Route 66 Moriarty





 

Most people that know me know that I love American history. To learn about the past, and the rich history this country has is nothing short of amazing. However, it is one thing to get to read about historical events, as opposed to getting to visit these historical landmarks in person. Lucky for me that New Mexico is so rich in its history, and one aspect of that really excited me was to visit the Mother Road. Route 66, where all of America was Main Street with iconic hotels, diners, and attractions to make the road trip just as fun as the destination. On a recent trip to Moriarty, I decided it was time to take a little longer to get there, and instead of taking I-40 I got to experience Route 66 for the first time. 

After stopping for gas, I instantly knew that I was not at a typical rest stop you would find off a major highway. This was an actual truck stop complete with a sit-down restaurant where guests were enjoying a relaxing, scratch made meal, not rushing to get back on the road. Once back behind the wheel I found myself in awe and taken aback by the nostalgia of this town. The motels still around had the classic architecture “L” shape that all motels of this time had. In addition, there were gorgeous murals on the store fronts reminding guests of the heyday of Route 66. Moriarty is complete with a Route 66 Trading Post that sells more collectible toys than you could imagine and is a must visit when in the area. 

The drive back was a sad reminder of what happened to Route 66 when the major interstates were built. Abandoned buildings are still standing, and the signs are still visible of what was once there. The highlight of the Midway Trading Post and Indian Curios. The building is boarded up along with abandoned boxcars, and faded signs that only show a glimpse of what was once there. After what can only be described as an adventurous, and nostalgic day it was time to head home. 

Deciding to keep in the spirit of the day Route 66 was going to be taken as far as it would let me before I had to get onto I-40. Only a handful of words can describe it including relaxing, beautiful, and calm. So few cars take the mother road, and running parallel to I-40 is an interesting experience. You see construction cones for miles, more semi-trucks than you can count, and just the endless traffic of people in such a rush to get wherever. Once all was said and done taking a slower, more scenic route only added 10 minutes to my drive, and it was worth it. Route 66 is still alive in New Mexico. Moriarty is a great town to visit, and I can’t wait to explore all this road has to offer in New Mexico. 

To see photos of my adventures follow me on Instagram @the_nm_tx or tag me using #thenmtx
To support my adventures and get exclusive content check me out at www.patreon.com/thenmtx


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tap N Taco

Image
  When I first made the decision to move down here there were several things I was excited about. But near the top of the list was food, and to be more specific the great Mexican food. So how lucky was I to discover a place in Rio Rancho that not only serves great tacos, but also quesadillas, and has a great bar on the inside serving specialty cocktails, and craft beer? The answer is very lucky, and with a great variety to choose from at very affordable prices one of the great taco places I’ve tried is Tap N Taco. Located on Highway 528 in an old fast-food restaurant this place is worth seeking out. There is ample seating on the inside, as well as a beautiful outdoor patio with picnic tables for those beautiful New Mexico days. All the food is prepared right in front of you as you order, and the prices are all the same. $2.00 tacos, $6.00 quesadillas, and $7.00 baked potatoes/French fries. There are also five different proteins to choose from including al pastor, barbacoa, carne ...
Read more

Steel Bender Brewyard

Image
  New Mexico is a state that like many others loves their craft beer, and the variety of places to go continues to grow. Not only do a lot of these breweries produce a variety of high-quality beers, but also high-quality foods. One of the first places I discovered in Albuquerque was actually in Los Ranchos where if you blink you will drive right by it. But keep an eye out because it is totally worth the visit for a bite or pint. Of course, the I am talking about Steel Bender Brewyard, a brewery that embodies a strong sense of the community around them. When you first drive up you find yourself in disbelief of how large this building is. With the massive branded silo that lets you know you found the right place. The inside is just as big with its large bar, and ample seating, but the place to sit is on its patio. With small tables for intimate groups, or large picnic tables for big groups the patio is far enough back that the traffic isn’t a bother, and guests can relax with a pin...
Read more

New Food Trucks

Image
  The past few weeks have been a great time to be a food lover in and around Albuquerque. We have been lucky enough to have 2 great new food trucks open, and both are unique with what they are offering. Even more lucky for me is that I have been able to try both and was very impressed by both. Love at First Slice: If there is one food I have been missing since I moved down here it is a good pizza. While I have had some good ones, there is always room for another good one. Thankfully Love at First Slice makes a great pizza, that is also wood fired. While the menu is extensive, and in addition to pizza they also offer wood-fired sandwiches, I opted for pizza. I went simple, but also ordered one of my favorites and ordered the Margherita. It was a delicious pizza that had so many great flavors going on. The crust was slightly charred, the cheese melted perfectly, and the tomatoes and basil added a great bite of freshness. I was very happy with my order and can’t wait to explore mor...
Read more