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Celebrating 96 years of Route 66 with Local Guide Rhys Martin

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TiffanyBnyc_1-1651253925110.jpegCaption: A photo of Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios on 66 souvenir shop with neon signage and a space cowboy statue. (Local Guide Rhys Martin)

 

With its 2,448 miles (almost 4,000 kilometers) and spanning eight U.S. states, Route 66 is more than a highway. It’s a cultural symbol. 

 

Exactly 96 years ago, the route’s history began, and since then, it has captivated travelers, inspired artists, and earned passionate devotees. One of them is Rhys Martin (@RhysM), a Local Guide from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Rhys fell in love with the historic road in 2014, and today he serves as the President of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association. His reviews and photos on Google Maps help raise awareness for the variety of experiences the highway offers: from big cities and rural communities to farmland, mountains, deserts, mom-and-pop motels, and kitschy roadside attractions.

 

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Caption: A photo of Weber’s Superior Root Beer Drive-in signage that reads, ‘Tulsa’s oldest hamburger stand since 1933.’ (Local Guide Rhys Martin)

 

“Route 66 is about the journey, not the destination,” Rhys says. So we asked him to share his best tips to discover great spots along the way and enjoy a road trip down the route to the fullest:

 

  • Discover local businesses along the route: By searching for something like “U.S Route 66 Restaurants” on Google Maps you can virtually explore restaurants or other businesses across all eight states. This way, you can familiarize yourself with attractions, view how much certain restaurants cost, read reviews and even see popular menu items to help you choose places you want to visit.
  • Plan your road trip with Lists in Google Maps: Once you discover the places you’re interested in visiting, save them to a list that can serve as an itinerary so you can support local businesses — and help preserve history – along the route. You can even share your list with others, or make them collaborative so you can plan together!
  • A picture is worth a thousand words: Photographing the details of a place — like the decades-old neon signage or the original menus hanging behind the counter — and sharing them through reviews on Google Maps helps capture the essence of an establishment and helps others discover places they want to visit.

Feeling inspired to hit the road? Check out Rhys’s list of must-see places  along Route 66, and see today’s video Doodle to learn more about the route’s history.

 

Local Guides, have you traveled along Route 66? Tell us about it in the comments!

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