Classic motels

The quickest way to get to Colorado from the Kansas City area is I-70.  It's also the most boring route ever.  Cliff wanted to take a different route for a change, so we took US 36 and US 34.  This took us through Nebraska.  We went at a slower pace and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  In the past we drove straight through and arrived at our destination in twelve hours, but this time Cliff said he was going to stop when he got tired.  That happened in Benkelman, Nebraska.  There are many old, classic motels on the route we took because those roads used to be the main thoroughfares across the country.  We found a real gem in Benkelman.

This is an old post card featuring the Circle B Motel.

   I took this picture as we were getting ready to leave Monday morning.  Their website tells the story of the motel, which was built in 1953.  Read about it HERE.  The cost for our one-night stay was $50, and there was no tax added onto that.  It was exceptionally clean and had free wi-fi.  There wasn't the usual coffeepot in the room or free breakfast, but since we took our own coffeepot and had bread, jelly, butter, and a camp stove with us, I made breakfast in our room.  

For our two nights in Estes Park, Colorado, I reserved a room at Peak to Peak Lodge ahead of time.  The reviews on this motel were positive and let me know exactly what to expect.  It was built, I believe, in the 70's.  Including tax, it cost us $173 for two nights.  We were fortunate once again to have a spotless, nice-smelling place to stay.  We would probably stay there again if we were in that area.  You notice I always mention the smell of the motel.  If you have been in very many motels, perhaps you've had this experience:  You walk in to inspect the room (yes, we have learned to look at the room before we take it) and there's a pleasant smell about the place.  You pay for the room and move your stuff in, and within an hour the place smells musty, with a faint odor of cigarette smoke even though it's a non-smoking room.  So it's a pleasant surprise when the room stays odor-free for a two-day stay.  

We got on the road toward home Wednesday but didn't go far.  We had spent the day seeing museums and got a late start, then got stuck in Denver rush-hour traffic.  We only made it as far as Limon, Colorado, got off the freeway, and found another jewel, the Safari Motel.  The above picture shows our room, 103.  This place had flowers planted everywhere, and I loved having hollyhocks right outside our door.  With tax, and after our AAA discount, this room was $67.  There was a cheaper one up the road, but I don't think it would have been as clean as this one.


Yes, our motel experiences on this trip were fantastic.