USA Motorcycle Trip – Route 66 through America

This morning we will pick up our motorcycles and embark on the ultimate motorcycle journey through Illinois. The legendary Route 66 begins at our headquarters in Illinois and leads to the Pacific coast in California. From Chicago, we will head south along the 'Pontiac Trail' (that is the original name for that section of the highway), passing through Joliet, seeing the 'Launching Pad Giant', stopping at the wonderful RT 66 Museum in Pontiac, and generally getting a feel for the rubber on the mother road. The first day on the legendary Route 66 ends in Springfield.

Try to get up early to catch a good view of the St. Louis Arch and the Mississippi in the early morning. We will quickly leave St. Louis in the mirror as we settle into our saddles and enjoy the rolling hills of Missouri, which make this area so beautiful and fun to ride. We will stop to see the famous, largest rocking chair in the world in Fanning. Through the scenic beauty of the Midwest, we will wind our way down the windy roads of 'Devil's Elbow!'. We will stop to meet Gary at 'Gay Parita's'. He himself is a Route 66 icon. Tonight we will spend in Joplin, a city that was hit by a massive tornado in 2011. We will spend time with the locals in the small downtown and hear breathtaking stories.

The day starts early, with a tour along some of the oldest stretches of Oklahoma's Route 66. This was once the land of massive buffalo herds. This part of Route 66 crossed some of the great cattle trails used in the 1860s to drive cattle from Texas to the endpoint in Abilene, Kansas. We will ride a stretch of the Chisholm Trail, which runs through Yukon and El Reno, and stop at the amazing Route 66 Museum in Clinton. Past countless prickly pears, we will cross the border into Texas, into the southernmost part of the 'Great Plains'. We continue on to Amarillo in northern Texas, our destination for the day. There, we will be picked up by a friend of 'The Big Texan Steakhouse' in a fleet of old Caddies (Cadillacs) adorned with the horns of the Texas Longhorns. Get ready, we will enjoy the absolute best steaks in Texas.

Today is a free day and we can enjoy the characteristic flavor of this nearly 400-year-old city. The mix of cultures is particularly evident in the styles of southwestern architecture, which are so closely associated with the capital of New Mexico. Optionally, you can drive along a riverside village to the old Indian city of Taos, enjoy a hot air balloon ride at sunset, or play cowboy and explore hiking trails in the saddle. Santa Fe offers something exciting for everyone.

Today is another big day filled with spectacular landscapes and Route 66 icons. We cross the border into Arizona and head to the Petrified Forest National Park, a petrified prehistoric forest with giant trees that have been excavated by erosion. Here we will have time to explore the breathtaking scenery and take a moment to get lost in the vastness that this area has to offer. After leaving the Petrified Forest National Park, we will continue west to Holbrook and stop to stand on the 'Corner in Winslow'. Tonight we will spend just about a mile away from the southern edge of the Grand Canyon and will be able to enjoy the sunset at the canyon's edge with a cold drink. The dream comes true!

On a short ride to Las Vegas, we will stop along the way at the old ghost town of Oatman, cross the border into Nevada, and travel over the famous Hoover Dam. Our time in Vegas is brief, but it's definitely worthwhile. If you'd like to try your luck at one of the countless gaming tables, this is the place for you.

We are on the final leg of the 'American Dream', the end of Route 66 at Santa Monica Pier. To get there, we first need to ride 66 miles on the Angeles Crest Highway through the mountainous area of the Angeles National Forest. This highway is considered one of the best motorcycle routes in Southern California, rising over 2300 meters. From the crest, we descend into the giant metropolis of Los Angeles, with the destination being the Pacific Ocean and Santa Monica Pier. Motorcyclists often get mixed feelings when they see the 'End of Trail' sign on the pier. A feeling of joy and euphoria that one has completed a journey that many people only dream of, as well as a feeling of sadness that our journey is now coming to an end. We enjoy a pleasant breeze from the Pacific Ocean before saying goodbye to the bikes. After returning the motorcycles, we will transfer to the hotel. We will conclude this fantastic tour with a final dinner together.