An evening glimpse at Downtown Williams. Photo from the City of Williams

Route 66 conjures thoughts of rich history, neon lights, classic cars and fun for the whole family.  Williams was the last town in America on Historic Route 66 to be bypassed by the I-40 freeway in October 1984.  Only in Williams will you enjoy the beauty of a mountainside town, the best-preserved stretch of Route 66, outdoor adventure to suit every need, a railway to get you to the Grand Canyon in style, an outdoor drive-thru wildlife park, a true western setting with cowboys swaggering through town, and a friendly atmosphere greeting you the moment you arrive and bidding you farewell when you depart.

Williams was the last town in America on Historic Route 66 to be bypassed by the I-40 freeway. Photo from City of Williams

Some of those same motor hotels from back in the day have been revitalized with all the comforts modern travelers expect and the storefronts of Main Street are preserved as a designated National Historic District. With its preservation of an authentic small town atmosphere and history, Williams is the perfect place to “Get your kicks on Route 66” before you visit the Grand Canyon and after!

Williams has the best-preserved stretch of the Historic Route 66. Photo from the City of Williams

Kingman hosted the International Route 66 Festival in 2014. Photo from the City of Kingman.

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Caption: Downtown Kingman. Photo from City of Kingman.

Visitors and residents alike have been enjoying the historic architecture, community events, and businesses in Kingman’s revitalized downtown. In 2014, Kingman hosted the International Route 66 Festival, which brought 8,000 attendees from 24 different counties to downtown to celebrate the historic road. This year Kingman combined the celebration of Route 66 and classic cars with its love for rodeo in the Inaugural Best of the West on Route 66 Festival September 25 -27.

Kingman Club. Photo from City of Kingman.

In addition to public events, two event centers have opened in previously vacant historic buildings and are available for private parties, weddings and community fundraisers. The success of events in historic downtown could not have taken place without many improvements, beginning with the elimination of non-emergency train whistles. The reduction in noise also led to the opening of several new businesses including a boutique hotel, restaurants and bars. Beautification projects including ADA compliant upgrades and repairs to the sidewalks, park improvements, and abatement projects have helped create a welcoming atmosphere to compliment the area’s growth.

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Caption: Hilltop Motel in Kingman. Photo from City of Kingman.

(Courtesy photo National Geographic)

Walking around the Petrified Forest, it’s hard to imagine that the fossilized stones once used to be gigantic trees. It’s just another unique aspect of nature and unique site in Arizona.

The Petrified Forest attracts visitors from all over the world, from paleontologists and geologists to archaeologists and historians. While many travel thousands of miles to see this rare and beautiful place, for us, we only have to take a short road trip.

The forest is located near the city of Holbrook that boasts an abundance of history stemming from prehistoric times and early frontier days when cowboys and cattlemen made the city their ranching community. The city also was a stop along Route 66 and in the 1950s, which boosted the city’s business with travelers coming from across the nation. Today, Holbrook is the embarking ground for travelers and explorers looking to discover the natural beauty of the area in the nearby Petrified Forest, Painted Desert and Monument Valley.

The Petrified Forest National Park is open year-round and travelers can explore and participate in many recreational opportunities, including backpacking, hiking, and horseback riding.

Courtesy Photo Flickr

“I was standin’ on a corner in Winslow, Arizona; such a fine sight to see.”

The Eagles may have been singing about a pretty girl in a “flat bed Ford,” but we know that Winslow IS a fine sight to see, one that has more than just a famous street corner.

If you happen to be strolling in from Route 66 or stopping on your way out of Flagstaff, you’ll most likely see that famous statue headlining the Standin’ On the Corner in Winslow, Arizona Park. The park was constructed in 1997 when a group of volunteers decided to create a park in Downtown Winslow, instilling a new sense of tourism-based business. Prior to the 1960s, Winslow was the largest town in all of northern Arizona, due to its prime location on Route 66. When I-40, a transcontinental highway was built, the community saw a downturn in tourism dollars.

Today, the park draws many to its famous corner. It features the statue of the man aimed at being the feature of the song. The statue is surrounded by inscribed donor bricks from community members and visitors, who have told their individual stories about Winslow and its famous corner.

Image courtesy of arizonascenicroads.com

Plan to motor west? Take the highway that is best.

Historic Route 66 is the most popular of US roadways and Arizona happens to be home to its longest remaining stretch. Start a little off the route in Lake Havasu City, where you’ll behold the London Bridge – an Arizona treasure and bucket list bastion. Traveling north, hit up Kingman, the heart of Route 66. Here you’ll find a Route 66 Museum and the home to the 2014 International Route 66 Festival, which will bring visitors worldwide to the city of Kingman August 14 – 17.

From Kingman, drive through Williams, where you can hit up Bearizona or take a ride on the Grand Canyon Railroad. From there, it’s just a quick trip to Flagstaff for a venture into the Lowell Observatory or a hike at Canyon de Chelly, and then it’s on to Winslow, where you can stand on the corner and enjoy a night stay at the historic La Posada Inn.

You know what they say… it’s the place to get your kicks.