Americana & the American West: Hidden Secrets of the Mother Road & Desert SW Parks, 13 - 28 Feb, 2021A 16-Day Road Trip with Jeremy Woodhouse
Oklahoma City to Santa Monica (1,424 miles)
Pre tour | Arrival in Oklahoma City
Check into the Aloft Oklahoma City Downtown in the middle of the restored "Brick Town". After a blue hour shoot of downtown OKC, we will have dinner. O/N Aloft Oklahoma City Downtown At Aloft Oklahoma City Downtown you'll find classic convenience seamlessly merged with innovative designs – just steps away from many of the area's most popular attractions, including Chesapeake Energy Arena, the Cox Convention Center and the Bricktown Canal Day 1 | Oklahoma City/Shamrock, TX/Amarillo, TX (260 miles) Leaving OKC after breakfast we begin the journey west towards Texas. Skirting I-40 we will follow Rte 66 where possible stopping from time to time to photograph different attractions at towns which include Canute and Elk City. Once we cross into Texas we will head to Shamrock to the must-see U Drop Inn Tower, an Art Deco masterpiece built in 1936. We will then visit the restored Magnolia gas station nearby. Moving on through McLean, Alanreed, Jericho, Groom and Conway, we will arrive late afternoon at our hotel in Amarillo O/N Heritage House B&B Heritage House Bed & Breakfast offers a traditional home experience in a wonderful century-old house in an historic district neighborhood, on the edge of downtown Amarillo Day 2 | Amarillo, TX/Tucumcari, NM (113 miles) Leaving the hotel early, we will photograph the famous Cadillac Ranch at sunrise before driving west, making a quick stop at Combine City. On the way we will stop at the town of Vega, Texas as well as other New Mexico ghost towns along the way. We will arrive in Tucumcari where we will photograph the strip at dusk. We will be staying in a vintage hotel which makes a great subject at blue hour after the sun has gone down Blue Swallow Motel or similar – Tucumcari, NM Facing Route 66, the Blue Swallow offers access to motorists from both the highway and a side street. The motel has an L-shaped plan and consists of 12 units (two more were added by approximately 1948) with a centrally-located office and manager’s residence.
Day 3 | Tucumcari, NM/Santa Fe, NM
After a dawn shoot on the strip, we depart Tucumcari and head west on Route 66. We pass through Santa Rosa and then on to Cline’s Corners, New Mexico's Largest gift and retail shop for travelers along Route 66. For decades, travelers have stopped at Clines Corners for a needed break, fuel, or just some homemade fudge. By late lunch we arrive in Albuquerque, New Mexico where we will explore this famous stretch of Route 66. Running through the heart of the city along Central Avenue, this historic highway leads travelers through some of the city’s most beloved neighborhoods and is still a jumping off point for transportation. Home to eclectic shops and unique restaurants, Route 66 is adorned with buzzing neon signs, vintage artifacts, and epitomizes the unique ABQ attitude. After spending some time here we head north up to Santa Fe where we will spend the next 2 nights. O/N El Rey Court Built along the original route 66, El Rey Court officially opened its doors in 1936. With its traditional Northern New Mexico adobe-style architecture the motor inn was a favorite among locals and road trippers alike. Day 4 | Santa Fe/Taos/Santa Fe While in Santa Fe we will explore Loretto Chapel which is right off the Plaza. This historic church is modeled after Saint Chappelle in Paris. Nearby is St. Francis Cathedral, maybe Santa Fe’s most notable landmark. Heading north towards Taos in the afternoon we will stop off at the Johnnie Meier Classical Gas Museum. Embudo, New Mexico is about two thirds of the way from Santa Fe to Taos, along Route 68. The Classical Gas Museum is the singular passion of a man named Johnnie Meier, who stuck around northern New Mexico after retiring from a career at nearby Los Alamos National Laboratory. The love of the open road and the unsung beauty of its commercial art has always been under Johnnie’s skin, so about 25 years ago he started hard core collecting all kinds of travel and gas station paraphernalia: neon signs, maps, soda machines, toys, motor oil cans, a few cars and trucks, a whole lot of old gas pumps, and even a little vintage diner. Needing a place to put it all, he settled on a spot in Embudo and created the Classical Gas Museum. O/N El Rey Court Day 5 | Santa Fe, NM/Holbrook, AZ/Winslow, AZ/Flagstaff, AZ
