Enjoy Some of Northern Arizona’s Quirkiest Roadside Attractions

Those of us who have traveled the Mother Road have surely seen the yellow signs with a silhouette of a jackrabbit along the way. These billboards, sprinkled along the route, showing how far it is to the trading post, may be the second most iconic landmarks next to the Route 66 sign itself. Since 1949, Jack Rabbit Trading Post has been a favorite roadside attraction to road trippers as the perfect stop to stretch their legs and pick up souvenirs. Today, it remains a fun stop along Route 66.

We all know the Eagles song. "Take It Easy" is one of those songs that evokes a sense of nostalgia, and there's no better place to satisfy that nostalgia than Standin' on the Corner Park. Here you can literally stand on a corner in Winslow, Arizona, and pay homage to the song and Route 66. The park is found at the intersection between of the Mother Road and Kinsley Avenue, and is ripe with photo ops. Since 1999, it's been a little slice of Americana you won't want to miss.

The Barringer Crater, or just "Meteor Crater," was created by a 300,000 ton meteorite that struck the earth in what is now Northern Arizona ver 50,000 years ago. The impact crater it left behind is 3/4-mile wide and 750 feet deep. And you need to see it for yourself to believe it. Taking my kids here was such an adventure, and they loved every minute of our visit. From museum exhibits about space and the meteorite that left a giant hole in the earth to venturing outside and hiking by the rim of the crater, well, it's out of this world. Along the rim of the crater are overlooks with scenic binoculars so you can get a closer look at the other sides of the crater.

Next stop on this two-day road trip is an overnight stay at the Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel. Located just off Route 66 through Williams, the town dubbed the "Gateway to the Grand Canyon," the hotel is within walking distance to downtown. As someone who has stayed here, I though the rooms were very comfortable and the hotel family-friendly with its indoor pool and outdoor train attractions, including a train depot where you an pick up tickets for a scenic day-long train ride to the Grand Canyon.

If possible, stay an extra night to do this—it's quite an adventure! There are also several dining options on the property or you can opt to dine somewhere close like Pine Country Restaurant which is known for its comfort food and indulgent selection of pies.

Wake up from a comfortable night at the Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel, grab some breakfast, and head on over to Pete's Route 66 Gas Station Museum. This tiny, two-room museum is inside an old Route 66 gas station built in 1949. It shares memorabilia, artifacts, and information on classic roadside gas stations along the Mother Road. There's also a small store where you can pick up mugs, t-shirts, and other souvenirs.

If you've ever wanted to feed and pet a deer, you'll have that chance with a visit to the Grand Canyon Deer Farm. Located on the outskirts of downtown Williams off Old Route 66, this farm and petting zoo has been around for more than 50 years and gives visitors animal encounters they otherwise wouldn't have. A path will take you through the farm's 10 acres where you'll see more than deer. Wallabies, peacocks, elk, llamas, goats, a camel, coatimundi, porcupines, a zonkey (that's a zebra and a donkey hybrid), bison, and other animals also call this place home. As for the deer, you can feed, pet, or walk with them. While this may seem like an experience kids will love, believe me, adults love it, too!

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Photo credits (from top to bottom): Owaki/Kulla/The Image Bank via Getty Images, Pgiam/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images via Getty Images, Pgiam/E+ via Getty Images, Photo by Melissa Mahoney/Only In Your State, Photo by Melissa Mahoney/Only In Your State, Wes Dickinson/Flickr