# Travelzoo Best Bets: Where to Go in 2026 with Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona

An episode of [Travel Trends with Dan Christian](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1689330635), 23 Dec 2025, 42 min.

Audio: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2172036/episodes/18403478-travelzoo-best-bets-where-to-go-in-2026-with-historic-route-66-association-of-arizona.mp3

Send us Fan Mail A century-old highway is about to steal the spotlight again. In episode three of our 10-part Travelzoo Best Bets Series, Dan and Travelzoo Senior Editor (and co-host) Gabe Saglie head to Arizona’s storied stretch of Route 66 with guest Nikki Terlesky, Director of Operations for the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona. Together, they explore why the Mother Road still embodies freedom, spontaneity, and Americana—especially as the U.S. approaches its 250th birthday. From neon-lit motor lodges to desert bends that test your steering, this is road-tripping at its most evocative. You’ll get a practical 2026 game plan: the best times to go, how weather shifts with elevation from Kingman to Flagstaff, and how to layer in icons like the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, and Meteor Crater. Expect insider picks too including Winslow’s famous corner and La Posada, Flagstaff’s restored vintage motels and centennial exhibits, and the GuideAlong GPS tour that turns the drive into a living museum. Along the way, we trace the roots of diner and motel culture, the postwar birth of the family road trip, and why international travelers still flock here for classic burgers, milkshakes, and glowing neon. The result isn’t just nostalgia—it’s an authenticity-rich, digital-detox adventure where the road itself becomes the destination. If 2026 is your year to rediscover the open road, Arizona’s Route 66 delivers history, scenery, and pure fun in one timeless drive. New episodes drop every Tuesday, each featuring local experts who bring these Best Bets to life. Become a member at travelzoo.com to access exclusive offers. The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds. https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/

## Chapters

- 0:00 Setting The Stage For 2026
- 2:10 Meet Nikki And The Association
- 4:45 Why Arizona’s Stretch Feels Magical
- 7:30 Geography, Gateways, And Access
- 10:45 When To Go And Weather Tips
- 13:35 How Much Is Original Route 66
- 16:00 Tools, Maps, And Guided Audio
- 18:05 Driving Choices And Sidewinder Warnings
- 20:05 Vintage Motels And Neon Nights
- 22:05 Global Appeal And Visitor Mix
- 24:00 Diners, Design, And Roadside Culture
- 27:10 Natural Wonders Along The Route
- 30:10 Hidden Gems And Centennial Events
- 33:00 Trends: Authenticity And Digital Detox
- 35:05 History Threads: 250 And 100 Years
- 37:05 Community Impact And Preservation
- 38:10 How To Support And Plan
- 39:15 What’s Next In The Series

## Transcript

[0:04] SPEAKER_00: The history of Route 66 really parallels the history of America.
[0:09] SPEAKER_00: Whether it's during the Great Depression when it was bringing migrants out west, also during uh post-World War II when we were in a boom and these soldiers wanted to bring their families on a road trip.
[0:24] SPEAKER_00: The family road trip was born.
[0:25] SPEAKER_00: Let's go out and see America.
[0:28] SPEAKER_00: Our history with Route 66 and um America 250 are really intertwined.
[0:35] SPEAKER_02: Hello everyone, welcome back to our special Travel Zoo in Travel Trends, 10-part series focused on the best bets destinations for 2026.
[0:45] SPEAKER_02: As defined by the Travel Zoo team, we had the honor of announcing the full list on episode two last week when we were joined by Andrew Young, the content lead over at Travel Zoo, to showcase the entire list of destinations for both Americans and Canadians to travel to domestically and internationally in 2026.
[1:05] SPEAKER_02: And as a compliment to that, we posted on our blog a summary of all those destinations.
[1:11] SPEAKER_02: You can find that at Traveltranspodcast.com/slash blog.
[1:15] SPEAKER_02: But most importantly, you want to take advantage of these Travel Zoo deals for 2026.
[1:20] SPEAKER_02: And to do that, you need to subscribe to become a TravelZoo member.
[1:24] SPEAKER_02: Travelzoo.com, it'll redirect to wherever you are in the world.
[1:27] SPEAKER_02: They have a special$1 offer to get you signed up and going.
[1:31] SPEAKER_02: There's a link on this episode and throughout the Travel Trends website.
[1:35] SPEAKER_02: So you can easily sign up for TravelZoo because now we're getting into the destinations themselves.
[1:41] SPEAKER_02: And I'm sure you're going to be inspired to book that next trip for yourself or for your clients.
[1:47] SPEAKER_02: And today we're going to be featuring Arizona and Route 66.
[1:52] SPEAKER_02: So a major domestic travel destination for Americans and for Canadians crossing over the border because this is the 250th anniversary of the United States.
[2:01] SPEAKER_02: And very interestingly, it's also the 100th anniversary of Route 66.
[2:06] SPEAKER_02: So we have the privilege today to speak to Nikki Turleski, who runs the historic Route 66 Association.
[2:13] SPEAKER_02: Now we're going to bring her in in a moment.
[2:15] SPEAKER_02: But first, I need to welcome my co-host back, Gabe Saglier, who is one of the key team members over at Travel Zoo and does a lot of the media.
[2:24] SPEAKER_02: And he's my great co-host for this series.
[2:26] SPEAKER_02: So Gabe, great to have you back on our Travel Trends Travel Zoo series.
[2:30] SPEAKER_02: Tell us how you're doing, what's going on, and then let's introduce our guest and get right into Arizona.
[2:35] SPEAKER_01: Yeah, well, very pumped about uh the fact that we've officially revealed this uh the big list for 2026, Dan, and now we're getting we're diving in deep, right?
[2:42] SPEAKER_01: And beginning with one of my really my one of my favorite uh destinations on our uh list, which is uh Arizona, and specifically that 400-mile stretch across Arizona of historic Route 66, the mother road.
[2:56] SPEAKER_01: To me, this is I've done this this portion of Route 66 in in chunks uh over the years.
[3:01] SPEAKER_01: I'm a big road tripper.
[3:02] SPEAKER_01: I love throwing my kids in the back of the car and just hitting the open road, and I think nothing speaks better to that than Route 66, and particularly through Arizona, considered some of the most, probably the best preserved stretch of this historic route.
