The Corridors: the Route 66 from Los Angeles to Chicago

Los Angeles sprawls along the Pacific coast amid sun-drenched hills, palm trees and endless freeways, a centreless metropolis with a thousand different souls and the undisputed world capital of cinema and entertainment. To explore Los Angeles is to cross neighbourhoods that feel like separate universes: in Hollywood the Walk of Fame threads its stars along the pavement and the Dolby Theatre hosts Oscar night, while the famous Hollywood Sign looks down over the city from Mount Lee. Downtown blends soaring skyscrapers, Frank Gehry's gleaming Walt Disney Concert Hall and the creative buzz of the Arts District, packed with murals, galleries and cafés. The artistic heart beats along the Miracle Mile, home to the LACMA with its iconic street lamps, and on the hills of Brentwood, where the Getty Center holds European masterpieces with breathtaking city views. A more laid-back California unfolds towards the coast: at Santa Monica, with its historic pier and Ferris wheel over the Pacific, and in bohemian Venice Beach, a realm of skaters, street performers and bodybuilders along the boardwalk. Further south, Malibu lines up golden beaches and oceanfront mansions, while Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive embody luxury and high-end shopping. The food scene is a kaleidoscope, from Mexican taco trucks to gourmet restaurants, the stalls of Grand Central Market and the flavours of Koreatown and Little Tokyo. Nearby lie the theme parks of Universal Studios and Disneyland, and just a few hours' drive leads to deserts, mountains or inland vineyards. Dreamy and full of contradictions, blessed by sunshine almost year-round, Los Angeles is a city to be lived on the road, between glamour, ocean and the eternal promise of the Californian dream.

Santa Monica stretches along the Pacific Ocean, west of Los Angeles, and is the beachside icon of Southern California. Its famous pier, the Santa Monica Pier, hosts the historic carousel and the Pacific Park Ferris wheel, ideally marking the end of the legendary Route 66. Along the beach, cyclists and skaters glide down the Ocean Front Walk to Venice Beach, while the Third Street Promenade teems with shops, street performers and restaurants. The Montana Avenue district offers elegant boutiques, and sunsets over the ocean deliver the golden light that made the Californian coast famous. Between surf, palms and a relaxed atmosphere, Santa Monica embodies the carefree, luminous spirit of life on the Pacific.

You cross the Mojave Desert dotted with Joshua Trees (a variety of yucca), between canyons, hills, mesas, dunes, volcanic ash cones, and, in the very short spring, expanses of wildflowers: an oasis of solitude between metropolises. Las Vegas rises like a luminous mirage in the Mojave Desert, the world capital of entertainment, where excess becomes spectacle and the night never ends. Its pulsing artery is the Strip, the famous Las Vegas Boulevard lined with themed resorts that recreate the planet's great icons in miniature: at the Bellagio, fountains dance in choreographies of water and music before an artificial lake; the Paris Las Vegas is crowned by a replica of the Eiffel Tower; at the Venetian, gondoliers glide along Venetian-style canals beneath painted skies; at the Luxor, a black glass pyramid and a great sphinx evoke ancient Egypt, while the Mirage and the other gaming giants animate the scene with dazzling casinos. By night the city becomes a continuous stage: Cirque du Soleil shows, concerts, magic acts and residencies by major stars fill the theatres, while celebrated restaurants and gaming tables keep the metropolis awake until dawn. A short distance away, historic Downtown preserves the city's original face around the Fremont Street Experience, a pedestrian arcade canopied by a barrel vault of LED lights that brings the old Las Vegas back to life amid vintage neon signs and a more intimate atmosphere. Yet Las Vegas is also the gateway to magnificent natural landscapes: nearby, the Hoover Dam blocks the Colorado River to create Lake Mead, an ideal basin for boating and outdoor activities; Red Rock Canyon offers red sandstone formations crossed by trails and climbing walls; the Valley of Fire sets the desert ablaze with scarlet rock; and to the east opens the immensity of the Grand Canyon, one of the most beloved day trips. The city's most theatrical tradition is here too, that of the wedding chapels where couples marry in minutes, now an integral part of its legend. Between lights, desert and desire, Las Vegas remains a place where anything seems possible.

