https://www.facebook.com/113505063709036/

Meet The World, Chicago, IL (2026)

03/28/2025

🧂 Salar de Uyuni – the world’s largest mirror

In southern Bolivia lies Salar de Uyuni – the largest salt flat on Earth.

📏 It spans over 10,000 km² – bigger than the entire country of Cyprus!
💧 During the rainy season, it turns into a giant mirror that reflects the sky and makes you feel like you’re walking on clouds.
🚗 It’s one of the most surreal places on Earth for epic photography.

There’s more:
🐧 cactus-covered islands,
📸 an eerie train graveyard,
🪞 and the world’s largest lithium reserves.

Would you visit this magical place? Let us know in the comments!

03/26/2025

🏛️ PETRA – THE LOST CITY CARVED IN STONE

Hidden deep in Jordan’s desert canyons, Petra is one of the world’s most breathtaking sites. Once the capital of the Nabataeans, it was forgotten for centuries – until it was “rediscovered” by a Swiss explorer in 1812.

🪨 Most of its buildings were carved directly into the pink-red rock!
🐫 Today it’s one of the most visited attractions in the Middle East.
🎬 You may recognize it from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade!

Petra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New 7 Wonders of the World 🌍

📸 Would you visit this place? Or maybe you’ve already been? Let us know in the comments!

03/25/2025

Vaadhoo Island, Maldives
Among hundreds of paradise islands in the Maldives, there’s one that glows after dark.
The shores of Vaadhoo Island light up with bioluminescent plankton, creating a surreal, magical effect.
Just a step through the water is enough to make the beach sparkle with glowing blue light.
This natural phenomenon, known as the “Sea of Stars,” turns the ocean into a dreamlike mirror of the night sky.

🌌 Would you walk barefoot through glowing waves?

05/04/2023

Grüner See, or Green Lake, is one of Austria‘s most beautiful lakes. The lake is unique as every year it gets filled up with water that melts from the mountains and flows into the lake and can reach up to a depth of around 11 meters ( 36 feet ).

01/08/2021

KEY WEST, FLORIDA
Florida is known for its fantastic beaches. One of its cities is Key West; it is the southernmost point of America's the United States. It is one of the islands in the Straits of Florida. With its location, it is a lot closer to Cuba than America. It only has a distance of 153 kilometers (95 miles) from Cuba, while from Miami, its length is 210 kilometers (130 miles) by air and 266 kilometers (165 miles). Its name is taken from the Spanish, Cayo Hueso, a town in Havana, Cuba.

Key West's city consists of Dredgers Key, Fleming Key, Sunset Key, and the northern part of Stock Island. However, Fleming Key and Dredgers Key are both parts of the Naval Air Station Key West making it inaccessible. The island has a total land area of 11 kilometers2 (4.2 miles2). Key West is a tropical city-island; therefore, it has two seasons: wet and dry. Its coolest month is January, while the warmest is July. Just like other parts of Florida, Key West is very much vulnerable to hurricanes.

Key West is also known as an excellent location for watersports. It usually stands as the endpoint for marathon swims. One of the records is that of Diana Nyad in 2013, where she completed a swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage or fins. Key West has hundreds of cafes and restaurants that offer different cuisine; the island also has an alive nightlife. Duval Street is the place to go if you’re craving for some of that. Duval Street is a mile-long strip that has bars, cafes, and world-famous restaurants. One of these is Sloppy Joe, a personal favorite place to hangout of novelist Ernest Hemingway in Key West. Dining in this city-island lets you savor freshly caught seafood as well as local specialties. Some of the favorites are dolphin (mahi-mahi), conch steak and fritters, and spiny lobsters.