[3:13] SPEAKER_01: As you mentioned, it turns 100 uh in 2026, so uh a landmark event that I think a lot of us will be uh talking about and buzzing over as we head into the new year.
[3:23] SPEAKER_01: Nikki, uh you and I have chatted in the past.
[3:25] SPEAKER_01: We've we've had our wonderful discussions about Route 66 through Arizona.
[3:30] SPEAKER_01: Great to see you.
[3:31] SPEAKER_01: Uh let's begin by talking a little bit about you, uh your personal love for Route 66 and the fact that you are with the uh Arizona, uh the Route 66 Association.
[3:41] SPEAKER_01: I'd love to learn a little bit more about that group and even where you guys are headquartered because where you guys are actually physically located is a pretty cool spot as well.
[3:50] SPEAKER_00: Yes, hello, thank you for having me.
[3:52] SPEAKER_00: Um, I have been with the Route 66 Association of Arizona since 2017, and we are a very small organization, so I do a little bit of everything accounting, tech support, event planning.
[4:08] SPEAKER_00: Um, we have a Route 66 gift shop, which I get to be involved in, which is really fun.
[4:14] SPEAKER_00: Um, we put on one of the largest car rallies on Route 66.
[4:18] SPEAKER_00: Um, we also grant funds to communities, businesses, um, nonprofits along Route 66 that all support our mission on to preserve, promote, and protect Route 66 in Arizona.
[4:33] SPEAKER_00: Um, I have always been drawn to old things, old buildings, museums.
[4:39] SPEAKER_00: I used to antique with my mom.
[4:41] SPEAKER_00: So when the opportunity came up to support Route 66, I was all in for preserving the Mother Road.
[4:50] SPEAKER_00: It was a perfect fit.
[4:51] SPEAKER_01: Yeah, you're in Kingman, uh, which is home to the Arizona Route 66 Museum.
[4:56] SPEAKER_01: Uh, and that in and of itself is in a very historic, pretty quirky and pretty cool uh building, isn't it?
[5:03] SPEAKER_00: Yes, we are located in a historic building.
[5:06] SPEAKER_00: Locally, it's called the Powerhouse.
[5:08] SPEAKER_00: Um, it used to supply power to the local area mines, um, but now it is our visitor center.
[5:16] SPEAKER_00: And so we are located in this lovely historic building as well as the Route 66 Museum of Arizona.
[5:23] SPEAKER_01: Uh, and Dan, you know, as I've mentioned to you, I've done this stretch through Arizona on Route 66.
[5:29] SPEAKER_01: You know, it's it's part of this, I think, David and Goliath story uh over the years where uh, you know, the the locals like Nikki and her uh and her uh friends have had to physically and emotionally be part of a uh of of keeping this story alive.
[5:42] SPEAKER_01: And Nikki, for folks who have not done the Route 66 and certainly the that beautiful stretch through Arizona, what do you think uh makes it such a magical and such a no-brainer road trip for folks in 2026?
[5:55] SPEAKER_01: To me, it is uh it's significant in that it is uh representative of of freedom, the uh of of spontaneity, of adventure, and that's something that remains part of the Route 66 DNA to this day, a hundred years later.
[6:09] SPEAKER_00: So Route 66 isn't really just a drive, it is a road trip, and the road is the destination.
[6:17] SPEAKER_00: There is so many quirky little roadside attractions and mom and pop businesses, and so you really just hop in the car and see where the road takes you.
[6:29] SPEAKER_00: You decide, you know, hey, let's take this exit and check it out, or look at this business up on the hill.
[6:34] SPEAKER_00: Like, let's go see what it is.
[6:37] SPEAKER_00: Um it it's special and it's fun and it's nostalgic.
[6:42] SPEAKER_00: Um, and there's a lot to see.
[6:44] SPEAKER_00: So you you better plan on spending a couple days so you can see the Grand Canyon, the petrified forest, um, all the little cute, quirky towns, Winslow, Seligman, Kingman.
[6:57] SPEAKER_00: Um, there's a lot to see and do, and it's jam-packed and just a lot of fun.
[7:01] SPEAKER_02: That's great, Nikki.
[7:02] SPEAKER_02: I'm thrilled to have you here and especially kicking off this series with Arizona and being able to do the Route 66 road trip because certainly one of the big trends for 2026 is domestic travel.
[7:13] SPEAKER_02: There's many reasons.
[7:13] SPEAKER_02: We've highlighted two already: the 250th anniversary, the 100 years of Route 66 itself.
[7:19] SPEAKER_02: There's, of course, the World Cup happening, and there's also just an increased interest of Americans exploring their own backyard.
[7:25] SPEAKER_02: And what better way to do that than Route 66?
[7:28] SPEAKER_02: I'm sure many people have the history on this, but I remember when I worked uh uh when I was living in Australia, the number of people would even talk about going to the US and doing Route 66.
[7:37] SPEAKER_02: And uh, you know, of course, it does start in Chicago, goes to Santa Monica.
[7:40] SPEAKER_02: I've been at the beginning and the end.
[7:42] SPEAKER_02: I haven't done the whole uh road.
[7:44] SPEAKER_02: But what's really interesting about the Route 66 trip, I know there's parts of it that people, you know, they veer off and go on the main highway, come back on Route 66.
[7:52] SPEAKER_02: And really, with Route 66, there's a number of really special parts of this highway where you get to see real Americana, those beautiful old motels and their signs.
[8:02] SPEAKER_02: You get to connect with history and culture and small towns.
[8:05] SPEAKER_02: And so I was delighted that Route 66 is part of this.
[8:09] SPEAKER_02: I love the idea of a road trip.
[8:10] SPEAKER_02: I, like you, Gabe, because of course you're based in LA.
[8:12] SPEAKER_02: I'm based in Toronto, but I lived in LA for a few years, and we did this trip twice because we loved it so much.
[8:19] SPEAKER_02: We drove from LA, we did a RV rental, we went to Sedona, it was the first trip, and we stopped in Kingman, and I couldn't believe our kids were the biggest fans of cars, of course.
[8:30] SPEAKER_02: And so, you know, they had that appreciation for Route 66.
[8:33] SPEAKER_02: And when we were on that journey, I didn't anticipate how extraordinarily beautiful Arizona was, and just how scenic.
