Bloomington — The Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor Festival is scheduled for Saturday in McLean County and includes barbecues, car shows, live music and more.
Chenoa hosts a townwide garage sale and other vendors, while Lexington features craft beer, live music, food trucks, family-friendly activities and photo ops.
Sprague’s Super Service, Ryburn Place, is generally open Saturdays and Sundays from 9am to 5pm.
Free Family Fun Day Set for May 13th at Tipton Park
The Bloomington Festival takes place downtown at Museum Square from 4-10pm. The Radium City Rebels, Brett Conlin and the Midnight Miles, and the Naptown Hepcats will perform free live music, with food and drinks available for purchase.
There will also be a showcase of classic cars and face painting for children.
For more information, see: www.visitbn.org/redcarpetcorridor Or contact Matt Hawkins at 309-665-0033.
Friends of Constitution Trail President Patrick Durard encourages people to get out and explore more sections of the Bloomington Normal trail.
Family Trip 5: Iconic Stops Along Route 66
1. Santa Monica, California.
Minutes from downtown LA, this seaside enclave dazzles visitors with its beachy vibe and plenty of sun-drenched options. The pedestrian-only Third Street Promenade is a haven for shoppers, gallery-goers and those who enjoy the weekly Farmer’s Market.
SOCAL’s landmark Santa Monica Pier has been a busy, fun destination for over a century. Head past the iconic entry gates to the historic Ferris wheel for long views of the Pacific Ocean. Test your skills at the arcade and get ready for the thrill on the roller coaster. Don’t miss the vintage carousel, which pairs well with refreshments at the adjacent Old-Fashioned Soda Fountain.
Route 66 starts here and ends here (depending on your point of view). Visit the shops dedicated to Mother Road for souvenirs and inspiration for your next expedition.
2. Oatman, Arizona.
yeah, that’s true. There are more wild donkeys than people in this small town in the Bureau of Land Management wilderness along Route 66. Donkeys are descended from the original creatures that once worked with the gold miners. Some stores sell carrots that can be fed to four-legged creatures. Without a resurgence of interest in Motherlord, the colorful town might have disappeared into history.
today. Visitors can soak up Wild West history (beware of the gunfight on Main Street), stroll the wide plank wooden sidewalks, hike in the adjacent wilderness area, or ride a donkey. You can easily consider hiring them.
contact: www.VisitArizona.com
3. Williams, Arizona.
Surrounded by pine forests, this northern Arizona town sits on the last leg of Route 66, which bypasses Interstate 40. Surrounded by classic neon signs and old-fashioned streetlights, kitschy shops and restaurants are decorated with historic highway memorabilia. On weekend nights, a western shootout takes place right in the middle of Main Street. Bears, bison, and wolves roam Beazona, a nearby drive-thru animal park.
The colorful city of 3,000 is also the gateway to the Grand Canyon. Williams is home to the Grand Canyon Railroad, and visitors can hop aboard a lovingly restored railroad car and take a day trip (or more) to the Grand Canyon. Listening to the antics, the train traverses scenic high desert plateaus between historic stations and the most spectacular canyons of all.
contact: www.Thetrain.com; https://experiencewilliams.com
Jason Dean
4. Gallup, New Mexico
The most populous place between Flagstaff, Arizona and Albuquerque, New Mexico, Gallup is home to classic Route 66 neon signs and the historic El Rancho Hotel. This inn was once home to Hollywood his star, who visited the area to shoot westerns in the 1930s and his 40s. Located in the heart of the Navajo Reservation, Gallup is a hub for Native American arts, history and crafts. The dramatic red rock country is also popular for hiking, biking, horseback riding and mountaineering.
contact: https://galluprealtrue.com; www.newmexico.org
5. Adrian, Texas
Life changed the day a group of Pixar researchers landed in this small town halfway along Route 66, halfway between Santa Monica and Chicago. Their reconnaissance resulted in the fictional town of Radiator Springs, featured in the 2006 animated film Cars. The characters of Flo, Mia, and Tia were inspired by the then-owner of his cafe at Midpoint, which would become known as “Flo’s V-8 Cafe” in the popular film, and his two servers at the restaurant. I was. Today, visitors can stop by for “nostalgia food,” sample the famous “ugly crust pie,” and imagine what it was like to travel on Route 66 in its heyday.
contact: www.TravelTexas.com
Contact D. Jack Alqueer at (309) 820-3275.
Twitter: @d_jack_alkire
