Have you ever wanted to own an RV and hit the open road and publish your own travel magazine? I know it’s not what most of you dream about doing, but once upon a time I did. Unfortunately, there were a couple of guys already doing this and they were doing a damned good job of it. One of them was even from Memphis so you know they could tell a great story and maybe even a lie or two.
Monk Magazine was one of the greatest publications to ever exist. Not only could the Brothers Monk (Mike and Jim) tell you every kewl place to go in any given city, they also had great interviews. For example, when they covered Seattle, they interviewed and hung out with Kurt Cobain. How kewl is that?
Well, as happens with most great things, Monk Magazine decided to burn out rather than rust and is no more. That’s why I’m going to publish this for all of you. Here are a number of great things to do along the I-40 corridor (more or less) between Memphis, TN and Las Vegas, NV:
- Little Rock, AR – Have you ever visited and seen Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts? I think most of us as kids pictured something like a slightly smaller version of the Rock of Gibraltar. Unfortunately, when you get there you basically see a boulder that’s not all that big. Well, go to downtown Little Rock and you can literally see their “little” rock. It’s located on the river at the Breckling Riverfront Park.
- Fort Smith, AR – The 40-foot tall Mr. Peanut sign used to be in Massachusetts. It was considered such a work of art they moved it to Ft. Smith and restored it. Once again, the south proves it has superior cultural taste to the northeast. Actually, this sign has an interesting history. (read it here)
- Oklahoma City, OK – The home of Halls-Of-Fame. Here’s a partial list: National Softball Hall Of Fame, Gymnastics Hall Of Fame, Photography Hall Of Fame, and my personal favorite the National Cowboy& Western Heritage Museum (Hall Of Fame).
- Amarillo, TX – Big Texan Steak Ranch – Home of the “Free” 72-oz Steak! Of course there are rules associated with getting this slab o’ meat (4 1/2 pounds) for free. As I recall, some of them are you have to eat the steak within one hour, you are limited on the number of bathroom trips you can make, there is no bingeing and purging, etc. There is a list of everyone who has ever accomplished this posted in the restaurant. There is a surprisingly large number of people listed on it. What is scary is the number of women listed on it. The next time I’m in there, I’m hoping one of the locals will point out one of these women to me. Very scary… oooh!
- Around the New Mexico-Arizona border – There used to be several fun things to see. The first thing used to be the billboard barrage. Lady Bird Johnson’s version of hell. It was billboard after billboard for roughly ten miles. Alas, it is no more. Once you get to Lupton, AZ there is the The Tepee Trading Post. At one time, this was billed as the world’s largest tepee. It’s 66′ tall. As good as all of this might have been the best part used to be in the Painted Desert/Petrified Forest where for a mere $10 or so you could drive your car past a lot of petrified wood and dinosaurs! I can’t make this up. Somebody put a bunch of big ass (like 40′ tall) dinosaurs out in the middle of the desert. But like a lot of things, it is no more. Arizona, get it together people! Preserve your tacky history! You guys used to know how to have fun and now you’re becoming John McCain. What the hell’s up with that?
- Route 491 (the highway to hell) and four corners – Route 491 runs along the New Mexico – Arizona border. Until 2003, it was Route 666 – the highway to hell! Well, “they” can change the numbering all they want, but we still know what we’re looking at. I’m sure some tourist shop will have a replica sign you can buy. Take a pic of yourself holding the replica over the actual and say “cheese.” Toward the end of Route 666 is four corners. This is the only place where four states all border one another (UT, CO, NM, and AZ). It’s in the middle of nowhere. When I was there there were only a few people and they were all politely taking photos of the marker. When it was my turn, I laid down in the middle of the marker and put an arm and a leg into each state and had my girlfriend take the pic. Next thing I know everyone else is doing the same thing. It’s a sad commentary when our nation, as a whole, has to come and find me to remember how to loosen up and have some fun.
- The Grand Canyon Skywalk – Sure you can see the Grand Canyon the way that most people do or you can visit the GCS. Stepping out on this thing will wake you up and the rub is that you have to pay to do it (I’ve heard around $80).
- The Meteor Crater – The first proven, best preserved meteorite crater on earth. Enough said. Oh yeah, they won’t let you walk down into the middle of it. Only around a part of the upper rim. Still this is one big ass hole worth seeing.
- Hoover Dam – Where you can ask all the dam questions you want during the tour. This is truly an awesome structure. If you really want to see the tour guide squirm ask them where exactly is “Little Niggy’s” grave. Hey, I didn’t name the dog and it’s not my dam.
- Las Vegas – Have your pic made under the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign. Then throw your camera away until you’re finished in the town.
I know a lot of people think of Las Vegas as being a rather plastic, tacky, and fake kind of place. I actually think it is a reflection of a lot of America just on a grander scale. If you make the drive and see everything I’ve described above, you will know I’m right. Now go forth on your pilgrimage.
Tags: Amarillo, Big Texan Steak Ranch, Billboard Barrage, Dinosaurs, Fort Smith, Four Corners, Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon Skywalk, Hoover Dam, Interstate 40, Jim Monk, Kurt Cobain, las vegas, Little Niggy, Little Rock, Meteor Crater, Mike Monk, Monk Magazine, Mr Peanut Sign, National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, Painted Desert, Petrified Forest, Plymouth Rock, Rock of Gibraltar, Route 491, Route 66, Route 666, RV, Tepee Trading Post, Travel Magazines, Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas
