In 1954 as my husband was being shipped overseas we took his 30 day leave to go to Texas and visit his parents. We drove Route 66 from Bakersfield to Albuquerque before heading south. Somewhere in AZ our car broke down my husband hitchhiked to the next town which luckily had an old tow truck, garage, gas station, cafe and motel. They ordered the part out of Phoenix and it delivered by Greyhound Bus.

I grew up in Kingman during the 1970’s and I remember I-40 being built. My memories of Route 66 are ones of decay. The abandoned cafes, tattered signs, broken glass, trash, graffiti, and dying towns of Hackberry, Truxton, and Valentines. I am glad to see it has made a revival as a tourist destination.

@SmittyAZ

Ай бұрын

If it makes you feel better, I-40 is probably as bad in some sections as rte 66 was.

I Met Angel When my Son & I were in Seligman. Been there many times. Stayed over nite there ate at the Road Kill Cafe. It's an Awesome place to Visit. My Highlight was Meeting Angel ❤ he's got a great Sense of Humor . Someday my Plan is to finish the other half of Route 66. From Albuquerque to Chicago. I did the first half from Californiato Albuquerque for my 66th Birthday. Makin Dreams Happen ❤ Happy Trails.

Back in 1982 went to the the cave with mt future lovely wife and went down the elevator not knowing you needed a guide. We got out of elevator to complete darkness lol, needless to say employee's had a few choice words for us when we came back up. They did let us go on the tour afterwards now at 64 about time for us to try it again possible silver alert

My family moved from Seligman to Kingman in 1964. Lived in Kingman until 1981 when I got married and left. While visiting a few weeks ago, my parents and I took that drive from Kingman to Seligman because none of us have been on it in a long time. It’s a beautiful drive and it brought back a lot of nice memories.

I’m so glad your channel popped up for me a while back. I’ve enjoyed all the videos of yours that I’ve watched so far. You are knowledgeable about where your visit and really do a great job. Your hard work and detail to perfection is obvious. Thank you.

I'm from the UK and I done the 66 from East to West in July and it was a great experience. Although I didn't stop overnight in Kingman I did stop off there for a late breakfast and I also visited the museums there which were shown at the start of this video. Arizona was probably my favourite state in which I went to.

@SidetrackAdventures

Жыл бұрын

Lots of great Route 66 stuff in Arizona. Its just more spread out than some of the states further east.

@milt6208

Жыл бұрын

Did you get to London Bridge?

@9greatdanes981

10 ай бұрын

You ain’t seen nuffin yet!

I still fondly remember meeting Angel Delgadillo and eating at Juan’s diner when we took our kids to see Seligman. So glad to have experienced the Mother Road.

Hi Steve! I'll be retiring in the Spring of 2025, at the age of 70, and will immediately hit the road. My first planned trip is going to be Route 66. I've been dreaming of taking this trip for many years. I love your videos because they're always informative and very fun to watch. I didn't think I'd ever want to be older, but after watching this video about Route 66 between Kingman and Seligman AZ, I can't wait to reach the age of 70 and take off in my Dodge Challenger and explore all there is to see on Route 66 from LA to Chicago. Thanks Steve!

@jamespobog3420

5 ай бұрын

If you make that a one or two week trip, you will make the travel experience of a lifetime.

Another spot to drive to is that from the Hualapai Market in Peach Springs you can buy a ticket and drive north on that road into the Grand Canyon and down to the Colorado River. Depending on the time of year you may need a 4x4 but normally a 2wd truck makes it just fine. There is much beautiful scenery on this drive. It's about 45 minutes to an hour one way and well worth your time.

Drove that route in the other direction a few years back......We stopped at that motel in Truxton, as they had a sign out front that said "stop here, we're bored"

Route 66 is one of our favourite trips. The history, the scenery, the relaxed pace makes for such an enjoyable experience.

@SidetrackAdventures

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, its so great and there's so much of it to see!

@davechristian7543

Жыл бұрын

Being from Sydney nsw i would have loved to drive the whole roat back in the day before the expressway was put in, i think u guys call it the I-98.. we call our heir in Nsw the F1 or F 6 n so on, or the motor way as thats the new one n the old one is called the great western highway then u have the coast rd going up n down the eat coast called the princes highway haha to much info sorry haha, i get carried away sometimes sorry.

Remember driving it when I was 20 years old. I was fascinated by the decaying buildings.

