🚗 Route 66 Road Trip Adventure 🌎

The legendary Route 66 runs through countless movies and shapes many people's impressions of America. Due to weather and the pandemic, I chose to road trip to California to check it off my bucket list! 🗺️ 📍 Travel Route D1: Chicago → St. Louis → Springfield Gateway Arch (St. Louis) 🏛️: Looks ordinary in photos, but is (zhènhàn) () up close! Art Museum 🎨: Houses works by Van Gogh and Monet, plus cultural exhibits from various tribes. D2: Oklahoma → Santa Fe Driving: Experienced the speed of Midwestern drivers—speeding without signaling had me gripping the wheel 🙏. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum 🤠: Highly recommended! It details Route 66's history, with amazing handcrafted saddles and leather goods. The recreated bullring, 1950s motel, and Western movie costumes were highlights. D3: Santa Fe, NM 🏜️ Scenery: Brightly colored adobe houses contrast sharply with the surrounding desert. Vibe: A small city filled with art on every corner. D4: Phoenix, AZ 🌵 City: Very clean streets, giving a comfortable and laid-back feeling. Desert Botanical Garden 🌵: Features hundreds of cactus varieties—some fuzzy, some towering. Restaurant: Vecina for creative Latin American cuisine. Their cauliflower dish with tahini and Lao Gan Ma was a surprising hit! 🏆 D5: Santa Monica, CA 🏖️ Beach: A rainy walk on the beach with a hot coffee in hand is pure bliss ☕️🌧️. Food: Must-buy Go Greek Yogurt—my favorite is rose syrup with chocolate shavings 😋. 🎒 Road Trip Essentials Water 💧 Tissues 🧻 Blanket 🧣 Aromatherapy spray 🌿 Slippers 🩴 💡 Pro Tips Plan Ahead: Book hotels in advance. I chose city hotels near Walmarts for easy restocking. Never stay in a motel—unsafe! ❌ Safe Driving: I like leaving before dawn (fewer cars and police 😉). Always arrive before dark for safety. No Fatigue: Stop and rest if tired! Midwestern drivers average around 100 mph—crazy fast! ⚠️ The absolute best part was watching the sunrise every day—each state's sunrise was uniquely spectacular. 🌅 I stayed protected by sanitizing my hotel room upon arrival. This trip fulfilled a long-held dream—pure satisfaction! ✅ #Route66 #RoadTrip #USA #CaliforniaDreaming #TravelVlog #TravelTips