Northern Arizona’s Quirkiest Roadside Attractions

Above, Jack Rabbit Trading Post in St. Joseph, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since I moved to New Mexico seven years ago, I have found myself in northern Arizona several times. Most of my trips there have been to Lupton, Arizona to buy cigars at the Tee Pee Trading Post. Lupton is right at the Arizona-New Mexico border.

I have also driven through northern Arizona, primarily on Interstate 40, to go to a clampout or visit friends in Lake Havasu. Along the way, I have made stops at such places as Jack Rabbit Trading Post, Meteor Crater, Wigwam Motel, Standin' On The Corner Park (in Winslow), Petrified Forest National Park and Geronimo's Trading Post.

Above, yours truly with my mini mileage sign at Jack Rabbit Trading Post. Photo by Cindy Jaquez.

Only In Arizona has posted a list of several places can visit while on a road trip on Interstate 40. They refer to the attractions as "quirky". 

They begin it with:

Living in Arizona can be quite an adventure for tourists and residents alike. There are countless things to see, do, and experience, and road trips are often the most incredible way to see the best parts of the state. While adventuring along the open roads of the Grand Canyon State, I usually have a destination in mind, but I'm also open to the spontaneous roadside stop when something calls my name. I've often done entire road trips with only roadside stops in mind! If you'd love to see some of the most unusual attractions in the state, here is a road trip to some of Northern Arizona's quirkiest attractions.

Above, Standin' On A Corner park in Winslow, Arizona. Photo by Russell Azbill.

To read more, go here. 

Oddball Arizona Attractions

Above, at Standin' On A Corner in Winslow. Photo by Russell Azbill.

RV travel can bring one to interesting and oddball attractions.

Nanci Dixon at RV Travel has posted some interesting ones that can be found in the state of Arizona. I've been to one she mentions, Standin' On A Corner in Winslow, Arizona.

She starts off with:

We arrived in Arizona too early this year. It is 101° out right now and climbing to 107° today, so I am inside with the A/C on. I am taking this inside time to check out some of the oddball roadside attractions in Arizona that I may want to visit during our stay. Here they are. You may want to visit them, too.

To read more, go here. 

Classic Rock Music Monday

The stuff that now passes as "music", particularly rock 'n roll, leaves me cold. So, to start off the week, here's a video of a classic rock artist. 

To start off this week, we have Eagles and their classic hit, "Take It Easy". 

Of course, I would be remiss not to mention that some of the lyrics in the song inspired the city of Winslow, Arizona to erect a park on Historic Route 66.

The lyrics:

Well, I'm a standin' on a corner in Winslow, Arizona

Such a fine sight to see

It's a girl, my Lord, in a flat-bed Ford

Slowin' down to take a look at me

Come on, baby, don't say maybe

I gotta know if your sweet love is gonna save me

We may lose and we may win, though we will never be here again

So open up I'm climbin' in, so take it easy

Two years ago, I visited Winslow and the park and had this photo taken while there:

Above, yours truly at the "Standin' On The Corner" park. Photo by Russell Azbill.

Best Small Towns Near Petrified Forest National Park

Above, Standin' On A Corner Park in Winslow, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Arizona is an interesting state. 

One one hand, it is a big desert. On the other, it has pine-covered forests and ranchlands to enjoy.

Often overlooked are small towns to check out. A lot of them are along Interstate 40 in the northern half of the state.

TravelAwaits spotlights five of them within easy reach of Petrified Forest National Park.

They begin with:

The thing about Arizona is that you can enjoy so many different experiences depending on where you are within the state. Within just 3 hours, you can go from the valley of big city Scottsdale to the small towns up north. 

We chose to visit these small towns while on our travels through the White Mountains and beyond, as we always like towns that have a vibrant downtown with unique things to see and do. Stop in and visit these towns when you’re in the area!

Petrified Forest National Park has no RV campgrounds, but there's a KOA Kampground in nearby Holbrook. 

Above, camping is available at the Holbrook KOA Kampground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

10 Things You Would Never Think To See On Route 66

Above, Standin' On A Corner Park in Winslow, Arizona. Photo by Russell Azbill.