Besides the movie, Cars, the Snow Cap Cafe in Seligman is mentioned in the movie Wishman. This is the story of the founder of Make A Wish Foundation. He had a very difficult childhood and his life turned around in Seligman where Angel Deladillo was kind to him when he was a boy. He could easily have been lost but instead went on to a good career and the creation of the Foundation.

I did Route 66 from Flagstaff to Victorville (aside from the washed out sections) and it blew me away. I went in blind which made it extra special.

Yep, this segment of Route 66 has many neat places to visit. The route was surveyed by (eventual) General Beale in 1850s as an all-weather cross-country travel route, avoiding snow closures up north. His son's name was Truxton. Great stuff!

@SidetrackAdventures

2 жыл бұрын

There are lots of signs for the Beale route along the way. I got some footage of one but couldn't work it into the video. So much history there.

@bwhog

5 ай бұрын

Route 66 didn't exactly follow the Beale rode, but it did incorporate certain parts of it. First came the wagon road, then the rail road, then Route 66, then I40. Each successor has varied farther from the wagon road as practicality required and technology allowed. The railroad, for example, had to maintain maximum gradients. Cars had different needs then wagons and allowed travel over certain areas that wagons wouldn't have easily been able to follow (thanks to concrete bridges and so on). I40 was built after we had much experience in road building and no longer needed to follow the contours of the land, as earlier roads generally did. We were able to build straight, wide roads that could accommodate a lot more traffic than the old two-lane highways, so it generally followed the path of the railroad through that area but also took a straighter course.

I grew up in Kingman. Route 66 is a big deal there, as is the cool story of how the locomotive got moved forward in the 80s. My high school was right near 66 and we drove it a lot when I was a kid. Great video!

i've done this drive a couple times i love old roads can't wait to do it again

The first few places I've been to in your videos

About 10 years ago my brother and I were returning to California after a visit to the Grand Canyon. We took Route 66 south from I40 into Seligman to stop at the Snow Cap Café. There we met a group of German tourists who were traveling on their rented Harley Davidson motorcycles.

@SidetrackAdventures

2 жыл бұрын

That's really cool. Its amazing how popular Route 66 is outside the United States. We met someone from Sweden on this trip.

@SharingtheRoad

2 жыл бұрын

Can you imagine how fun it must be to explore Route 66 on motorcycles like that. That must feel like being out of a movie! 🏍

@davechristian7543

Жыл бұрын

@@SidetrackAdventures Ya Germans love American memorabilia, im German as my mum n dad immigrated to Sydney in 69 n all my relos who visited thro my life time would tell me how they love American memorabilia especially the old American cars n Hollywood stuff.

@cavecookie1

Жыл бұрын

I lived in Oatman Through the '90s, and always loved those Germans on the Harleys...we were one of their favorite stops, and we got to know the the Guide very well!

@cavecookie1

Жыл бұрын

@@SidetrackAdventures All the people from all over the world was the thing I loved most about my 15 years on Rt. 66 in Arizona.

I used to travel Old Route 66 all the time when I went back and forth between Flagstaff and Kingman. My beat up van couldn't handle the freeway. Brings back old memories, but I do recognize the changes. It makes economic sense, but it's still sad to see some of the roadside businesses close down.

Over the years, I have driven that leg multiple times, usually but not exclusively east/west. My last time was June of this year, driving home (Orange County) from Williams after the funeral of a high school buddy. I love this leg, especially Sitgreaves Pass. The time before that was 2009 after a motorcycle road trip to Durango CO. and back. Sitgreaves on a Harley, a time long dream. Route 66 is something very special to me, have been driving over it more than a little bit, in both directions, starting in the late 50's/early 60's. Two full round trips with my parents as a young boy. I cannot tell you how much the film series "Cars" is to me, especially the first one. The montage in that is golden to me, I recognize so many places, certain road cuts, and the view of the flat corn fields with a distant thunderstorm...yikes...been there, done that.

My dream is to take a month (or two!) driving Route 66. I have driven this portion once, but aside from taking my kids on the cavern tour, I didn't give the trip the time it deserved. Thank you for this great video!

It's fun eating lunch in the patio of Snow Cap watching people trying to open the door to building 😂 Please ask for mustard

I appreciate all your videos, as they are very helpful, impormative, and entertaining to say the least. Keep up the great work. ❤

San francisco native living in Yucca so I shop in Kingman all the time and drive on 66 all the time

It's crazy to think how long Route 66 goes, and how much terrain it covers. Such a cool American Icon, and it's so cool seeing the stops and artifacts along the way. Great video!

