8/1/2026 - Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area - Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center

Today me and my mom went to the Tucson Jewish Museum and Holocaust Center.  I learned a lot about the Jewish community.  There were a lot of people that were Jewish that started some of the towns in Arizona.  They talked about the history and saw some really cool things.  They had an area where they talked about the Holocaust where millions of people got killed.  There was a lot of pictures of people that were connected to the Tucson community.  I didn't really know that it was really bad time.

I got the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area stamp there to add to my collection.

Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center

10/8/2022 - Four Corners (Arizona/Utah/Colorado/New Mexico)

On this trip around Arizona and New Mexico with my dad I got to see the Four Corners.  Where we got to stand if four different states: Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico.  There are little booths around the area where you can buy things from the different states.  It was fun going there with my dad.  We had Navajo Tacos which were very good.

Color Me National Parks Series - Grand Canyon National Park

This year for my birthday I got Color Me National Parks from my friend Jenn.  I decided to do a series of my park color pages.

Grand Canyon National Park another park I colored.

So far in my lifetime I have been to the Grand Canyon National Park four times located in Arizona.

In the 1980's after moving from Illinois.

In 11/3/2007, mom won a train trip up to the Grand Canyon.

In 7/29/2020, we went up there during Covid.  It was quiet.

In 9/16/2022, This time was a totally different experience of a trip.

7/1992 - Pony Express National Historic Trail

 

In the summer of 1992, me, my dad Bob and stepmom Cathy went to Nebraska to see some parks.  We stopped at Rock Creek Station State Historical Park.  It is one of the stops for the Pony Express NHT.

Pony Express National Historic Trail (U.S. National Park Service)

Color Me National Parks Series - Denali National Park and Preserve

 This year for my birthday I got Color Me National Parks from my friend Jenn.  I decided to do a series of my park color pages.

Denali National Park and Preserve is the first park I colored.

I went to Denali NP&P in summer 8/1986.  My dad used to live in Alaska at the time.  I don't remember that much about the trip, but I do remember the train ride to the park.

1980's - Golden Gate National Recreation Area

 

We used to visit some friends that lived on the outskirts of San Francisco.  This is one of the times we got to see the Golden Gate bridge from an afar.

Golden Gate National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)

3/23/2026 - Barstow, California (Route 66)

 

Mojave River Valley Museum

Casa del Desierto Harvey House, The Barstow Harvey House was built at Barstow station in 1911.  It was used for the Santa Fe railroad station in 1975.

El Rancho Motel - 

100 units

100 private baths

$5.00 - 10.00

tv

telephones

showers

most air conditioned (some air cooled)

11 units with limited kitchenette privileges

restaurant & cocktail lounge

heated swimming pool

Route 66 Monument

Imperial 400 Motel, now Best Motel

Had a characteristic butterfly sun flap roof or gull-wing shaped roof. Space Age Googie style design typical of that period.

Vagabond Motor Hotel, now it is Economy Inn Motel

67 luxury units. Free TV. Room phones...customized furniture... Your midway stop between Los Angeles and Las Vegas

Town and Country Motel, now it is Econo Lodge

30 units

full-tile showers

swimming pool

Desert Inn

Opened 1956 with 97 units

singles to suites at reasonable rates.

TV, Refrigerated air

excellent food & cocktail lounge adjoining

Hillcrest Motel, now Budget Inn

In the 1950s, it was 15 units and one-story office

The 1970s motel had 17 units.

Original building is still there

Cactus Motel

A nicely furnished 13-unit motel

Some fully equipped kitchenettes

TV

Individually controlled heat and air-conditioning

Restaurant and shopping center nearby

Stardust Inn - cool sign

Village Hotel and Cafe

Village Hotel Fine Accommodation

Lowest Rates

Air Conditioned

The Route 66 Motel

dates back to 1922 when it was the Barstow Auto Court

14 family units.

16 hotel units

kitchenettes

The Torches Motel

Began as the Hollon Motel and changed its name to Torches Motel

New, modern, hotel-type air-cooled units

One-half block to cafes, theatre and drug stores

When it changed names, it had

15-units

T-V

A/C

Heated Pool

free coffee

pets

at door parking

Nites Inn Motel

3/23/2026 - Mojave National Preserve Headquarters

 When we got to Barstow we stopped at the Mojave National Preserve Headquarters to get some stamps for my collection.  This is what I got for the Mojave National Preserve.  I went to the Mojave National Preserve in 1/2022 but didn't get the stamps.

I also got a stamp for Castle Mountains National Monument.  This monument is on the outskirts of the Mojave.  There is no visitor center to stop at.

3/23/2026 - Lunch at Ludlow Cafe in Ludlow, CA (Route 66)

 

We stopped in the little town Ludlow, CA on Route 66.  We ate at Ludlow Cafe.  It was a small restaurant and friendly atmosphere.  If you have a Route 66 passport they do have a stamp.

I had a sandwich and my mom had something.  It was very good.  There were little artifacts around to look at inside and outside.

3/23/2026 - Amboy, California (Route 66)

 The next little town was Amboy on Route 66.  What we saw was Roy's Cafe & Motel.  You might recognize this place.  It has been in commercials and some movies.

This was a cafe, motel and gas station. This was 6 cottage rooms motel.  Here is the reception office to check in and you can into the rooms.

The cafe building is still there.  Now it has souvenirs and snacks to purchase.