[8:41] SPEAKER_02: And the number of times the kids were saying in the RV, this is just like the movie.
[8:45] SPEAKER_02: This is like this is exactly like cars.
[8:48] SPEAKER_02: So tell us geographically, like when people are looking at this on a map now, they see that you're south of of uh Las Vegas, you're so close to the Mojave Desert, close to California, you're right next to, I mean, you're in Arizona, which of course, you know, Phoenix, Sedona.
[9:03] SPEAKER_02: So you're right in the Mecca of the Southwest.
[9:06] SPEAKER_02: So you so many people can can it can be accessible to you.
[9:10] SPEAKER_02: If you're looking at a map and you're in that area, you've got and you haven't been, you have to go.
[9:14] SPEAKER_02: But even if you're looking to fly in, so tell us a little bit geographically where you're located and what the best ways are to get there and to get around.
[9:22] SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
[9:22] SPEAKER_00: So we are located in northern Arizona.
[9:26] SPEAKER_00: Um, so Route 66 goes through a lot of a lot of small towns in Arizona.
[9:32] SPEAKER_00: And so the landscape really changes quite a bit from where I am in Kingman.
[9:38] SPEAKER_00: As you moved east towards Flagstaff, you're really going up an elevation quite a bit.
[9:43] SPEAKER_00: And so in Flagstaff, there are some beautiful mountains, and it actually snows there.
[9:48] SPEAKER_00: You can go skiing.
[9:50] SPEAKER_00: Um, here in Kingman, um, and as you move towards California, we definitely are desert in the Mojave Desert, and it is dry and in the summer very hot.
[10:02] SPEAKER_00: But it's nice to um drive and see that change in landscape um as you go up an elevation.
[10:09] SPEAKER_00: We're really easy to access um from Kingman.
[10:13] SPEAKER_00: Las Vegas is only an hour and a half, and then um Flagstaff, uh, you could go two hours south and you're in Phoenix.
[10:21] SPEAKER_00: So we're pretty easy to get to.
[10:23] SPEAKER_00: And like you mentioned, the Grand Canyon is right off of Route 66.
[10:28] SPEAKER_00: So it makes for a great trip to kind of come down and include Route 66, whether you're gonna go to Sedona or the Grand Canyon, um, any of the other national parks, um, it's a great add-on, or just kind of the main portion of your trip.
[10:42] SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and let's talk a little about the time of the year too.
[10:45] SPEAKER_02: And uh, Gabe, I'm uh keen to know when you went because for us we were always focused on the kids' holidays, so we were limited to when everyone was traveling, but it's still wonderful to travel during that time because everyone's uh exploring together.
[10:58] SPEAKER_02: And so even though it may be busier, it's the shops are filled, the restaurants are filled.
[11:02] SPEAKER_02: I love that as well.
[11:03] SPEAKER_02: So um, but also it's wonderful to travel during the shoulder season.
[11:06] SPEAKER_02: Uh so tell us a little bit as we look at 2026 from January to December, because this is a year-round destination.
[11:13] SPEAKER_02: What are some of the key time frames and what should they expect in terms of the weather of those different times of the year?
[11:19] SPEAKER_02: I mean, if you're pretty lucky, it's good year-round, unlike us in Toronto to have the four very distinct seasons.
[11:24] SPEAKER_02: Don't get me wrong, I love that as well, but the winters are harsh.
[11:27] SPEAKER_02: Um, but one of the things as far as people preparing, can they wear shorts the entire time?
[11:31] SPEAKER_02: But yeah, what when should they go?
[11:33] SPEAKER_02: And what would be some of the um the I guess the best windows for traveling to uh Route 66?
[11:39] SPEAKER_00: Yeah, up in northern Arizona, it is a little bit cooler than down in Phoenix, which we call the valley.
[11:45] SPEAKER_00: Um, so you definitely can't wear shorts all year round, although maybe some diehards do.
[11:51] SPEAKER_00: Um during the winter, so January through March, it's going to be a little bit slower.
[11:58] SPEAKER_00: We do get a lot of snowbirds then, so lots of Canadians.
[12:02] SPEAKER_00: Um as spring break picks up, it gets pretty busy.
[12:06] SPEAKER_00: The weather is lovely during the spring.
[12:09] SPEAKER_00: Our busiest season is actually late summer.
[12:13] SPEAKER_00: So July through late September.
[12:17] SPEAKER_00: We are very busy, but that also coincides with the hottest time here in Arizona.
[12:22] SPEAKER_00: So if you come during the summer, make sure you um bring lots of water.
[12:26] SPEAKER_00: Um, but that's actually a lovely time to be more east in Arizona towards Flegstaff because of their high elevation.
[12:35] SPEAKER_00: It is a lot cooler um than Phoenix, so a great escape from the heat.
[12:40] SPEAKER_00: You can't really go wrong.
[12:42] SPEAKER_00: And then in in the winter time, as we move towards Christmas, uh, Williams has a Polar Express on their train that goes from Williams to the Grand Canyon, which is so fun.
[12:54] SPEAKER_00: Um, and lots of Christmas lights, and like I said, snow.
[12:58] SPEAKER_00: So whether you want to be dead in the middle of all the action in the summer or choose a show shoulder season, I I don't think you can make a wrong decision.
[13:07] SPEAKER_01: It is a year-round uh destination, and I'm like you, Dan, in that yes, it's when the kids were out of school.
[13:11] SPEAKER_01: So we were we've been part of that July-August crowd, to be sure, but I do love that dry desert heat.
[13:17] SPEAKER_01: So I was I was pumped to uh to head into the uh those triple uh digit uh temps.
[13:22] SPEAKER_01: Uh and we also did a spring break of visit uh uh several years ago as well, which which was a lovely time to go.
[13:28] SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, the I'd love to one question I always get um Nikki around traveling on Route 66 is how much of it is the OG Route 66?
[13:38] SPEAKER_01: Obviously, this was launched in 1926 when the automobile now was much more attainable and folks in places like Chicago wanted to get to that famous west coast for that sunshine and those sandy beaches, and now this road, 2,448 miles, came to be across eight states, uh allowing the folks to make their way across the USA.
[14:00] SPEAKER_01: Um but because of the decommissioning of of uh uh something like Route 66 back in 1985, some of these bigger highways like the I-40 becoming a reality, portions of this highway sort of began to be forgotten.
