| Historic Route 66 occupies a special
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| | the one-time Yucca, Cactus, and Lariat
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| place in American history. Today seems to
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| | Motels and Sands Motels.
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| be a time when even more Americans are
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| | In metropolitan Albuquerque, Central
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| interested in a road trip. Route 66 is
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| | Avenue is an 18-mile part of Rte 66.
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| THE road trip.
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| | Travelers often start at the State
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| As you travel the length of it, you can
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| | Fairgrounds, a landmark since 1936. Then
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| visit authentic Historic Route 66-era
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| | you'll discover the De Anza Motel, the
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| hotels, motels, trading posts, and gas
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| | Royal Motor Inn, the Town Lodge Motel,
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| stations some have been lovingly restored
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| | and the Aztec Motel (originally the Aztec
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| and preserved, others are a reminder of
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| | Motorcourt, all built in the '30s, and 15
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| how long ago Route 66 was a well used
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| | blocks long).
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| highway.
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| | You will also see Nob Hill, built in
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| As a scenic route, Historic Route 66
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| | 1936-47, and the Lobo Theater and Lobo
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| offers majestic mountains, breathtaking
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| | Pharmacy & Bookstore (originally Barber's
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| vistas, meandering ranch land, Indian
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| | El Rancho Market), both built in the '30s
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| reservations, Pueblo communities, and
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| | Downtown, there are several buildings
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| spectacular sunrises and sunsets. New
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| | that wer the gems of downtown in the 40's
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| Mexico is a state you can take parts of
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| | and 50's era. They are: the Sunshine
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| the original route but in most cases you
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| | Building (built in 1923-24), the First
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| will be on Route 40. The estimate on
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| | National Bank Building (1922), the
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| driving time would be 16 hours. And the
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| | Rosenwald Building (1910), and the KiMo
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| length is 604 miles.
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| | Theater (1927).
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| New Mexico's part of Rte. 66 history is
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| | There are also other samples west of Old
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| very intriguing.
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| | Town if you haven't had your fill. They
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| The earliest route was a curving,
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| | are: Lindy's Restaurant (1929), Maisel's
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| 501-mile washboard journey in1926.
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| | (circa 1940), and El Vado Motel (1937),
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| Westbound motorists first encountered
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| | located west of Old Town.
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| Glenrio and Tucumcari. As they passed
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| | If you'd like drive down a piece of the
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| Santa Rosa, they turned north to Romero,
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| | 1926 route, head north on I-25.
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| and then headed west again. In Santa Fe,
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| | Take the Algodones exit and return south
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| they turned southwest, passing through
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| | via NM 313, the original 66 is now Fourth
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| Albuquerque to Los Lunas. There they
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| | Street, Isleta Boulevard, and NM 314.
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| turned northwest to Correo, then west
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| | You'll go 46 miles from Algodones south
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| again to Grants and Gallup. They found
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| | through historic Bernalillo and past
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| the route 126 miles shorter in 1938.
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| | Sandia and Isleta Pueblos (You'll know
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| Instead of turning northwest past Santa
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| | you are here when you see the casinos).
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| Rosa, they continued west through Buford
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| | In Los Lunas, turn west onto Main Street.
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| (later Moriarty) and Albuquerque all the
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| | You'll pass the Luna Mansion, built in
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| way to Correo.
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| | 1881. From there, stay on NM 6.
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| Here is a sampling of Rte 66 you can try
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| | It is 33 miles of historic highway all
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| out yourself in New Mexico
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| | the way to Correo. Correo is also 33
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| Let's Go!
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| | miles west of Albuquerque via I-40. At
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| Westbound motorists can take a 20-mile
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| | Mesita, old 66 reappears as NM 124,
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| gravel stretch of the old highway from
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| | slithering 25 miles through Laguna, New
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| Glenrio to San Jon; this was the last
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| | Laguna, Paraje, Budville, Cubero, and
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| remaining segment of Route 66 before it
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| | McCartys..
