There are many things that are strictly American. There’s music like country, bluegrass, and folk, attending baseball and football games, foods such as hot dogs and apple pie, and cowboys, all of which are deeply rooted in our culture. And then there are road trips. The Great American Road Trip on which we travel great distances in search of adventure and to explore our gorgeous landscapes, states, and National and State parks. While one Great American Road Trip may involve driving cross-country, coast-to-coast like I did in my early 20s when I moved from Rhode Island to California, there’s one iconic route that also falls under that category.

If you haven’t yet guessed which iconic road I’m talking about, it’s Route 66. This route first opened to car traffic in 1926. The road began in Chicago, Illinois, and ended in Santa Monica, California, routing through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona along the way.

While once a major highway, Route 66 is now a road less traveled. It’s also quite nostalgic given the vast number of retro diners, motels, and roadside attractions along the way.

I’ve traveled along portions of Route 66 in Arizona, and it never fails to amaze me. I thoroughly enjoy stopping at roadside attractions that are truly a piece of Americana like Jack Rabbit Trading Post in Joseph City.

For those traveling along this iconic highway-turned-byway, Jack Rabbit Trading Post is a must-stop roadside attraction. It was first opened in 1949 by Jim Taylor who had a huge black rabbit statue that became quite a hit to road trip adventurers. It was a perfect photo op that still remains today. Another photo op here? The iconic “HERE IT IS” sign is painted bright yellow with an image of the black rabbit on it.

When you pop inside this trading post, you’ll find a vast inventory of Arizona and Route 66 souvenirs including t-shirts, jewelry, novelty items, and treats like cactus lollipops that can only be found in Arizona.

For a dose of nostalgia, you can’t miss stopping at Jack Rabbit Trading Post. Just look for the sign on Route 66 and you know you’ve arrived at a true piece of Americana.

Jack Rabbit Trading Post is located at 3386 U.S. Rt. 66 in Joseph City, Arizona. To learn more, visit the official Jack Rabbit Trading Post website along with its Facebook page.

Getting your kicks on Route 66 anytime soon? Take a look at our Ultimate Road Trip Packing List for all the things you’ll need on the drive.