Help with Texas-California Excitement!?!

I'm sorry if this thread is somewhat redundant but I'm new to this website and really short on time and could use some of your very knowledgeable experience! We're bringing our daughter home from a Texas college (Waco) to California in 2 weeks and I'm really exhausted of the I-10 route to home in San Diego. I'm trying to make it thru the I-40 possibly with time to see Area-51, maybe some wigwam motels?, grand canyon, etc... Just tired of looking at West Texas on i-10. We'd also love 'foodie's' takes on great food stops along the way. Las Vegas is fine but we've been many times so it's more just the travels from Dallas onto San Diego that would offer the most interest. Hubby loves historical, 'biggest ball of twine', etc. and since this won't offer my beachside reading vacation - I just want some new scenery to enjoy. Any help would be Soooo appreciated.

If you go through Amarillo and you like great steaks, stop for dinner at the Big Texan.

The motel is all done up in the Old West motif, but it's not a particularly good value.

There is a wigwam hotel in Holbrook, AZ off I-40.

Welcome to the RTA Forum!

How much time do you have for this trip? Going up to I-40 shouldn't add too much time to your trip, but Area 51 would be a pretty long detour (and there really isn't much that you can see), and even Las Vegas would add a decent number of miles to your trip on top of the I-40 detour.

Painted Desert/Perified Forest would be among my favorites along the route, but there are lots of natural options, as well as touristy things that come with following the path of old route 66.