Route 66

Tour Information

13nt Tour Begins Chicago; Ends Los Angeles: 1nt Chicago; 1 nt Springfield; 1nt St Louis; 1nt Branson; 2nts Oklahoma City; 1nt Amarillo; 2nts Albuquerque; 1nt Flagstaff; 1nt Grand Canyon National Park; 1nt Las Vegas; 1nt Los Angeles

Day 1

Fly from the UK – Chicago
Welcome to the starting point of Route 66! Your Tour Director is at
the hotel this afternoon to answer any questions. At 6 p.m., gather at
the hotel with your Tour Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome
Reception. Hotel: The Palmer House Hilton

Day 2

Chicago - Springfield
After an introduction to the Windy City, including elegant Lakeshore
Drive and the Magnificent Mile, hit the road for a good, old-fashioned
American road trip. Just outside Chicago, see several of Route
66’s original gas stations. Explore the history and cultural impact of
America’s Mother Road at the Route 66 Association Hall of Fame &
Museum. Roll on southwest to Springfield, where you visit the last
resting place of Abraham Lincoln. (FB) Hotel: Hilton Springfield

Day 3

Springfield - St Louis
Starting with viewing the great city from atop the famed St. Louis
Gateway arch, get ready for a real taste of America’s Midwest today.
Take a break at Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, a Route 66 favourite
since 1929. Then, experience another American favourite with a
guided tour of the Anheuser-Busch Brewery — from the stables
of the Clydesdales to the tasting room. And what goes better with
beer than barbecue? Learn to mix up your own sweet and spicy
barbecue sauce with a team of master barbecue chefs and enjoy a
rib-sticking Be My Guest Barbecue Dinner, hot off the grill. (FB BG)
Hotel: Omni Majestic Hotel

Day 4

St Louis - Meramec Caverns - Branson
Go underground in Meramec Caverns, a former hideout of
Jesse James, for a glimpse of some outstanding subterranean
formations. Then it’s onward to the Ozarks and the lively American
musical mecca of Branson. Explore Branson Landing, a shopping,
dining and entertainment hub on the shores of Lake Taneycomo.
Tonight, perhaps get your kicks at an optional dinner show. (FB)
Hotel: Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing

Day 5

Branson - Will Rogers Memorial - Oklahoma City (2 Nights)
Roll on through historic Joplin, Missouri right into Oklahoma to visit the
opuluent Coleman Theatre. In Eastern Oklahoma, an especially scenic part of the Mother Road, Route 66 is also known as the Will Rogers
Highway; stop to visit a museum dedicated to this famous American
humorist who once said, “I never met a man I didn’t like.” Tonight,
enjoy a Highlight Dinner in the vibrant warehouse district of Bricktown.
(FB HD) Hotel: Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Oklahoma City

Day 6

Oklahoma City Sightseeing & Free Time
Get a taste of the Old West at the National Cowboy & Western
Heritage Museum with its collection of Native American art and
outstanding display of antique firearms. After lunch, visit the Oklahoma
City National Memorial & Museum, honouring the 1995 bombing
victims. The rest of the day is yours to explore historic Bricktown. (FB)

Day 7

Oklahoma City - Route 66 Museum - Amarillo
In Clinton, explore a classic collection of Route 66 history, memorabilia
and culture. Crossing into the Texas Panhandle, return to Old Route
66 for a scenic drive before stopping at Amarillo, the “yellow rose of
Texas.” (FB) Hotel: The Ambassador Hotel

Day 8

Amarillo - Albuquerque (2 Nights)
Yes, those are 10 classic Cadillacs buried nose down in the dirt, the
famed Cadillac Ranch pop art installation just outside Amarillo. Travel
on to Albuquerque where the spirit of Route 66 still thrives; tonight,
don your poodle skirt or leather jacket for a Highlight Dinner at the
66 Diner with its 1950s jukebox and blue-plate specials that have hardly
changed since the heyday of the “Main Street of America.” (FB HD)
Hotel: Albuquerque Marriott

Day 9

Albuquerque Sightseeing & Free Time
While Albuquerque didn’t boom until the coming of Route 66, the city
has been here for more than 300 years. Take a tour of the Old Town
and old adobes and enjoy some leisure time to explore on your own.
Visit one of the many museums, relax in a cafe or perhaps opt to visit
southwestern arts-filled Santa Fe. (FB)

