By Conrad Dudderar
Staff Writer
With so much to see and do on Oklahoma’s 400-plus miles of Route 66, state tourism official recently encouraged a Yukon audience to get their official Route 66 passport.
“People are tired of being home and they’re looking for family-oriented ideas,” said Ramon Renteria-Lara, spokesman at the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department.
Renteria-Lara, a Yukon resident, discussed travel ideas at a March 11th Yukon Chamber of Commerce membership luncheon.
The official Oklahoma Route 66 passport features 66 of the state’s memorable Mother Road stops.
Route 66 stretches along Main Street in Yukon.
“Be blessed Route 66 comes through Yukon,” Renteria-Lara advised a lunch crowd comprised of local business, municipal and civic leaders.
“People want to come see where Garth Brooks was born and to visit Route 66 in Yukon.”
The Route 66 Passport is divided into Eastern, Central and Western sections.
At each stop, Route 66 tour-goers are reminded to have their passport stamped.
Once all the stops have been completed, they should take the passport into one of five Oklahoma Tourism Information Centers.
Route 66 visitors will receive a fun Route 66 magnet for each of the three regions they finish.
Once all three stretches are completed and their passport book is fully stamped, they earn an exclusive collectible Route 66 coin.
MAJOR POINTS OF ENTRY
Oklahoma Tourism Information Centers are at: 17672 E I-40 in Erick, 2300 N Lincoln in Oklahoma City, 12229 N 1-35 Service Road in Oklahoma City, 3575 N 1-35 in Blackwell, and I-40 Mile Marker 313 in Sallisaw.
Each center is located at major points of entry across the state.
The Yukon speaker encouraged everyone to visit the Travelok.com website for a calendar of events to “find out things to do in Oklahoma.”
The Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation site offers free profiles for businesses and event/festival listings, Renteria-Lara added.
“Utilize this great tool,” he said. “It gets 8.5 million hits a year.”
Renteria-Lara commended the City of Yukon, Yukon Chamber and Main Street representatives for promoting Route 66 as a travel destination. He provided luncheon attendees with copies of Oklahoma’s state travel guides.
Learn more about acquiring an official Oklahoma Route 66 Passport at travelok.com. For more information, call the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department at (405) 522-9500.
