Dad's Route 66 Blog

Discovering Normal Rockwell's America

Barstow, CA to Santa Monica, CA

Written By: trevixan - Jul• 27•11

Well .. this is the final leg of our journey. There was much more to see than I had time to post or even photograph. There are parts of Route 66 that had something photo-worthy every 500 feet or so. I would love to spend more time in most of these areas. But enough about that. Time for our trip to the ocean.

Let’s start with your typical old Route 66 motel signs.

That’s actually where we stayed. I highly recommend it. Inexpensive, clean, and well run.

Did you notice the little sign there? If not, here’s a closer look. If you don’t understand, it’s somewhat of an inside thing.

In Barstow, we ran across this roadside attraction.

This place is called the Harvey House.

I really wanted to go into the museum, but as you can see on the door, they are only open weekends and we’re there on a Tuesday. Who knew?!?

So .. we’re driving through town and saw this next motel. Gotta love it.

Really? Round beds? The rooms looked too small to have two round beds. That’s why we stayed at the Stardust Inn. Anyway, here’s more shots of this motel.

The next shot you have old cars to the left and, if you can see it, a little garage for a couple of cars. Look between the palm trees.

Here’s a nice sign.

In Victorville, we stop an Emma Jean’s. It’s been featured on some of the food shows.

Emma Jean’s is an interesting place, if you like to be abused! Seriously, it’s fun. The waitress is a bit onery and playful at the same time. The cook is right there and interactive. Anyway, let’s get to the food.

Trevor had the chicken fried steak and eggs.

And I had .. sausage and eggs.

And of course, I gotta have the biscuits and gravy.

One last look at Emma Jean’s Holland Burger.

Now, Victorville has it’s own Route 66 Museum.

Again, the museum was closed. Good grief!

In San Bernadino, I see this sign that I didn’t expect.

San Bernadino has its share of Route 66 establishments. Here’s one that’s been here since 1937.

It doesn’t look like much, but it has been around for quite a while.

As is typical on Route 66, you find one thing and right across the street is something else that’s cool.

Too bad I wasn’t there on a Saturday or Sunday! :O)

Now .. the next one is a popular place on Route 66. I missed the one in Illinois, but here’s another one.

Now .. this next place looked really good. I do love a good pastrami!

Who wouldn’t want to eat here?

Ok .. I had to take this picture for two reasons .. 1. It looks like a cool spot; 2. It’s Rancho Cucamonga, that’s cool in itself.

Now this place looks intriguing. Search the web for this place. They appear to have some amazing food!

In Arcadia, we found this restaurant.

Looks like a high class place.

Now, you know you’re entering the Los Angeles area by the number of palm trees lining the streets.

Finally we make it to Santa Monica. How do I know?

To know you’ve reached the end of the line, there’s a plaque.

Just have to go down to the pier.

And once on the pier .. have to have my picture taken here.

Well .. that’s the trip. It took us from July 3 – July 19 to drive the 2000+ miles from Chicago, IL to Santa Monica, CA. It’s been an amazing journey and I was glad to share it with you. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I have.

The next, and probably last, post on Route 66 will be my final thoughts and some statistics about the trip. Give me a few days to compile my thoughts.

Until then.

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9 Comments

  1. Mary Kauhi says:

    Mahalo plenty for inviting us to travel with you. I, for one, really have enjoyed it and you took me to places I otherwise will probably never see.

  2. Jane C. Mandel says:

    Thank you soooo much,Dale and Trevor ……due to my situation, there was no chance to travel. Your route 66 blog did it and enjoyed every stop and photos you made. Santa Monica is a perfect place to end the trip,love that place!

  3. Darlene Vlach says:

    I enjoyed the trip with you soo much Dale. Thank you for doing that and allowing us to travel with you. Wow how far technology has come. I have to say, I traveled that Route once when I was very young and I beleve a few of your pictures touched a slight memory of it.
    You must be glad to be home after all that driving.

  4. Annette Thorsen says:

    Thank you friends for keeping me company too on our travels together with Dale. Its fun when we can all “go together” regardless of our circumstances. In the next few years,barring no unforseen circumstances, Dale and I are hoping to go on a Mediterrean Cruise to explore Europe together for the first time. Perhaps he can be encouraged to blog and chronicle again?:-)In the spirit of this Route 66 journey, perhaps he can do the same for the foods, aromas and culture of the Appian Way ?:-) I love good extra Virgin Olive Oils and I cant imagine a better place to explore to discover these. Until then, Ciao!

  5. Tressa says:

    I too enjoyed the trip (as you can tell, I couldn’t wait to share with Cassie). Thanks for the adventure and fun along the way.

  6. Nina says:

    Hi you two !

    Thank you very much for sharing all your impressions and a lot of nice pictures with us. It was so much fun and seeing some places again ( Grand Canyon for example ) makes me to remember a couple of my own trips in the U.S.
    Waiting for the next blog from somewhere around the world…Bye…

  7. Connie Wyatt says:

    I, too, must add my thanks for this cyber trip that we took along with you! It was very enjoyable, and the pictures add so much spice to the whole trip! I hope you enjoyed blogging as much as we anticipated each new entry! If you do get to go on your dream trip to the Mediterranean, we hope you will share your discoveries with us then as well!

    • trevixan says:

      Have I opened Pandora’s box here? Will I now have to blog every vacation I take? :O)

      I’d love to go to the Mediterranean and take lots-o-pics!

  8. christine kingsland says:

    you’ve been home for awhile now and i’m slow to follow thru, and finish the trip with you. but i did and i’m glad. i so thoroughly enjoyed your blog and following you on your trip. having been to arizona so many times i understood some of the sights you saw although we’ve never eaten in the places you did, so i think that is what made it so doubly enjoyable for me. seeing and hearing about the foods and places you ate at. i can tell it is something you will never forget and maybe you’ll always have the extra pounds to remind you of it!! thanks for a fun trip. ck

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