@SidetrackAdventures

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Nice to see a portion of 66 that has live towns, and is not just a frontage road for an Interstate. Last time I was in Seligman (1990s) the owner of the Snow Cap Drive -in was there to make his famous bizarre jokes.

Great video with story telling. Thanks!

Thanks for sharing. I can’t get enough of Route 66 in Arizona.

@SidetrackAdventures

2 жыл бұрын

Me neither. Can't wait to go back.

Would love to travel route 66 someday. Always love your videos. A calm way to get through my work day. Watch them on my breaks. Keep up the great work.

I did this section years ago just after reading a Louis L'Amour novel that mentioned Peach Springs. Been thru a couple more times also. Love it.

Had to get into my picture files for my last trip into that area in 2006 via BMW R1150GSA. So loved my travel years on bikes.

Great awesome video friend! Love to travel there and the places where you travel there one day. Thanks for the videos. 🙂😱👻👀👍👍👍

Happy to see you mentioned Mr. Angel Delgadillo....First met him in 1996 and we have returned many times to say Hi. My son got his haircut by Mr. Angel when he was 5 and when we returned in 2017 (he was 17 then) Mr. Angel even recognized him! What a kind and gentle man with a great sense of humor..

I am looking at retiring this coming year and perhaps moving out to Kingman. Route 66 has always facinated me, especially hearing my dad talk about the places he and his sisters had visited on their move out from Kansas in the '40's, "a subject he also wrote about.". He always wanted to re-visit portions of the Mother Road that he missed or had to pass through quickly, but life got in the way. On our way to a reunion in KS we did stop in Kingman and Seligman but needed to keep moving and couldn't stay for very long. My goal is to restore my '85 Mustang GT and to visit the portions of Route 66 my dad talked and wrote about, while also reconnecting with my dad in spirit.

Have driven that stretch of 66 several times. Much more relaxing ride than I 40 going between Seligman and Kingman. I’ve driven a few miles of decommissioned 66 too.

I use to live at Antares Point, it was wonderful. Rented from Giganticus headicus. Found gold in rocks, lots of bottles and trinkets from the 40s. It Antareeeeeeeres, named after the Star that one can see so brightly from there.

The Black Cat Bar is another iconic establishment in Seligman.

@johnkissane8010

Ай бұрын

Could be wrong but I believe it’s world famous.

Must agree….just love this stretch…and catching up with Angel in Seligman ❤️🇦🇺

You've got a great channel here my friend. Very well-done and your delivery is very nice; a relaxed, and informed presentation. I grew up in AZ and may well return some day and miss it dearly. Easily one of THE most scenic and interesting states. If I can't be there, these videos allow me to imagine that I am there. Thank you.

My Brother lives in Bullhead City and I have been on the Oatman Road to Cool Springs so many times.

Yahoo from Aussie and driven that part loved it

Big Mike here from Route 66 Road Relics thanks for making the video. drop by and say hi next time you are in Seligman.

@SidetrackAdventures

Жыл бұрын

Thanks! Hope to be back through there this summer.

Haven't driven that yet, but boy do I remember those Burma Shave signs throughout the west

This is awesome! So many great memories of this stretch of road. My first trip was at 3 years old in 1967. At 5 years old, we stopped at gas station there where you had to pay a nickel to use the toilet. I got trapped in the toilet and couldn't get out (couldn't figure out how to turn 2 knobs at the same time!). Finally got out and jumped in the back of the wagon happy to not get left. Great road, great times. That section of I-40 was one of the last ones to be completed - sad day

@shirleybennett

2 ай бұрын

At 14 y.o.. my family crossed the country mostly on 66. Recently stopped and ate at the Roadkill cafe and bought t shirts with the menu written on them.

Route 66 has always been in my bucket list. I really enjoyed seeing this stretch with you. Thanks for showing us all the cool places along the way. 👍🏻.

This is definitely the best part of Route 66. Oatman, Arizona is cool too.