The western part of the city-island is also called Old Town. It is a must-visit place in Key West; classic bungalows and guest mansions are located. The houses, streets, and churches in the area likely reflect the Afro-Bahamian history of the island. Two of the significant buildings in Old Town are the: Ernest Hemingway House and the Little White House. The remarkable writer, Hemingway, lived in Key West for eight years. It was believed that five of his works were written during his stay on the island. The owner of his favorite bar in town, Sloppy Joe, was the inspiration for one of his characters in his novel, To Have and Have Not. This novel also used Depression-era Key West as one of its locations, making it the only one among his works to be set in the USA. The Little White House served as the home of former president Harry S. Truman for 175 days during his presidency. Even after his term, he continued visiting the place. Also in Old Town is the Key West Cemetery, where off-beat humor is found in epitaphs like "At least I know where he's sleeping tonight."

Other activities to enjoy while in the city-island are diving and snorkeling. Locals also have a habit of fishing. You can also go boating to explore the bright turquoise water surrounding the island. If you want to explore Key West, walk tours are the best way to go. Walk tours will let you admire homes, cottages, gardens, and courtyards scattered throughout town, all of which tell a story of Key West’s past and present.

01/02/2021

CHERNOBYL DISASTER
On April 26, 1986, the world considers the worst disaster in the history of nuclear power generation happened at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station. Chernobyl is located at the settlement of Pryp’yat in the city of Chernobyl (Ukraine). The power station has four reactors, and each is capable of producing 1,000 megawatts of electric power. The disaster started when the operators lowered the power at reactor No.4 for a safety test. The cooling system was also disabled. The operators performing the task are not given proper instructions on how to perform the test and are less experienced. Power starts fluctuating, but they could stabilize it after an hour, and the supervisors order the test to continue.
A few minutes after starting the test, an unexpected power surge occurs. Things began to blow off. Reactor No.4 was completely destroyed. Despite all the evidence, the engineer in charge insists that the reactor is still intact died due to radiation poisoning. The firefighters and police officers must first respond with no idea about the radiation and wear no protective clothing. The disaster killed 31 people, including 28 workers and firefighters, though the radiation brought by the explosion is believed to have killed thousands through premature cancer. The evacuation around the area was delayed, and the Soviet government tried to cover up the accident, but the Swedish monitoring stations reported abnormally wind-transported radioactivity. The Soviet government then admitted the accident. Many believed that the cover-up caused further damages to many. The Soviet Union formed an exclusion zone covering about 1,600 square miles (4,143 square km) around the plant. No human can enter the site except for scientists, scavengers, and others who may file for permits. The area is filled with rich wildlife: wolves, lynx, beaver, deer, elk, bears, boar, and eagles. The Chernobyl disaster urged many sectors to continuously practice safety and research ways to prevent future nuclear disasters.

12/26/2020

KOMODO ISLAND
Located in South East Asia, Komodo Island is one of the 17,508 islands that make up the Republic of Indonesia. The island has a surface area of 150 square miles (390 square kilometers), and around 2,000 people live here. Komodo Island is famous for its Komodo dragon, which is the largest lizard on Earth.
Komodo, along with neighboring islands Rinca and Padar, forms the Komodo National Park measuring 695 square miles (1,800 square kilometers). The Park was formed to shelter and protect the Komodo dragons and other species. Komodo houses 32 species of mammals, 128 bird species, and 37 reptilian species. Komodo Island also boasts a beach with pink sand, one of the only seven in the world. The island also has a very rich marine life; 253 species of reef-building corals and 1000 species of fish can be found here. With its rich environmental features, Komodo Island was listed under UNESCO’s World Heritage Site and as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.

12/22/2020

ROUTE 66 part 4

ARIZONA AND CALIFORNIA

Hopping on to the last leg of our Route 66 journey, we headed to Arizona. With many parts of the old route still open and much less congested traffic, the state is one of the traveler’s favorite destinations along Route 66. Passing the NM border, Arizona welcomes visitors with huge trading posts and gift shops. Much of the old road passes through Petrified Forest National Park, covering 594 km2 (146,930 acres). Along with the Park is the Painted Desert Inn, a pueblo style building that has been around since the 1920s. It was converted into a museum and bookstore in the 1960s. Following is the Wigwam Village located in Holbrook; here, they have motels where you can sleep in concrete teepees. You can also check out a huge dinosaur collection outside the Rainbow Rock Shop. Another famous town in Arizona is Winslow, home to the La Posada Hotel. It was designed by architect Mary Colter for Fred Harvey. On the boundary of Winslow and Winona sits the Meteor Crater, a hole created by a meteorite. It is almost 167 meters (550 ft) deep.