Day 10

Albuquerque - Sky City Acoma Pueblo - Flagstaff
Perched on a sandstone bluff, the Acoma pueblo is the longest
continuously inhabited community in North America. With your Native
American guide, walk through nearly 1,000 years of history and culture.
Crossing into Arizona, watch the sun play over the changing colours of
the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park before arriving
in Flagstaff with its quaint downtown and pine-forested hills. (FB D)
Hotel: Radisson Woodlands Hotel

Day 11

Flagstaff - Navajo Reservation - Grand Canyon National Park
As the morning sun gilds the desert landscape, visit the traditional land
of the Navajo people. Stop at Cameron Trading Post to browse through
handicrafts and maybe enjoy some tasty fry bread. This afternoon,
wind along scenic Desert View Drive before arriving at the Grand
Canyon. Spend the night inside the park, allowing plenty of time to explore this natural world wonder. For more stunning views, take an
optional plane or helicopter trip to see the canyon from the sky. (FB)
Hotel: National Park Lodges

Day 12

Grand Canyon - Seligman - Kingman - Las Vegas
Hit the road again, breaking in Seligman and Kingman, Route 66
hotspots that have kept the old culture alive. Driving the Mother Road
in these desert oases is like time travelling to see the well-preserved
motels, diners and gas stations of a simpler era. Then, it’s full speed
ahead to glittering Las Vegas. The afternoon and evening are yours
to hit the Strip, catch a show or try your luck at the slots. (FB)
Hotel: Paris Las Vegas

Day 13

Las Vegas - Hollywood - Los Angeles
Travel from the City of Broken Dreams to the City of Angels today,
with one last jaunt on Route 66 near the town of Barstow. Upon
arrival in Los Angeles, see the sights, including Grauman’s Chinese
Theatre, Beverly Hills, Sunset Boulevard and the place where the
road comes to an end, Santa Monica and the great Pacific. This
evening, celebrate your journey at a festive Farewell Dinner. (FB FD)
Hotel: Renaissance Los Angeles Airport Hotel

Day 14

Depart Los Angeles
Say good-bye to the road and take flight. A complimentary transfer is
provided to Los Angeles International Airport. (FB)

Day 15

Arrival back to the UK

What's Included

• Return transatlantic flights

Sightseeing Highlights

• Chicago: Enjoy an orientation tour of this beautiful lakefront city.
• Springfield: See the tomb of President Lincoln.
• St. Louis: Join an orientation tour and visit the Anheuser Busch Brewery.
• Meramec Caverns: Explore the one-time hideaway of legendary Jesse James.
• Branson: Enjoy two nights in this all-American musical extravaganza.
• Tulsa: Visit the Will Rogers Memorial Museum.
• Oklahoma City: Visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial and the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
• Clinton: Visit the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum
• Albuquerque: Spend two nights in this major Route 66 outpost; visitOld Town and cruise down Central Avenue.
• Sky City Acoma Pueblo: Tour this amazing settlement with a Native American resident.
• Petrified Forest National Park: Enjoy a tour through this spectacular landscape.
• Flagstaff: See the charming historic downtown and the world’s largest Ponderosa Pine forest.
• Pecos National Monument: Learn about the Pueblo Indians.
• Grand Canyon National Park: Travel along the canyon’s scenic Desert View Drive.
• Las Vegas: Visit the “Entertainment Capital of the World.”
• Los Angeles: Enjoy an orientation tour including Beverly Hills, Hollywood and Santa Monica.

Dining Highlights

• 13 Full breakfasts
• 1 three-course dinner.
• Local highlight dinner cruise on the Mississippi River in St. Louis.
• 2 local highlight restaurant dinners in Oklahoma City and Albuquerque.
• Farewell Dinner with wine in Los Angeles.
• 17 included meals in total (see day by day itinerary)

First Class Travel Highlights

• First Class hotel accommodation includes two-bedded rooms with private facilities, all hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes.
• Touring by luxury air-conditioned motorcoach with reclining seats and onboard restroom.
• The services of one of Trafalgar’s top professional Tour Directors.
• A stylish wallet, travel documents and Welcome on Tour book with map.
• Complimentary airport transfers are provided on Day 1 and Day 14.