Day 1
FLIGHT TO CHICAGO • “WINDY CITY” SIGHTSEEING • CHICAGO STYLE DEEP DISH PIZZA:
We depart Charlotte-Douglas Airport on our flight
to Chicago. Upon our arrival to Chicago,
we board our comfortable motorcoach for a guided sightseeing tour of the “Windy City.” We visit Grant Park where we see the official banner “Historic Route 66 Starts Here.” While here, we
visit the park's centerpiece, the impres-
sive Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain. After our introduction to the city, we enjoy Chicago's legendary, deep-
dish pizza for dinner. We overnight just outside of Chicago. (D)
Day 2
WEST ON ROUTE 66 • ROUTE 66
HALL OF FAME • ABRAHAM LINCOLN PRESIDENTIAL MUSEUM • ST. LOUIS:
Today we commence our nostalgic journey on Route 66. Also known as the Main Street of America or
the Mother Road, this highway became one of the most famous roads in America
running from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa
Monica, California. Today we visit the Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum in
Pontiac before continuing to Springfield,
Illinois. This is a city rich in Route 66
memories and where President Abraham
Lincoln lived for 24 years. We drive by
the Illinois State Capitol building before
visiting the wonderful Library and Muse-
um of President Abraham Lincoln. We
see the Chain of the Rocks Route 66
Bridge over the Mississippi River. The
bridge was named for the rocks that made crossing the river so rough before
the bridge was built in the 1960's. We overnight in the St. Louis, Missouri, area.
Day 3
FANTASTIC CAVERNS • SPRINGFIELD • JOPLIN:
Missouri is
home to more than 6,000 caves including
Fantastic Caverns. This is America's only drive through cave. You can relax in comfort by boarding the Jeep-drawn tram and experience the natural beauty.
We continue through Missouri on Route
66. Officially recognized as the birthplace
of Route 66, it was in Springfield on
April 30, 1926, that officials first proposed
the name of the new Chicago-to-Los Angeles highway. In 1938, Route 66 became the first completely paved transcontinental highway in America, the “Mother Road,” stretching from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Coast. Route 66 runs through downtown Springfield as traces of the Mother Road are still visible in downtown with interesting shops. We overnight near Joplin. Our hotel offers a light kickback dinner for you to enjoy.
Day 4
WILL ROGERS MUSEUM • OKLAHOMA CITY • NATIONAL COWBOY & WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM • DINNER:
Continuing on Route 66, we will be traveling a scenic stretch of the highway known as the Will Rogers Highway. We'll be passing through such towns as Commerce, which is the boyhood home of Baseball Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle. We arrive
in Claremore, Oklahoma, the Home of Will Rogers where we stop to visit the Will Rogers Museum. The museum is loaded with memorabilia, his saddle
collection, photographs and manuscripts,
with nine galleries and three theaters. Also on the grounds is the family tomb
located at the sunken garden. Upon arrival in Oklahoma City, we visit the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Here we find one of the finest
collections of western art in the country,
depicting in graphic glory America's Western heritage. The West of Yesterday
Gallery features life-size re-creations of
early Indian and pioneer life. The Rodeo Hall of Fame is always a favorite, as is a
stroll through the sculpture hall, which
features the famous “End of the Trail”
and “Coming Through the Rye” sculp-tures. Don't miss the 33-foot statue of Buffalo Bill. We spend the night in Oklahoma City. We're in cattle country and steak is on the menu tonight. (D)
Day 5
MURRAH MEMORIAL & MUSEUM • NATIONAL ROUTE 66 MUSEUM • BIG TEXAN STEAK RANCH DINNER:
This morning we have a somber reminder
of the Oklahoma City tragedy as we visit
the Murrah Memorial honoring the 1995
bombing victims. Each of the 168 people
killed in the tragedy is represented by a chair made of bronze, stone, and glass. The museum presents the story of this horrendous terrorist attack on April 19, 1995. Continuing on through Oklahoma we stop in Elk City, Oklahoma, at the
National Route 66 Museum. This museum takes us on a trip through the route's
history with photographs, old signs, and vintage automobiles. We make our way to Amarillo, Texas, where dinner is included at the Big Texan Steak Ranch. We spend the night in Amarillo. (D)
Day 6
CADILLAC RANCH • TUCUMCARI • OLD TOWN ALBUQUERQUE WALKING TOUR • DINNER AT 66 DINER:
Just outside of Amarillo we pause for a photo at the famed Cadillac Ranch. This interesting place was built in 1974
by Stanley March III. Here are 10 brightly
painted Cadillacs, each of the models from 1949 to 1964 buried nose down in concrete, at the angle of the great pyramids. Our next stop is in the town of Tucumcari, New Mexico, where we drive through this unique town to see all the murals and pause for a photo at
the Route 66 mural, the Tee Pee Curios
and the Blue Swallow Motel. Continuing
across the New Mexico Desert, we arrive in Albuquerque, where the spirit
of Route 66 still thrives. Nestled amongst
the mountains, we take a walking tour of Old Town, the original Albuquerque, to see the old adobe architecture. Founded in 1706, the warmth of aged adobe adds a special charm to its shops
and galleries. This evening dinner is included at the 66 Diner. With its 1950's jukebox and blue-plate specials, this
place has hardly changed since the
heyday of the “Main Street of America”
days. (D)
Day 7
SANDIA PEAK AERIAL TRAM •
TRADITIONAL NEW MEXICO
LUNCH • SANTA FE HIGHLIGHTS TOUR
• “MIRACULOUS” STAIRCASE AT
LORETTO CHAPEL:
This morning we're
off for an exciting ride on the Sandia
Peak Tramway, an aerial tram which lofts
passengers to the top of 10,000-foot
Sandia Peak. The 2.7-mile ride is the
longest clear and unsupported span in
North America. The view, both east and
west, is spectacular! On to Santa Fe, we
enjoy a traditional New Mexico lunch
served in one of Santa Fe's gourmet
restaurants. After lunch we get acquainted
with downtown Santa Fe, as
our local guide joins us. We get a great
overview of Santa Fe's history, culture
and archi-tecture as we navigate the
winding streets in and around the downtown
plaza. Our knowledgeable guide
will share stories about the famous
buildings, the significant events and
colorful people of Santa Fe's past. Our
tour will also include a visit to Loretto
Chapel, with its famous “miraculous”
staircase, and the Cathedral Basilica of
St. Francis, built between 1869 and 1886
in the French Romanesque Style. Next
we have free time to enjoy shopping for
one-of-a-kind treasures in Santa Fe.
