The reality of our new normal could spark renewed interest in an old favorite: the great American road trip. Danielle chats with Moon Route 66 Road Trip author Jessica Dunham about the allure of this iconic highway. With a focus on family fun, Jessica shares her top Route 66 picks including man-made kitschiness, scenic lookouts, and national park access. And, keep those engines revved up because Jessica gives a sneak peek into her forthcoming book The Open Road: 50 Best Road Trips In The USA.

Discussion Includes the Following

[0:02] Listener comment - Piñon Flats Camp Ground, Great Sand Dunes National Park

[2:58] Jessica Dunham, author: Moon Route 66 Road Trip and The Open Road: 50 Best Road Trips In The USA

[6:48] History of Historic Route 66: Federal-Aid Highway Act, National Park Service Corridor Preservation Program

[9:58] Route 66 Family Road Trip: Overview

[10:54] Midwest Region: Route 66 Association Hall Of Fame and Museum, Gateway Arch National Park, Indiana Dunes State Park, World’s Largest Route 66 Rocking Chair

[16:02] Great Plains Region: Cars on the Route, Cadillac Ranch

[19:34] Southwest Region: Musical Highway, Wigwam Village Motel

[25:02] National Parks Along The Route - Part I: Petrified Forest National Park, Grand Canyon National Park

[26:23] NPS Dark Skies Program

[27:12] Arizona’s big sky vistas and Meteor Crater

[29:15] More Grand Canyon Attractions: Grand Canyon Railway, Phantom Ranch

[32:01] National Parks Along The Route - Park II: Mojave National Preserve, Joshua Tree National Park

[34:16] Saguaro National Park

[36:12] End Of The Route: Los Angeles, CA and Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA

[38:27] National Parks To Ponder on The Lonliest Road: The Open Road: 50 Best Road Trips In The USA, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Black Canyon Of The Gunnison, Great Basin National Park

[40:00] A Great Texas Road Trip: Big Bend National Park, Alpine, Marfa, McDonald Observatory, Marfa Burrito

[46:00] National Astronaut Day, Girl Scouts, NPS Dark Skies Program, Shenandoah National Park,

[47:20] California Road Trip Favorites: Yosemite National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Redwood National And State Forest

Thank you to Moon Travel Guides for sponsoring this episode.

For complete show notes and archive, visit everybodysnationalparks.com.

Note: This episode is coming out in spring of 2020 during COVID-19 please be safe and follow recommended guidelines. If you are going to a national park, check the website for specific closures and guidelines for that park. The content of this interview is to inspire travel once it is safe to do so. Thank you and we hope you and your loved ones stay healthy.

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ENP 29 Old Favorite Route 66 Is New Again with Jessica Dunham