Route 66 Adventure: Day 11 – Holbrook to Seligman – Coffee Hunts, Standing on Corners, and the Grand Canyon Detour

Day 11 kicked off with our first mission of the day: coffee. As you know by now, coffee is essential for Lia's survival on this trip, so we started at the local Speedway gas station. While I was pumping the fuel and got my Red Bull, Lia went for her coffee. What could possibly go wrong, right? Well, turns out the coffee machine was having a little nap (i.e. cleaning itself) and refused to dispense any caffeine. You’d think this was America, right? Where's the coffee when you need it? We searched the entire town of Holbrook—zero luck. So, off we went on our quest for caffeine, driving through four towns before we found a place that actually served coffee. At this point, Lia was practically jittery just from the search!

Jack Rabbit Trading Post – The Route 66 Treasure Hunt

Finally, we found Jack Rabbit Trading Post, which we’d been seeing signs for all along the route. These yellow signs with a rabbit on them mark the way to this quirky little stop. If you’ve collected photos of the signs and bought something from the shop, you can spin a wheel to win a prize. We didn’t know about the prize wheel, so alas, we were not prize winners on this day. Still, we picked up some fun bits and bobs for the road and continued our journey, with coffee still on our minds.

Brunch in Winslow – “Take It Easy”

Next stop: Winslow, AZ. If you know the song Take It Easy by The Eagles, you know exactly where we’re heading. We stopped at Flatbed Ford Café for a well-deserved brunch. I went for the Southwestern Skillet, which was absolutely delicious, and the ladies at the café were absolutely lovely. If you’re ever in Winslow, this is the place to eat!

After brunch, we did what you’ve got to do in Winslow—stood on the corner. Yes, I really did stand on the corner in Winslow, Arizona. It was an absolute laugh and a must-do for any Eagles fan. We explored the shops, took plenty of photos, and really soaked in the atmosphere of this Route 66 town.

Walnut Canyon Monument – A Stinger of a Moment

Our next stop was Walnut Canyon Monument, where Lia added another stamp to her National Parks passport. As she walked through the monument, she encountered a video of a wasp that stung a spider to paralyse it, so it could lay eggs inside the still-alive spider. Yikes! On that note, we quickly moved on.

Flagstaff – Mufflerman and a Quick Stop for a Passport Stamp

We then made a quick stop in Flagstaff, where we visited the Mufflerman at Northern Arizona University. This quirky roadside attraction is a massive Mufflerman statue holding an axe, and it made for a perfect photo op. If you’re into giant statues holding tools, this is your place.

A Detour to the Grand Canyon

Feeling adventurous, we took a slight detour to the Grand Canyon. It only took about an hour to get there from Williams, and although we’ve both been before, we felt like we needed to see it again. We parked up and walked to the visitor’s centre, only to find it closed. Sigh—but luckily, the park’s shop was open for Lia to grab another stamp for her National Park passport. We even managed to grab a couple of stickers for my suitcase before heading out along the South Rim for a walk. The views were, as expected, stunning, with clear blue skies and the temperature a comfortable 23°C. I even called Mike to give him a FaceTime tour of the canyon, because why not show off such an amazing sight?

Seligman – Neon Lights and Route 66 Vibes

After soaking in the beauty of the Grand Canyon, we made our way back to Williams, then onto Seligman for the night. We arrived around 6pm, checked into the motel, and then headed straight out to the Road Kill Café for dinner. The menu was hilarious, and I opted for the Elk Melt, which was absolutely delicious. Our waitress was funny and had some great banter, which made the whole experience even better.

By the time we finished dinner, it was dusk, and we couldn’t resist heading out to catch some of the neon lights in Seligman. The neon signs were the essence of Route 66—it really felt like we were getting a true taste of the highway’s history.

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Tomorrow, we’re back on Route 66, ready for more quirky stops and the next leg of this unforgettable adventure. Stay tuned! 🚗💨