The more things change.... Route 66

Leaving Holbrook for Canyon de Chelly, we drove I-40 along old Route 66. Route 66 goes right through Holbrook, then parallels (or is sometimes underneath) I-40 through the rest of AZ and on into the next several states.

In metropolitan areas we know the major chains of stores and chains - Wal-Mart, Cracker Barrell, and many more. Out on lonely stretches of highway like in eastern Arizona, those chains are non-existent. There are still trading posts and mom & pop businesses that have to lure you off the road. Many have free offers advertised on billboards leading up to the exit or have something unusual to see. Just like in the old Route 66 days. In fact, some could be holdovers from then.

In Holbrook, Rock City tantaizes you with a 2.7 mllion year old alligator. There's an ostrich ranch east of there. Others too  will give you something free if you just stop in. Still others have dinosaurs  and teepees within view of the interstate to spark your interest.

If nothing else, whizzing along the highway, these can be a source of entertainment. They certainly aren't the cookie cutter  billboards and signs you see for the chains. To me, that makes this drive along I-40 more interesting. Jaimie Hall-Bruzenak