The next town is Flagstaff, where while crossing the highway you’ll see interesting attractions. Some of which are the Diablo Canyon and the remains of the Two Guns Trading Post. Two Guns used to be an entertainment center in town. Another is the Twin Arrows, a pair of huge arrows pointing towards a closed-cafe and trading post, which has been used as a location for the movie Forrest Gump. The next attraction is the Walnut Canyon National Monument. Filled with junipers, pines, walnut trees, and canyon walls, the monument is considered one of the most beautiful places in the world. Flagstaff also has the Lowell Observatory, where Pluto was once discovered. While in town, you can grab some bite at their famous diners such as the Macy’s European Coffeehouse & Bakery and Galaxy Diner.

The town of Williams serves as the gateway to one of the Natural World wonders, the Grand Canyon. While you can take some walk deep into the Grand Canyon at the park, you can also visit different viewpoints such as the Mather Point, Yavapai Observation Station. The park also offers accommodations for the visitors. Some of the best places to stay are the Bright Angel Lodge, El Tovar Hotel, and the Phantom Ranch. Williams also boasts the Grand Canyon Railway, which steams its way north of the canyon every morning.

Home to the famous junkshop, The Rusty Bolt, is the town of Sigelman. The town is also called the “Birthplace of Historic Route 66”. As you visit Sigelman, make sure you don’t miss the Delgadillo Family's properties: Route 66 Gift Shop and Museum and Snow Cap Drive-In. Behind the restaurant stands all year-long, an old Chevy decorated filled with fake flowers and an artificial Christmas tree. You can also try the dishes served at Road Kill Café and Westside Lilo’s.

Driving into Kingsman, you’ll come across the Powerhouse, an old plant converted into a Route 66 museum. The route also passes through the Hualapai Mountain Park, filled with pines and firs. In between Kingsman and Oatman sits atop the desert plain is the angular Black Mountains. Standing along is an old service station now serving as a museum and souvenir shop is the Cool Springs. Before we head to the next state, we’ll come across a vacation town named Lake Havasu City, which also features the London Bridge. The bridge pieces were transported into the city between 1967 and 1971, inspiring the nursery rhyme “London Bridge is Falling Down”.

Now the last state in the Route 66 journey is the state of California. First is Needles, the gateway to California and home to vintage motels like the Route 66 Motel and Palms Motel. Passing to Old Route 66’s Loop, Amboy, you might hear helicopters and war games on the Twentynine Palms Marine Corps base. Another famous national park along the route is the Mojave National Preserve, a desert landscape filled with volcanic cinder cones and Joshua trees. You'll find the Kelso Depot in the middle of the desert, a restored train station sitting in the LA-to-Las Vegas Union Pacific Railroad line. Entering Victorville, you’ll see one of the best Route 66’s museums, California Route 66 Museum. This holds most of the surviving pieces of Hula Ville, an outdoor sculpture park and gallery. Make sure to also dine in Emma Jean’s Holland Burger Café; it was featured in Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives TV show.

Next town is San Bernardino, the Mcdonalds' birthplace, so make sure to visit the First Original McDonald’s Museum that features memorabilia from the fast-food chain and Route 66. Another Wigwam Motel, providing teepees check-in, is located in this town. San Bernardino also houses the historic Bono’s Giant Orange, which serves thirsty travelers with unlimited orange juice back in the 1920s. Another famous motel and a survivor from the old route 66 is the Aztec Hotel located in Monrovia. The hotel boasts its Mesoamerican-style art deco. Before going to Pasadena, make sure to pass by San Marino. This is the home of one of the world’s greatest museums, the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, created by the wealthy Huntington family.

