July 29, 2026

207. Route 66 Part 2 - Texas Panhandle to Albuquerque - From Dusty Panhandle to Neon Albuquerque

Show Notes
Transcript

Episode 207 of Travel Is Back, Route 66 Part 2 - Texas Panhandle to Albuquerque: From Dusty Panhandle to Neon Albuquerque, is a warm, road-trip guide through one of America’s most iconic stretches. We take you from the windblown quads of the Texas Panhandle into the neon glow of Central Avenue in Albuquerque, with practical travel tips, tasty food stops, and landmark detours to plan into your itinerary. Highlights include Cadillac Ranch and its spray-painted Cadillacs outside Amarillo, the Midpoint Cafe in Adrian where you can pose at the literal halfway point, the murals and Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, and the neon-lit Old Town and historic Route 66 signage in Albuquerque. You’ll get food recommendations for Tex-Mex and New Mexican green chile, suggestions on timing to avoid summer heat and busy weekends, and tips for photographing vintage motels, roadside museums like the Devil’s Rope, and ghost towns such as Glenrio. This episode was prepared with the assistance of AI tools, giving us more time to travel and bring you even more destinations. Travel Is Back -- over 200 episodes covering destinations across America and beyond.

Some episodes use AI for research, writing assistance, and occasional voiceover when Johnny Mac is unavailable. His point of view, and his insistence on finding the best local taco remains entirely human.

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Hey, we made it to Root sixty six Part two,

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Texas Panhandle to Albuquerque. As you roll through the Texas Panhandle,

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the first thing you notice is just how wide open

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the landscape is. There's a kind of expansive beauty that

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greets you. It feels like driving through a painting. It's

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big sky country, and you'll find yourself marveling at the

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horizon that stretches out endlessly. Now a classic stop on

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this stretch is the Cadillac Ranch, just outside of Amarillo.

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This isn't your typical ranch. It's an art installation of

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ten half buried Cadillacs, nose down in the dirt, their

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tailfins reaching toward the sky. What's great is you can

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grab a can of spray paint and add your own

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bit of color to this iconic piece of Root sixty

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six history. It's ever changing with layers of paint from

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travelers like you. Don't worry about bringing your own can.

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There's usually some lying around that previous visitors have left.

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It's a photogenic spot, so have your camera ready. After

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taking in some art, you'll want to head into Amarillo

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for a bite. The Big Text and Steak Ranch is

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famous for its seventy two ounce steak challenge. Now, I'm

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not saying you have to attempt it, but it's fun

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to watch someone else try even if you're not up

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for a food challenge. The atmosphere here is a classic

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cowboys set up, and the steaks are genuinely tasty. If

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steak's not your thing, they have plenty of Texas comfort

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food to choose from. Once you're fueled up, consider checking

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out the Root sixty six Historic District in Amarillo. You

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can stretch your legs and wander through antique shops and

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quirky boutiques. There's a vintage vibe here that's pretty charming.

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You might stumble upon old records, classic Root sixty six memorabilia,

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or even some cowboy boots. If you're in the market.

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Leaving Amarillo, your journey continues west. You'll come across the

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ghost town of Glen Rio, straddling the Texas New Mexico border.

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It's a fascinating peak into the past, with deserted buildings,

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a relic of a once bustling stop for travelers. Take

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a moment to walk around and feel the history seep in.

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It's eerily quiet, but there's something intriguing about it. As

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you cross into New Mexico, you'll notice a slight shift

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in the landscape. The colors become more vibrant, with mases

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and plateaus dotting the horizon. Before you reach Albuquerque, there's

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a stop you don't want to miss, the Blue Hole

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in Santa Rosa. It's a natural artesian spring, crystal clear

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and perfect for a swim if the weather's warm. Even

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if you're not diving in, it's worth a look. The

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water is a stunning shade of blue, and it's a

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peaceful spot to relax for a bit. Heading towards Albuquerque,

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consider a detour to the small town of tucam Kari.

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It's one of those places where Route sixty six feels

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alive and well. The main strip is lined with neon

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signs and motels that look straight out of a nineteen

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fifties postcard. The Blue Swallow Motel is particularly photogenic, with

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its vintage vibe and welcoming neon. You can just imagine

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travelers of the pass pulling up and settling in for

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the night. While you're in Tucumcari, grab a bite at

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one of the local diners. Watson's BBQ is a local

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favorite with some great ribs and brisket, or you might

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try Dell's Restaurant for a more classic diner experience. Both

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spots offer that down home cooking that fills you up

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and leaves you satisfied. As you continue west, the distant

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Sandia Mountains start to come into view. Albuquerque is nestled

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against these mountains, offering a mix of natural beauty and

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vibrant city life. Once you've arrived, there's no shortage of

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things to do. A great way to start exploring Albuquerque

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is by taking a ride on the Sandia Peak Tramway.

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It's one of the longest aerial tramways in the world,

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and the view from the top is breathtaking. On a

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clear day, you can see for miles. It's a great

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spot for pictures and gives you a fantastic overview of

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the landscape. If you're up for it, there are hiking

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trails at the top that lets you explore the rugged

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beauty of the Sandia Mountains. Back in the city, make

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sure to spend some time in Old Town Albuquerque. It's

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the historic heart of the city with adobe buildings, quaint shops,

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and art galleries. You'll find handcrafted jewelry and pottery, perfect

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for picking up a souvenir. Take your time to wander

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around the plaza and maybe pop into the San Felipe

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di Nari Church, which dates back to seventeen ninety three.

