Driving Old Route 66 Through the Los Angeles Valley

Driving down Old Route 66 is very much a stop and go thing to do. I have taken this road in sections. Most of the time that I attempt to drive this in one clip, I get even more lost than I would if I stopped along the way to look at my map. The little bicycle path markers are difficult to follow for anyone who is trying to drive the route. This is one historic route where the bicyclists and the pedestrians definitely have the advantage to drivers, is Old Route 66, except for the CA-110 section.

Between Los Angeles and Glendale is an entirely new alignment of Route 66 and the local roads throughout the Los Angeles metropolitan area of Southern California. The Los Angeles Basin is full of commuter traffic during morning and evening rush hours, thus tourists who opt not to drive, and wander around wherever Route 66 has taken us, is perfectly acceptable along Route 66 throughout the San Fernando Valley,

Santa Monica

A good place to stop and gawk, relax, have fun, hang out is the Santa Monica Pier, located at the terminus of Old Route 66. There are shops, attractions, amusement park rides, along the boardwalk, and it is a good place to go to stretch your legs. There are days of things to do here, and several places where taking your tourist map or road map out is possible as well as forgivable, although, asking for directions is possible.

According to Grolier's Encyclopedia, Santa Monica is "often regarded as part of Los Angeles". There are many attractions on Route 66, a road whose Westernmost location is at the corner of Ocean Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard. Santa Monica was "founded in 1875 as a working seaport", and connected with the railroad. Route 66 was a way of getting things from the Pacific Ocean to the Inland Empire, prior to the development of the Interstate Highway. Also in Santa Monica is the Civic Center, "which is the site of the film industry's annual Academy Award presentations."

Santa Monica Boulevard is a historic boulevard, many memories and much history happened along this section of Route 66, immortalized in the television show Route 66, which was broadcast between 1960 and 1964.

There are many historic landmarks in Santa Monica, such as the Santa Monica Beach Hotel, Riva Restaurant, Cafe 50's, Dolores Restaurant, and Cafe (Chinese cuisine). Stop in at Barney's Coffee for some more about the memorable businesses along the way, noted in many archives for their history.

"Auto Club map writer Alan Rider skips over this section of Route 66 ..." David Reyes in the Los Angeles Times article states. If bicyclists can find their way through Santa Monica Boulevard to Broadway and 7th, the first terminus of downtown Los Angeles, so can you. I have randomly driven over many sections of Route 2 over the years, however, have yet to take the entire Route 66 through the new transitions, twists, turns, and traffic lights, without getting at least a bit lost. Even reading the directions over for cyclists proved to be frustrating, I would still consistently get lost while trying to drive down this section of Route 66. The route is modernized, fast, different, stop and go, old and new landmarks, techno-memory construction, a blend of ultra-modern, modern and trendy retro. There is so much scenery from so many different eras, with so many variations in style, that a driver either keeps his or her self busy driving, or stops, gets out one of those disposable or used cameras, and gets out of the car to take in the setting. That is what Route 66 is about.

Los Angeles

7th and Broadway was the official westernmost terminus of Route 66, upon its completion in 1926. this was prior to the work programs continued construction during the Great Depression era. Memories of the great studio era theaters and glamour are still existent right near this intersection. Clifton's Brookdale Cafeteria offers service for locals and tourists alike. The interior of this eaterie is a mock-up forest, reminiscent of the 1940's indoor movie settings, which looks somewhat like a wooded area somewhere between Big Sur and Ventura County. Clifton's Brookdale Cafeteria offers visitors a visit back to the Old Route 66 era in more ways than one, with an unusual "dine free unless delighted" policy.

Buildings like the Los Angeles Theater, The Tower Theater, The Palace Theater, The Orpheum Theater, The Roxy, a renovated art deco style Rite Aid, are in this area. There are even some sections of modernist style sidewalk lights, and much more is in the works for the revival on 7th Street, within walking distance of the first terminus of Route 66. There are fast food restaurants open at night, in this little bit of the studio-era Los Angeles, as well as nice, brand-name, chain hotels. This is where the theater district, and the night life scene used to be, back in the first three quarters of the 20th century. There is even a television show, called "7th Street Theater", which is being broadcast presently, that is about this small area of the original Route 66, and five Christian actors.

Last minute bus tour listing - Route 66 Bus Tour is being offered by Esotouric Bus Tours on August 2nd, this gives a visitor the opportunity to go on a bus for five hours to see the sights of Route 66 without getting lost. The cost is $58, last-minute cash patrons are allowed if seats are available, and the bus leaves at a little after 10:45am from 1001 N. Alameda Street. in Los Angeles. Last minute bookings are okay, if there is room, on Sunday, August, 2nd, 2008 - call 310.995.4591 to get your tickets, there is a 15% discount for KCRW members, from the regular price. Bring lunch and leave your videocameras and taperecorders at home. The tour will be over at about 4:15 pm.

If you are driving north on Route 66, Chicken Boy is now perched atop 5558 N. Figueroa Street, in Los Angeles. This salvaged relic from the drive-in era is part chicken, part Muffler Man, and is an excellent landmark to photograph from the sidewalk.

