Arizona isn’t just about basking in the heat and desert vistas. Venture north of the Phoenix-Scottsdale area to the high desert to find cooler temperatures, historic landmarks and quirky attractions. About an hour East of Flagstaff, directly on Route 66, is the tiny town of Winslow, Arizona, where they’re rolling out the welcome mat to visitors searching for laidback vibes and pure Americana.
License plates from all over the country line Route 66, which runs through downtown here. Thanks to Glen Frey and Jackson Browne, who co-wrote the iconic Eagles hit "Take It Easy," Winslow attracts a steady stream of tourists. Many are here to relive a slice of their youth as they stand on the famous corner in Winslow, Arizona.
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Arizona Office of Tourism
An Pham Media, An Pham Photography, Photography, Arizona, Travel, Tourism, Adventure, Route 66, Visit Arizona
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TimothyMN CC BY-SA 4.0
This railroad town was in dire straits after train travel was abandoned in favor of automobiles. Winslow slowly recovered, but things really improved once the Eagles’ hit inspired people to make the trek to Winslow. Now thousands of people visit annually.
RyderAce CC BY-SA 4.0
On a recent day, folks wait their turn to snap photos of themselves at The Corner. Some pose with the statue depicting a young Glen Fry or that of Jackson Browne. Others wander over to the shiny red flatbed Ford. With Eagles songs blaring from the nearby speakers, it's easy to lose yourself in memories. Die-hard fans should check out the annual Standing on the Corner Festival that takes place in the fall.
Plan to spend at least one night in town. Make reservations at the historic La Posada Hotel, considered one of the finest hotels in the Southwest and the last of the famed Harvey Houses. Fred Harvey brought civility to the West when he opened roadside inns to serve train travelers on the Topeka Santa Fe Railroad. He decided to build a large resort style hotel in Winslow and hired renowned architect Mary Jane Colter. Colter designed the hotel according to her elaborate fantasy of 19th-century Spanish hacienda. La Posada came to life based on the remarkably in-depth vision she created.
Done in the mission revival style with heavy southwestern influence, the hotel is layered in Native American and folk art, intricate hand-painted murals and stunning architectural details. Wander through the grand hallways and take the curved terra cotta stairs to the second floor where your guest room awaits. If these walls could talk, you may hear the voices of celebrities like Howard Hughes, John Wayne, FDR, Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope, all of whom stayed here. Get a room facing the back and open your windows to see the trains fly down the tracks—the Amtrak station is just outside.
As the Mother Road snakes its way east, Petrified Forest National Park lies on the horizon about an hour away. One of Arizona’s three national parks, the Petrified Forest features other-world landscapes, rocky formations and petrified wood that are millions of years old.
Drive through the park from end to end, stop along the way to take in the views, and take a short hike. Don’t be tempted to grab petrified wood for souvenirs as it’s strictly against the rules. A tour of the magnificently restored Painted Desert Inn within the park allows one to appreciate another Mary Colter masterpiece.
Plan your trip to Winslow, Arizona, at visitwinslow.com. Learn more about Petrified Forest National Park at nps.gov/pefo/index.htm.