Santa Fe is known for its beautiful handmade
jewelry. We return to Albuquerque
for the evening. (L)
Day 8
PETRIFIED FOREST NATIONAL
PARK • PAINTED DESERT •
WILLIAMS • CRUISER'S CAFÉ 66:
Traveling through Gallup this morning
we see the history of Route 66 on the
“Main Drag.” See the historic El Rancho
Hotel which served as a home base to
movie stars such as John Wayne and
Katherine Hepburn, who came to the
desert for their films. Crossing into
Arizona on Route 66, we marvel at the
colors of the Painted Desert as it comes
into view. Today we visit one of our most
unique National Parks, the Petrified
Forest. At the Visitor's Center and Rainbow
Forest Museum, we see polished
sections of the wood. Next, we travel
through Holbrook where we see the
Wigwam Motel. In Winslow, have a photo
taken with the famous bronze statue
of “The Man Standing on the Corner.”
Upon our arrival to Williams, we have
an included dinner at the Cruiser's Café
66, a local favorite. We overnight in this
charming little town on Route 66. (D)
Day 9
SELIGMAN • KINGMAN • HUALAPAI
NATION • GRAND CANYON
SKYWALK • INDIAN VILLAGE • GUANO
POINT:
Traveling along Route 66, we
stop in Seligman. This delightful town
retains all the flavor of the “Mother Road.”
We stop in town allowing you time to
browse the local shops loaded with
Route 66 memorabilia and gifts. Maybe
we get to visit with Angel Delgadillo, a
Route 66 legend. We also pass through
Peach Springs, the town that was the
inspiration for the Pixar movie Cars. Next
we drive through Hackberry, a Route 66
ghost town along the original route.
Further ahead, we pass through Kingman,
a Route 66 hotspot that has kept the
culture alive. From here we journey
through the desert oases to the land
of the Hualapai Nation. The Hualapai
are a native people of the southwest. If
you've never visited the Grand Canyon,
you're in for a treat! Even if you've been
here a dozen times, you'll stand awestruck
at the magnificence of this natural
wonder. Our motorcoach takes us to
the edge of the Hualapai Nation where
we visit the Grand Canyon Skywalk.
Here we walk beyond the canyon walls,
becoming surrounded by the Grand
Canyon-West while standing at the edge
of the Glass Bridge. The Glass Bridge
is suspended more than 4,000 feet
above the Colorado River. We visit an
Indian Village consisting of five smaller
villages. Our stop at Guano Point offers
incredible views of the Grand Canyon
and Colorado River. Lunch is included
here. Back on our motorcoach we get
back on Route 66 and travel to the
Colorado River Valley to the resort town
of Laughlin, Nevada. We overnight at
one of the casino resorts. (L)
Day 10
MOTHER ROAD MUSEUM •
SANTA MONICA • LOS ANGELES:
This morning we cross into California
making our a stop in Barstow to visit
the Route 66 “Mother Road” Museum.
Displays include development of Route
66 from early pioneer trails, railroads,
automotive history, businesses, and
other sites. Continuing west toward the
coast along the last stretch of the legendary
Route 66, we skirt the Mojave
National Preserve. We make our way
to Santa Monica, known as the end of
famous Route 66! We overnight just
outside of Los Angeles for the next two
nights. Dinner is included this evening. (D)
Day 11
RONALD W. REAGAN LIBRARY &
MUSEUM • FARMER'S MARKET
• LOS ANGELES CITY TOUR:
This morning
we visit the Ronald W. Reagan Presidential
Library & Museum. Artifacts from his
childhood and professional career provide
physical evidence of his extraordinary
life. A recreated studio booth highlights
his early radio broadcasting career.
Glimpse into Ronald and Nancy Reagan's
devoted marriage, a love story straight
out of a Hollywood script. See a piece
of the Berlin Wall, immerse yourself
in Camp David and Rancho del Cielo.
You'll be able to board the Air Force
One that served as the “Flying White
House,” for President Reagan and six
other U.S. presidents from 1973-2001.
We make a stop at the Los Angeles
Farmer's Market. This historic market
offers over 100 shops, restaurants and
grocers. We take a tour of the “City of
Angels,” Los Angeles. In the heart of
Hollywood, you'll recognize the familiar
facade of TCL Chinese Theater. We make
a brief stop here to take pictures of the
footprints, hand prints, and autographs
cast in the concrete outside the theater's
doors. Here, too, we find the renowned
Walk of Stars, where many of your favorite
actors, actresses, singers, dancers, and
musicians have stars dedicated to them.
We also see the famous intersection of
Hollywood & Vine. Enjoy dinner together
this evening with all your newfound
friends you've made while traveling
Route 66! (D)
Day 12
FLIGHT HOME:
We've now
traveled Historic Route 66 from
Illinois to California by motorcoach.