Love a good roadside America adventure as much as us? If so, you’ll definitely want to check out our latest travels to our favorite must-see Route 66 attractions. Kevin and I have driven along “The Mother Road” at least a half dozen times — cruising along Route 66 in Arizona and staying at a hotel in Winslow, AZ, that once entertained a long list of celebrities and presidents. Oh, and of course, us!
Kevin explores the hallways inside Winslow, Arizona’s La Posada, which is as much as hotel as it is a museum.
This latest trip along Route 66 included a section in California that rarely gets much traffic. In fact, you’ll be lucky to see anyone. So pack up your bags, make sure you have enough gas (!) and follow along as we take you to the best must-see Route 66 attractions.
Stop #1: A California Town that Was Once for Sale on eBay…Talk About a Must-See Route 66 Attraction
Amboy, California, feels like a scene out of a post-apocalypse movie.
There’s no other way of looking at it — Amboy, California, is about as remote as it gets. It’s been on my list of places to check out for years. But you know, there is just about NOTHING — I mean nothing — around this remote section of Route 66 in the Mohave Desert of California. If driving from Los Angeles, it takes about 3.5 hours to get here. You’ll feel worlds away from the bright lights of LA. But Amboy’s odd backstory sounds ripe for a good Hollywood script.
This house is a steal..It even comes with free air conditioning since the windows are busted out!
In the early 1900’s, Amboy was a thriving town mostly due to the railroad that passed nearby. There were several businesses, including cafes, a gas station and plenty of people wandering the streets. Today, you’ll still find many of these structures still standing. But hardly a soul.
A roadside hotel that remains completely empty.
When the Interstate highway was built just north of town, visitors no longer needed to stop by Amboy. And the place became a near ghost town. Part of the fun with this stop is just seeing how eerie it is. And getting some pretty cool photos (it’s all about the Insta these days). But the story of Amboy is equally unique. In 2003, the town was officially listed for sale on eBay for $1.9 million dollars. But who on earth would buy a dying town? You just don’t stumble across Amboy — Interstate 40 just north of the town zips right past it. You need to be on a mission to get here.
Inside one of the empty rooms at the hotel in Amboy. The doors just flap open in the wind allowing anyone to go inside.
It wasn’t until 2005 that Albert Okura, who made a small fortune as the founder of the fried chicken fast food chain Juan Pollo, agreed to pay $425,000 in cash for the town. This isn’t the only spot that Okura owns. In fact, we visited the eccentric investor’s McDonalds museum in San Bernardino — packed sky-high with McDonald’s memorabilia at the fast food chain’s original shop. I can’t tell you how many times I yelled out, “I remember that happy meal toy!”
Albert Okura’s other investment, the McDonalds Museum in San Bernardino.
Okura has poured in his own money into rebuilding this long-forgotten stretch of Route 66. Today, the main draw is a gas station that provides some of the best photo opps. You’ll also find a tiny cafe here, where you can pick up snacks, water and Route 66 souvenirs.
Inside the gas station cafe in Amboy.
In total, we spent about an hour wandering around Amboy. Keep in mind, the weather is extreme. We visited here in July where temperatures were well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit and the wind blew sand into our eyes. If you’re visiting during cooler months, you might want to check out the Amboy Crater, an extinct volcano that rises above a vast lava field. It’s a 4.1 mile hike out and back, taking you to the base of the cinder cone.
Amboy Crater, best tackled in the cooler months (not the summer!).
Stop #2: Aliens Abduction Site and Beef Jerky. What a Combo!
We started off our road trip in West Hollywood and drove the 3.5 hours to get to Amboy. Just when we thought we couldn’t be any more remote, I mapped out our next stop. Nearly 2 hours east of Amboy to Area 66, just outside Yucca, Arizona. You’ll know you reached your destination when you see what looks like a giant golf ball show up along the road.
Area 66 near Yucca, Arizona, where you can tour the official UFO museum.
This weird building has had many tenants over the years — including a real estate business that actually turned out to be a complete scam, selling houses that never actually existed! Today, you’ll find a strange museum that houses what the owners say is evidence of alien encounters in the area. We had our dog, Doug, with us and were allowed to bring him in with us as long as we carried him. So I definitely got my workout in that day! The museum is tiny and costs $10 per adult. Did I understand everything in the museum? Did it make sense? Umm, definitely not! But we think it was well worth the stop for the weird experience alone. Before you leave, make sure you stop at the little store at the base of the museum to pick up some beef jerky.
Just watch out for hungry dogs! Doug the dog somehow found the pack of jerky hidden in our car and ate the entire pack of hot pepper, whiskey jerky. Let’s just say, we ended up having to crack the car windows for a few hours after that incident!
Stop #3: Best Lunch While Passing By the Must-See Route 66 Attractions
Inside Westside Lilo’s Cafe in Seligman, Arizona.
After Area 66, we headed east through Arizona about 1.5 hours before reaching the tiny Route 66 town of Seligman. This is one of our absolute favorite must-see Route 66 stops with its cute downtown with souvenir shops and cafes. Since we visited during the peak of coronavirus times (umm, hello Arizona!), we made sure to pick a spot that had outdoor dining. Also, we needed a place where we could eat with our dog Doug. Westside Lilo’s Cafe hit all the marks!
Kevin enjoys a book while lounging on the sunny patio.
The restaurant specializes in German food including bratwurst, wiener schnitzel along with baked goods (you got my attention!) like cinnamon rolls and carrot cake. Kevin and I weren’t that hungry between all the beef jerky and gummy bears we’ve been picking up at every gas station along the way. Clearly, we were having the breakfast of champions along this road trip. We figured we better eat some real food and split the Buffalo chicken sandwich. We highly recommend it!
Inside Westside Lilo Cafe.
Stop #4: Final Stop of Must-See Route 66 Attractions, Bearizona
By far, Bearizona was a top highlight of our trip on Route 66. Though, we are complete suckers for animal encounters. Once again, Kevin sprung awake from his usual slumber in the car to be my action photographer. Bearizona, located in Williams, Arizona, about 20 minutes east of Seligman, is a drive-through park where you’ll see North American animals roam (elk, deer, bears, wolves) just feet away your car.
This was the second time we’ve stopped at this spot. The previous time was during the winter, making it super easy to spot all the wild animals from the car. Cost is $22 for adults and discounts for seniors and military. After driving through the enclosures, which took us about 35 minutes, we parked in their lot where you can continue to walk around like a typical zoo. Make your way to the massive gift shop, where they have a model train and restaurant. But keep on going and follow the signs to see the black jaguar. It’s adorable and you’ll wish you could hug it — until you realize it’s a wild animal and would probably rip your arms off!
I’m clearly having too much fun on the hand-carved “bear chair” for sale at the gift shop. Sadly, I passed on purchasing it for our West Hollywood condo.
And there you have it — American nostalgia at it’s best! Looking for other ideas beyond the quirky Route 66 attractions? Check out our babymoon adventure in Sedona where I attempted to find my inner Zen. Have more time in Arizona and looking for other travel ideas? Check out our perfect 2-day itinerary in Page, Arizona that takes you through the picture-perfect Antelope Canyon. Love quirky travel spots and classic Americana? Follow our great American road trip along Route 66. And be sure to check out all our Arizona coverage on Gourmet Globetrotter.
No Comments, Be The First!