Driving out west?

We’ve driven I-40 West bound twice now. The question on our mind when making the 1,636 mile trip was, “What can we do along the way?”

Tennessee

Whether your from The Volunteer State or coming from somewhere else, this is where we start the trip!

Nashville

• Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum: Learn about the greatest musicians in Country Music
• Grand Ole Opry: See a live show
• The Parthenon: An exact replica of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece
• Broadway: Nightlife and live music
• Ryman Auditorium: Former home of the Grand Ole Opry

Detour worth considering….

• Natchez Trace State Park for a short hike.

Memphis

• Have lunch at one of the cities local BBQ joints
• Graceland: Elvis Presley’s home
• Beale Street: Nightlife, music, and more delicious BBQ
• Bass Pro Pyramid: A 32-story retail and adventure destination

Arkansas

Little Rock

• Clinton Presidential Library: The presidential library of Bill Clinton
• Old Mill & Big Dam Bridge: Scenic walk along the Arkansas River
• Historic Van Buren: Eight blocks of historic buildings

Detours worth considering….

• Hot Springs National Park: Ancient thermal springs in Hot Springs
• Crater of Diamonds State Park: Search for real diamonds in their original volcanic source in Pike County
• Petit Jean State Park: Known for Cedar Falls, a 95-foot waterfall, and panoramic overlooks in Morrilton

Oklahoma

Oklahoma City

• Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum: A tribute to the 1995 bombing victims
• First Americans Museum: The history of Oklahoma’s 39 tribal nations
• Bricktown Canal: A mile-long waterway in Bricktown entertainment district

Weatherford

• Oklahoma Route 66 Museum: Museum dedicated to the “Mother Road”

Detours worth considering….

• Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge: Bison, longhorn cattle, granite mountains, and scenic drives in Comanche County
• Chickasaw National Recreation Area: Cold-water springs and hiking in Sulphur
• Gloss Mountain State Park: Unique geology and hiking

Texas

Shamrock

• Tower Conoco Station & U-Drop Inn Cafe: Restored Route 66 landmarks

Amarillo

• Cadillac Ranch: Ten half-buried Cadillacs nose-down
• Amarillo Route 66 District: A mile long district along Route 66

Detour worth considering…

• Palo Duro Canyon State Park: Nicknamed the “Grand Canyon of Texas” with the second largest canyon system in the United States

McLean

• Phillips 66 on the Route: An early Phillips 66 gas station 

New Mexico

Santa Rosa

• Big Blue Hole: Crystal-clear natural swimming hole fed by underground springs

Albuquerque

• Old Town Albuquerque: Adobe buildings, local art, and historic charm
• Sandia Peak Tramway: The longest aerial tramway in the Americas that carries passengers from the city’s foothills to the summit of Sandia Peak in the Cibola National Forest
• Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano: Lava tube cave on the Continental Divide

Arizona

Holbrook

• Petrified Forest & Painted Dessert: Ancient petrified logs and sweeping Painted Desert overlooks. It’s a drive-through park.

Winslow

• Standin’ on the Corner Park: Roadside attraction and public park
• Meteor Crater Natural Landmark: A well-preserved meteorite impact site 

Flagstaff

• Walnut Canyon National Monument: Ancient cliff dwellings built by the Sinagua people around 1100–1250 CE
• Arizona Snowbowl: Scenic gondola rides on the Arizona Gondola

(Major) Detour worth (strongly) considering…

• Grand Canyon National Park: One of the most iconic natural landscapes in the United States

Traveling Tschidas