Gettin' our kicks on Route 66

dreadnut

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So this is the year of our 40th wedding anniversary. On our honeymoon in Aug-Sep '78, we drove over 7,000 miles in our '74 Valiant, from Michigan out to the Pacific Northwest via I-90, down the coast to San Francisco and Pescadero, then back east on I-80, and all points in between.

Rather than trying to re-create our honeymoon trip, we've decided to ramble down Rt. 66 from Chicago to LA, then maybe up to the Bay Area and wine country before turning back toward home. And we'll be traveliing in a bit more deluxe vehicle this time, LOL.

Looking for places to eat, see, and stay along the way...
 
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My only suggestion is if you go into any tasting rooms in wine country, leave your wallet/credit cards in the car or hotel room. We were in Anderson Valley (NOT Sonoma or Napa) wine country a couple of years ago and I was ready to mortgage the house. The wine is at a perfect temperature and they match up the cheese accordingly. It's downright intoxicating and should be illegal. :drunk:
 

dreadnut

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haha, yeah we took a trip through New York's Finger Lakes wine/distillery region a few years back and I blew my disposable income on a bottle of sipping gin.
 

JohnW63

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Do you REALLY want to take 66 all the way into Santa Monica ? The traffic really sucks in the Orange County, LA area. ( Just for fun, use a web site called SigAlert.com at various times of day. )

If you don't go all they way south the the end of 66, you can use the 210 freeway and find your way up to Oxnard. Maybe some guitar place will let you peak inside ? Could be Guild, could be Larrivee. Either would be fun.
 

davismanLV

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I'd love to visit Larrivee in Oxnard! I saw a Peruvian Walnut guitar on their website that took my breath away. And Ventura is a lovely city. So Cal has way too much traffic and I'm happy to not live there any more. But all that aside, Happy 40th, dreadnut!! It's an amazing milestone. Don and I are on 35. The years weren't consecutive and not always smooth sailing but here we are. Congrats and enjoy the journey!! Happy Anniversary!! :encouragement:
 

Nuuska

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Greetings and congratulations from Finland

While getting your kicks on route 66 - try to find Radiator Springs in Carburetor County :shame:
 

adorshki

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Quantum Strummer

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In 1993 I drove 66 from Albuquerque west to the end. It was a real pleasure, though SoCal traffic was indeed a PITA. Been up close & personal with that San Andreas dude too. :)

-Dave-
 

gjmalcyon

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You can stand on that corner in Winslow, Arizona.

I did back in 1980 and again in 2007.
 
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bobouz

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Grew up in Pasadena, and had an apartment right off of Route 66 (Colorado Blvd) while going to college in the late '60s. Some good memories, but haven't been back in many decades. Went to school in Arizona, too, and the route through the high desert is beautiful.

My advice would be to take 66 all the way to the beach. As kids, our family would frequently drive to the park in Santa Monica that overlooks the ocean (big cliff with a white fence), and it's still probably as pretty as it seems in my minds eye.

Have fun!
 

gjmalcyon

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Grew up in Pasadena, and had an apartment right off of Route 66 (Colorado Blvd) while going to college in the late '60s. Some good memories, but haven't been back in many decades.

Know any little old ladies with a shiny red Super Stock Dodge?
 

GuildFS4612CE

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Grew up in Pasadena, and had an apartment right off of Route 66 (Colorado Blvd) while going to college in the late '60s. Some good memories, but haven't been back in many decades. Went to school in Arizona, too, and the route through the high desert is beautiful.

My advice would be to take 66 all the way to the beach. As kids, our family would frequently drive to the park in Santa Monica that overlooks the ocean (big cliff with a white fence), and it's still probably as pretty as it seems in my minds eye.

Have fun!

The park is Palisades Park...still there...probably a bit less of it than you remember...the bluffs have a habit of 'eroding'...fence still there...to keep you from falling down said bluffs onto the Pacific Coast Highway...at least if you don't stupidly sit on the fence to do the selfie thing...just avoid the rush hour traffic and you'll do fine.
 

dreadnut

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Thanks for all the good tips, we'll be considering them all!

My brother lived in Hollywood; when he passed away 15 years ago I inherited his VW Bug. I had it hauled all the way here to Michigan from Hollywood on a truck. When I was out there with my bro, I remember driving it down Santa Monica Blvd. I still have the original invoice from Bob Smith VW Porsche Hollywood, my brother bought it from the old gal who bought it brand new in 1967. We are almost done restoring it. Not gonna drive it back to California though, LOL.

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idealassets

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Congratulations on your anniversary. After living in the LA area from 1991 to 1995 I would say that the freeways were actually not bad except for during rush hours. Pacific Coast Highway 101 is truly fabulous.

For one trip I took Hwy. 15 to 395, then north through Reno, NV to get to eastern Washington state. It was stunning to be along the east side of the Sierra Nevada's, and there was plenty of solitude, and just great going through all the interesting small towns.

For a trip back one year I took I-94, then up through Michigan's upper peninsula, across the Mac bridge, then I-75 back home. (Although it would be 131 to get back to G.R.) A stop in Yellowstone was great fun, and after all these sights I am still amazed that so many folks are right back here in MI, especially all my relatives.

That is a great 63' VW, and I would definitely keep it off the salted winter roads. It appears to be a great item in memory of your brother. I owned a 61' where the battery would fall through a hole in the floorboard from all that salt corrosion. I finally strapped it in, supporting it from the seat above.
 
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gjmalcyon

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That is a great 63' VW, and I would definitely keep it off the salted winter roads. It appears to be a great item in memory of your brother. I owned a 61' where the battery would fall through a hole in the floorboard from all that salt corrosion. I finally strapped it in, supporting it from the seat above.

I married into my wife's '71 Super Beetle, which she bought from her father. Traveled all over the mid-Atlantic with it, and when we noticed it flexing like it shouldn't, we took to to the local Vee Dub specialist who welded some angle iron in strategic locations and we happily drove it for another year. Tried to repeat the fix when the thing started squirming again, and our guy told us (with a suitably mournful expression), "There's nothing left to weld." Consumed by east coast salted winter roads. I loved driving that car in the winter - when everybody else was cowering inside, the Beetle and Sno-Commander guys were out having fun in the parking lots.
 
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dreadnut

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Actually, it's a '67 VW, and it's still never seen snow, it stays in storage all winter. By the way, 1967 was the first year of 12 VDC, prior to that they were all 6 Volts.

Ideal, we started our honeymoon by taking the ferry from Ludington to Manitowoc, WI
 
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