4th - 18th May 2011
Travel the Famous Route 66 | Self Drive Chicago to Las Vegas
The 2011 Variety Across America commenced in Chicago on the 4th May and cruised south west through Illinois along the most famous highway in the world - Route 66.
Participants went through eight great States, over 2000 miles of North America's skyscrapers, grassy plains and awesome deserts to the fascinating Los Angeles Basin.
2011 Itinerary
4th May - Day 1
Chicago Arrival O’Hare International Airport proceed to car rental collection
Evening Welcome and Briefing Dinner
5th May - Day 2
Depart Hotel for Navy Pier. Join Route 66 to Springfield IL
6th May - Day 3
Springfield to St Louis MO - In St Louis we see Mark Twain Museum, the St Louis Arch and Brewery tour. Time permitting we will also take in the Volvo Auto Museum
7th May Day 4
St Louis to Branson MO. Crossing the mighty Mississippi River we head SW to Cuba, Rolla and Lebanon Springfiled before hitting the mini Las Vegas of the Ozarks namely Branson MO
8th May Day 5
Branson to Tulsa. We travel through 3 states today picking up Paris Springs MO, Galena KS then into Oklahoma where we see some amazing cars at Darryl Starbirds Hot Rod Museum
9th May Day 6
Tulsa to Yukon Ok. All the great remaining pieces of Route 66 are in Oklahoma and today we see the best that OKY has to offer with two museums dedicated to Route 66 in our pathway
10th May Day 7
Yukon to Amarillo TX We see El Reno, Erick where we stop and see the Hillbillies before heading into Texas where the U Drop In Diner from the movie Cars resides. Tonight we eat n sleep at the Big Texan.
11th May Day 8
Amarillo TX to Albuquerque NM We pass the mid point of Route 66 as we head for the towns of Santa Rosa before seeing Archie at the best junkyard in NM
12th May Day 9
Albuquerque to Winslow AZ. We see such vast terrain differences as we traverse the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest today, you will be amazed!
13th May Day 10
Winslow to Williams Az. We hit Meteor Crater before driving towards Flagstaff where we do a quick town tour and leave for Red Rock Country and hit Sedona. Traversing back through Oak Creek we return to 66 for our next stop at WILLIAMS
14th May Day 11
Williams /Grand Canyon
15th May Day 12
Williams to Kingman AZ We really see some undulating Western movie style of desert terrain today before stopping at Seligman where the towns appreciation of 66 is to be held in awe. Hackberry store awaits and gents don’t spend too long in the loo!
16th May Day 13
Kingman to Las Vegas Via California. See a western gunfight in the street at Oatman AZ, drive to Needles before heading north to Bolder City and the Hoover Dam. Look out Las Vegas Variety is coming!
17th & 18th May Day 14 & 15
Las Vegas local free time. Car rental return at Hertz AM
19th May- Hotel checkout before 11.00am