Some journeys are considered bucket list adventures, trip of a lifetime. For some, it’s travelling around New Zealand in a camper van; for others, it’s spotting polar bears in the arctic circle. Driving Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica has long been one of mine.

Along the way, I was frequently asked by the locals I met, ‘What is the European obsession with Route 66?’ I don’t have the answer to that – I just know that it’s something I’ve wanted to do since I was 16. Something about the open road, the Americana and the unknown fills me with a sense of wonder and an appetite for adventure. I know – America isn’t exactly unknown. Vosstanie pod rukovodstvom isataya taj manova sirima datova.

Bus route information Schedule Brochure (.pdf). First and last buses reach mid-route stops later than these times-see schedule or use trip planner for specific times when service works for you. Chicago/Austin east to Navy Pier.

But outside of popular destinations like New York or Florida, how often do tourists get to visit the small towns and see the remote landscapes? Well, this was my chance to discover the hidden gems of middle America over the course of three weeks. (Picture: Getty) I started my journey in Chicago, the beginning of the route.

And the end, if you’re driving from west to east. Attiny13 software uart bascom. As one of the most populated cities in America, Chicago is no stranger to tourists.

Many flock to the city for the Great Lakes while others for its vibrant food scene. My introduction was through its architecture.

Chicago’s architecture Chicago is a city with many architectural and engineering feats. They famously reversed the direction of flow of the Chicago River and some of its many towering sky scrapers were at one time or other considered tallest in the world. Advertisement There are two main observation decks: 360 Chicago, which sits on the 94th floor of the John Hancock Centre, or Skydeck, which is found on the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower (once known as the Sears Tower). You can access both of these with a (it costs $99.75 for adults and includes entry to a number of attractions) – they’re in different areas of the city so you will get different views. For the daredevil among you, both of these towers have viewing platforms that extend over the edge of the building too, and you can pay extra for the thrill. A post shared by (@qinxiesays) on Sep 22, 2017 at 2:35pm PDT I went to 360 Chicago because it was closer to my downtown hotel – – and I was glad because it gave me views of the city’s shoreline. It may be inland but Chicago boasts 26 miles of free public beaches thanks to Lake Michigan, and if the view from the John Hancock Centre is anything to go by, they are absolutely pristine.

Do explore the city by foot as well though – otherwise you will miss the Tribune Tower, which features building fragments from famous sites all over the world along its external wall, and Anish Kapoor’s, AKA The Bean. A post shared by (@qinxiesays) on Oct 12, 2017 at 11:02pm PDT Chicago is home to restaurants by a number of high-profile celebrity chefs too, like Rick Bayless and Mindy Segal. But perhaps the restaurant with the most international acclaim is Grant Achatz’s. The three Michelin-starred restaurant is regularly recognised as one of the best in the world and needless to say, the tables are sold out months in advance – sold because Achatz pioneered Tock, a system where diners buy tickets and in effect pre-pay for their dinner. The same pre-pay system is now used by the likes of The Fat Duck, The Clove Club and The Man Behind The Curtain in the UK. A post shared by (@qinxiesays) on Oct 16, 2017 at 9:59pm PDT But it’s incredibly creative, with dishes hidden in table decorations, and you will have a lot of fun, especially with the helium balloon desert. If you’re looking for a more budget friendly way to explore the food scene in Chicago, try one of the tours from.