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| became Rte 40 in 1982.
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| | In Grants, old 66 is called Santa Fe
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| >From San Jon, you can drive an almost
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| | Avenue. Its 41-mile chunk to Top O The
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| always intact 24-mile paved chunk of Rte.
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| | World is right out of the '40s. Here you
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| 66 all the way to Tucumcari.
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| | will find the Franciscan Lodge, Grants
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| Along Tucumcari Boulevard (where you will
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| | Restaurant (where Hollywood stars Jayne
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| see the longest stretch of authentic Rte
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| | Mansfield and Tab Hunter once stopped for
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| 66)) you'll enjoy the 40's and 50's all
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| | green chile cheeseburgers), the Uranium
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| over again.
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| | Cafe, and the Monte Carlo Restaurant.
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| Drive down the road and you will see
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| | The original highway reemerges near
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| Cactus Motor Lodge, Lasso Motel, the Pine
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| | Iyanbito as a 13-mile introduction to
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| Lodge, the Blue Swallow Motel, Teepee
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| | Gallup. Along the city's 9-mile segment
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| Curios, the Westerner Drive-in, The
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| | are Earl's Restaurant, built in 1947, and
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| Palomino, and Travelodge Motel, and Del's
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| | the El Rancho Hotel, built in 1936 and
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| Restaurant.
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| | home to some Hollywood stars during the
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| More retro 40's and 50's awaits you with
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| | time when Gallup was a Western film
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| the Town House and Safari Motels, the
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| | capital( from 1929-64.) You can also
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| Buckaroo Motel, the Redwood Lodge, and
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| | visit the one-time Drake Hotel (1919),
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| the Paradise Motel, the Sahara Sands
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| | the Santa Fe Railroad Depot (1923), the
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| Motel & Restaurant, Dick's Auto Service,
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| | former White Cafe (1928), the
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| and the Pow-Wow Restaurant.
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| | Richardson's Trading Post, the old
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| On to Santa Rosa where you will find that
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| | Palace, the Rex Hotels (both circa 1900),
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| Will Rogers Drive is the city's four-mile
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| | and Virgie's Restaurant. (1950). The
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| Route 66. Stop in at Joseph's Restaurant
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| | final 16 miles of old 66 continue west
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| (build in 1956) or the Club Cafe (a
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| | from Gallup as NM 118 to Arizona
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| landmark since 1935) for a bite or liquid
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| | Many communities in New Mexico celebrate
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| refreshment..
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| | the famous Route:
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| Continue 43 miles west on I-40, You
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| | Festival in Los Lunas.It is New Mexico's
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| should get out, stretch and climb Palma
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| | Largest Car Show
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| Hill, and view 7,576 foot-high Cerro
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| | Annual Route 66 Roadie Gathering in
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| Pedernal to the southwest. This where you
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| | conjunction with Annual Tucumcari Route
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| will see and feel the New Mexico dry air
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| | 66 Festival
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| at its best.
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| | Annual Fire and Ice Bike Rally in Grants
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| Next stop has got to be Cline's Corners,
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| | New Mexico
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| where you can see more southwest
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| | Annual Santa Rosa Route 66 Festival
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| souvenirs than you thought could fit in
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| | There are also many byways along the Rte
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| one place. You can find rattlesnake
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| | 66 paths you can take a few hours off or
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| ashtrays, beaded belts, tomahawks and
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| | a day or two to explore everything from
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| Indian lore. You can also have a meal
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| | National parks and monuments to pueblos
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| here with a home cooked southwestern
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| | and old mining towns.
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| flair if you haven't eaten yet.
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| | New Mexico is a very rich state
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| On next to Moriarty which is where a
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| | historically from the prehistoric time
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| 58-mile chunk of highway to Rio Puerco
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| | thru the Rte 66 1920, - 1950's
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| begins.
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| | It all can be seen best on a road trip.
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| Along NM 333, you'll spot the former
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| | Take yours this year!
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| Buford Courts, Blackie's Restaurant, and
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