Day 8, RTE 66, AZ to Santa Monica, CA

This is it!! The last leg of the Route 66 part of our trip. It took us 7 days to get to Santa Monica. There are parts of Route 66 that were not possible to drive on with our vehicle, with kids, or both. If we ever decided to do the trip again, we would go without the kids (they are not really interested in the history), with a jeep type vehicle that could off road, and make no reservations so that we could go as the road takes us. I will have a trip recommendations list at the end (still compiling) of things/items/ideas to help. We have enjoyed every part of the trip so far, but we have not ever been on a trip this long or far away from home, so it has definitely been a learning experience!

We left Kingman, AZ and drove most of the rest of the way to Santa Monica Pier on Route 66. Sometimes there are areas that are just no longer there, so you have to get on the freeway. Once we crossed over into California, we stopped just west of Helendale at the forest of bottle trees. Then we stopped at the McDonald's museum in San Bernadino. Dan and I met while working at McDonald's together...23 years ago, so we of course had to stop and reminisce over where it all began. We drove through Barstow and made a beeline for the Santa Monica Pier.

Welcome to California!!

Bottle Ranch

More art at the Bottle Ranch

The McDonald's Museum

23 years ago, I was a shot caller and he was a dishwasher...

San Bernardino, CA

Emma Jeans Burger Cafe

I love the random Route 66 relics

Santa Monica Pier, CA

A view from the pier

The end of Route 66...

Our travels for Day 8

Day 7, Hanging out at Kingman KOA

We stayed at the KOA today, went grocery shopping, and did some laundry. Sometimes you just need to be out of the car away from each other, lol. The kids hung out in the pool most of the day. 

We have been very lucky so far when it comes to bugs, snakes, etc. Today I saw a small lizard scurrying around, but other than that, no bugs. (Yay!) It was very hot, but very dry today. Tomorrow we pack up and head to California!! 

Poolside bungalow at KOA

Bedroom

Bathroom

Our room overlooked the pool

Day 6, RTE 66 Winslow, AZ, to Grand Canyon, then to Kingman, AZ

We headed out at 8am so we could get to the Grand Canyon early, before it got too hot. It took a little over 2 hours to get there. We drove to the south rim. It was beautiful! Just amazing! We then got back on the freeway to Route 66. We stopped at Delgadillo's and had some really good ice cream and checked out the town and shops. There was an old barber shop, and some awesome old buildings. We then went to the Grand Canyon Caverns, stopped at Antares Curve, and onto the KOA in Kingman, AZ. We decided to stay there for 2 nights to get a break from the daily driving.

Grand Canyon

Cullen

Kyle & Cullen

Kyle trying to sneak down

A moose just chillin'

Winona, AZ

Seligman, AZ

Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive In

They serve dead chicken 

Route 66 art in Seligman, AZ

Barber shop in Seligman, AZ

Barber shop

Route 66

Grand Canyon Caverns 

My kids :)

Big Head at Antares Curve

Roughin' it in Kingman, AZ

Pool at KOA

First 1/2 of the day

Second 1/2 of the day