Where does Route 66 start and end? The first part of that question is easy—Chicago. The last part, however, needs a little explanation. That was one of the surprises I had when I first embarked on this Route 66 adventure, I thought I knew what to expect—iconic landmarks, quirky stops, and a story or two to tell. Turns out, I had barely scratched the surface. This wasn’t just a highway—this was a living, breathing treasure trove of surprises, history, and charm.
From neon-lit diners serving slices of nostalgia to tucked-away gems that felt like hidden secrets waiting just for me, every mile was a revelation. I discovered stories and places that left me wide-eyed and longing to go there in person. I also discovered something I never knew even though I’ve lived in Southern California most of my life—Route 66 didn’t always end at the Santa Monica Pier.
The Road Behind Us
Starting this Route 66 adventure felt like stepping into a dream. The beginning of the trip was breathtaking—like a cinematic backdrop come to life. Beautiful bridges stretched over rivers that sparkled in the sunlight, connecting quaint towns with landscapes that looked like they’d been painted by an artist who couldn’t decide which shade of green was best.
But here’s where things got really interesting. The further along the Mother Road that we went, the more I realized that Route 66 was so much more than just pretty scenery. Every mile is packed with history, unique landmarks, and quirky roadside stops. It’s kind of like unwrapping one of those giant mystery gift boxes, except instead of socks or a gift card, you’d find a larger-than-life statue, an iconic motel sign, or an old-school diner still flipping pancakes like it was 1952. The sheer number of spots to discover was, frankly, overwhelming in the best way.
The End of the Road
In the final leg of this Route 66 adventure, everything is different. Gone are the quiet, meandering stretches where the horizon seems endless and serene, replaced instead by traffic lights and skyscrapers. The quaint towns and neon signs are also gone—in those last few miles it’s just a chaotic dance of brake lights and bumper-to-bumper traffic.
About this week’s puzzle
Photo Credit for today’s puzzle: Cayambe, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In answer to the question of, where does Route 66 start and end, Santa Monica Pier is now the official end of Route 66. But it wasn’t that way. For the first ten years of the Mother Road’s existence, it ended in downtown Los Angeles. It was an ambiguous ending to an iconic journey. So ambiguous, that the endpoint of Route 66 was moved 13 miles to terminate at the Santa Monica Pier in 1935.
Guess what? I have one final surprise. I’ve always thought of Route 66 as a new path across the country. But the truth is the Mother Road was built on the remnants of the National Old Trails Road, a transcontinental path created by indigenous peoples and early European settlers. And so, there it is, a final surprise.
I don’t know about you, but this virtual road trip has me itching to do it for real. Hmmm…maybe we could start in Santa Monica and drive east!
If you enjoyed this week’s Friday Morning Post, please leave a comment with your time on the puzzle. I’d also love to hear your thoughts on the post! Thanks for being here!
See all my Friday Morning Posts here. If you missed last week’s post, you can use this link to view last week’s post about Calico Ghost Town.
4:58 for me. Beautiful picture.
My time was 5:39. What a beautiful puzzle to end on Route 66. I’ve only seen the Santa Monica Pier from a distance, but have never been there. I had to look up the National Old Trails Road which also has an interesting history. Thanks for another great story! I’m looking forward to the next virtual adventure.
6:28 I have enjoyed all the posts regarding Highway 66 The Mother Road. Thank you.
You’re welcome, Laura! Glad you enjoyed them.
Beautiful picture. My time was 8:14.
11:07 for me
9.07 pretty shot!
5:23, great pic and a fun series!
11:01 which is not great, but I have been to the Santa Monica Pier!
I’m jealous, Christy! I really want to go visit the pier.
7:19 I lived in LA for 6 years and maybe got to the pier once in that time. Busy lives miss out on these beautiful sunsets.
Karen, I just had this same conversation with one of the checkers at the grocery store. We live in these places with such amazing sites, yet we get wrapped up in our daily lives and don’t ever play tourist. We see more of the places we don’t live than the ones we do!
5:39 for me this morning, really enjoyed this one
My time today was 4:48. I loved your “final surprise” that Route 66 was built on the remnants of the National Old Trails Road, which was a transcontinental path created by indigenous peoples and early European settlers. Wow!
Fun fact, right?