The World’s First Darkish Sky Metropolis Is in Arizona on Route 66 — and It is Getting a Retro-chic Motor Lodge This Summer time

Today, street journeys happen at excessive pace — broad interstate highways, fast lavatory breaks, and endless Spotify playlists. However the golden age of the nice American street journey had a very totally different really feel. Again then, vacationers drove down the two-lane cross-country roads with their home windows down, stopping for the evening at roadside motels. One of many first and longest street journey routes throughout that point was Route 66, which traveled between Chicago and Los Angeles and traversed eight states.

Virtually a century later, most of Route 66 has been deserted for journey on the quicker, extra direct interstate highways. However in sure locations, like Flagstaff, Arizona, Route 66 has been fastidiously preserved. Within the metropolis of Flagstaff, the lore of this historic route is now complemented by a renovated roadside motel from 1962 that will probably be reopened in June — simply in time for summer season street journey season.

The Americana Motor Resort, which sits proper off Route 66, will provide nostalgic vacationers the possibility to remain in a reimagined roadside retreat. The design of the resort is retro with a futuristic really feel. There are 89 vibrant rooms with playful touches, like in-room disco balls and geometric carpeting. 

As well as, in a single day company will probably be handled to a collection of throwback facilities with a twist, together with “dive-in” motion pictures within the year-round heated pool and on-property bike leases. There’s a walk-up “diner” serving burgers, fries, and ice cream, and an expansive fireplace pit and telescopes the place company can watch the evening sky — an exercise that has turn out to be synonymous with Flagstaff, the world’s first Worldwide Darkish Sky Group and the location the place Pluto was found.

Flagstaff’s deep ties to stargazing and astronomy are well-represented on the Americana Motor Resort. The foyer partitions change from heat desert shades to the deep hues of evening relying on which approach you stroll by way of the house, and the resort is near each the U.S. Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station and the Lowell Observatory, the place Pluto was found in 1930.

Lower than an hour-and-a-half drive north is Grand Canyon Nationwide Park, which can also be a delegated darkish sky place. The Sundown Crater Volcano Nationwide Monument is lower than half-hour by automotive and and Wupatki Nationwide Monument, which protects historic pueblos, is beneath an hour away.

The central location of the Americana Motor Resort makes it a superb basecamp for excursions into the world’s many parks, monuments, and wilderness areas. And in case your favourite street journey companion is a furry one, remember the fact that canines are welcome on the Americana Motor Lodge and there’s even a fenced “Barkyard” that ensures pups get loads of time outside.