ROAD TRIP – LA TO LAS VEGAS
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STOP 03 – Victorville
Victorville is found at the junction of Highway 15 and Route 66 where we will turn off and follow until we reach Barstow. This small, classic Route 66 town was founded in 1858 as a way station to provide shelter and supplies for people crossing the desert to San Bernardino. Its major claim to fame is that the first two drafts of the screenplay for the film Citizen Kane was written here in 1940. It’s now home to a fantastic Route 66 Museum which is well worth the visit. Entry is free and it has loads of signs, classic cars, and other historical artifacts from different periods on the this famous highway.
Details:
Location: 16825 D St, Victorville, CA 92395
GPS: 34.5371667 | -117.2943727
Website: http://califrt66museum.org/
Accessibility: Open Monday, Friday and Saturday from 10am – 4pm. Open Sunday 11am to 3pm. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Free entry (tip appreciated) and photos allowed throughout the museum. Check the website for operating hours before your trip.
STOP 04 – Emma Jean’s Holland Burger… LUNCH!
If you have read the successful tips on planning a road trip article that Chris and I wrote (Coming SOON!), you will know a BIG part of what we both love about road trips is finding cool and unique places to eat along the way. Holland Burger fits this bill perfectly, a historic restaurant that has all the charm and character you would expect on Route 66.
Serving up meals since 1947, the building was built by the original owners from cinder blocks manufactured in the area. Richard Gentry drove a cement truck on Route 66 for 31 years and ate lunch here everyday. His wife worked as a waitress their too! In 1979 Richard purchased the diner and renamed it after his wife, Emma Jean! So cool!
Featured in a number of TV shows including ‘Diners, Drive-In’s and Dives’ and in the awesome scene from Kill Bill Vol 2 when Urma’s character escapes from the grave and walks across the road to the diner!
The food is great, the locals all eat here. It has good conversation and is a really fun place to take photos.
Details:
Location: 17143 N D St, Victorville, CA 92394
GPS: 34.5613078 | -117.313625
Website: http://www.hollandburger.com/
Accessibility: Mon thru Fri 5am to 2:45pm Saturday 6am – 12:30pm and closed Sundays. Check the web site for hours on national holidays.
STOP 05 – Steel Truss Bridge
Around 5-10 mins up the road you will cross the awesome old steel bridge from the 1930’s. It spans the Mojave River and there is a turnout to stop and take photos on the south side. A little climbing and walking around is required to find good angles, but well worth checking out.
Details:
Location: National Trails Hwy, Victorville, CA 92394
GPS: 34.573772 | -117.322479
Accessibility: Open and free 24/7
STOP 06: Antique Station
The next stop about 5 minutes drive down the road, is a great turn of the century building which houses The Antique Station. Exposing both the exterior and interior of the building is equally as fun and has fantastic opportunities for still life and architecture photos. The store is HUGE… so allow some time to really take a look around. The prices are also very reasonable. I bought my wife a vintage Singer sewing machine here which she loves.
Details:
Location: 19176 National Trails Hwy, Oro Grande, CA 92368
GPS: 34.5984607 | -117.33671019999997
Accessibility: Open 7 days a week from 11am to 5pm.
STOP 07: Ghost Gas Station!
No more than 2 mins away is the Mohawk Gas Station and Mini Mart. A very cool and run down gas station that has long since closed. It has a classic Route 66 feel and makes for some great urban decay style photos.
Details:
Location: 19348 County Rte 66, Oro Grande, CA 92368
GPS: 34.601407 | -117.33831910000004
Accessibility: Open 24/7. Exterior only as interior has been closed and boarded up.
STOP 08: Ostrich Farm … You What?!
Only two miles down I spied a beaten up sign on the right hand side that read, Ostrich Farm. I jammed my foot on the break and swerved left to where the sign was pointing. This is the crazy wacky stuff I love doing whilst on the road. I had to stop here!
When I arrived the farm was closed, but I was able to pull up beside the paddock and was quickly surrounded by the most ostriches I had seen (which is not hard, as I hadn’t really seen too many!). But there was a lot, and they were huge. I could see one of these guys stabbing my eyes out, or more importantly my lens out of my hands! They were not at all intimidated by me, so a little warning… keep some distance!
Details:
Location: 8301-8399 E Puritan St, Oro Grande, CA 92368
GPS: 34.640920, -117.347013
Accessibility: No idea when this is open. There are no details posted anywhere. But you can pull up right beside the farm and the ostriches will run up to you as soon as you get out.