The road crosses the Mojave Desert and follows part of the historic Route 66, passing through the towns of Kingman and Seligman, before entering the Kaibab National Forest and the canyon region. Kingman proclaims itself the "heart of historic Route 66," preserving the longest still-drivable stretch of America's legendary Mother Road, in northwestern Arizona. Set between the Mojave Desert and the Hualapai Mountains, it is a nostalgic stop for anyone chasing the myth of the open road: the Route 66 Museum, neon signs, and vintage diners recall the golden age of the automobile. From here you can reach spectacular destinations such as Grand Canyon West with the vertiginous Hualapai Skywalk, the Hoover Dam, and Lake Mead, as well as the ghost town of Oatman, where wild burros wander the streets. Seligman lines historic Route 66, on the northern Arizona plateau, and is famous as the town that helped revive the legendary Mother Road. A small village of retro charm, it shows off vintage signs, old cars and shops celebrating the golden age of American road travel. It is a must-stop for Route 66 enthusiasts heading to the Grand Canyon. Seligman is a nostalgic plunge into America on the road. The South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park is the most visited side of one of the planet's most famous natural wonders, in Arizona. From here open dizzying vistas over the immense gorge carved by the Colorado River, over 1,600 metres deep and up to 29 kilometres wide. Grand Canyon Village, the historic El Tovar Hotel and overlooks such as Mather Point and Yavapai Point offer unforgettable views. Trails like the Bright Angel Trail descend toward the river. A geological spectacle and UNESCO World Heritage Site, the South Rim leaves visitors breathless.

You enter the Kaibab National Forest early on, an extensive forest of Ponderosa pines, Douglas firs, aspens, and junipers. Williams bills itself as the “gateway to the Grand Canyon”, a small northern Arizona town that proudly preserves the authentic atmosphere of Route 66. It was here that the last stretch of the legendary Mother Road was officially bypassed, and today its Main Street comes alive with neon signs, 1950s diners, vintage shops and period motels. From Williams departs the historic Grand Canyon Railway, which in just over two hours carries travelers to the South Rim of the planet’s most spectacular canyon. Surrounded by the ponderosa pine forests of the Kaibab National Forest, the town also offers tranquil lakes for fishing and trails deep in nature. Between the retro charm of America on the road and the grandeur of its scenery, Williams is an unforgettable stop. Holbrook is a classic town on historic Route 66, in northeastern Arizona, gateway to the striking Petrified Forest National Park. Here stands the famous Wigwam Motel, with its concrete tepee-shaped rooms, an icon of American road nostalgia. The nearby park holds vividly coloured petrified logs and the lunar landscapes of the Painted Desert. Between fossils, vintage motels and Mother Road memorabilia, Holbrook offers an authentic immersion in the atmosphere of the Southwest and the great American road trip.

Gallup lies in northwestern New Mexico, along historic Route 66 and on the edge of the great Navajo and Zuni reservations, for which it has long served as the main gateway. Nicknamed "the Indian Capital of the World," the town owes its identity to the trading posts and galleries where you find silver-and-turquoise jewellery, weavings and pottery made by Native artisans. Each summer the Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial draws dances, rodeos and parades from dozens of tribes. All around stretch landscapes of red mesas and sandstone formations such as Red Rock Park, perfect for hiking and for tasting the authenticity of the American Southwest. Albuquerque stretches along the Rio Grande in New Mexico, where Native, Hispanic and Anglo heritage blend beneath an immense, luminous sky. Its ancient core is Old Town, founded in 1706, with the church of San Felipe de Neri, earth-coloured adobe buildings and pueblo craft shops. High above, the Sandia Peak Tramway — one of the longest aerial tramways in the world — climbs to the crest of the Sandia Mountains for sweeping desert views. The city is famous worldwide for the International Balloon Fiesta, when hundreds of hot-air balloons colour the autumn dawn. New Mexican cuisine carries the aroma of green and red chile, sopaipillas and pueblo dishes. Amid red mesas, art and Native culture, Albuquerque is the gateway to the authentic Southwest.

From Albuquerque to Santa Fe, you can travel along the Turquoise Trail, a scenic road that goes from Albuquerque to Santa Fe and crosses the hills of New Mexico, offering beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and old ghost towns. It is recommended to make a stop in Madrid, once a ghost town, now a gathering place for artists. Santa Fe guards a singular soul: capital of New Mexico and the oldest of all the United States' state capitals, it wins you over at first glance with its unmistakable terracotta-coloured adobe architecture. Its beating heart is the historic Plaza, flanked by the Palace of the Governors, where Native American artisans display silver and turquoise jewellery. Nearby rise the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi and Canyon Road, the famous gallery-lined street that made Santa Fe one of America's art capitals. The city pulses with Hispanic and Pueblo culture, with its green-chile spiced cuisine, museums devoted to Georgia O'Keeffe and the peaks of the Sangre de Cristo mountains as a backdrop. Santa Fe reveals itself through art, spirituality and desert light.

Amarillo rises in the heart of the Texas Panhandle, a land of endless prairies and Route 66 legends. A historic crossroads on the famous "Mother Road", the city preserves the rugged, authentic spirit of the Wild West, with its legendary steakhouses and sprawling ranches. A few kilometres south opens Palo Duro Canyon, the second-largest canyon in the United States, a spectacular red-rock gorge crossed by trails for hiking and horseback riding. Not to be missed is the quirky Cadillac Ranch, an art installation of graffiti-covered cars planted in the ground that has become an icon of road-trip culture. Amarillo is an authentic stop for those crossing the great American plains in search of endless horizons.