Did you know that about 85% of Historic Route 66 is still around to drive on? Yes, it is and one does have to know where it is located in different areas such as towns where rerouting and other changes, such as streets, frontage roads, had taken place over the years.

The Travel has posted an article ten things one would never think to see on Route 66. 

They begin it with:

Traveling is all about discoveries. It is all about discovering new things that someone has never thought about or seen before. By doing this, a person is able to appreciate how much diversity is there in the world. It also motivates someone to keep on traveling to discover more. As a result, travelers will always prefer to travel and visit strange places that will give them that thrill.

One of such places is route 66. So much has been said about route 66 but many people do not know the hidden things about this area until they visit and explore it. Here are 10 things one would never think to see on route 66.

Above, Standin' On A Corner Park in Winslow, Arizona
is a Route 66 Roadside Attraction. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

While we're on the subject of Route 66, here is a book by Gallup historian Martin Link on Route 66 that is worth getting:

Above, yours truly with historian Martin Link. Photo by Russell Azbill.

Best Things To Do In Arizona

Above, yours truly at the Standin' On A Corner Park in Winslow, Arizona. Photo by Russell Azbill.

Over the years and, more recently (since I live next door), I have visited a number of Arizona's unique spots. I still have several left to visit.

Travel Awaits has posted a list of Arizona's ten unique spots.

They begin with:

From giant saguaro cacti to the deep Grand Canyon, Arizona is full of natural wonders and beauty that can’t be experienced anywhere else in the United States. Add a shout-out to a popular Eagles song, the vision of a world-renowned architect, a massive ecological experiment, and more, and you have these 10 unique spots that can only be experienced in Arizona.

 

Above, Meteor Crater is only a few miles off Interstate 40. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To see what they are, go here.

Standin' On A Corner In Winslow, Arizona Today

Above, tourists at the Standin' On A Corner park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Well, I'm a-runnin' down the road, tryin' to loosen my load  

I've got seven women on my mind  

Four that want to own me, two that want to stone me 

One said she's a friend of mine 

Take it easy, take it easy 

Don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy 

Lighten up while you still canDon't even try to understand 

Just find a place to make your stand 

Take it easy 

Now I'm a-standin' on the corner in Winslow, Arizona 

With such a fine sight to see  

It's a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford Slowin' down to have a look at me 

Come on, baby, don't say maybe 

I've got to know if your sweet love is gonna save me 

We may lose and we may win 

But we will never be here again 

Open up, I'm climbin' in to take it easy 

Well, I'm a-runnin' down… 

- Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey

Above, the official Route 66 Roadside Attraction sign. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today, Russell Azbill, a friend from Jamestown, New Mexico, and I headed to Winslow, Arizona to get haircuts since all of New Mexico's barber shops are closed by order of the state's governor.

We headed out this morning in The Beast. We had 10:30 appointments at Shades n Fades in Winslow.

Above, yours truly with the guitar guy statue. 

On the way, we stopped for coffee and munchies at the Hopi Travel Center near Holbrook, Arizona. From there, we headed off to Winslow.

Above, there is a campaign to restore the mural at the park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

At Shades n Fades, a fellow former alumnus, Maria Wooton (Class of 1986), cut Russell's hair.

When we finished at Shades n Fades, we headed a few blocks in downtown Winslow to see the "Standin' On A Corner" park, a tribute to the town's place in music history in the Eagles' song, "Take It Easy". We stopped to take some photos at the park. There were about a half dozen other people checking out the park while we were there.

Above, a flatbed Ford truck was there, but no girl. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

At the corner, a red Ford flatbed truck was parked. Unfortunately, there was no girl inside taking a look.

A foundation has been formed to restore the mural at the park. So far, they have raised over half of the needed funds for the restoration.

Above, the staute of Eagles member Glenn Frey was unveiled in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After taking photos at the park, we headed out of Winslow to go back to Jamestown. Along the way we stopped at Jack Rabbit Trading Post in St. Joseph, Arizona. Russell had never been there before. He had a good time there and he left the store with several purchases.

All in all, it was a fun little trip.