My family took our first real long-distance vacation in 1966 out to California to visit friends, and to experience the wonders of Disneyland. Prior to that trip, vacation time was spent in the Wisconsin Dells and in Ottawa, Illinois, where my father’s aunt and uncle lived, and where we could spend time at Starved Rock State Park. I think my father’s motivation to make a trip out to California was motivated by the fact that we were growing older, and he wanted us to have what he called a real family vacation before we each left home for college.
Our trip required significant planning by my engineer father, who plotted out our entire trip including rest stops, motels and diners. Back in 1966, my father’s planning included traveling out to California on the “Mother Road,” or as it is more commonly known, as Route 66. While a small portion of our trip encompassed one of the new interstates being built, Route 66 served as our main travel route. I must say that Route 66 served us well, as we saw the beauty of the west as we traversed through eight states that make up Route 66.
Those traveling out west today will find themselves traveling along a number of the interstate highways that have come into being over the last several decades. While eighty-five percent of the original Route 66 is still drivable, many of the towns and sights along the road have disappeared. Despite that, many travelers are still drawn to Route 66, because they can get a view of our country as it was back in earlier times.
Route 66 will be celebrating its 100th Anniversary in 2026, and in Illinois and in states that traverse the 2,400 miles out to the Santa Monica pier, communities will be celebrating that anniversary and the role that Route 66 played in defining the culture of our country. Darien is one of those communities that will be part of that celebration by designating “Historic Route 66” with a Route 66 monument that will be placed along North Frontage Road (east of Cass). This monument, as well as others, will be placed along the old Route 66 throughout the state, and will stay in place through 2026, Route 66’s centennial year. When it is fully erected, we will notify all of you through one of our Direct Connect newsletters.
When we drove out to California back in 1966, little did we know that someday we would be celebrating the historic significance of that highway. That was the last major vacation I took with my mom and dad before I took off for college two years later. While we vacationed as a family in later years, none of our trips took us back to Route 66 and the experiences the old highway offered us. I will always remember that trip and the memories it provided us; it was truly a great family time together, and as the song says, we really did “get our kicks on Route 66.”
