Route 66

After finishing Joshua Tree park, it’s time to head out for Sin City – Las Vegas baby!!

You have several ways to get there. If you are leaving from the North part of Joshua Tree, an idea is to first visit the Indian Cove and after that head to the Mojave National preserve, it’s perfect for cruising and to experience that ‘roadtrip feeling’, just be very carefull for all the potholes and make sure you have enough gasoline :). After the preserve, you have a small strech of Route 66! You cannot find any signs by the road, I actually wonder if they still have the signs since there are many ‘collectors’ out there 🙂

You will also pass train tracks with ‘supertrains’. I’ve counted 150 wagons!

Mojave National preserve

Potholes in the Mojave National preserve

Endless miles of electricity poles @ Mojave National preserve

Route 66

When approaching Vegas, you can suddenly see casino’s and resorts rising in the middle of a dessert. They all make sure to get your attention with huge signs & flashing boards :). The highway ‘miles’ are also sponsored, making sure they are in perfect conditions! Because you don’t want to have your company name linked to bad road conditions.

Sponsored miles @ Vegas area

They say Vegas has the most parking garages in the world, and most of them are free for a limited amount of time.

Tonight, something I rarely or never do: clubbing!

On the other side of Los Angeles on the coast, you’ll find the famous Santa Monica pier and Venice Beach.

The Santa Monica pier is home of the Pacific Park, with the famous wheel and many small-sized but interesting attractions including a roller-coaster. These attractions look ‘old-school’ and are very expensive.

Pacific Park

Pacific Wheel

Did you know that the Santa Monica pier is considered as the official end of Route 66? In this shop on the pier, you’ll find many of the history about Route 66 and the (non-official) sign ‘End of Route 66’.

Route 66 shop

This is also home of Venice beach, one of the most famous beaches of the USA.

Besides the pier and on the beach, you’ll find many facilities to exercise your fitness & body. These facilities are also just fun such as the ring chain from the picture below.

This is typical California: fitness; you will not find the ‘fat’ USA people here.

Along Venice beach and in the middle of the sand for the first part, you have a huge boardwalk that is shared with bicycles. It is a nice stroll from the pier to the beachshops.