For fun.

When I was 10 yrs old (long time ago!!!), my dad took me on route 66 from Los Angeles to Tucumcari, N.M. I remember how much I enjoyed the trip, even though I don't care too much for desert landscapes. My dad loved to travel, and even though he was a truck driver, he took me on a long vacation every summer, always trying to go someplace different.

Sorry you are having to quit doing travel nursing. I meant to do it as soon as my kids were all grown. Kind of hate to give up my present job. So I just take off and travel whenever possible. I finally got to all 50 states. Alaska was the last one. So now I am going to go to all 50 again, going to someplace in each state I have not been to before, or at least not since I was little. Also need to get to the 7 Canadian provinces I haven't yet been to, and then 3 more countries. Going to try to do this in 10 more years. A little ambitious I think, but hey, fun to try. In keeping with this plan, I am headed to the Florida keys next week b/c I have never been. Wish me luck!

Right before Katrina my husband and I took the southern route home(CA-NY) it was fabulous!!! We went to the Grand Canyon, painted desert etc, New Orleans..the food... we had a blast!! I am in Pismo Beach,Ca with my 2 youngest, we have to head east in July and plan on taking the same route, just make sure you have lots of fun money!!

The Route 66 trip is lots of fun! I didn't do it all in one trip, but marked off sections of it as I traveled over the years. One section that can be kind of "hairy" or interesting depending on how you feel about winding mountain roads is the section between Oatman, AZ and Kingman, AZ. It's about 15 miles of switchbacks up and down a canyon which at the time I was there a few years back seemed as though it hadn't been repaved since I-40 was built! There were sections going around bends where the road was only about 1 1/2 lanes wide as the asphalt seemed to be sort of drifting over the side of the cliff. Quite an adventure though if you're okay with heights.
I just realized the other day that as I drove from CA to NM that I've now also driven the full length of Rt 40 from coast to coast, I - 10 all the way across, and I-95 from north end to southern end.

I'm from Saint Louis and Rout 66 runs right through here. There is an ice cream place that everyone raves about on Route 66 called Ted Drews. I'm originally from Texas so I didn't take it to heart until I tried it. Totally worth a stop.