{"id":348267,"date":"2025-12-17T15:33:49","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T15:33:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/uncategorized\/a-unique-dog-friendly-detour-on-route-66-solo-travel-girls-adventures\/"},"modified":"2025-12-17T15:33:49","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T15:33:49","slug":"a-unique-dog-friendly-detour-on-route-66-solo-travel-girls-adventures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=348267","title":{"rendered":"A Unique Dog-Friendly Detour on Route 66 \u2013 Solo Travel Girl’s Adventures"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Disclosure: Some posts on this blog may contain affiliate links. As an\u00a0Amazon Associate<\/a>, I may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.<\/em><\/p>\n

Portable generator, check. Dog food, check. Spray paint, check. These were just a few of the essentials I packed for a two-week summer road trip with my pup, Radcliff. Our final destination: the healing landscapes of Colorado. But first, we made a colorful pitstop in Amarillo, Texas, to cross Cadillac Ranch off my bucket list\u2014just in time for the lead-up to Route 66\u2019s Centennial in 2026.<\/p>\n

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\"Cadillac
Cadillac Ranch located on the original Route 66 in Amarillo, Texas; June 30, 2025.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

A Colorful Detour: Why Cadillac Ranch Made the Cut<\/h2>\n

Sure, there was a more direct route between Southwest Florida and Colorado, but a whimsical detour to Cadillac Ranch wasn\u2019t too far out of the way. As a passionate road tripper, traveling Route 66\u2019s entire 2,448 miles has been a goal. The iconic highway was commissioned in 1926 and weaves through eight states between Chicago and Los Angeles. Interestingly, the Mother Road was decommissioned in 1985 when it was removed from the United States Highway System and replaced by parts of the Interstate Highway System.<\/p>\n

Having lived and worked in Death Valley, Everglades, and Yellowstone National Parks, I\u2019ve crisscrossed the country a few times while driving a bit of Route 66. A sucker for celebratory moments \u2013 like next year\u2019s Centennial \u2013 I decided to get my kicks and a little splash of color in Amarillo.<\/p>\n

Radcliff and I rolled in late, grabbed a good night\u2019s rest at a Red Roof Inn <\/a>(always pet-friendly<\/a>) and woke up relatively early to an overcast morning, ready to take on the day, Cadillac Ranch.<\/p>\n

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\"Radcliff
Radcliff taking a peek inside a car at Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo, Texas; June 30, 2025.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Radcliff
Radcliff chilling at Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo, Texas; June 30, 2025.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

Spray Paint & Paw Prints: Radcliff\u2019s First Art Installation<\/h2>\n

Goosebumps tingled up my back and down my arms as we rolled over the graffitied road and parked by the entrance gate at around 8:30 a.m. For years I\u2019ve heard about and seen photos of Cadillac Ranch and dreamed of visiting. Finally, the day arrived.<\/p>\n

In the middle of what looks like a wheat field, a broad dirt path leads to 10 vintage autos, nose-down in a straight line in the earth. The art collective, Ant Farm, created Cadillac Ranch in 1974. Each Cadillac represents a different model from 1949 to 1963 tilting at the same angle as the Great Pyramid of Giza.<\/p>\n

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\"Layered
Layered paint on a car at Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo, Texas; June 30, 2025.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Visitors\u2014including creative canines\u2014are invited to leave their mark by spray painting the cars. If you don\u2019t bring your own cans of spray paint, like I did, you can try your luck and hope someone leaves a can or two behind (there were several) or find a kind visitor (like me) who gifts you their leftover paint.<\/p>\n

I was so focused on visiting this iconic Route 66 attraction that I didn\u2019t give much thought as to what I\u2019d paint on a car. Graffiti isn\u2019t something I\u2019ve done before. Now that I was there and I was soaking up the layers of paint and vibrant colors, my creativity stalled. I went with \u201cSolo Travel Girl,\u201d and Radcliff patiently watched as I first painted a rectangle in yellow and then spraying the letters in teal. Posing for a selfie, I admired my amateur work knowing it would soon be covered by someone else\u2019s temporary art.<\/p>\n

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\"Okay,
Okay, it\u2019s hard to see my spray-painting talents, but they\u2019re there! Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo, Texas; June 30, 2025.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Layers of Legacy: Reflections on the Painted Cadillac<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s mind-blowing thinking about all the people who\u2019ve visited this quirky attraction over the years. Looking closely at the cars, I could see the layers of paint and in one small section, the paint was cut away and I saw what looked like a three-dimensional rainbow. It resembled viewing a mountain cross-section, with each sediment layer marking a distinct era. Wow.<\/p>\n

Our time was short because we needed to make it to our Colorado destination well before sunset so I could set up camp. As we walked back to the car, more people arrived, eager to leave behind their creative mark. A trailer had set up shop, selling spray paint and souvenirs. More cars lined up the roadway and I was glad we arrived before 9 a.m.<\/p>\n

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\"The
The \u201cSecond Amendment Cowboy\u201d at the Cadillac Ranch Gift Shop, Amarillo, Texas; June 30, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Photo fun at the Cadillac Ranch Gift Shop in Amarillo, Texas; June 30, 2025.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

Howdy, Cowboy!<\/h2>\n

On the way out, I noticed a very tall cowboy sculpture, so we went to check him out. Standing at 22 feet, he\u2019s the \u201cSecond Amendment Cowboy\u201d<\/a>, wearing a yellow shirt, blue jeans, white cowboy hat and cowboy boots. Two six shooter barbecue grills flank him on either side. He\u2019s a Muffler Man, one of several fiberglass Muffler Men placed along Route 66 between 1963 and 1972. Behind him are three 1959\/1960 Cadillacs on ramps with a mannequin sitting in each driver seat. They represent Elvis, John Wayne and Willie Nelson. There\u2019s a gift shop (which wasn\u2019t open) and fun photo opportunities.<\/p>\n

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\""Route
\u201cRoute 66: 100 Years<\/a>\u201c, edited by Jim Hinkley<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\""The
\u201cThe Route 66 Cookbook: The Best Recipes from Every Stop Along the Way<\/a>,\u201d by Linday Ly<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

Route 66 Reads: Two Books to Inspire Your Trip<\/h2>\n

Our time enjoying this Route 66 attraction was brief and I hope we find our way back next year to celebrate the Centennial. In preparation of the celebration, here are two new books about Route 66 that I\u2019m aware of and worthy of checking out.<\/p>\n

Route 66 Reflections: Jim Hinckley\u2019s Centennial Tribute<\/h3>\n

The first is \u201cRoute 66: 100 Years,\u201d curated by veteran Route 66 author and historian Jim Hinckley with contributions from a panel of Mother Road historians.<\/p>\n

Highlights about this book:<\/em><\/p>\n