Entering Pasadena, you’ll come face to face with historic sites like the Rose Bowl Stadium and the Gamble House, which is among the most important architecture in SoCal. Passing the Arroyo Seco Freeway, Cali’s first freeway, LA's fascinating sights will come into view. Some of which are the Dodger Stadium and the Autry National Center. Following Sunset Boulevard, you'll pass by El Pueblo de Los Angeles State Historic Park towards Hollywood. The route also passes by two of Los Angeles’ best bookstores: Vroman’s and Book Soup. Heading towards Santa Monica Boulevard, you’ll pass by West Hollywood and Beverly Hills. The last stop is Santa Monica, known for its landmark pier. The pier also features an amusement park and a beachfront walkway that heads to Venice Beach. At the end of Ocean Avenue is a brass plaque that officially marks the end of Route 66.

Quite a long winding road, but surely it is an enjoyable one. Route 66 offers a taste of the past and present life of the Midwest. It also serves as a mute witness of how life has been for millions of travelers crossing the road. Each with their own story and culture up their sleeves, contributing one to another. Filled with history and stories, Route 66 is truly a road worth traveling.

12/20/2020

Cadillac Ranch,Amarillo,Texas

12/20/2020

ROUTE 66 part 3

Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico

Jumping back on our trip, we headed to a new state, Oklahoma. As far as Route 66 is concerned, Oklahoma is the best state since, among any other state, Oklahoma has the most number of miles of the old highway that is still drivable. The state used to be an Indian Territory, and it has been the last refuge of nations such as Kiowa. A glimpse of the past is still visible with old signages hanging around the state. Upon entering the state, the first town you’ll see is Quapaw, a city with downtown walls painted with murals. Next is Miami that houses the impressive Coleman Theater. The famous “Sidewalk Highway” is also located in Miami. Back then, Oklahoma was only able to fund a single wide (2.74 m or 9 foot) lane but surprisingly, that certain length of the road became popular among tourists, thus gaining the nickname. Crossing Vinita, we came across the Eastern Trails Museum that focuses on Native American Heritage. The town is also home to Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo and World’s Largest Calf Fry Festival and Cook-Off. Another town in Oklahoma is Clarehome, the home of rope-tricks artist, Will Rogers. The town also houses the world’s largest gun collection, the J. M. Davis Arms and Historical Museum.

One of Route 66’s top tourist attractions is the Blue Whale Sculpture, located in Catoosa, northeast of Tulsa. Built by Hugh Davis, the sculpture stands at 6 meters (20 ft) tall and is made of metal and cement. Tulsa is filled with art deco buildings, making it a beautiful town to explore. In Tulsa, you’ll find one of the best markets in Oklahoma, the Mother Road Market. It is Oklahoma’s first food hall; it is a place for people to get together and enjoy local foods and shop unique items. The business also offers live music and has a Route 66 themed mini-golf course. Again, you can try other cafes and restaurants in Tulsa, such as R Bar and Grill, Tally’s Café, and the El Rancho Grande. Also in Tulsa is a 23 meter (76 foot) tall statue, the Golden Driller. It was built in 1966 to commemorate and celebrate the abundance of the petroleum industry in the town. In Oklahoma City, you’ll find the Milk Bottle Grocery located in a triangular piece of land. It was built in 1930, and the giant milk bottle atop was added in 1948. The store sells milk from Braum’s, Oklahoma-based dairy. Before exiting the state, you’ll pass Erick, where all buildings at the main intersection have chamfered corners to create consistency in the view.

Entering a new state, Texas, this part of the route that runs for 322 km (200 miles) looks like a pancake-flat plain. The Texas Panhandle is an extension of the Great Plains. The first town, Mclean, is considered the most evocative yet very silent city along the Texas stretch of Route 66. The town also served as the headquarters of the state’s Old Route 66 Association; thus, efforts are being made to preserve the town. An example of this is the restored 1929 Phillips 66 gas station; it was said that this was the first gasoline station restored along the “Mother Road”. Downtown you can visit the Devil’s Rope Museum, where you’ll see the most enjoyable and educational Route 66 memorabilia. You can also enjoy some barbeque at Red River Steak House and then check-in at the Cactus Inn.

