The colour blue is capable of expressing all sorts of things – sadness, tranquility, spirituality and even refreshment! For us, blue is most representative of the sea and sky and stands for freedom and adventure.
These are the values we take with us on our tours along Route 66 – embracing the open sky and the glistening waters at the end of the road. So, we thought we'd take a look at three of the best "blue" experiences you can have on tour with us.
1. The Blue Hole, Santa Rosa
A real-life oasis, The Blue Hole is named after its vibrant sapphire colour and the sheer miracle of its presence in the desert-scape of New Mexico.
The watering hole is one of seven sister lakes connected deep underground by a vast natural network of water-filled caverns. It's this interconnection which allows the water to refresh itself every six hours, providing clean and clear waters with 30 metres of visibility. Despite the constant flow, the Santa Rosa county claims The Blue Hole's water is a stable 16 degrees Celsius, so it's always the perfect temperature for a dip on a hot summer's day.
The Blue Hole is located directly on the original alignment of Route 66 in the small town of Santa Rosa, New Mexico.
2. Blue Swallow Motel
Little of the Blue Swallow Motel is actually blue. Save for its name and its iconic sign, the building itself is actually pink.
However, we couldn't look past this integral piece of Route 66's folklore. The motel was opened in Tucumcari, 1942, and became a staple of Route 66 when it changed hands to Lillian Redman and her husband in the 1950s. From the start, the Redmans cared deeply for their customers – offering board in exchange for personal effects or even sometimes for free when weary travellers were unable to afford shelter.
Tragically, the Blue Swallow was one of the many Route 66 businesses to suffer with the arrival of the Interstate 40, which bypassed Tucumcari completely. Lillian claimed that when the new highway came in, she felt as though she had lost a friend.
After almost 50 years of service, Lillian sold the motel in the 1990s. Shortly after, it was added to a registry of historic places and to this day continues to operate a popular overnight destination for anyone seeking a bit of American history.
3. Bikes, Blues & BBQs
For all lovers of motorcycles, soulful music and a good simple, barbecue, our Bikes, Blues & BBQs tour is one of the best ways to enjoy Route 66.
Our support vans will carry your luggage while you take to the open road on your bike, stopping along the way to enjoy the annual titular event. Ride alongside like-minded people, experiencing the best of the southern states.
For enquiries into the best American road trips, get in touch with us today.
