Barstow - Route 66

[Miss Daisy]

We're flying into Vegas and planning to spend the night in Barstow on the way to DL. Anything of interest we should see? What about Route 66? Is it interesting to drive?

 

[jlmarr]

It's a 4-5 hour drive to DL from Vegas - maybe you can spend the night there. Lots of interesting things in Vegas even if you don't gamble or do the shows.

Unless you're a Route 66 nostalgia buff you might not find it that interesting, YMMV.

 

[madcoco]

In-N-Out Burger. Because that's what a hamburger's all about.

http://www.in-n-out.com/

You could always quickstop in Baker before Barstow on I-15 and check out the "World's Largest Thermometer"(if it's working) or the Mad Greek. Home of the "World's Best Strawberry Milkshake"

Victorville is further up the road at the top of Cajon Pass and will have better choices for restaurants and hotels.
Victorville also used to be the home of the Roy Rogers Museum but moved to Branson a few years back. It was a nostalgic stop.

Watch out for the crazy drivers and have a great trip.
PS be on the lookout for Zzyzx Road.

 

[jlima]

The Calico ghost town is right outside of Barstow. My kids liked it. This is the town that the Knott Family purchased most of the buildings that are in the old west section of Knott's Berry Farm. Most of the current Calico buildings are recreations for this reason.

http://www.calicotown.com/index.php

 

[Juliah]

Madcoco, we went to our first In and Out Burger last month in San Diego. My husband told the guy working at the drive-through, and he got all excited and gave us hats, stickers, and a map of all the In and Out Burgers in the country. It was fun.

Along those same lines, I read that Barstow has the original Del Taco restaurant.

 

[Miss Daisy]

I saw Zzyzx Road on a map. First, how is it pronounced?!! Second, why is it named that?

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Now, for some more research!!

 

[CPT Tripss]

Just an FYI about Barstow we stayed overnight on a trip from LV to Yosemite. There is no there there.

 

[Juliah]

Oh, there is an outlet mall in Barstow. I didn't go in it, so I don't know what it was like, except that it looked pretty new.

 

[Magix]

You're gonna stay overnight in Barstow? WHY??? Just keep going to Disneyland, or, like jlmarr suggested, just spend a night in Vegas then drive out to DL.

Barstow???? Blech. It's where you stop to use the restroom and get another drink. Really, that's it.

 

[arliepooh68]

bout the only thing interesting on route 66 is the bottle house. . . well you miss mose of the traffic and that is the only reason we take it, but there are a few whoopdeedoos . . . and then there is the bottle house. . . lots and lots of glass bottles. . . i guess one summer some punks shot them with bb guns, but it was still very noticeable. . otherwise it is nothing to look at. . . now if you go down to foothill blvd in rialto you are on route 66 and you can see the old tee pee motel which had an increase in business thanks to CARS. . . having grown up in the inland empire i would not suggest staying there though. . . if it is your first time going down cajon pass watch your speed! you can always tell the virgins, the brakes start being hit a certain moment . . . barstow used to have the mickey d's that was a train, that was always fun for us when we were kids. . Have fun and drive safely!

 

[VegasDisney]

Oh, there is an outlet mall in Barstow. I didn't go in it, so I don't know what it was like, except that it looked pretty new.

We usually stop at the old navy here, nothing else interests us. The old navy is next to the bathroom, though so it's a good stop for us. I laugh every time I see Zzyzx Road!

 

[madcoco]

I saw Zzyzx Road on a map. First, how is it pronounced?!! Second, why is it named that?

Everything you wanted to know about Zzyzx but was afraid to ask.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zzyzx,_California

Madcoco, we went to our first In and Out Burger last month in San Diego. It was fun.

Good to hear. Did you grab a T-Shirt too? In-n-Out no longer a "secret menu"
http://www.tiburon-belvedere.com/cgi/home.cgi?c=In_N_Out

 

[RudemanRB]

Everything you wanted to know about Zzyzx but was afraid to ask.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zzyzx,_California

it's pronouced Zi-zex.

 

[Miss Daisy]

Magix - If we drive straight through to Anaheim, how long would it take us? We arrive in Vegas at 4 on a Friday evening and don't want to drive at night any more than we have to. We like to sightsee too much. But, if we stay in Vegas overnight and don't want to spend a lot on a room, what hotel would you suggest? We don't gamble and really don't want to see anything then because we'll be back in Vegas for two days at the end of our trip.

 

[jlima]

Magix - If we drive straight through to Anaheim, how long would it take us? We arrive in Vegas at 4 on a Friday evening and don't want to drive at night any more than we have to. We like to sightsee too much. But, if we stay in Vegas overnight and don't want to spend a lot on a room, what hotel would you suggest? We don't gamble and really don't want to see anything then because we'll be back in Vegas for two days at the end of our trip.

Motel 6 on Tropicana.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Miss Daisy - check out South Point Casino Hotel to see whether thry have any specials and are in your price range.

 

[madcoco]

If you are looking to save money be aware, that rates can double or triple on a Friday or Sat (compared to midweek) at many of the hotels. Traffic will be busy leaving the airport area but once on I-15,most of the traffic will be heading into town.

 

[Magix]

If you leave Vegas around 4pm, you'd hit Anaheim at somewhere around 9pm (with a stop for food). There's not much to see between Vegas and Anaheim... just the world's tallest thermometer (which often doesn't work correctly) and lots of boring desert. I have a Vegas trip coming up in October and I'm already dreading the drive there and back. SO boring.

If you do stop in Barstow, you can eat at Peggy-Sue's 50's Diner, which is just before you come into town (traveling from Vegas). Fun place with great ice cream sundaes.

In Vegas, if you just need to stay for a night, I'd also recommend looking into South Point (as was suggested earlier in the thread). You can also try the Silverton Hotel. Both of those are on your way out of town, away from the strip. There are also 3 Marriott properties near the Silverton that are pretty new. You could also try The Orleans for nice off-strip hotel that's fairly freeway convenient. With those, you can enjoy some nice Vegas style without spoiling the Strip, which you'll see later on your trip.

I wouldn't suggest the Motel 6, but I'd never suggest a Motel 6. Stayed in too many of those over the years. Can't do it anymore. I would particularly not want to stay in one in Las Vegas.

 

[RudemanRB]

Vegas.com this site will pull up all the hotel rates.

I use it all the time. or try travelaxe.com as well.
what's nice about travelaxe is that it searches all the other travel websites for you and does a comparison.

Rudy

 

[LadyyRedd]

I think I'm the only one in the world that was NOT impressed by In N Out burger when I went to Cali.

Kimya