Another famous shrine is the Cadillac Ranch, where dozens of Cadillacs are planted in the ground. This was created by the San Francisco-based Ant Farm artists, under the authority of Amarillo’s millionaire, Stanley Marsh III. The cars are often painted with graffiti but are one in a while tidied up for photoshoot purposes. You can also pass by Palo Duro Canyon State Park, one of Texas’ most beautiful places. It has 96 km (60 miles) of ravines and 243 meters (800 ft) tall canyon walls. Adrian, Texas, is considered as the midpoint of US Route 66. It is known for its vintage gas stations scattered across town. One of these is the Sunflower Station, now restored into a store that sells memorabilia, souvenirs, and gifts. The owner, Fran, was the inspiration for the character Flo in the movie Cars. The cafe beside it, the Midpoint Cafe, was the inspiration for Flo’s V8 Café in the film. Midpoint Cafe holds the record of being the oldest continuously-operating cafe along Route 66; the cafe was created in 1928, two years after Route 66.

Just before we headed to New Mexico, we passed by the town of Glenrio, sitting at the Texas-New Mexico Border. It has gained the nickname “Ghost Town”. As the old route 66 closed down, so did this small town. In the 1980s only two residents remained and when they left Glenrio officially became a ghost town. All that’s left in the city are abandoned buildings such as the Little Juarez Diner.

Entering New Mexico, the state is supposed to give you a taste of what they call their own “Land of Enchantment”. Route 66 runs along with New Mexico’s historical areas as well as exciting topography. Tucumcari is one of the most exciting towns along Route 66. The roadsides are filled with many neon advertisements signs; one of the most famous is the “Tucumcari Tonite—2,000 Motel Rooms”. Some of the best motels in town are the Blue Swallow Motel, Motel Safari, and the Historic Route 66 Motel. Another landmark is the Tee P*e Curios; they also have one of the best neon signs. The newest attractions in the town are the Route 66 sculpture and the Mesalands Dinosaur Museum. As we’ve mentioned before, Tucumcari has the biggest real-life inspiration for the movie Cars. Following is the town of Cuervo, which is almost abandoned today. As we travel to Santa Rosa, many cafes and motor courts welcome the travelers. A favorite attraction in town is the Route 66 Auto Museum that houses thousands of classic muscle cars and motorcycles. You can also find one of the top places to eat on Route 66 in Santa Rosa, the Comet II.

Nearly at the center of the state is Albuquerque. Roughly 29 km (18 miles) of the old route 66 passes through the heart of the town - it is filled with motels, diners, and neon signs. Albuquerque has been a location for the TV Series Breaking Bad. The best part of the town is the Old Town, which gives a taste of the state’s Spanish colonial past. Kimo Theater is also one of the town’s landmarks boasting its Pueblo Deco style. Albuquerque is also known as a great place to dine and drink, like the 66 Diner and Dog House Drive-In. Kelly’s Brew Pub should not be missed; where you can dine outside looking right over the old route, it is also the Jones Motor Company's former home.

Arriving at New Mexico’s capital, Santa Fe, we see the historic La Fonda on the Plaza hotel. Santa Fe is filled with historic infrastructures. The San Miguel Church is America’s oldest church, while the Palace of the Governors is the oldest continuously used public building in the country. Before exiting the state of New Mexico, we wind up in the town of Gallup. The city is also called the “The Gateway to Indian Country” since it is the largest town near Navajo. Gallup is home to El Rancho Hotel, a hotel built in 1930 and now preserved and continues to be in operation. Some of the rooms are named after movie stars who stayed in the hotel, like John Wayne and Ronald Reagan. The town also holds the Inter-Tribal Ceremonial at Red Rock Park. This is considered the biggest Native American gathering in the USA. Another place to visit is Richardson's Trading Company; built-in 1913, the place is filled with crafts and pawned goods such as Navajo rugs, pearl-inlaid guitars, and many more.

