California to North Carolina

[Jasonb2000]

Me and a buddy are embarking on our first cross country journey from Santa Maria, CA to Asheville, NC in my 1986 Mazda b2000. We will be sleeping in the truck(camper shell attached) to save money but we would like to stop at a few great destinations along the way without getting too far off of I-40. The Grand Canyon definitely but other than that, does anyone have any ideas of routes to take, places to stop, things to see, anything at all would be extremely helpful.

[PNW Judy]

Just off the top of my head:

Gallup, NM, for some great Route 66 kitsch and architecture. The El Rancho Hotel is worth a stop. This "home of the stars" has tons of great photos of movie stars who stayed there while filiming.

Albuquerque...the Olde Town section is very cool.

Tucamcari, NM...not sure if I spelled that right. Another place with great old Route 66 architecture and neon.

Cline's Corner in NM. Just a fun, tourist stop for gas, food, souveniers. A remnant of the heyday of Route 66 that has survived and still does a booming business.

The Meteor Crater just a couple hours east of Flagstaff, AZ.

Painted Desert NP in AZ

Holbrook, AZ - lots of fun kitsch! Check out all the dinoaurs and the Wigwam Hotel.

[Syv]

Oklahoma City - bombing memorial

If you are "into" country music & all, of course you are going right through Memphis & Nashville....