All photographs on this page appear as thumbnails, I appreciate your patience as all images load!
All photographs on this page appear as thumbnails, I appreciate your patience as all
images load!
After crossing the Arizona border, you will come across a number of trading posts
in Lupton. We followed the frontage road until Exit 354,
where we had to join the Interstate until Exit 341. We again followed 66 until Exit
333, where we took the Interstate again. We took I-40 until Exit 320 (Pinta Road) to
an old alignment, which was unpaved, but Bob Moore indicated was not difficult to drive,
even for 
sedans. So we took
that road, which led to a crossing (left). At that crossing, you could make a
turn and be on the old road which led through the Painted Desert
(right). While that road still exists, it is blocked at the edge of the Painted
Desert. I believe you can take it if you know someone who can give you special
permission to do so. Otherwise, you can't follow 66 at this point, you would have
to return to the Interstate.
We then went on to the Painted Desert & Petrified Forest National Park. Within the park, you can follow Bob Moore's
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
The Painted Desert & Petrified Forest National Park |
|||||
instructions to see the continuation of where that road is. When we entered the park, we just followed the path listed in the brochure, looping around all the points for the Painted Desert, which was gorgeous. We were lucky because there was a little bit of bad weather approaching, but while we still were at the Painted Desert portion of the park, it was bright and sunny, so we were able to view all the wonderful colors before the clouds came in. As we drove down the park through the Petrified Forest to the south entrance, it became cloudy and there was some very light rain, but it cleared up after we left the Rainbow Forest shop at the south entrance, where we got a fast bite to eat. We then took Rt. 180 up to Holbrook.
In Holbrook, we anticipated seeing the Wigwam Village Motel. There are others in the south and southeast, but only two along Route 66. This one in Holbrook, Arizona, and the another in Rialto, California. There are photos of the Wigwam Motel in Rialto in my California section. The one in Holbrook has retained its family reputation with the slogan "Have You Slept In A Wigwam Lately?" By contrast, the Rialto location states "Do It In A Teepee."
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Geronimo Trading Post, between Holbrook and Joseph City
We
passed this old trading post, Ella's Frontier, on a little deadend before we crossed to
the south side of the Interstate and followed the frontage road.
All
along the way, you will encounter signs for the Jack Rabbit Trading Post. You
know you're there when you see the last billboard, with the silhouette of the jackrabbit
and the huge letters HERE IT IS.
Of
course, we didn't pass by the Jackrabbit Trading Post. We just had to pose
with the large jackrabbit! We did some more souvenir shopping there (more Route 66
books, memorabilia, and so on to add to my collection!), and Amber bought a funny cactus
for the car antenna. Then it was on to our next stop for the night, Winslow.
The
peaceful evening sky to the south between Joseph City and Winslow.
In Winslow, we decided to stay at the Super 8 Motel, on the western side of town.
After we checked into the hotel, we decided to have dinner at the Country Market Buffet
Restaurant, which we passed earlier. As we left the hotel to go to the restaurant, I
noticed this pretty rainbow in the sky.
The next day we went back to the Country Market Buffet for breakfast, and
we passed by downtown Winslow again. 
This
time, I noticed the
corner as referenced in the song "Take It Easy" by the Eagles.
The town contracted a mural to be painted on Standin' on a Corner Park. There is a
statue of a man...well, standin' on a corner, and the mural is supposed to be a reflection
in a store window of a girl (my lord) in a flatbed Ford looking at him. I took the
two pictures below, but for better images of the mural, visit these links:
 | |
|
 |
 |
Standin' on a Corner in |
|
We stopped to see this Route 66 icon - Exit 239
 |
The next stop was Meteor Crater |
 |
We
took Exit 230 for Two Guns. Previously, the remains of Two Guns were accessible,
but a gate has been put up. Someone spray painted "NOT" before
"Welcome - Two Guns," and there were NO TRESPASSING SIGNS at the gate.
In Bob Moore's book, Twin Arrows was opened, but we found it closed down and boarded up now.
 |
The Twin Arrows Trading Post and Cafe |
 |
The
terrain shifted from desert to forest into Winona & Flagstaff. I was debating
about whether to head to the Grand Canyon from Flagstaff or Williams, and I opted to
continue to Williams. We did take Exit 204, and followed the route through Flagstaff.
It was early, about 11:20, when we arrived in Williams, "The Gateway to the Grand Canyon." As Route 66 runs into town, it
splits, with the westbound and eastbound lanes separated by buildings. You can access the eastbound road by various cross streets. We stopped off at the Williams Visitor Center for some brochures and information, then continued on the westbound
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Williams, Arizona |
||
route a little bit. We then turned left, to head over to the eastbound route, and stopped at the Route 66 Magazine Gift Shop. That was great - I love Route 66 Magazine, and it was nice to meet Sandi and Paul Taylor (Sandi is also originally from Connecticut!). They have a wide selection
of merchandise, and I bought (among many other things), the boxed set of the Cats Meow Village Route 66 Series. Make this a must-stop on any Route 66 journey!