On day five we depart very early and head southwest back to Albuquerque, NM and then west to Arizona. Passing through the occasional ghost town, we arrive at Gallup, New Mexico where the Southwest and its Native American culture meets Route 66. Here we'll see the Classic Route 66 El Rancho Hotel, Armco Gas Station and the Denny’s Diner, the 1928 El Morro Theatre and the Lariat Lodge. Heading west through Holbrook on to Winslow, Arizona, once the largest town in the northern part of the state. After the traffic from Route 66 dried up the town fell into a depression that only an Eagles song, Take It Easy, could fix. A local group looking to reinvigorate the town remembered the reference in the Eagles song and had the idea to capitalize on it. Thus Standin’ On the Corner Park was born, a popular roadside attraction along historic Route 66 road, bringing new tourism to the area. As we move west, and about thirty miles east of Flagstaff, Arizona, is the historic ghost town of Two Guns. The area that would become Two Guns started as a site of major confrontation between the Navajos and the Apaches in the 19th century. In 1880 the land just to the north of Two Guns was Canyon Diablo, which would become a ghost town before Two Guns was even born. We’ll explore this area before finally heading on the Flagstaff, Arizona where we will spend the night. (B) O/N Hotel Monte Vista Towering above the corners of Aspen and San Francisco Streets, The Hotel Monte Vista stands just off historic Route 66 as a true touchstone for all of Flagstaff and her citizens
Day 6 | Flagstaff, AZ/Williams, AZ/Seligman, AZ/Kingman, AZ
After breakfast we depart Flagstaff and head west to the small towns of Williams, Ash Fork and Seligman, Arizona. The opium dens, bordellos, and other landmarks of Williams, Arizona’s, rough-and-tumble past are long gone. Also considered the gateway to the Grand Canyon, some kinder, gentler vestiges of this town’s Wild West era remain including the Sultana Bar. A contoured neon martini, sandwiched by the words “Package Goods,” beckons travelers along Route 66 in Williams, Arizona. Below the glow, the Sultana Bar—situated in a town best known as the gateway to the Grand Canyon—touts itself as “World Famous.” In terms of longevity, they’ve got a point: This dive opened in 1912, 14 years before the historic highway on which it stands. Many Route 66'ers claim Seligman is a major highlight along the route. It's eclectic, quirky personality shines through from Delgadillos Snow Cap Drive-in to Historic Route 66 General Store and The Rusty Bolt. The Seligman Historic District also still retains a sizable collection of auto-related and railroad-related architecture. The longest continuous stretch of the Old Route 66 that still remains today is the path from Seligman to Kingman in Arizona, which, at 86 miles, passes by both Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive In and the Grand Canyon Caverns. But in the western half of this segment, seemingly unannounced, lies one of the kitschiest stops on the Mother Road, Hackberry General Store, located in the former mining town of Hackberry, Arizona. By evening we arrive in Kingman, AZ. (B) O/N Hotel Brunswick A three-story stone structure built in 1909. The second floor balcony offers a view of '66 and the railroad tracks
Day 7 | Kingman, AZ/Needles, CA/Barstow, CA/San Bernardino, CA
Leaving Kingman we take the Oatman Highway crossing into California through the Mojave National Park. We pick up I-40 for a while, exiting at Needles, then exiting once again onto the Mother Road stopping of at Roys at Amboy. For movie buffs, we will stop in at the Baghdad Cafe down the road a spell. After Barstow we make our way south to San Bernardino. By the evening we arrive at the beautifully appointed Mission Inn Resort & Spa (B) O/N The Mission Inn, San Bernardino, CA The Mission inn Hotel & Spa has remained faithful to preserving its past while looking towards the future. Meeting the standards of both the Historic Hotels of America and AAA’s Four Diamond distinction, The Mission Inn’s 238 guestrooms, including 27 suites, offer a wide variety of options, each featuring its own unique décor highlighting each wing’s history and character. Unique architectural pieces such as fireplaces, window seats, built in cabinets, and small reading nooks may ordain some of the rooms in the hotel. They have all been preserved and although the fireplaces are no longer used, it is a glimpse back in time as to the early days of the Inn. Day 8 | San Bernardino, CA/Santa Monica, CA O/N Wyndham Santa Monica at The Pier A stay at Wyndham Santa Monica at The Pier places you in the heart of Santa Monica, walking distance from Santa Monica Pier and Santa Monica Place. This eco-friendly hotel is within close proximity of Third Street Promenade and Santa Monica Beach.
