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The Rock House was a classic for us. GREAT lunch/dinner
I always stay over night there. Its about mid point on a 1000 mile trip I take a few times a year. There are still a lot of motels and businesses with the route 66 theme. Of course when I-40 was built it had a huge effect on towns that relied on the route 66 traffic passing through.
I stay there for one reason (twice a year). There's a motel there with clean comfortable odorless "smoking" rooms.
I refuse to stay in a motel that allows cats in the room but forbids smoking in all rooms. I don't rent a room to forcefully alter my personal habits.
That right there will be of massive interest to him. Thank you. Still reading on the other things as well. Onion burger sounds interesting to me..
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jayman1974
Although it's not a true ghost town, Oatman, Az. is a former mining town that charms visitors with its shops and wild burros that roam the streets. There is also a cemetery in Oatman.
Oatman was already on the list.. I've told him the streets are lined with ass there. He'll likely be sorely disappointed by what that ACTUALLY means, but..
But I also believe there are several abandoned mines and the like there as well? Certainly a place we'll check out.
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