[14:14] SPEAKER_01: Uh and I think have suffered suffered a little bit around the fact that attention was placed instead on these very major highways.
[14:21] SPEAKER_01: And you mentioned the reference to cars, you know, uh Seligman is oftentimes considered the inspiration for radio radiator springs.
[14:28] SPEAKER_01: This wonderful little town, population today, about 450 people.
[14:31] SPEAKER_01: But it would have been uh, I guess you could say a victim of the fact that this big highway now was just uh on the horizon there, allowing these big trucks and all these cars to in fact make a perhaps a more direct and a smoother ride across the country.
[14:44] SPEAKER_01: But how much of of that stretch across Arizona is the original Route 66?
[14:49] SPEAKER_01: And if uh for people navigating it who want to stay on that OG route as much as possible, how how easy is it to do that?
[14:55] SPEAKER_00: Yes, that is an excellent question.
[14:58] SPEAKER_00: It's actually a uh a misconception that you can drive all of Route 66.
[15:03] SPEAKER_00: So it is very much a hop-on, hop-off experience.
[15:07] SPEAKER_00: Um, Arizona is actually home to the longest remaining stretch of historic Route 66.
[15:13] SPEAKER_00: So 157 miles are still drivable in Arizona.
[15:18] SPEAKER_00: And so you start near the California border and you do not have to get on the highway in order to traverse this section of Route 66, which is a lovely drive.
[15:29] SPEAKER_00: Um, I would suggest for any first timer, or if you're not a diehard roadie, that you get what's called um guide along.
[15:37] SPEAKER_00: It's a Route 66 um GPS guided audio tour, only for Arizona, but it helps you with turn-by-turn instructions so you can get every single portion of Route 66 and get off the highway and drive these little sections.
[15:55] SPEAKER_00: I actually did it maybe six months ago now, and I've driven on 66 a lot in my career, but I've drove on portions I'd never been on with this guided audio tour.
[16:08] SPEAKER_00: Um, there's a dirt um path right outside of Flagstaff, which is really fun.
[16:13] SPEAKER_00: And it really makes you feel like wow, people in the 50s um and the 40s were just really out here by themselves, uh, you know, with nature.
[16:23] SPEAKER_00: And it was probably a beautiful drive.
[16:25] SPEAKER_00: And so you get a little bit of that taste, but it it is really um part of the journey finding out where these sections of Route 66 are.
[16:36] SPEAKER_00: So having a tool like a map or a guided audio tour are great so you can experience all these little sections of 66.
[16:43] SPEAKER_01: Oh, that's very cool.
[16:44] SPEAKER_01: So guide it's called guide along, Nikki.
[16:46] SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it's called Guide Along.
[16:47] SPEAKER_02: And one of the things just uh to make sure our listeners can multitask as we're having this conversation is that the website historic66az.com is a place to check out to get, and I was preparing for our conversation and looking at some of the events you have planned and also the route that um the the route that and also the the the the route that would be preferred to be able to navigate around.
[17:13] SPEAKER_02: So one of the things I wanted to ask you, Nikki, is that when someone's planning their trip, we highlighted where you are, but in terms of how to get around, and the reason I wanted to ask that because one of the things that I couldn't believe when we were taking our RV trip was the number of, I guess, corkscrew turns.
[17:28] SPEAKER_02: And I was reading this stat on your website that there is like uh 193 corks through turns on this like short radius.
[17:35] SPEAKER_02: And I'm like, it was like it was harrowing at times, but stunningly beautiful.
[17:39] SPEAKER_02: And then we drove it again with a uh I mentioned my dad at the beginning of the series.
[17:44] SPEAKER_02: My dad was a huge uh fan of his uh 50th anniversary Ford Mustang, red, like, and so we rented one, and that was the way to drive it because man, did that ever hug the road.
[17:55] SPEAKER_02: So tell us a little bit of how to get around.
[17:57] SPEAKER_02: Some people are obviously bringing in their own cars, some people are renting cars, and some people, of course, like we've done, a lot of people are RVing and camping along the way.
[18:05] SPEAKER_02: So tell us a little bit about how best to get around.
[18:07] SPEAKER_00: I think there's a few fun ways to do it.
[18:10] SPEAKER_00: Um, an RV from Oatman to Kingman, or vice versa.
[18:16] SPEAKER_00: Yes, would be very tricky and never recommended.
[18:19] SPEAKER_00: I'm surprised you survived that experience.
[18:22] SPEAKER_00: There are, it's called the Sidewinder.
[18:24] SPEAKER_00: There's 191 hairpin turns.
[18:27] SPEAKER_00: Wow.
[18:27] SPEAKER_00: And it really is on the side of a mountain.
[18:29] SPEAKER_00: So a Mustang is definitely the choice for that section of Route 66.
[18:34] SPEAKER_00: Um, every other place on 66 in Arizona is going to be RV friendly.
[18:39] SPEAKER_00: Um I think however you want to do it, whether you take a car and stay in motels or do the RV, I think either way could be fun.
[18:48] SPEAKER_00: But yeah, that's the only section you need to steer clear of if you're on an RV, is from Kingman to Oatman.
[18:55] SPEAKER_01: And Nikki, you mentioned uh motels because I think one of the neat stories that stems from Route 66' history is the fact that this is what gave rise really to this motor lodge concept.
[19:06] SPEAKER_01: People had been taking those hairpin turns.
[19:08] SPEAKER_01: They'd been on the road you know for many hours, many days, and they needed a place where they could pull in with their cars, park their automobile, and rest their weary heads.
[19:17] SPEAKER_01: And this gave rise to these roadside along Route 66 motels, many of which now across Arizona are still very in operation.
[19:24] SPEAKER_01: They're the his these historic spots, along with all these other quirky curiosity, you know, sort of kitschy shops.
[19:30] SPEAKER_01: Talk to us a little bit about that element of the Route 66 experience through Arizona, uh, and the fact that motels really are a major part of this story.
[19:38] SPEAKER_00: Right.
[19:38] SPEAKER_00: So keep in mind cars did not drive as fast as they drive now.
[19:42] SPEAKER_00: So the trip would have taken much longer.
[19:46] SPEAKER_00: Um there is a an original stretch of Route 66 located in the petrified forest.
