Route 66, WilliamsRoute 66 has seduced road-trippers with its siren call since the asphalt artery first connected Chicago to L.A. in 1926. Now “America’s Main Street” harkens to a simpler time when Americans relished the journey as much as the destination.
But the “Mother Road” is a motherlode to tackle in toto. For a weekend-sized slice of the highway, beeline to Williams, which serves up Western history along with sodas, shakes and steaks, plus ample helpings of Elvis, Marilyn Monroe and Betty Boop. Retailers slap the iconic Route 66 logo onto everything from corkscrews and snow scrapers to hot pads and hair brushes. Visit
Wild West Junction for a kitschy taste of the Wild West and swing through
Bearizona for an up-close look at the wildlife.
This December, take a ride on the
Polar Express, the Grand Canyon Railway’s roundtrip from Williams to the “North Pole.” Or, if you’re lucky enough to snag a $7.50 1912 fare on the
Grand Canyon Railway, you can celebrate Arizona’s 100th birthday in style. Pulled by a historic steam locomotive, the Arizona Centennial Train will depart Williams Depot at 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 14 to the Grand Canyon.
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Photos - Clock-wise from top left: Bearizona, Williams • Polar Express train from Williams • steam-powered Grand Canyon Railway at El Tovar; Williams
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: 301 E. Route 66, 928-635-2671,
rods-steakhouse.comCruiser’s Café: 233 W. Route 66, 928-635-2445,
cruisers66.comSleep & StayRed Garter Bed & Bakery: 137 W. Railroad Ave., 928-635-1484,
redgarter.comThe Downtowner Motel: 201 E. Route 66, 928-635-4041,
thedowntowneronroute66.comActivitiesGrand Canyon Railway:
thetrain.comBearizona:
bearizona.comWild West Junction:
wildwestjunction.comColorado RiverThe Colorado River has been explored, romanticized and politicized. Western states have squabbled over her water, while dams to control floods and satisfy recreational needs have changed her ecology. A political football as much as a topographical marvel, the Colorado cuts through Arizona for more than 500 miles. Notable historic points include:
Lee’s Ferry: Located about eight miles southwest of Page, Lee’s Ferry was a heavily-trafficked Colorado River crossing in the 19th and 20th centuries for pioneers traveling between Arizona and Utah. The ferry was operated by John D. Lee, a friend of Mormon founder Joseph Smith who had 19 wives and was eventually executed for his part in the Mountain Meadows massacre. Today, the location is the main launch for rafters. It’s a great spot for fly fishing with
Lee’s Ferry Anglers, or just to get your toes wet.
River rafting: Follow in the wake of John Wesley Powell’s 1864 “journey into the Great Unknown” by rafting the Colorado. Numerous outfitters will make your adventure smoother than Powell’s – they’ll set up camp, cook and navigate the rapids for you. Two top companies are
Arizona River Runners and
Outdoors Unlimited.
Hoover Dam: This Depression-era Art Deco dam impounds Lake Mead and contains enough concrete to pave a two-lane road from San Francisco to New York. View it from the Hoover Dam Visitor Center, then houseboat on Lake Mead with
Forever Resorts, which launches houseboats from Calville Bay in Nevada and small boat rentals at Temple Bar Marina in Arizona.
Yuma Crossing: Arizona’s “West Coast” boasts many interesting stops, including fish-rich Lake Mohave and Lake Havasu. But no discussion of the Colorado is complete without paying homage to Yuma Crossing, a natural crossing used by prehistoric tribes, Spanish explorers, gold rushers and military men. It is now part of a wetland and riparian restoration project. Learn about the crossing at Pivot Point Interpretive Plaza, a colorful outdoor museum. A 1907 Baldwin locomotive sits on the original track alignment, and after dark, two laser beams trace the railway where the first locomotive entered Arizona in 1877.
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Photos - From left: Cliff Dwellers restaurant; pastrami and Swiss sandwich from Cliff Dwellers
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: Highway 89A, 15 miles northwest of Bitter Springs turnoff,
cliffdwellerslodge.comRiver City Grill (Yuma): 600 W. Third St., 928-782-7988,
rivercitygrill.comSleep & StayVisit
arizonaguide.com/hotels-lodging for lodging options statewide.
ActivitiesLee’s Ferry:
nps.gov/glca/historyculture/leesferryhistory.htmLee’s Ferry Anglers:
leesferry.com/services.htmlArizona River Runners:
raftarizona.comOutdoors Unlimited:
outdoorsunlimited.comHoover Dam:
usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/index.htmlLake Mead:
nps.gov/lake/index.htm,
foreverresorts.comYuma Crossing:
yumaheritage.com,
visityuma.com/pivot_point.html