Oklahoma City spreads broad and modern across the heart of the Great Plains, capital of a state where cowboy culture meets contemporary urban energy. The revitalised Bricktown district, with its old brick warehouses overlooking a navigable canal, brims with restaurants, bars and galleries. The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum tells the saga of the West, while the Oklahoma City National Memorial honours, with quiet intensity, the victims of the 1995 bombing. Those drawn to tradition will find a tribute to the state's native nations at the First Americans Museum. Local cuisine celebrates grilled meats and Southwestern flavours, best enjoyed in classic steakhouses and the still-active stockyards. Oklahoma City is an authentic stop along the routes of Route 66, balancing frontier spirit and renewal.

Tulsa surprises with its remarkable Art Deco architectural heritage, a legacy of the golden oil age that earned it the nickname “oil capital of the world”. Set on the banks of the Arkansas River in northeastern Oklahoma, the city alternates the geometric façades and 1920s skyscrapers of downtown with a surprisingly rich cultural scene: the Philbrook Museum, housed in a sumptuous Italian-style villa, and the Gilcrease Museum hold art collections of international standing. Tulsa reveals itself in revitalized districts like the Brady Arts District, amid murals, live-music venues and the legacy of jazz and blues. It is also a symbolic stop on the legendary Route 66, preserving neon signs and vintage diners. A mosaic of history, art and American spirit along the Mother Road. Springfield rises in the heart of the rolling Ozarks region of southwestern Missouri and is known as the "Birthplace of Route 66," the legendary highway that was named here in 1926. This welcoming American city proudly preserves the memory of the "Mother Road," celebrated in museums and nostalgic neon signs. A must-see is the colossal Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium, among the largest aquariums in the country, dedicated to wildlife and natural habitats. The surrounding area opens onto the rural landscapes of the Ozarks, with lakes, caves, and woodland trails ideal for nature lovers. The nearby town of Branson adds entertainment and live shows. Springfield is an authentic stop for those traveling the great road-trip routes of the United States.

St. Louis announces itself from afar with the unmistakable silhouette of the Gateway Arch, the 192-metre steel arch celebrating the westward expansion of the United States. Overlooking the banks of the Mississippi, this historic Missouri city blends grand nineteenth-century boulevards, a fervent musical past and a lively dining scene. The Forest Park district, larger than New York's Central Park, is home to museums, the zoo and the Saint Louis Art Museum, all free to enter. A cradle of blues and ragtime, it preserves historic venues where live music has never fallen silent, while the famous Anheuser-Busch brewery recounts the city's beer-making heritage. Don't miss the scenic ride to the top of the arch. St. Louis is where frontier America meets the great river metropolises.

Springfield, the capital of Illinois in the heart of the Midwest, is inseparably tied to Abraham Lincoln, who lived here and built his career before the presidency. The city guards his legacy at the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, the only home the president ever owned, at the Old State Capitol where he delivered famous speeches, and at the solemn Lincoln Tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery. The modern Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum recounts his life through immersive displays. Along Route 66, which runs through town, vintage diners and signs survive, and the local “horseshoe sandwich” tradition offers a taste of Illinois cooking. Springfield reveals itself as a stop rich in American history and authentic Midwestern atmosphere. Chicago rises along the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan, the third-largest city in the United States and the acknowledged birthplace of the modern skyscraper: here, after the Great Fire of 1871, American architecture reinvented itself, giving rise to one of the most famous skylines in the world. Its beating heart is the Loop, the business district encircled by the elevated 'L' train, where masterpieces by Louis Sullivan, Mies van der Rohe and Frank Lloyd Wright stand side by side. A short walk leads to Millennium Park, with the gleaming 'Cloud Gate' sculpture (nicknamed 'The Bean' by locals) and the Jay Pritzker Pavilion designed by Frank Gehry. Nearby, the Art Institute of Chicago, one of America's great museums, guards Impressionist masterpieces and Grant Wood's celebrated 'American Gothic'. Along the water, the Chicago Riverwalk offers another vantage on the city, while the boats of the Architecture River Cruise glide between the façades, recounting a century and a half of building ingenuity. Toward the lake, Navy Pier with its Ferris wheel and the Magnificent Mile, the elegant stretch of Michigan Avenue lined with shops and hotels, set the rhythm of city life. Yet Chicago is also music and flavour: the home of electric blues and jazz resounds in the clubs of the South Side, while its tables serve the hearty deep-dish pizza, Chicago-style hot dogs and the food markets of lively neighbourhoods such as Pilsen and West Loop. Rising to the 412-metre Skydeck of the Willis Tower, the gaze sweeps across the lake and the boundless Illinois plain. A city of lakes and skyscrapers, of jazz and bold architecture, Chicago reveals itself on foot, amid the gusts that earned it the nickname 'Windy City' and the unmistakable energy of the American Midwest.