[19:52] SPEAKER_00: And now it's just a um it's a roadbed, and so there's no asphalt remaining.
[19:59] SPEAKER_00: But They have found evidence of camps.
[20:02] SPEAKER_00: So people driving Route 66, you know, you get a tire or your motor breaks down.
[20:09] SPEAKER_00: Um, you really just set up camp on the side of the road until someone came by and was able to give you a ride to the next town so you could get repaired.
[20:17] SPEAKER_00: So taking into account this slower pace, there was all of these motels that popped up um around the 50s and they were for families and they were all competing against one another.
[20:34] SPEAKER_00: And so neon signs and kitschy gimmicks all kind of drew the family in to get them to stop and spend their money there instead of you know further down the road.
[20:46] SPEAKER_00: So if you can stay at a motel, a vintage motel in Arizona, it would be a great way to experience the route.
[20:55] SPEAKER_00: Um the Wigwam motel in Holebrook, still operating today, such a cool experience.
[21:03] SPEAKER_00: Uh, Flagstaff has a ton of renovated vintage motels that really just bring you back.
[21:10] SPEAKER_00: There's one called the Americana, and they have wood paneling, and um you can play records and just really gives you that vibe that you are stepping back into time in these motels.
[21:23] SPEAKER_01: And it's the fact of the matter is that the the nighttime visuals along Route 66, because of these neon signs, is such a cool thing to see.
[21:30] SPEAKER_01: I mean, during the day you're you're looking at landscapes that you've got to see to believe, folks.
[21:35] SPEAKER_01: I mean, the landscape across Arizona is just stunning.
[21:37] SPEAKER_01: It's so unique to that part of the southwestern uh uh chunk of the United States.
[21:41] SPEAKER_01: But at night, when these neon lights come on, Dan, it's like it's like you're in a movie set.
[21:45] SPEAKER_01: It's like really a throwback, a hundred-year-old throwback to a time when things were just different.
[21:51] SPEAKER_01: But uh boy, those lights bring bring things to life in a really stunning way.
[21:54] SPEAKER_02: Nikki, the other thing I was really keen to ask you, we've talked about the domestic travel, which for sure is a huge trend for 2026, given all the events that are happening in the US and the Canadians traveling south as well.
[22:04] SPEAKER_02: But this is such an iconic global destination.
[22:06] SPEAKER_02: I'd seen on your website that you offered your brochure, which I downloaded.
[22:10] SPEAKER_02: It's all available in German and also Chinese.
[22:12] SPEAKER_02: And so it highlighted to me the international interest in Route 66.
[22:17] SPEAKER_02: So, given the global nature of this podcast, uh, you know, and how welcoming America is to international travelers, because one of the things that always stands out to me is that when you go on a trip to a destination, you're surrounded with other people that are just as excited to be there as you are.
[22:31] SPEAKER_02: And that's one of the beautiful things that I always love about travel.
[22:34] SPEAKER_02: And I was just recently at a national park in the US, and it was everyone from around the world and all sorts of nationalities and ethnicities across the US as well.
[22:41] SPEAKER_02: And that's what delights me about travel.
[22:43] SPEAKER_02: So tell us a little bit more about what the international makeup of travelers are to Arizona and that area of Route 66.
[22:50] SPEAKER_00: So believe it or not, I think Route 66 is actually more popular to foreigners than it is to Americans.
[22:59] SPEAKER_00: Um, I think that they see it as nostalgic and um so American with diners and burgers, milkshakes, neon signs that just seems so quintessentially American.
[23:14] SPEAKER_00: Um, we see a ton of international travelers, Germans, French, visitors from all over the world, um, coming to see us in our little town of Kingman, Arizona.
[23:27] SPEAKER_00: Um, we have a guest book, and it's so fun to see where everyone comes from.
[23:31] SPEAKER_00: There are dozens of languages being spoken um in our visitor center at one time, which is just, like you said, such a neat experience um for us to see.
[23:43] SPEAKER_00: Um, I was actually just in Germany promoting Route 66 in Arizona.
[23:49] SPEAKER_00: Um, so yeah, it it definitely is a global phenomenon, this draw for people to come experience Route 66.
[23:57] SPEAKER_02: And one other thing I just wanted to highlight too, because I found this fascinating.
[24:00] SPEAKER_02: And it was obvious once I heard it, and I was going to test Gabe to see if he knew the history of the diner.
[24:04] SPEAKER_02: Well, maybe you know what?
[24:05] SPEAKER_02: Let's put Gabe on the spot for a moment and see if he gets this.
[24:08] SPEAKER_02: So, Gabe, when you think of a traditional American diner, exactly what Nikki just described, off the side of the road, there's a specific shape and style to those diners.
[24:19] SPEAKER_02: Like, and where does that come from?
[24:20] SPEAKER_02: What's the origin of the diner design and architecture?
[24:24] SPEAKER_01: So you stumped me.
[24:25] SPEAKER_01: I do, I don't know why I am thinking that diners, maybe I'm wrong here, and gas stations are connected.
[24:31] SPEAKER_01: Is there a connection to diners and gas stations where they would have been side-bites?
[24:35] SPEAKER_01: No, I'm totally off base.
[24:36] SPEAKER_01: You go, all right.
[24:37] SPEAKER_01: Then you stumped me, Dan.
[24:38] SPEAKER_02: Other than people need to refuel on fuel in your car, your car needs gasoline.
[24:42] SPEAKER_02: That's why they're beside each other.
[24:43] SPEAKER_02: But Nikki, I'm sure you know the answer to this one.
[24:46] SPEAKER_02: What was the reason for these diners and how did they originate?
[24:50] SPEAKER_00: That's a good question.
[24:52] SPEAKER_00: I do know that um there are Valentine diners, and there was actually a Valentine diner in Winslow as well as at Twin Arrows.
[25:02] SPEAKER_00: And the diners were actually purchased from a catalog, and everything was delivered from the silverware and the plates to the diner stools and the building, and it was like a it's like a pop-up diner.
[25:15] SPEAKER_00: But I don't know if that's all diners or just specifically Valentine diners.
[25:19] SPEAKER_02: Well, it's interesting.
[25:20] SPEAKER_02: I'm glad I brought this up because I'm keen to share this with you, and this was new information to me too.
[25:24] SPEAKER_02: Once you hear it, you won't forget it.