Stay tuned as we continue the last leg of our Route 66 journey, moving towards Arizona and California!

12/20/2020

ROUTE 66 part 2

Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas

Over the years, Illinois tried to maintain historical markers of Route 66 along its roads. The legendary journey of traveling the infamous Route 66 starts at the heart of Chicago, Illinois. Route 66 iconic begin sign can be found along with E. Jackson Blvd., Chicago. As we travel along Chicago, we’ll see the grand Art Institute of Chicago in Grant Park lying along the lakeshore. From Lake Michigan, the road leads to Ogden Avenue, which passes through Chicago’s largest park, Douglas Park. Following Ogden Avenue in Cicero, famous as Al Capone’s, a famous gangster, a hiding place. Cicero is also famous for the sign along the route that says “It’s a Meal in Itself” which marks Henry’s Drive-in, which serves Polish hotdogs and fries. Berwyn marks the end of the first stretch of Route 66 with a frail land named Chicago Portage National Historic Site surrounded by abandoned industrial structures.

Next to pass is the City of Steel and Stones, Joliet. Abandoned industrial lands also surround the city. Des Plaines River passes through Joliet; it serves as an Indian trade route because it links to the Chicago River and the Great Lakes. Also along the river lies the now closed state-prison where the famous Joliet Jake was released. The most remarkable landmark in the city is the Rialto Theater, in which you can find the home of the famous ice cream parlor, Dairy Queen. You’ll also find in Joliet the Chicago Speedway and Route 66 Raceway, where drag races and pop concerts are held. Southeast of Lake Michigan is the small town of Pontiac, which is known for one of Route 66’s best stopovers, the Route 66 Association Hall of Fame Museum. It is home to relics documenting the route’s heritage; this includes photos, gas pumps, neon signs and drawings, and murals of Route 66’s artist, Bob Waldmire. You’ll find the International Wall Dogs Sign and Mural Museum on the same building, a place to paint and create public murals. The world’s greatest car museum named Pontiac-Oakland Museum is also located in this town.

The next stop is Lincoln's city, the only town named after Abraham Lincoln even before he became president. It was believed that Lincoln baptized the new land by spitting watermelon seeds on it, the reason why there are plastered watermelon and plaque at the center of the town. Before becoming the head of the state, Lincoln was a lawyer. In the town, the historic courthouse was graced by Abraham Lincoln twice a year to practice his law profession. Since then, the courthouse served different purposes such as a post office to a private home until Henry Ford bought the property; he moved the original pieces to his Greenfield Village in Dearborn to build a memorial for Lincoln. Now, a replica stands at that land. Also, at the front lawn of the Best Western Lincoln Inn stands the World’s Largest Covered Wagon. This is a statue of Lincoln sitting in a huge wagon while reading a law book.
Springfield is where the late president worked and lived for more than 30 years. You can visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, an 18,580 m2 (200,000 ft2) complex that also features galleries and other theater presentations. Springfield is also famous for the Cozy Dog Drive-In, the birthplace of a corndog. It was founded by Ed Waldmir, father of artist Bob. Another attraction along Route 66 in Illinois is the Two-Cell Jail. It was built in 1906 with basically just a room cut into half by metal bars. Criminals in the area were locked up here until the 1950s; today, it is only used for photo ops.