Driving eastward, the original Route 66 Route goes from 7th Street and North Broadway to Mission Road, then to Huntington Drive, then to Fair Oaks Avenue, Sunset Boulevard, and then to Colorado Boulevard.

Beverly Hills

That's another reason driving through Route 66 in Beverly Hills is a good idea, even the trees are over-photographed. You can reminisce about the Beverly Hillbillies and other good things from the early 20th century. Be sure to wave bye-bye to Grandma, Jeb and Elle Mae on the way out, and be sure to bring a long a camera to take photos of roaming paraparizzi; this is the one time when not having a signed model release is acceptable.

West Hollywood

Sunset Boulevard, "the strip" is still a popular place to drive antique cars, retro cars, and renovated vehicles. This is "the place" for "happening" people to go to hang out at night, and there are plenty of shops such as Davilla Boutique, Aahs! and the California Food Store along Sunset Boulevard for you to visit, do some window-shopping, and people-ogling at during the day. There are tons of opportunities for ubiquitous frippery obligations all over this section of Route 66.

There are many neon signs, businesses, and much traffic along the way. If you get lost in the nightclub scene, all the local hangouts, and wake up in a local parking lot around 3 am, driving back to Paradise Point, due north of Santa Monica, is relatively easy, by way of taking Sunset Boulevard west, Route 101, and the Pacific Coast Highway (California Route 1). There are so many places to spend the evening, that it is easy to lose focus. If you find yourself having, a blast from the present, after having gone to a few clubs like Whisky-A-Go-Go, Red Rock, Cat Club, or the House of Blues,with your ears still ringing from all the music, it's been worth the driving. Get ready to head further east and check out more of Old Route 66.

North Hollywood

Route 66 Signs and Electric on North Vista Street in North Hollywood is a business with a historical name, as well as a popular place for people to ask for directions, get a good look at their surroundings, take a photo, and purchase an unusual, practical souvenir.

Pasadena

This is the home of the tournament of roses, The Rose Bowl, complete with parade. There is no better time than the present to make your reservations for lodging for this grand event that travels down Route 66. These hotels are overlooking Route 66, and the Rose Bowl Parade location. Pasadena is a suburban city in Los Angeles, home of the University of California and the California Institute of Technology. The original name of this city, pre-dating Route 66, was Jurupa. If you are trying to follow Route 66, and have gone and driven the whole thing, while trying to follow all the varying directions, it's probably around hotel check-in time by now. The Astro Motel, designed by modernists is also on Route 66 in Pasadena, as is an actual drug store with working soda fountain, the Fair Oaks Pharmacy.

Places to stay also include the Quality Inn Pasadena, Super 8 Motel, and Kingston Inns and Suites, all of which are on East Colorado Boulevard (Route 66).

Route 66

There are many dedications to Route 66 in business titles, such as the Route 66 Writers, Route 66 Classic Grill, Route 66 Shop, Route 66 Auto, Route 66 Clubs,Route 66 Road House and Tavern, even the Route 66 Car Wash around the Los Angeles area.

The route eastbound covers Santa Monica Boulevard, Manzanita Boulevard, Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood Freeway, Pasadena Freeway, and Colorado Boulevard. Once you get to Colorado Boulevard, getting further east, past Glendale, and San Bernardino, and out of the San Fernando Valley, to the clearly marked Route 66 in places like La Verne and Fontana, where new Route 66 signs have been added again, should be a breeze, if you feel like driving more.

There is a detour route called Figueroa Street that should get you to CA-110, and if you get lost, continuing to drive on Route 2, northward, due to traffic conditions, if you get caught in lunchtime or rush hour traffic, you are handling the driving like the locals do. Los Angeles traffic is easy-going, aside from the infrequent tail-gaiter, gawking at tourists driving along Old Route 66, just like tourists gawk at the local sights. Going about as far as the Griffith Observatory and back is a nice little drive, and will allow you to see all the stars you want to on a clear night.

"The highway (Route 66) brought Depression-era and Dust Bowl refugees to California by the tens of thousands in the 1930's, was a main artery for troops and material heading for the Pacific theater in World War II, and provided a colorful backdrop for billions of miles of vacation trips and millions of rolls of vacation pictures in the prosperous postwar years." David Reyes, Los Angeles Times

Sources: Roadside America, website; Clifton's Cafeteria, website; Grolier Encyclopedia, Santa Monica entry, Pasadena entry, Los Angeles entry; Super 8 Motel, website; Route 2 description, The Route 66 Cookbook, by Marian Cook; article Los Angeles Times, Bygone Route 66 Signs,Road Trip; Rediscover Kicks on Route 66, by John O'Dell, article Los Angeles Times; Official directions for westbound travelers from a seasoned traveler; Behind the Wheel, Road Scholars Driven to Go the Extra Mile by Lisa Leff; The Landmark called Chicken Boy, AAA California on East Foothill Boulevard (Route 66) in La Verne, CA, Quality Inn