[25:26] SPEAKER_02: And all of our listeners, as soon as you walk into a diner and you think about close your eyes and think about one, it'll be incredibly clear.
[25:31] SPEAKER_02: They were railroad cars, they were abandoned railroad cars.
[25:35] SPEAKER_02: So the whole concept of a diner was the diner car on a railroad.
[25:40] SPEAKER_02: And so as these railroads were being decommissioned, and the road, as you pointed out, 1926, the start of this, you know, from Chicago to Santa Monica, the idea that people were traveling, you know, uh, musicians for concerts from city to city, one of the things that was happening at the same time was that the railroads, the main way that people were traveling before then, um, you know, clearly there's still railroads and for met for many different reasons of transport, but many of these rail cars all of a sudden became available, or they're bringing in new ones.
[26:08] SPEAKER_02: So these dilapidated rail cars became the diners onto the side of the road, which is why they all have the four-person booth and the stools that you sit up against.
[26:17] SPEAKER_02: And it's why they're narrow.
[26:18] SPEAKER_02: And there's even restaurants I see in different cities that are called themselves diners, and they stick to the classic silver diner car.
[26:25] SPEAKER_02: And so anyway, I'm I that's a little bit of a fun fact, one thing for you to look for on your trip.
[26:30] SPEAKER_02: But yes, Gabe, that's why they're also next to the the where you refuel your car.
[26:35] SPEAKER_02: You gotta get a burger and chips on the way.
[26:36] SPEAKER_02: Yeah, burger and fries.
[26:38] SPEAKER_01: I learned something new, but uh yeah, by the way, the the um, you know, we all have our own I I I eat a certain way when I'm home, but part of the beauty of driving Route 66 through Arizona is that you can actually, you know, loosen the rules a little bit and really enjoy some of the best burgers, some of the best milkshakes you're ever gonna see.
[26:54] SPEAKER_01: I mean, that's that's legit.
[26:56] SPEAKER_01: Uh that's the kind of grub you've got to um really embrace when you're driving Route 66 through Arizona.
[27:01] SPEAKER_01: Um by the way, the qu a quick note on Germany Travel Zoo has a a German uh team out there and with offices in Munich and in Berlin, and we have been having discussions about helping having them help us promote our best bets list uh out of the US and Canada.
[27:15] SPEAKER_01: And when they saw Route 66 through Arizona, they this the our global our German team just burnt up.
[27:21] SPEAKER_01: I I d they they really do.
[27:23] SPEAKER_01: Those Germans love the idea, as you said, the concept of what Route 66 is all about.
[27:28] SPEAKER_01: It's as American as anything gets to them, uh, and they will travel far to be able to say that they've actually taken taken that road.
[27:35] SPEAKER_01: One of the neat things about Dan, about uh Nikki, about the uh the Route 66 experience through Arizona is the fact that aside from these wonderful, quirky little towns, uh you have fant beautiful natural uh landmarks.
[27:48] SPEAKER_01: Uh the and you mentioned the petrified uh National Forest.
[27:51] SPEAKER_01: Uh there's also the uh the gigantic meteor crater, which is such a fascinating story.
[27:56] SPEAKER_01: You this is a gateway, uh Western Gateway to the Grand Canyon.
[28:01] SPEAKER_01: Um that's an important element of this experience as well.
[28:04] SPEAKER_01: And dive a little bit deeper, Nikki, into that meteor crater, because that to me that's a fascinating historic uh element all its own.
[28:11] SPEAKER_00: It's almost like they planned it.
[28:12] SPEAKER_00: Like let's put for the forest here and meteor crater here, and we'll talk in the Grand Canyon.
[28:17] SPEAKER_00: Um, there really is so much to see.
[28:19] SPEAKER_00: Um, I was at Meteor Crater a few years ago, and they have a fantastic visitor center, and they have, you know, a piece of meteorite in their museum, which is incredible.
[28:32] SPEAKER_00: But I feel like you can see pictures of Meteor Crater, but until you go there in person and see this humongous divot in the earth, I you don't believe it.
[28:43] SPEAKER_00: Um, I know that astronauts um trained at the bottom of Meteor Crater maybe looks a little bit like the moon.
[28:51] SPEAKER_00: I'm not really sure what what they were thinking they were gonna find down there, but someone also mined at the bottom of Meteor Crater, thinking there was gonna be great minerals there.
[29:00] SPEAKER_00: Uh, News Flash, he did not find anything at the bottom there.
[29:04] SPEAKER_00: But his mining equipment is still there, and there's like an astronaut down there as well.
[29:08] SPEAKER_01: Because it's like 500 feet deep, it's a mile wide, and this is a meteor that would have crashed into Earth 50,000 plus years ago, and its remnants, this massive crater, uh is it's it's the it's what remains, but again, it's part of one of those kind of quirky cool things you get to see when you're driving Route 66 uh across Arizona.
[29:27] SPEAKER_01: And the petrified National Forest is quite unique uh as far as that as where it stands in the national park system, it's really it is one of a kind.
[29:35] SPEAKER_00: Oh, it is beautiful.
[29:36] SPEAKER_00: It definitely should be on the top of everyone's list.
[29:39] SPEAKER_00: Um, looking out and seeing all of the um petrified wood.
[29:44] SPEAKER_00: And um, you can, like I said, see that original roadbed of Route 66 going right through the park.
[29:53] SPEAKER_00: There's also a really neat building.
[29:55] SPEAKER_00: It's called the Um Painted Desert Inn.
[29:59] SPEAKER_00: And Mary Coulter, um, a female architect of her time, redesigned this really neat building, um, which is a must-see that's also inside the park.
[30:10] SPEAKER_02: So I love hidden gems.
[30:12] SPEAKER_02: There's two of them right there.
[30:13] SPEAKER_02: What would be some of the other hidden gems?
[30:14] SPEAKER_02: I know you probably have to be mindful, Nikki, about recommending certain businesses because you need to represent everybody, so you can't mention them all.
[30:21] SPEAKER_02: But what would be some of the hidden gems that you would call out that as people are planning their trip, that you're like, these are the must-stops or the these are the things you'd highly encourage them to check out?
[30:30] SPEAKER_00: I I think there's a few obvious must-sees.
[30:34] SPEAKER_00: Um, you obviously need to stand on the corner in Winslow, Arizona.
