Monrovia, CA

Monrovia has several Route 66 sites.

On Shamrock Ave is Dale's Garage, which is a vintage gas station with well-preserved antique gas pumps.

The 1924 Aztec Hotel is said to be one of the best examples of Mayan revival architecture. So, you would think it would have been named the Mayan Hotel. In any event, it is being remodeled. It has an old time fan system where all the fans operate off of a single drive belt. The restaurant and bar have reopened. The rest of the hotel is still under construction.

Perhaps the best part of Monrovia is the buildings along Foothill Blvd. They all look like they must have looked 40 years ago when Route 66 was thriving. They are small well-kept homes in neighborhoods so safe that grade school children can walk home unattended. There are scores of successful businesses in vintage storefronts. It's a jump back in time to the days of Ward, June, Wally and the Beaver.