Travels With Randy Route 66 In The Fall of '26 Episode 3 is here!
Lake Michigan And Her 97 Lighthouses
Lighthouse Mission and Family Stories
Randy completed a week-long mission to circle Lake Michigan and visit as many lighthouses as possible, also encircling Lake Winnebago and visiting 6 lighthouses there. He plans to finish the loop by visiting lighthouses north of Navy Pier in Chicago before attending a Cubs game and tour of Wrigley Field with his cousin. The conversation shifted to discussing the importance of capturing family history through stories, with both participants sharing experiences about learning family stories from their elders and recommending tools like StoryWorth for preserving oral histories.
Indiana Dunes National Park Designation
Randy shared his experience returning to Indiana Dunes National Park after starting his national parks journey seven years ago, explaining how the park's designation changed from a national lakeshore to a national park through a Trump-era spending bill. He noted that the park's visitor numbers increased from 1 million to 3 million annually following the designation change. Randy also discussed his concerns about Route 66's future after its centennial and suggested making it a national byway as a way to preserve its legacy.
Route 66 National Trail Discussion
Randy explained that making Route 66 a national trail would allow for visitor centers and grants, noting that a bill is currently in Congress with potential to be included in an omnibus spending bill. Bubba shared his observation that younger generations, including his own children, are less familiar with Route 66's historical significance, raising concerns about its future relevance as autonomous vehicles and virtual experiences may change travel patterns. Both discussed how the generational shift in travel experiences and lack of awareness could impact businesses dependent on tourism along Route 66.
Travel Experiences and Hospitality
Randy shared experiences from his travels across the country, highlighting the warm hospitality he encountered in small towns in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana. He described a particular encounter in Michigan where a couple invited him into their historic home after he asked permission to take photos. Randy also discussed his experiences staying at Harvest Host locations, including wineries and farms, where he pays for accommodations by purchasing goods from the facilities.
Lake Michigan Lighthouse and Farm Tour
Randy shared details about a trip around Lake Michigan where they visited lighthouses and farms, including a winery near Escanaba and a sixth-generation farm family near South Haven that has operated for over 200 years. The family discussed their farming operations, including challenges with late frosts affecting cherry crops, and how they pass the winter months through activities like snowmobiling and ice fishing. Randy concluded by recommending the trip, noting it covers 1,100 miles and offers beautiful scenery despite the challenge of photographing water.
Lighthouse Tour and Route 66
Randy shared details about his recent lighthouse tour, highlighting notable lighthouses in Wisconsin including Raleigh Point and Bailey's Harbor, where he encountered a volunteer docent named Scott who stays overnight in the lightkeeper's quarters. Randy explained the difference between East Coast and West Coast lighthouses, mentioning that East Coast lighthouses are typically larger and include keeper's quarters, while some are now maintained as museums. Randy discussed his upcoming Route 66 trip starting Sunday, planning to drive 1,100 miles followed by 2,400 miles on Route 66 over approximately 9 weeks to reach the November 11th centennial celebration.
Route 66 Podcast Planning
Randy discussed his upcoming Route 66 podcast series, planning to cover a different state each week and potentially including interviews along the way. He mentioned driving at night to capture neon signs and planned to explore new developments related to the route's 100th anniversary celebration in November. Bubba expressed excitement about the upcoming content and shared updates about the podcast's growing presence on social media and merchandise offerings, including a Route 66 calendar and soundtrack. They also discussed Randy's future plans to visit Alaska and complete his goal of visiting all national parks, ending at Glacier Bay, which inspired the name of his company.
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