[30:38] SPEAKER_00: There's also a beautiful hotel there called La Posada, which Mary Coulter also designed.
[30:45] SPEAKER_00: Um, I think you definitely need to drive the longest remaining stretch of Route 66 um from Topok to Crookedon Road.
[30:56] SPEAKER_00: That's a must.
[30:57] SPEAKER_00: Um, I think you need to stay at a vintage motel.
[31:01] SPEAKER_00: You have to do that.
[31:03] SPEAKER_00: Um, the sidewinder, like you mentioned, it's a really scenic part of Route 66, and you can actually see inspiration for the movie's cars.
[31:13] SPEAKER_00: Um, there's like these mountains set up, and in the movie cars, um, they're Cadillacs.
[31:18] SPEAKER_00: But you can see where they got the inspiration from that.
[31:21] SPEAKER_00: Um I think Flagstaff is a great stop uh for the centennial.
[31:27] SPEAKER_00: There are three temporary exhibits all about Route 66 in Arizona that have been set up.
[31:33] SPEAKER_00: Um, one at Lowell Observatory, another at the Museum of Northern Arizona, and then the last one's at the uh Klein Library, which is on their college campus there.
[31:44] SPEAKER_00: Um, there's also a play going on.
[31:47] SPEAKER_00: It's called Route 66 to the Grand Canyon, a quirky, cute little community play about Route 66.
[31:54] SPEAKER_00: They're running that February uh through December in 2026.
[31:59] SPEAKER_02: That's great.
[31:59] SPEAKER_02: Thank you for those suggestions.
[32:00] SPEAKER_02: And I've just got a few final questions, and I'll let Gabe jump in as well, because one of the things obviously I'm keen to ask you about is travel trends.
[32:08] SPEAKER_02: And one of the things I know Gabe is keen to ask you about is you know, the impact that this will likely have on uh Arizona Route 66 by being featured in the best bets.
[32:16] SPEAKER_02: And then we'll make sure that people can find out more information and plan to travel to see you guys in 2026.
[32:22] SPEAKER_02: Now, my question is always about travel trends, given that is obviously the focus of our podcast.
[32:27] SPEAKER_02: It's what people look to us to get insights on how people are traveling and how travel behavior is changing.
[32:33] SPEAKER_02: And so clearly we've mentioned two big events for next year in the US, plus FIFA and a number of other things that are happening.
[32:40] SPEAKER_02: Also, there's this trend towards the road trip and a desire to see uh Americans to see their own backyard.
[32:47] SPEAKER_02: But tell us are the other trends that you're paying attention to, whether it's wellness, because I'm not even sure if there's spas, you know, there's some of the hotels along this journey, um, or cycling for that matter.
[32:57] SPEAKER_02: I know that's a big trend.
[32:59] SPEAKER_02: Um, but does that play out in Route 66?
[33:01] SPEAKER_02: So tell us some of the other trends that you're paying attention to and how that factors into some of the decision making that you have around what you're gonna preserve or restore, or you know, uh make this such a special experience for people to travel there.
[33:14] SPEAKER_00: I think the road trip is a big trend, um, especially for 2026 with all that's happening.
[33:20] SPEAKER_00: Um I think it's really important um to preserve the authenticity, the authentic nature of Route 66, um preserving that history so visitors can experience it now and in the future.
[33:41] SPEAKER_00: I think that younger travelers um really want that authentic experience.
[33:48] SPEAKER_00: Obviously, social media and getting those uh photos um on your trip are still really important.
[33:56] SPEAKER_00: Um, seeking out these beautiful places and the shot, I think, is always going to be relevant to us traveling.
[34:03] SPEAKER_01: I also think that Route 66 through Arizona plays into this digital detox idea.
[34:09] SPEAKER_01: I know that social media is a is a big uh way to sort of delve into some of these nooks and crannies and some of these hotspots.
[34:15] SPEAKER_01: But I do love the idea at the end of the day of being able to, as you said, part of the authenticity movement is a is is is being able to slow down, be in the moment, and this idea that you will be disconnected, you will be thrown back to an era that's bygone, but in fact, uh by golly, it's very much attainable when you when you hit the road there uh through Arizona.
[34:34] SPEAKER_01: For folks, by the way, who are always looking for that tinsel town connection to their travels, I want to say, and especially in honor of Nikki being there in Kingman, Arizona.
[34:41] SPEAKER_01: Kingman is where Clark uh Clark Gable got married back um in the 1930s, and where, I believe it was 1929, Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart dedicated Arizona's first commercial airport uh in Kingman as well.
[34:53] SPEAKER_01: So there's some interesting Hollywood ties and sort of celebys uh to even these very uh quaint little uh spots along Route 66.
[35:01] SPEAKER_01: I would love to just touch real quickly, Nikki, on this idea that we're celebrating the centennial of Route 66 in 2026, but we're also commemorating the 250th birthday of the U.S.
[35:13] SPEAKER_01: of A.
[35:13] SPEAKER_01: And so I think there's that mind share around uh celebrating history, leaning into history, relearning little nuggets of American history are going to be just part of our travel vernacular, if you will, in 2026.
[35:26] SPEAKER_01: And I think that that Route 66 uh falls uh into that quite well, which I think it is a chapter that stems from that 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
[35:37] SPEAKER_01: But as we expanded, as the country grew and moved west, Route 66 was uh an iconic uh and and inevitable element in that in that progression.
[35:48] SPEAKER_00: Yes, we really wouldn't be celebrating the Route 66 Centennial without the uh semi-quincentennial of America.
[35:56] SPEAKER_00: Um the history of Route 66 really parallels the history of America, um, whether it's during the Great Depression when it was bringing migrants out west.
[36:08] SPEAKER_00: Um and the the term the mother road was coined uh during that time because it really was taking care of these migrants who were now homeless.
[36:19] SPEAKER_00: Um also during uh post-World War II when we were in a boom and these soldiers wanted to bring their families on a road trip.
[36:29] SPEAKER_00: The family road trip was born.
[36:31] SPEAKER_00: Let's go out and see America.
[36:34] SPEAKER_00: So our our history with Route 66 and um America 250 are really intertwined.
[36:42] SPEAKER_00: And I think taking a Route 66 road trip is a great way to celebrate America, and I think the whole year is just gonna be one fun party.
[36:51] SPEAKER_02: I think you're absolutely right, Nikki.
[36:53] SPEAKER_02: This is gonna be a very special year for Arizona and Route 66, and obviously part of that is being selected as a Travel Zoo US best bet.
[37:01] SPEAKER_02: And one of the things I wanted to ask you along that note, because clearly we want to see both Gabe and I, and I know the entire travel trends, and I would say travel travel zoo and travel trends team want to see the benefit to the communities and the businesses along the route.
[37:15] SPEAKER_02: What do you think this recognition could mean for this section of Route 66?
[37:20] SPEAKER_02: And what are you looking forward to?
[37:21] SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
[37:22] SPEAKER_00: We're so excited that Arizona was chosen as one of the best vets for 2026.
[37:28] SPEAKER_00: Um, our state has been busy installing new photo ops and working on historic preservation.
[37:35] SPEAKER_00: Our museum just underwent a huge renovation for the centennial.
[37:40] SPEAKER_00: So this type of coverage really ensures that visitors and travelers enjoy the fruits of our labor and help make 2026 the best year possible.
[37:51] SPEAKER_02: Fantastic.
[37:51] SPEAKER_02: Now I know many of our listeners will be keen to travel there, but also even to support the work of the historic Route 66 Association.
[37:57] SPEAKER_02: I know that's a proud, patriotic part of being an American, understanding the history as you just highlighted.
[38:03] SPEAKER_02: So tell us where people can learn more, get involved, support the association, and obviously start planning their travels.
[38:09] SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
[38:10] SPEAKER_00: So definitely visit our website, historic66az.com.
[38:15] SPEAKER_00: You can follow us on social media.
[38:17] SPEAKER_00: Our Instagram is loveaz66.
[38:21] SPEAKER_00: We have a newsletter that we've been putting out monthly to keep you updated on all things centennial.
[38:27] SPEAKER_00: You can subscribe right there on our homepage of our website.
[38:32] SPEAKER_00: And of course, to support us, please just come visit us here in Arizona.
[38:37] SPEAKER_02: Wonderful.
[38:37] SPEAKER_02: Thank you, Nikki.
[38:38] SPEAKER_02: It's been a real pleasure to speak to you.
[38:39] SPEAKER_02: I know Gabe and I have certainly thoroughly enjoyed it.
[38:41] SPEAKER_02: This is the best way to start this series focusing on thank you again for being here, and we wish you all the success in 2026.
[38:49] SPEAKER_00: Thank you so much.
[38:50] SPEAKER_02: And thank you, Gabe, for being here as my co-host, as always.
[38:53] SPEAKER_02: It's great to have these conversations with you to get your perspective from both Travel Zoo and the US perspective.
[38:58] SPEAKER_02: Uh, so we got that US Canadian thing down between us.
[39:01] SPEAKER_02: I'm always trying to be mindful of my word choice to make sure I don't give myself away after I say root or route or soda or pop.
[39:07] SPEAKER_02: But I people are I'm gonna tip my hand from time to time when I say oot and a boot.
[39:11] SPEAKER_02: So that's gonna happen.
[39:12] SPEAKER_02: And you can tease me as much as you like.
[39:14] SPEAKER_02: I can take it.
[39:15] SPEAKER_02: Um, but tell us, Gabe, where we're headed from here, because we got these episodes coming out every Tuesday, and you're gonna be a part of them.
[39:21] SPEAKER_02: And obviously, where are we headed after this?
[39:24] SPEAKER_01: So our listeners can uh and I'm so pumped that we we got to hit the road, if you will, with uh with uh Arizona and Route 66 or Arizona.
[39:31] SPEAKER_01: You know, if you were to travel about 1,700 miles on Route 66 from where Nikki sits there in Kingman, you'd you'd you would reach a little uh town called uh Chicago.
[39:40] SPEAKER_01: Uh and as you know, that is uh on the list as well.
[39:43] SPEAKER_01: I think next episode we're gonna delve deep into what is a uh sort of a a beautiful uh uh you know part of the American story.
[39:51] SPEAKER_01: There's some wonderful reasons why Chicago is also on the list this year, but it's kind of neat to know that that it has this sort of um just sort of unique connection to Route 66 in and of itself.
[40:03] SPEAKER_01: But as a city, I think in 2026 it will offer a lot in the way of culture and in the way of some some part of some of the trends we've been discussing as well.
[40:12] SPEAKER_02: Thanks again for joining us on our special Travel Trends, Travel Zoo Best Bet Series for 2026.
[40:17] SPEAKER_02: This has been episode three of our 10-part series.
[40:21] SPEAKER_02: We had a terrific discussion today, as you heard, on Arizona and Route 66, which I hope has inspired a lot of people to make that part of your travel plans for 2026, whether in the US, Canada, or planning to travel into the US from overseas.
[40:35] SPEAKER_02: And I just wanted to highlight that in order to unlock the best deals, you need to register to become a TravelZoo member at travelzoo.com, which will redirect to wherever you are in the world.
[40:44] SPEAKER_02: They have a special$1 offer to get you started.
[40:47] SPEAKER_02: You can click on any of the links associated with this podcast to be able to find your way to TravelZoo to become a member.
[40:53] SPEAKER_02: So make sure that you plan to do that before you rejoin us next week.
[40:57] SPEAKER_02: And we're going to keep each of these destinations a bit of a surprise.
[41:01] SPEAKER_02: You know the full list.
[41:01] SPEAKER_02: It's on our blog, it's on the Travel Zoo website.
[41:04] SPEAKER_02: But I just want to say thanks again to Gabe for co-hosting.
[41:06] SPEAKER_02: Thanks again, Nikki, for joining us today from Historic Route 66.
[41:09] SPEAKER_02: Thanks again to the Travel Zoo for your partnership in bringing this series together.
[41:13] SPEAKER_02: And I can't wait for you to join us next week.
[41:15] SPEAKER_02: Every Tuesday, we drop a new episode.
[41:16] SPEAKER_02: So make sure you are subscribed on the streaming platform of your choice, Spotify, Apple.
[41:22] SPEAKER_02: And you can check out our social posts on Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube because we'll be posting clips and highlights from these conversations there as well.
[41:29] SPEAKER_02: Until next week, safe travels.

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