The next state is Missouri. Upon entering the state on the outskirts of St. Louis, you’ll see the Chain of Rocks Bridge which connects the Illinois and Missouri’s sections of Route 66. As you drive along, you’ll probably see another Route 66 best stop, the Ted Drewes. It has been serving frozen treats to travelers since the year 1941. Also in the city of St. Louis is Route 66 State Park, an abandoned site for a summer resort and inn. Crossing Sullivan, a roadside advertisement for Meramec Caverns pops. It is a set of limestone caves that were developed during the Civil War for the manufacturing of gunpowder. You can also enjoy a light and sound show while visiting the caves. Jumping back on the road, we’ll explore the small town of Cuba. What’s amazing about the city is that you’ll see murals almost everywhere; these murals depict Cuba’s history. Before Springfield lies one of the liveliest towns to exist, Rolla. Missouri University of Science and Technology is located in this town. Also, they hold a wild St. Patrick’s Day, painting the town green and drinking, all to pay tribute to the Emerald Isle.

You can also take a detour along old route 66 through the Devil’s Elbow, where you can experience a scenic drive as you pass along Ozark Mountains. Missouri’s Springfield is home to Shrine Mosque Theater, an Arabesque landmark that still holds concerts, and one of Route 66’s oldest and finest motels, Route 66 Rail Haven. Travelers can also enjoy some snacks from one of the earliest models of the Steak ‘n Shake chain located in the town. Before we go to the next state, we’ll pass through Joplin's town, the industrial center of the tri-state region. You can visit Schifferdecker Park that has a mining and historical museum.

The last State for this part is Kansas. It is the shortest stretch of Route 66, running for only 21.24 km (13.2 miles). Kansas’ first town after Missouri is Galena, which houses the Galena Mining and Historical Museum. The place pretty much remembers the town life from way back 1920 with things from the past still visible around like the ones you can find at the Cars on the Route. It is an old gas station that now sells sandwiches and souvenirs, outside a Harvester Tow Truck is parked. This is said to have inspired the “Tow Mater” character from the movie Cars. In Riverton, you can find another diner that serves handmade sandwiches, the Old Riverton Store. Fans of Route 66 also stop to eat at this store. On Baxter Springs, the historic Crowell Bank is located, it was said that Jesse James robbed this. The next block is the Phillip 66 station that is now converted into a museum and information center. Kansas is also famous for its rainbow bridge, which is also found in Baxter Springs.

Stay tuned as we continue our Route 66 road trip to Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico!

12/19/2020

ROUTE 66 part 1

If you are a Disney fan, you have probably heard of the famous Route 66 from Cars movie. Most enthusiasts of the movie, as well as road travelers, the dream of traveling down Route 66. The good news is that this route is not just fictional; Disney took inspiration from the real-life Route 66, a historic roadway in the United States of America. The Radiator Springs, a fictional town in the movie consisting of deserts and neon lights, was solely based on Tucumcari's town.

Route 66 became America’s first all-weather highway passing from Chicago to Los Angeles. The route was originally designated to be US Highway 60, but some states left out from the route raised objections. This led to changes from route 60 to 62, and finally, on November 11, 1926, the final plan, Route 66, was approved. The creation of the system was a federal one, but roads' actual construction was left to the individual states. The whole process of creating the highways lasted for almost thirty years, with a length of 3,940 kilometers (2,448 miles). The construction of the route also represented the transition from railroads, dirty road tracks to a superhighway. It also became the link from small towns to America’s booming metropolis.

Even though it does not hold the title of America’s oldest or longest road, it is heavily significant because it reduced the distance between Chicago and Los Angeles by more than 322 kilometers (200 miles). This makes it one of the shortest routes and a favorite among road travelers in the Midwest. Soon enough, it was named the “Main Streets of America”. As the population grows and the number of travelers that pass the highway increases, so does heavy traffic. This called for newer, wider, and safer roads. In 1956, the route was slowly replaced. New highways were created parallel to the old Route 66 or even built over it. Officially, the route was decommissioned on June 27, 1985.

Despite its closing, Route 66 will always remain a significant part of American history, and it has now been a major icon in America’s pop culture. We can travel Route 66 by state: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.

Meet The World

03/28/2025

03/26/2025

03/25/2025

05/04/2023

01/08/2021

01/02/2021

12/26/2020

12/22/2020

12/20/2020

12/20/2020

12/20/2020

12/19/2020

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category