Albuquerque, NM

If you came into Albuquerque from Santa Fe on the pre-1937 route, you will be coming in on 4th St, which has many vintage motels, restaurants and other buildings. The El Camino Motel and the El Camino Dining Room across the street stand out.

If you came into Albuquerque on Central Avenue there is more to see. Central Avenue is the main drag for Route 66 in Albuquerque. There are three basic sections.

The first section is East Central Ave, which has lots of vintage hotels and other buildings, many of which are in good condition. As you get closer to town, the traffic will increase as you go through the University of New Mexico. There are a lot of bars and restaurants on this portion of Central, and it has a real college feel.

The second section is Downtown Central Avenue, which is the heart of Albuquerque's Route 66. Be sure to see the unique KiMo Theatre.

The Library has long been a biker favorite. It has cold beer and scantily clad bartenders and waitresses dressed in school girl outfits.

Knockouts Gentlemens Club is across the street. It has lots of dancers, and the lap dances are only $5.00 (this is not a typo!). For $10.00 you can get a better dance.

Both the Library and Knockouts no longer allow patches. Apparently, at a biker rally in the summer of 2011 there were a couple of brawls, and patches were banned in these clubs.

IDon't miss the 66 Diner and Route 66 Association of New Mexico at 1405 Central Ave.

The 1939 La Posada Hotel is where Conrad Hilton married Zsa Zsa Gabor. It gets some mixed reviews, mainly because of its expense and loud music played in the lobby at night. I've stayed there a few times and always liked it.

The Villa de Casa Restaurant has been around a long time and serves good Italian food at a good price.

One of the 12 Madonna of the Trail Statues put up by the Daughters of the American Revolution in the 1920s is in Downtown Albuquerque. There are two along Route 66. The other is in Upland, CA.

Old Town on the West side of Central is the third part of Albuquerque's Route 66. It is not as busy as East Central, but it has nicer motels and restaurants. It is an interesting ride through this historic section of Albuquerque. The Newly renovated El Vado, Monyerey and El Don Motels have revitalized this part of Albuquerque.

You have a choice when you leave Albuquerque. You can take the pre-1937 route out of town of 4th St, which will take you through a bunch of old neighborhoods before getting to Correo and joining I-40 to Mesita, or you can take the post 1937 route out West Central and the Frontage Road to Rio Puerco, where you will join I-40 to Mesita.

The pre-1937 route takes a little more time, but it is worth it because you will pass by a bunch of classic Route 66 sites. These include the Red Ball Cafe' (home of the Wimpy Burger since 1922), a 1950s Dairy Queen and the Blue Castle Auto. There also is a giant statue of the Roadrunner.