Road trips, when you have some time, and can enjoy a leisurely drive, can be really fun, a great way to see a lot of our beautiful country, try different cuisines, learn about the history of the area. Recently I have been taking a few trips and thought I’d share a little of them with you. Might even encourage you to give it a go.
Leaving Colorado, decided to settle on New Mexico, West Texas, Arizona, California, and then swinging back through Nevada, Utah, and home. NOT all interstate. The interstates just don’t do this country justice.
Lots of back roads, two lanes to Raton, New Mexico, east on 87 to Clayton. Stayed in the old, 1894, Erlich Hotel near the courthouse where Blackjack Ketchum was hanged for robbing trains. Down to Amarillo and the Big Texan Steakhouse. Didn’t tackle the 72 ounce steak, free if you can eat it in an hour, but did get the 56 ounce Tomahawk cut. Delicious. Yes, I took a to-go box.
56 Ounce Tomahawk steak at Big Texan, Amarillo
Standing on a corner in Winslow Arizona
Getting my kicks on Route 66
Historic Oatman, Arizona
Tucumcari has the Pow Wow for Mexican food. Laguna, New Mexico has the Laguna Burger, a famous stop for anybody, locals or tourists, in the area. Crossing into Arizona, stood on the corner in Winslow, Arizona (thank you Eagles), stopped at the meteor crater formed 50,000 years ago when it slammed into the earth, and enjoyed the Salsa Brava in Flagstaff. We have Salsa Bravas in Colorado Springs and Denver thanks to Randy Price of the Rocky Mountain Restaurant Group.
Get off the highway, check out the old Route 66. Root beer float in Kingman, the old curved road to Oatman, an old mining town where burros roam free through town. Down to Lake Havasu City and my first glimpse of the London Bridge, moved from London, piece by piece, and reassembled in 1968. Fabulous mac & cheese at Tasty Waves overlooking the bridge.
London Bridge, Lake Havasu City
Micro Nation of Slowjamastan
Joshua Tree National Park
Pioneertown, where Westerns were made
As you go into California, you can venture to Kelso, an old railroad stop of many years ago, down to the Salton Sea and the mostly abandoned resort town of Bombay Beach. You can even “visit” the micro nation of Slowjamastan (check out the story) and swing through Harry Bosch’s favorite get away of Borrego Springs.
A swing through Joshua Tree National Park is always refreshing, and if you want to see where old westerns were made, stop in Pioneertown and imagine Gene Autrey, Roy Rogers, and others galloping through town.
A natural wonder Zion National Park
Boyhood home of Butch Cassidy, Utah
Historic Hotel Eklund, Clayton, NM
Kelso, Mojave Desert, California
A drive back to Colorado offers Zion National Park, Arches National Park, the boyhood home of Butch Cassidy, the biking center of Moab, and much more.
I could go on and on, but hopefully this inspires you. Obviously you don’t have to do the Southwest. There are, and I have done them, plenty of other places to visit, to see. North, south, east, and west, the country offers so much to see, economically, close to home, and at your leisure. Enjoy!