Chicago???

Yes, that’s right…we started our trip to the “West” in Chicago!

One of my personal desires for this trip is that we would slow down and enjoy the journey, not just push from one destination to the next.

I thought Route 66 might be a fun way to enjoy the drive out to the western states. Our earbuds, kindles and electronic devices are staying tucked away for the most part and we’re keeping our eyes open for the unfamiliar, even unexpected sites along our drive. We have our “must have” Route 66 guide book written by Jerry McClanahan with detailed directions, maps, scavenger hunt questions and suggested stops and photo ops along the way.

I really didn’t know much about Route 66 before beginning to research this trip. But it’s been a fascinating peek into our American past; from dust bowl migrants to the roots of the family road trip ideals. The Route was originally established in 1926 to provide a convenient diagonal corridor from Chicago to the Pacific Coast (Los Angeles), linking isolated rural areas to more densely populated areas of the country. As public highways improved and the interstate system was introduced, the convenience and popularity of the route diminished and ultimately, it was decommissioned in 1985. Historians and enthusiasts have worked to keep the road alive and many travelers from around the world continue to traverse ” The Mother Road”.

Only about 85% of the route is still viable and it pretty much demands a guide book with maps and driving directions (and as we’re discovering) a full time navigator in the passenger seat. We’ve only traveled from Chicago to St. Louis and have already delighted in the kitschy, endearing Americana of drive ins, mom and pop burger stands and roadside historic landmarks.

Here are a couple of pics from our drive from Chicago to St Louis.

So… Yeah, Chicago is where it all began! I’ll leave it to Emily to share about our Chicago experience in the next post.

~ Meg