Day 10 began with an early morning drive through Albuquerque—which, as it was Sunday, meant the roads were nice and quiet. No rush, no parking woes, just the open road and plenty of opportunities to stop for photos without getting beeped at by the cars behind us. But, as with every road trip, things were never going to be that simple. We stumbled across a Burger King and Starbucks that were cordoned off with police tape. Turns out, there had been a homicide a few hours earlier, and the homicide team was on site investigating. You can read about it here. Not quite the morning I was expecting, but it added a bit of unplanned drama to the day.
The Quest for the New Mexico State Biscuit
Now, Lia has been talking about the New Mexico State Biscuit for days (yes, this is a thing here, and no, I had no idea it was a thing until now). Apparently, the best ones are made at a specific shop, Celinas Biscochitos—but of course, it was closed on a Sunday. Naturally, we embarked on a wild biscuit hunt, hoping to track down these elusive treats. After a bit of searching, we found a shop opening at 9am. They had two flavours of biscochitos, which was a decent start, but not the magical experience we were hoping for. More on that later...
Petroglyph National Monument – A Stamping Good Time
Next, we ventured to the Petroglyph National Monument (Petroglyph National Monument Website), where Lia was in her element, adding another stamp to her National Parks Passport. This trip has been a dual passport affair, with us collecting stamps for both the Route 66 journey and Lia’s National Parks collection. She’s been loving it—each stop is a chance to talk to the locals, who seem genuinely delighted when we bring out our passports for stamping and a chat.
The Search for the Perfect Biscochito
Onward to Grants – Route 66 Shield Photo Ops
We reluctantly left Albuquerque and headed west, making a quick stop in Grants to snap a few photos under some cool Route 66 shields. It’s one of those classic Route 66 traditions—get a picture under a giant shield, feel like you’re really living the dream. The shield didn’t disappoint.
El Rancho Hotel in Gallup – A Star-Studded Stop
Our next highlight was the legendary El Rancho Hotel in Gallup, a real Route 66 gem. The hotel has hosted John Wayne, Shirley Temple, Henry Fonda, and many more famous faces from the '40s and '50s. Although we didn’t stay the night, we made sure to stop for a late lunch. I mean, how can you pass up the chance to eat where movie stars once did? It was well worth the stop.
Petrified Forest National Park – Ancient History and Stunning Views
The afternoon was filled with breathtaking scenery as we drove through the Petrified Forest National Park (Petrified Forest National Park Website). We drove through most of it, taking in the stunning views and stopping at various points along the way. We even made a stop for a photo with one of the last remnants of Route 66, an old Studebaker car that once cruised through this park. I’ll let the photos do the talking, but trust me, it’s as amazing as it sounds. The views in this park are jaw-dropping.
Wigwam Motel in Holbrook – Sleeping in a Teepee
Finally, we made it to Holbrook, where we checked in at the Wigwam Motel (Wigwam Motel Website), an absolute must for any Route 66 traveller. I mean, where else can you sleep in a teepee? We arrived around 5pm, unpacked the car, and headed across the road to Safeway for some fried chicken and dinner supplies. We then returned to our teepee for a cosy night in, blogging, watching movies, and, of course, reflecting on another amazing day of Route 66 adventures.
Tomorrow, we continue our journey down Route 66, exploring more quirky stops and collecting more memories. Stay tuned for more fun, food, and all the randomness Route 66 has to offer!
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