Santa Monica/Dallas (1,840 miles)
Day 9 | Santa Monica/Borrego Springs
Drive Santa Monica, CA to Borrego Springs, CA (166 mi; 3 hrs 17 min) Explore Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Wildflower bloom typically Feb/Mar. Sunset shoot Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Anza- Borrego Desert State Park’s rugged landscape formed largely by the forces of erosion attacking the uplifted mountains. The higher the mountains rise, the more vigorously they are attacked by rain, snow, ice, and wind, as they yield to the constant pull of gravity. O/N Stay night in Borrego Springs, CA Day 10 Sunrise shoot Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Drive Borrego Springs, CA to Saguaro National Park, AZ (possible detour to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, AZ 1 hr south of I-8, 60 mi each way) Sunset shoot in Saguaro National Park (Saguaro cactus blooms May/June) O/N Stay night in Tucson, AZ Day 11 Sunrise shoot in Saguaro National Park Drive Saguaro National Park, AZ to White Sands, NM (334 mi; 5 hrs) Sunset shoot in White Sands National Park O/N Stay night in Alamogordo, NM Day 12 Sunrise shoot in White Sands National Park Drive White Sands, NM to Guadalupe National Park, TX (168 mi; 2 hr 46 min) Sunset shoot in Guadalupe National Park at the Salt Basin Dunes (need to get key from Visitor Center to access the sand dunes?) O/N Stay night in, Dell City TX, 215 Verde St, Dell City, TX 79837 Phone Laura (915) 603-1557 for Air B&B Day 13 Sunrise shoot in Guadalupe National Park at the Boulders area Drive Guadalupe National Park to Big Bend NP, TX (273 mi, 4 hr 50 min) O/N in Terlingua Day 14 Meet Angell Expeditions at 9AM to begin overnight rafting trip up Santa Elena Canyon Charlie Angell charles@angellexpeditions.com Tel: 432-384-2307; 305-336-2787 cell $460/person including bedding. Incl L,D Day 1 and B,L Day 2 Sunset shoot at Santa Elena Canyon (22 mi; 54 min drive from Terlingua) O/N Wild Camping in Santa Elena Canyon Day 15 Sunrise shoot in Santa Elena Canyon, Big Bend National Park. Float back down to Santa Elena trailhead. Drive through Big Bend National Park photographing scenery along the way. Leaving the park drive to Monahans Sand Hills St Park (181 mi; 2 h 57 min from Panther Junction). Sunset shoot in the sand dunes. O/N Monahans Day 16 Sunrise shoot in Monahans Sand Hills St Park. Drive back to Dallas, TX (382 mi; 5 h 30 min) Arrival, Departure & Visa
Arrival & Meeting Place Departure Visa |
Tour Registration
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Tour dates: Nov, 2020 Cost: Approx $TBA Deposit: $1,000 Single Supplement: $TBA Max Group Size: 6 6 SPOTS OPEN Photographer: Jeremy Woodhouse Flight Information
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