By this time, it was about noon, but before heading up to the Grand Canyon, I thought
I'd see if we could at least make arrangements for a room for tonight. I wanted to
stay at the Route 66 Inn, so we stopped by and they had rooms, which were ready, so we
could check in! The room was big and comfortable, and the owners were very friendly!
At about 1:30, we left for the Grand Canyon. The south rim is about an hour from Williams. We were not planning on any outdoor activities at the Canyon, such as hiking. Rather, we wanted to take the shuttle to various points. What can I say about the Grand Canyon that hasn't been said (and probably more eloquently than I could say it)?
 |
 |
 |
Altogether, we spent a few hours there, just enough to see what we wanted to see.
We just rested at the motel for the evening, though after dark, I took a
brief walk around Williams and a few photos before heading back for the evening.
We packed up many of the souvenirs we purchased (after a second trip back to the Route
66 Magazine Shop this morning!), and shipped them from the Route 66 Inn, which also
provides UPS service. We had an excellent breakfast, with friendly service, at the
Pine Country Restaurant.
We headed out of Williams, and joined the interstate (necessary). Between Williams
and Ash Fork are several old alignments which are not driveable, but are good bike trails
(some are preferable to ride with a mountain bike). Having a mountain bike, that
would be something I'd be interested in doing, but since this was a fly/drive vacation, my
bike was at home, and it wasn't possible.
We exited at the Interstate at Exit 146 for Ash Fork, then rejoined again until Exit
139 (Crookton Road), taking old 66 into Seligman.
It was about 10:40 AM, but that wasn't going to stop us from stopping at Delgadillo's Snow
Cap for an ice cream cone, a Coke and a good dose of humor! Besides us, and one or
two other families, there happened to be a bus of French tourists stopped in Seligman, so
the Snow Cap was pretty crowded! I waited in line, wanting to get inside to see Juan
Delgadillo. The group was having a great time with his antics, and I could barely see
anything, but I could constantly hear laughter. I don't know how many of these
French tourists spoke English, but it didn't matter. Language was unnecessary to
understand the humor and have a great time. I finally managed to sneak a peek of
what was going on, and I knew what to expect with napkins, a "small" Coke,
straws and of course, the squirting mustard bottle. I ordered two ice cream cones
(the routine there is you get one cone with your ice cream, with a second cone inverted on
top! LOL). Among a million other unique, humorous characteristics at the Snow
Cap, are a door with two knobs (see photo below), and a sign that says "Sorry, We're
Open."
After the crowd left, I told Amber she just had to go in, and she thought the
squirting mustard bottle was hilarious (I didn't tell her the trick)! They had them
for sale, so we bought one.
Juan said to us, "here, take my card" and gave us each a business card that says
"My Card." :D
 |
|
Amber was busy trying to approach all the kittens hanging around, and we looked around
the back, with its unique (to say the least) atmosphere. One other traveler used the
outhouse in the back, but Amber refused. I noticed, however, that they had a regular
restroom!
We then headed over to Angel Delgadillo's Barbershop (he no longer cuts hair, though I
hear he will oblige for the occasional tourist). He and his wife Vilma run a gift
shop and visitor center there. Angel and Juan Delgadillo are brothers, and Angel was
the driving force behind Route 66's historical designation.
 |
 |
Left: Juan Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-In Upper right: Roadkill Restaurant Lower right: Angel & Vilma Delgadillo's Gift Shop & Visitor Center Far right: Stagecoach Motel |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
We stayed in Seligman about an hour and 20 minutes, then it was time to continue on. We followed the old road through Peach Springs, Truxton, Valentine and Hackberry, where the Hackberry General Store is located. It is now a Route 66 gift shop and visitor's center. We stopped here for about 25 minutes.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
We continued into Kingman, boyhood home of Andy Devine (who was not born here, but in
Flagstaff - his family moved to Kingman when he was a year old). Another Hollywood
connection in Kingman is that Clark Gable and Carol Lombard were married here.
We stopped for a bite to eat, and also to fill the car with gas. This was where the
attendant noticed the one-inch split in my tire (see the story in my planning section
under auto rental).
I have created a separate page (linked below) for our visit to Oatman, Arizona, which also
encompasses the remainder of Route 66 in Arizona. From that page, you can continue
on to California.
This page was last updated on Saturday, June 04, 2005