@teresaluther9416

Жыл бұрын

Love Oatman

Thank you, sincerely

That was a really nice video! I remember driving on Route 66 when I was a child & my family took 2 rambling vacations all over the West. What I remember most is pulling up to some restaurant in the evening and parking under the overhang with all the neon making odd colors on the pavement. Every place was different but they all had a lot of the same things like a glass counter with a chrome cash register, vinyl booths and individual seats at the counter, post cards and gum. What is so disappointing about traveling now is the standardization of all the places. The chains have ruined the unique character of America. Thanks for reminding me how great it used to be. Be safe. 👍☮️🌞🌟⚠️🚗

@SidetrackAdventures

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching!

@fckjb284

Жыл бұрын

Man Daisy what a great comment. You really captured and put it into words some the things I loved about Route 66 as a kid! Albuquerque New Mexico lights at night time with the neon turquoise Thunderbird Motel signs, etc were beautiful!😎

Don't know if THIS was the stretch. 55 years ago, I was traveling with a group of college kids (I was not, yet) from Georgia to San Bernandino, California, to work and study at Campus Crusade for Christ up towards Lake Arrowhead. We stopped at a diner along Route 66 for breakfast. I had the very best pancakes ever, with REAL maple syrup (???). I finished drinking my milk, only to see a cockroach stuck in the bottom of the plastic glass. Never tasted it, never went weird, just got back into the group's VW bus and tried my damnest to think of other things. Like the Tarantula migrations crossing the highways then, splat splat splat, NO way to avoid it. Like the distant tornado we had just seen, sucking up a pond or something, white and vortexed in the distance. And the periodic stops to have the Gov ensure we were not bringing fruit out west to contaminate THEIR crops. Just kept fighting the image in the bottom of that plastic glass. And I am STILL ALIVE. Thanks, Lord Above!

Williams to Flagstaff is also a pretty nice stretch of road.

We drove this route in Oct 2020 and just loved it! It was so nice to get off of Hwy 40 for a bit

@SidetrackAdventures

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, so much more interesting than the 40.

We did this route in late July. It's truly is beautiful and you must stop in Seligman.

By far your vlogging is so professional I thought I was watching a documentary on the History channel, I love your knowledge, research and content and how you create your videos, thank you from a guy that lives in our great Southwest.

@SidetrackAdventures

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, but I'm not sure we have enough about aliens to compete with the History Channel!

@THX--nn5bu

Жыл бұрын

@@SidetrackAdventures LMAO!!😅

Just drove from Socal to Seligman this weekend on the I40 then drove route 66 from Seligman to Oatman. It was really nice. Hope to one day be able to do the whole route, or at least more of it.

Thank you so much for this video! It brings back lovely memories. I drove this route between Seligman and Kingman in 1994 when I was traveling by car from New York City to Los Angeles. In Seligman I met Angel Delgadillo in his barber store and I still have a book that I bought there, which he kindly signed for me. As far as I could tell in that short time, he was a great man with endless stories to tell. It's wonderful to see that he is still present in this city and on his Route 66. I have also signed the guestbook, so just scroll back to May 1994 😀. Take care!

Fun fact: the song "Route 66" was written by Bobby Troup who played Dr. Joe Early on the TV show "Emergency!

Every site you share with us is beautiful and full of nostalgia. And excellent info. Thanks so much for the adventures!

My late mother and I stopped in Seligman AZ. on the way back to Yuma AZ. it was neat we spent the night their

I took this trip as far as Keepers Of The Wildand back just last month... Mothers day...mom and I went there....

This looks like a lotta fun. I'm adding it to my list of future road trips. Thanks.

Love your show. Seeing the USA from another country like this lets us pick out the places we want to see.

Route 66 rocks!

Steve,another great video! Last year we took that little side trip. I only wish that I had had your incites and 🎉 more time!! I didn't realize there was so much history just in California where we're from. Keep up the good work, Steve!!!

@SidetrackAdventures

11 ай бұрын

Thank you!

The school was used beyond 1937. I attended it for two years from 1966-1968 as a public school before it was relocated to Truxton.

Even after the I 40 was completed I would still run 66 . Truckin back in my younger days. 😊

Have traveled that Route 66 stretch many times..it’s beautiful country_even ate at Mr, D’s in Kingman…exceptional Ham & Eggs…

I love those old motel signs! "The chicken that didn't quite cross the road." LOLOLOLOL!!!! That's hilarious!!! Great tour!

Another interesting video....great spots to see....wondering how these shops are still surviving after this section fell into disuse....also intregued to know that there is a thing called 'association of historic route 66'.....such moves keep things alive....thank you so much for another amazing video..

My wife and I went to the Grand Canyon Caverns in March 2024. Sadly the elevator was out of order and not expected to be repaired until September. There was an employee there and he was a really great guy. We spoke a lot about the area. The trip wasn't a waste even though we didn't get to go into the cave, we had good conversation and the prices at the gift shop were quite reasonable.

@SmittyAZ

Ай бұрын

@Dodgerblue7381-ey3ql was that separate building open? It had a bar and a little sore and some cool, friendly dogs.

@Dodgerblue7381-ey3ql

Ай бұрын

@@SmittyAZ As you faced the building, I believe on the Right side that there was a bar (it was empty because it was about 11 a.m) dire toy ahead and a little to the left a little cafe and to the far left there was a nice little gift shop. In the middle was a well used and very welcome wood burning stove because it was quite chilly. Outside is a Grand Canyon fire truck of yesteryear. The employee working there was a really great guy from down around Phoenix who was a former GM diesel mechanic. Very friendly. I am afraid that I did not see any dogs. We will go back again when the elevator is working. It was a nice little trip but it would have been nice to go down there.

@SmittyAZ

Ай бұрын

@@Dodgerblue7381-ey3ql Thanks. It's been a while. They Still have a motel and campgrounds?

Thanks, Steve - great as always. My sweetie and I used to work in downtown Chicago within a block of the start of 66 on East Adams. Today, we live in the Tucson area and have traveled a bunch on 66. Love your historic perspectives.

I really enjoyed this video. My wife and I are doing to do the entire route in June. I can't wait.

@SidetrackAdventures

3 ай бұрын

Hope you enjoy it!

Fantastic ride and tour ! Thank you !!

What you failed to notice while looking for late 20th Century kitch, is that at many places along this stretch of highway you can stop and walk about 50 feet and see the original roadbed with deteriorated pavement and an occasional center stripe, barely wide enough for two passing Hudsons! Although, most were traveling west.

Great and informative video. We love route 66.

Great video & makes one want to drive it now. Thanks

Super cool! I want to do this drive now! Thanks for sharing!

Thanks!

The underground hotel room, I'm tellin ya, underground homes are where it's at! No structural maintenance, no noise, no need for expensive climate control, better security, the best 'black out curtains' in the world etc etc. Such an untapped resource. Cool video, took the same route back in October.

Perfect! I will add that to my list of things to see on my cross country road trip this summer.

Cool video

Huh... I've been on the section from Kingman out to Oatman a few times but never traveled this section. Nice. Gonna have to make a point of it the next time I have to head up to Vegas.

@jamespobog3420

5 ай бұрын

As awesome as Sitgreaves is, it's a small part. Keep your eyes open there are several places where you can see old alignments of the road along the way. Then, of course, in Seligman there is Delgadillos Sno Cap where you can order Dead Chicken. Man, 66 is a treasure, and the Host sure as hell knows it.

Glad that Arizona is keeping the highway open which is not the case in California with the stretch from Cadiz to Mountain Springs Road now closed for the past two years 🙁

OUTSTANDING video. So many cool and interesting stops.. Thanks for sharing them

I appreciate this video I definitely will use your information, thanks

Absolutely love your channel! Have you or would you in your journeys please explore Cadiz Summit. It holds a special memory for my wife and I. Keep up the awesome work you do.

Fascinating video, I never knew much about Seligman and now I think I need to take a trip there. 👍

@SidetrackAdventures

2 жыл бұрын

You should if you get a chance, you'll have a great time.

Thanks for the tour my friend 👍👍

Great Great video!!

thanks again I like all the homework you do while making these videos

I've done that drive a couple of times. One of my favorites.

I've done that drive. Its totally awesome. Love your videos! Old roads are such a fascination.

Thanks; that was fun 😎👍🏼

Thanks Steve for another great video! 2 towns on the Texas portion of Route 66 also contributed to Cars … Little Juarez Restaurant in Glenrio and the Conoco Tower in Shamrock.

Did that route 2 years ago while traveling from Sedona to Las Vegas. It was awesome

I was a tour guide at the Grand Canyon Caverns...before the motel room. That was a fun job!

thanks great show

Thanks, great video! Love that stretch of 66, been over it on motorcycles, cars, trucks, and next time in a restored vintage motorhome. Probably spend the night at the Caverns.😎

Hi from Brisbane Australia 🇦🇺 Thanks for this great video 👏👏 What a fascinating drive 💙

@SidetrackAdventures

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it