| You still love Route 66, the "Mother
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| | pueblo...or try your luck at a modern
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| Road." Or, you're too young to actually
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| | Native American casino. Further down the
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| have traveled that road...but you're
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| | road, you'll pass Grants and Gallup, then
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| lured by its lore. You love Southwestern
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| | cross the state border into Arizona.A
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| scenery and marvel at natural wonders.
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| | major tourist sight--and natural
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| Does this describe YOU? Then, it's time
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| | wonder--lies just to the side of
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| you plan an adventuresome road trip
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| | Interstate 40 at Arizona exit 311.
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| through fabled Route 66 terrain,
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| | That's where you'll find the Petrified
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| traversed in these modern days by the
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| | Forest National Park. Its visitor's
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| Interstate 40 superhighway.Try starting
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| | center, visible from the roadway, hosts
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| your roadtrip at Albuquerque, New
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| | interpretive exhibits explaining how an
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| Mexico's Route 66 Diner. Located on old
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| | ancient forest fell, became steeped in a
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| Route 66 (AKA Central Avenue, these
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| | mineral bath...and literally turned to
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| days), this cafe has installed a memorial
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| | stone! You may purchase shined-up
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| to the Mother Road within its walls. As
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| | samples of petrified wood in the gift
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| you enter the Route 66 Diner, you'll see
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| | shop, or you may examine (but not take!)
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| photos, maps...and even old highway
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| | specimens in the raw by driving along the
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| signs...from the famous road's heyday.
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| | park's internal roadways.Motoring
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| When you get hungry, you can munch down
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| | westward, you'll find another natural
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| on the diner's old-fashioned "Blue Plate
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| | wonder of a completely different kind.
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| Special" and order a super-thick malt.
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| | Between Winslow and Flagstaff, you'll
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| (For a REALLY old-time treat, you can
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| | reach Arizona's Meteor Crater. When you
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| even still get an Egg Cream or an ice
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| | look at this giant crater, you won't
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| cream soda at the Route 66 Diner!)Next,
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| | believe that it's not really the Moon
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| take a drive down Albuquerque's Central
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| | you're observing! The Meteor Crater's
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| Avenue. You'll pass dozens of motels and
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| | visitor's center hosts a movie and
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| restaurants which were once spiffy-new,
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| | educational exhibits that interestingly
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| built for the motoring crowds who spent
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| | explain this natural cataclysm which
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| the night in this popular Route 66 "hub
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| | happened so very long ago.You might wish
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| city." While many of these motels have
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| | to stop for a break at Flagstaff, New
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| "slid downhill," others stay well-painted
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| | Mexico. Flagstaff's downtown area has
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| and maintained for today's tourists
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| | been "cutesified" and turned into a hip
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| wishing to re-live an "authentic" Route
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| | 'n' happening restaurant and shopping
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| 66 experience.While cruising down Central
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| | district frequented by the local
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| Avenue, you'll come to a brand-new
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| | university crowd. Flagstaff also makes a
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| attraction--the sparkling Albuquerque
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| | good base for day-trips...either to the
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| Aquarium. Stop in! You'll see
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| | red rock paradise of Sedona, to the
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| high-quality exhibits of marine life from
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| | south; or to the volcanic and Native
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| all cross-sections of the oceans, from
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| | American wonders north of town at Wupatki
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| shore creatures to deep-water specimens.
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| | and Sunset Crater Volcano National
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| Traveling with kids? They'll
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| | Monuments.Ready to see the biggest
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| particularly enjoy the adorable
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| | natural wonder of 'em all? From
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| seahorses, luminous jellyfish, and
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| | Flagstaff (or from Williams, Arizona,
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| "scary" sharks!Animal-lovers will also
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| | further west on I-40) you can get to
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| want to visit the Rio Grande Zoo, an
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| | Grand Canyon National Park! You can gaze
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| excellent mid-sized zoo showcasing all
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| | into its depths, take a hike, raft
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| the popular zoo animals that your family
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| | through the gorge on the Colorado
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| will want to see. For a barnyard
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| | River...or even fly overhead on a
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| experience, head to the Rio Grande
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| | helicopter tour! Don't forget to check
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| Botanic Gardens. Besides displaying
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| | out the visitor's center, where you'll
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| plants, the botanical gardens host a
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| | learn how the giant canyon was carved
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| popular outdoor exhibit called Heritage
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| | over eons by the Colorado's flowing
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| Farm. You can see demonstrations of
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| | stream. Also, the IMAX Theater, just
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| farming and craftwork from the "olden
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| | outside the park, provides a visually
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| days," ride a horse-drawn wagon, or pet
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| | stunning overview of the Grand Canyon and
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| farm animals in a barnyard petting
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| | its history.From Interstate 40 in western
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| zoo.Before leaving Albuquerque, make
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| | Arizona, you'll have a number of
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| absolutely sure that the boutique-lovers
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| | possiblities for continuing your road
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| in your family visit Old Town
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| | trip. Continue on I-40, and you'll head
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| Albuquerque, where you can find unique,
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| | into California...towards the beaches and
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| hand-crafted merchandise while exploring
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| | theme parks of Los Angeles. Or...head
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| the nooks and courtyards of Albuquerque's
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| | northwest on US Highway 93, and you'll
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| original old adobes. Old Town
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| | soon reach the bright neon lights of Las
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| Albuquerque is also a great place to
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| | Vegas. Or, still another
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| dine, to relax in a Spanish-style plaza,
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| | alternative--head north from Flagstaff
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| or to take interesting photographs. On
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| | and view the many natural wonders of
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| the other hand, make sure the theme park
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| | Utah, including Arches National Park,
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| lovers in your group get to Cliff's
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| | Zion National Park, and Bryce Canyon
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| Amusement Park for a dose of thrills.
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| | National park. What a delightful
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| Cliff's hosts the state's largest roller
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| | choice!Author Vicki Funes has been
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| coaster, the "New Mexico Rattler," and
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| | traveling Interstate 40 at regular
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| other scream-inducing attractions. For
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| | intervals since it was, indeed, old Route
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| families with children, Cliffs also
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| | 66. To discover more exciting vacation
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| offers a good selection of family and
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| | attractions along I-40, check out the
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| "kiddie" rides, as well.Time to get on
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| | "Interstate 40 Road Trip Planner" page of
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| the road again! Traveling along
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| | her website (which is called "Family
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| Interstate 40 westward, you'll soon reach
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| | Vacation Getaways at Los Angeles Theme
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| Sky City, New Mexico. There, you may
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| | Parks.
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| tour an ancient Native American
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