At 66 years young, I’m thrilled to embark on an epic adventure along the legendary Route 66, stretching from the heart of Illinois all the way to the sun-kissed shores of California! The excitement of this journey is palpable, and I can’t wait to hit the road with my dear friend, Marji!
Together, we have crafted an extraordinary itinerary featuring stops at fun and quirky locations along the route! (Plus, we’ve included a few delightful detours – just for good measure!) Throughout our journey, I will be gathering information and resources for travelers who require different accommodations to travel “uniquely”. Whether someone needs easy walking paths, paved hiking trails, or amenities like braille signage and captioned informational films in museums or historical venues, I aim to gather inclusive travel information to share during our trip and after as a guide for all.
Read more about accessible tourism here.
STARTING POINT: the Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois. Did you know there is a tall ship, The Windy, at the pier? Hop on and join the ships crew for a fun sailing experience!
Our journey will officially commence in Joliet, Ilinois and then promptly continue to Pontiac, Illinois, a town that takes great pride in its Route 66 Hall of Fame, especially for this anniversary celebration! Explore the website for a complete list of events here.
Before we depart from the Land of Lincoln, we can’t miss the opportunity to visit Springfield, the state capital and the historic home of Abraham Lincoln. I’m particularly looking forward to the fascinating vintage sign collection at the ACE SIGN COMPANY MUSEUM.
Missouri– The SHOW ME STATE
Before crossing the Mississippi River, we will take our first “side-trip” to Branson, Missouri. I am hoping we can catch a few good shows! The website: ExploreBranson.com seemed to have a wealth of information!
Kansas– not sure what to see here. Suggestions??
Oklahoma
Tulsa is our main stop in Oklahoma, and there is plenty to do and see in this thriving city. When the sun goes down, the Neon Signs illuminate! Plus, a great place to get some barbecue!
Texas (Panhandle)
- Amarillo- You cannot drive on Route 66 without making the obligatory stop at the Cadillac Ranch. I understand it is BYOSP (Bring Your Own Spray Paint). Graffiti art on the various Cadillac cars is encouraged. Stay tuned for the video and/or photos!
New Mexico
This state is a treasure trove of Route 66 “must-dos”. From ghost towns, to Wigwam hotels, and even a stop at the Balloon Museum! There is no time to sleep in New Mexico or Arizona. Our focus will be on these destination points and the natural wonders that surround them!
- Tucumcari
- Albuquerque
Arizona
- Holbrook
- Winslow
- Flagstaff
- Kingman
I have written several articles about Arizona. Regardless, I am excited to go to Winslow and actually explore this little slice of Arizona. Made famous by the band, The Eagles, this verse in the song Take It Easy: “standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona”. That little corner has captured the imaginations of thousands of visitors each year and has become a popular “Instagram post”. In fact, in early 2026, over 45,000 “Insta” posts have been tabulated to have the hashtag #WinslowArizona!
Listen to the Eagles sing Take It Easy here
Next up- Flagstaff is located in a very pretty part of the state. We plan on making our way to the Meteor Crater and the National Petrified Forest (and the Painted Desert), too! I bet that these are optimal photography stops!
Once we hit Flagstaff, we veer off to Sedona. I have been before and it is FABULOUS! I am looking forward to taking the Verde Canyon train out of Clarkdale and through the rock formations of Sedona and nearby vistas.
Back on Route 66, we will go towards Williams, Oatman, and Kingman. But, we still have plenty of sites to see and novelty shops to discover!
California
- Needles
- Barstow
- San Bernardino
We make our way to our final destination during the last day on “the route”.
LAST STOP: Santa Monica Pier
What’s next? Well, if you read this far, please know that the content will continue throughout our trip. And the culmination will be a guide for people and families who need to travel uniquely, and how Route 66 accommodates and includes people with differences.
Lastly, we will highlight the destinations by encouraging children to participate and expand their interest in reading. We’ll kick off this initiative with a book from my friends at Familius Publishing.
