Route 66 Road Trip

Bold, twin arrows mark the exit for this abandoned gas station on Route 66.

Gemini Giant stands at the Launching Pad Drive-In in Wilmington, IL. The Giant is one of the "Muffler Men" made by International Fiberglass.

Just down the road in Braidwood, IL, is the Polka Dot Drive-In. Here you'll find these famous figures -- Elvis, Marilyn, James Dean and Betty Boop.

Shea's Marathon in Springfield, IL has become a museum of gas station and automobile memorabilia. The owner, Bill Shea, spent his career in the gasoline business. He is now retired and runs the museum.

Home of the famous "Cozy Dog" (aka corn dog), this restaurant in Springfield, IL, has a rich history on the route.

The Wagon Wheel Motel, in Cuba, MO, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1935, the cafe and cabins have a long history. Now owned by Connie Echols, the motel was recently renovated being careful to preserve its unique features.

In Carthage, MO, you'll find the 66 Drive-In Theater. You get 2 movies for the price of 1. There is a concession stand and consumers are encouraged to sit outside their cars (not on top!) to enjoy the film.

An arched bridge spans a small creek along Historic Route 66 outside Baxter Springs, KS.

Eisler Brother's Market in Riverton, KS, has lots of Route 66 memorabilia, as well as the typical things you would find in a market.

Tow Tater sits outside of the Four Women on the Route Kan-O-Tex service station and grill in Galena, KS. He was the inspiration for the Tow Mater character in the Disney <i>Cars</i> movies.

The Blue Whale in Catoosa, OK, has an interesting history. Built by Hugh Davis as part of the waterpark on his property, he gave it to his wife Zelta on their anniversary. Their kids kept asking for something to jump off and this waterfront structure provided just the means. The whale and grounds were restored in 2002 and have become a major attraction on Route 66.

This large soda bottle stands 66 feet tall and weighs more than 4 tons. It towers over a futuristic building in Arcadia, OK, which is home to POPS restaurant, soda ranch and shake shop.

The Braum's Milk Bottle, in Oklahoma City, is taller than the building (a bakery) on which it stands. The bottle originally advertised for Townley Dairy. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.

On Route 66, west of Clinton, OK is this interesting automobile art.

Meet Myrtle, a Kachina doll that stands outside the National Route 66 Museum in Elk City, OK.

The Tower Station and U-Drop Inn were once a gas station and restaurant that served travelers in Shamrock, TX, on Route 66. Today it has been restored and acts as the Chamber of Commerce and tourism office.

When driving in Groom, TX, you'll find the "Leaning Water Tower of Britten." It appears in the animations seen between visits on the PBS show <i>Rare Visions and Roadside Revelations.</i>

In 1974, Stanley Marsh 3 and San Francisco artists, who called themselves Ant Farm, created this Cadillac graveyard to baffle the locals in Amarillo, TX. The 10 cars are supposedly buried at the same angle as the Great Pyramid of Giza. Over the years visitors have added their special touch to the cars.

In Tucumcari, NM, is the Tee Pee Curios store. The concrete wigwam is fused onto a building where they sell souvenirs along Route 66.

Across the street from the Tee Pee is the Blue Swallow Motel. It was bought by its current owners in early 2011 and is being renovated with the goal of keeping the historic aspects, such as the garages for cars.

Few experiences match the magic of dawn at Monument Valley.

Route 66 winding its way through Arizona.

In the late 1930s, Chester E. Lewis had several motels on Route 66 and decided he wanted to add a wigwam village. An architect, Frank Redford, who patented the wigwam villages design, struck a deal that allowed Lewis to build one of his own in Holbrook, AZ. Today the Wigwam Village Motel #6 is one of the few such motels left.

The Jack Rabbit Trading Post in Joseph City, AZ, cannot be missed with its famous "Here It Is" sign. The trading post sells Route 66 souvenirs along with Indian arts and crafts. There is also a wide selection of Jack Rabbit goodies.

The Museum Club in Flagstaff, AZ is a bar with karaoke nights and live music. This large log cabin didn't start out as a bar. Built by taxidermist Dean Eldredge in 1931, "the Zoo" was a museum for him to show off his stuffed friends, Winchester rifles, Indian artifacts and more than 30,000 other items.

A dinosaur seen along Route 66 in Arizona.

The Desert Market is a historic building in Daggett, CA. A variety of people have owned the market. It was destroyed in a fire in 1908 and rebuilt. The store was a place where miners converted their gold dust into "spendable" currency. In 1953, the store was robbed and more than $1,000 of gold nuggets were taken.

The El Rancho Coffee Shop and Motel in Barstow, CA.

This 46-foot-tall wood and steel rocking chair stands outside of the Fanning US 66 Outpost & General Store in Cuba, MO. It was the creation of the store's owner Dan Sanazaro as a way to attract more business.

A flat, sweeping stretch of old Route 66 near Amboy, CA.

An abandoned motel sign along Route 66 in California gives a haunted air to this stretch of highway.

Near the western end of Route 66 is the neon sign marking the Santa Monica Pier in California.