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It's a peaceful place to sit and soak in the history.

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Food Wise, Albuquerque has some excellent New Mexican cuisine. You'll

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want to try a dish with green or red Chile.

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If you're feeling adventurous, go for Christmas style and get both.

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One great spot for this is El Pinto. There, chile

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rolanos are something special and the setting is lively with

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a beautiful outdoor patio. For a bit of quirky fun,

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the American International Rattlesnake Museum offers a different slice of life.

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It's more interesting than it sounds, with a wide variety

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of rattlesnake species and a focus on education and conservation.

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It's a hit if you're traveling with kids, or if

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you just want to do something a bit out of

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the ordinary. If you're into the arts, the Albuquerque Museum

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is a must visit. It showcases the rich cultural heritage

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of the Southwest, with works ranging from Native American history

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to contemporary art. It's a great place to set spend

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a couple of hours gaining insight into the local culture

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and creativity. As your day winds down, consider catching the

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sunset at the Petroglyfh National Monument. This site features thousands

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of ancient symbols carved into volcanic rock by Native Americans

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and Spanish settlers. The hike is relatively easy and the

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views as the sunsets over the horizon are stunning. It's

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a quiet, reflective spot that lets you ponder the history

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of those who came before and if the timing is right.

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Albuquerque is home to the famous International Balloon Fiesta, held

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every October. Seeing hundreds of colorful hot air balloons rising

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into the sky as a site to behold. It's a

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bucket list experience if you can make it happen. Finally,

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as you wrap up your time in Albuquerque, consider grabbing

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a drink at one of the local breweries. Albuquerque has

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a solid craft beer scene, and places like Marble Brewery

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offer a great selection of locally brewed beers in a

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friendly setting. It's the perfect way to end a day

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of exploration. On Root sixty six, Chatting with locals and

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soaking in the vibe. Remember, Root sixty six is about

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the journey as much as the destination. Take your time,

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enjoy the ride, and savor every stop along the way.

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From the Texas Panhandles wide open spaces to the cultural

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richness of Albuquerque, this stretch of the Mother Road offers

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a little bit of everything. As you leave Albuquerque behind,

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you're back on the road again heading west. But before

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you get too far, you might want to make a

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quick detour to the Petroglyph National Monument, just a short

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drive from downtown. This site offers a glimpse into the

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ancient past, with over twenty thousand petroglyphs etched into the

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volcanic rocks by the indigenous people and early Spanish settlers.

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It's a fascinating look at history, and the short hikes

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here are perfect for stretching your legs and getting a

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taste of the desert landscape. Driving westward, you'll soon find

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yourself crossing the state line into Arizona. But before we

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dive into Arizona, let's rewind a bit and talk about

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some of the gems you might have caught or missed

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on the way from the Texas Panhandle to Albuquerque. This

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stretch is dotted with classic Americana, and you don't want

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to rush through it. Amarillo, Texas often gets a nod

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for its quirky charm. If you didn't make a stop

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at Cadillac Ranch, think about circling back. This isn't your

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typical art installation. It's a public piece where ten colorfully

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painted Cadillacs stand nose down in the dirt. Bring a

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can of spray paint and leave if your mark, joining

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the layers of artwork left by visitors from all over

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the world. Just a few miles away, the Big Texan

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Steak Ranch is a must for lunch or dinner. Known

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for its seventy two ounce steak challenge. It's a fun

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spot with a great atmosphere, even if you're not up

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for attempting to consume an entire cow in one sitting

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further down the road. Don't skip Vega, Texas. It's small,

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but there's something comforting about its quiet streets and friendly locals.

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If you're hungry, stop by Roosters Mexican Restaurant for some

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authentic tex mechs. The chili rolanos are fantastic and you'll

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want to wash it down with a refreshing horse. Shota

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Vega's charm is its simplicity, a reminder of the slower

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pace of life that roots sixty six in bodies. Once

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you hit New Mexico, Santa Rosa is another gem worth

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a stop. The Blue Hole is an unexpected oasis in

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the desert. This deep, crystal clear pool is a favorite

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for swimmers and divers, even if you just want to

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dip your toes. It's a refreshing break from the road.

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The water stays a consistent cool temperature all year round,

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so even on a hot day it's perfect. As you continue,

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Toucumcari greets you with its colorful murals and neon signs.

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The town embraces its root sixty six heritage with open arms.

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Stop by Dell's Restaurant for a classic diner experience, or

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grab a milkshake at the pow wow in. This is

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a town where the past meets the present, and it's

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easy to spend an entire afternoon just wandering and taking pictures.

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Back on the road, the landscape shifts, opening up to

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vast stretches of desert and mass that are just breathtaking

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in their stark beauty. Root sixty six here is as

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much about the scenery as it is the journey. The

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road seems to stretch on forever, a ribbon of asphalt

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connecting you to the past and future all at once.

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As you drive, keep your eye out for roadside attractions

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like the Root sixty six Auto Museum in Santa Rosa,

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where you can see classic cars and memorabilia that will

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make any car enthusiasts heart race. Remember, the journey along

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Root sixty six is as much about the unexpected discoveries

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as it is about the well known stops. Every small

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town has a story, every diner a special dish, and

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every stretch of road a view that might just take

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your breath away. I'm Johnny Mack and Travel is Back.

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Follow Travel is Back wherever you listen to podcasts and

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find all two hundred plus destinations in our back catalog.

207. Route 66 Part 2 - Texas Panhandle to Albuquerque - From Dusty Panhandle to Neon Albuquerque

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