June 10, 2018 Sedona to Gallup via Winslow & Holbrook, AZ
We left Sedona this morning, heading north toward Flagstaff and back onto Route 66.
The iconic Bell Rock, near the southern end of Sedona, rises up in its orange sandstone beauty.
I don’t know the name of this rock formation, but it is at the northern end of Sedona.
We passed the exit for Meteor Crater (I-40 Exit 233) because we had been there before (If you have never been to Meteor Crater, it is well worth a visit – quite a spectacular round depression in the middle of the desert. I have included the link above.)
(Photo downloaded from the Meteor Crater website).
…and continued on to Winslow, Arizona.
Entering Winslow on Route 66, this sculpture is one of the first things you see. Falling Meteor #2 was created by Jerry Peart and donated to the people of Winslow.
…made famous by the Eagles’ song Take It Easy: “I’m standin’ on the corner in Winslow, Arizona…” Of course, Winslow has capitalized on this fame, with an entire area surrounding the corner of 2nd St. (Route 66) and Kinsley Ave. dedicated to tourist traps, eateries and photo opps!
On the now-famous corner, there is a life-sized statue of a young man with his guitar standing in front of a life-sized mural showing the “girl in a flatbed Ford” in a window’s reflection. 
In 2016, a bronze statue of Glen Frey (Eagles co-founder) was added after his untimely death earlier that year.
The corner property at 2nd & Kinsley was donated for use as a park by the Kaufman family, who have lived in Winslow for 5 generations.
Bricks have been donated to raise funds for the restoration of the mural.
Down the street, there is a walkway lined with commercial businesses where the “world’s smallest church” is located.
15 miles east of Winslow (if on I-40, it is exit 269 at 3386 Old Hwy 66) is the Jack Rabbit Trading Post. It was opened in 1949, and the owners, in order to make their shop stand out from hundreds of others, placed “Jack Rabbit” signs up to 1,000 miles away which told how many miles it was to the shop. When you get there, there’s a huge sign that says “Here It Is!”
Inside this store one can find almost anything related to Route 66 as well as fine Indian jewelry and crafts and other unusual souvenirs.
I ended up buying four small kachinas to add to my (growing) collection! Outside the shop stands a huge fiberglass rabbit with a saddle – kids, get up and ride on him! It makes a fun photo opp!
The façade of the shop has weathered murals featuring Southwestern Native American designs…
…and this jack rabbit mosaic, on the ground in front of the main entrance.
Leaving the Jack Rabbit Trading Post, it is only a short distance to Holbrook, with another of only 3 remaining Wigwam Motels. Of course, we didn’t stay there because we had stayed at the one in San Bernardino and it was still mid-afternoon. However, weary travelers can find the Wigwam Motel of Holbrook, Arizona (I-40 Exit 285 & 286) at 811 W. Hopi Dr. (Junction of Hwy 180 and Historic Route 66). The price is right and it is a unique experience to stay in one of the last of this dying chain!
In the Petrified Forest National Park, 25 miles east of Holbrook, is the Painted Desert Inn. Because of the beauty of this inn and the national park, I took many photos, so I will publish it in a separate post.
Wanderlust & Wonderment 
Pretty cool! Though now I will have that song stuck in my head 🙂