California
This is my favorite state, and where I spend the entire summer with my best friend every year. This state has many interesting places that are not precisely related to Route 66 so I will mention some stops that might have zero connection to the route, but that are worth visiting.
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California is a really big state, with many types of landscapes, going from beautiful mountains to amazing beaches. This is one of the states where Route 66 remains in perfect shape, which is about 507 kilometers. One of the roads mentioned before which was put into use to create Route 66 in places like California was The Old Trails Highway, created in 1912.
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Like every single state we have talked about, this route was finally replaced by better and newer ones (SR 66, I-55 and I-40) disappearing in the state of California completely in 1974.
Broadway Theater District
This theater district is located in downtown Los Angeles and is the first one constructed in the U.S. Its success dwindled after World War II, when people decided to go to places such as the Hollywood area to watch movies, so this movie theaters began to show Spanish movies rather than English-spoken ones.
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Later on, in the 1970’s, the city of Los Angeles decided to begin a series of restorations in different theater buildings. These restoration programs not only aimed to enhance the structure of the building but also bring the audience it once had back. In order to do so, they decided to show classic Hollywood movies at a really low price.
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So, you should really go watch a movie, they ticket will be really cheap!
Downtown Los Angeles and Commercial District
We have all seen these American movies where these huge cities with enormous skyscrapers are shown, dreaming we once got the chance to visit one of these great cities. The city of Los Angeles gives you the opportunity to see this kind of landscape which you cannot really see anywhere in Europe.
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Downtown Los Angeles holds one of the largest central businesses in the country, giving jobs to over 500.000 people in total. But this city was born over 200 years ago, in 1781 more or less, when the Native Americans decided to settle down in this area.
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So, what should you do while you are in this part of Los Angeles? Well first of all as I have said, contemplate the view of the skyscrapers, and if you get the chance, try to go to the rooftop of one of them so as to see the city from a really tall perspective.
Also, downtown L.A is full of shops where you can go and buy whatever you please, ranging from cheap ones to really exclusive ones. If you want to see what being surrounded by extremely rich people (millionaires) feels like, I totally recommend you to visit Rodeo Drive, where the most expensive store in the world can be found. You will definitely feel as if you were inside a movie, just as I did!
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Unique things can be difficult to find, but while driving on Route 66 you will be able to find lots of cool things. That is why I am presenting you this bottle forest located in the desert of California. Yes, you read it right, this place consists of a forest which is full of trees with bottles hanging on its branches.
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Elmer Long is the creator of this fantastic place, who after his father died, decided to use his collection of bottles to create this forest with about two hundred scrap metal trees with bottles on every single one of their branches.
Other stops not related to Route 66
Disneyland
If you have ever dreamt about going to Disneyland, the one in California should be the one to go, since is the only one built under the direct supervision of Walt Disney.
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Disney came up with the idea of building this park after visiting a lot of amusement parks with his little daughters. Before opening the park, he had to find the perfect location, which would have to be within the Los Angeles metropolitan area, because that would mean being close to the freeway (Route 66 back then). So, in July 17, 1955, he opened the first park in Anaheim, after 1 year of construction which started in July 21, 1954. After, in the late 1990’s, many other parks were opened despite not being Walt Disney’s idea.
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Even if you do not have children, this place is a must, being called “The happiest place on Earth” because it really brings joy to anyone who visits it. I personally visited it with little kids and seeing them enjoying it was just enough for me to have a good time.
Venice Beach
Venice was originally founded in 1905 as a residential area where people with money would build their houses to enjoy the beauty of the west-side coast. But in 1926, the city merged with the city of Los Angeles, which caused that many people started visiting the place, becoming a more popular/crowded place.
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Throughout all these years many movies have been filmed in this place such as American History X and American Pie, including many others. As iconic spots of the place that you will for sure recognize if you see them we can find the basketball courts or the little gym where many famous people go to exercise, so you might get the chance to spot someone from Hollywood!
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The place is wonderful, with so many funny people doing performances that will for sure draw a smile from you. Besides, they sell delicious food in the little stalls set along the coast.
