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Unplanned Stay in Flagstaff, AZ Don and I hadn't planned on staying at the Americana Motor Hotel.  But that's where we ended up, on June 4, 2025. North Rim's Grand Canyon Lodge We had expected to be at the Grand Canyon. We had cabin reservations for 2 nights at the North Rim. When we arrived we were told all reservations were cancelled, due to a power outage. (click to enlarge) That was frustrating, but at least we got to spend some time enjoying the views, before hitting the road. It was sad driving away not knowing when we'd luck into reservations again. (hard to come by) We felt even sadder, 38 days later when we learned about the devastating fires that destroyed the lodge and other structures. On Route 66 Lucky for us, our internet search came up with this mighty fine motel, on Route 66! Flagstaff wasn't close, but it was the direction we were headed.
We knew a Motor Hotel wouldn't offer the same epic overnight, as a stay in an iconic National Park Lodge. But, it could be homey and easy and we needed that. We were both a little worn out and I had a sinus infection brewing. Americana from 1962 It took us over 6 hours to reach the old Americana. Don and I are drawn to anything kitschy, so we were eager to check out our retro motel from 1962. But we've learned from our travels, not to expect too much luxury, with lodging on old Route 66.  We (weary travelers) hoped our 63-year-old motel wouldn't end up being too far out of the comfort zone. Far Out! I grew up in the 60s, when "Far out!" was a good thing. The recently spiffed up Americana Motor Hotel was indeed far out! We knew right away when we spotted the astronaut gazing out towards Route 66.
The colorful sign and lobby building looked fun and welcoming, after its $20 million renovation! Surroundings We pulled off Route 66, parked and headed for the office. I paused under the porte cohere to take it all in. Sweet whirly-gigs spinning nearby and mountains in the distance... the old Mother Road, in the opposite direction.
A glance at the window told me it was the 100th anniversary of Route 66! But wait, that's actually next year. 1926 was the birth year of the historic highway. The Americana was ahead of the game and ready to celebrate! Modern Colorful Lobby The lobby welcomed us with a step back in time, to the '60S & '70S! Modern furniture, bold colors, geometric floor designs! Best of all, there were colors shining down from the ceiling!  This mod look was more like The Jetsons cartoon that I adored as a kid. The roadside motels my family stayed at in the 1960s, never looked this cool. Inspired by the Flagstaff Location To the right of the lobby was another long area, with bright blue seating and a wall decorated with hike/ski poles. A reminder that there's plenty of outdoor activity, around this mountain town.  The TV at the end of the room was showing some neon images of space. Along with the retro and adventure vibe, the hotel embraced a space theme, inspired by Flagstaff's deep ties to astronomy. Check In Staff members behind the desk were just as welcoming as the lobby colors, They offered us welcome beverages as we checked in. Don was happy for a beer after the long drive. My throbbing head was thrilled with a fancy water.  We were given the scoop about all the goodies that were offered with our $15.00 resort fee. The use of the telescope for one! Flagstaff is recognized by the International Dark-Sky Association as the world's first "International Dark-Sky City". Bikes & Games There was a lot more hang-out seating in the lobby, than the mid-century motels I recall. The lobby also had lots of goodies that guests were welcome to borrow. Like bikes.
And games. We could check them out and enjoy them in our rooms. The boxed Wordle game was a reminder that it was NOT 1962. I wish they'd had Cootie or Mouse Trap. Blue We got our room key and headed out. I glanced back at the simple structure, with all its red, orange, yellow and lots of blue.  But hardly a glimpse of blue in the sky. The sky past the whirly-gigs was clouding up.  I guessed we wouldn't be borrowing the telescope. Colorful Doors There are 89 rooms at the Americana.  About a third of those had yellow doors. These colors took me back to my childhood. I could almost smell my box of crayons, that sometimes melted in the car on road trips.  Bright colors meant fun, when I was a kid. Oh how I loved sitting in the back of the station wagon and spotting the orange roof of Howard Johnson's when we pulled in! Room 109 We were happy to have a red door on the lower level. Such a treat to back in and unload in front of the door.
I liked out magnetic Do Not Disturb sign, with the little astronaut! I should have asked if he/she had a name. Seventies? Our room took me from the '60s right into the mod seventies. The headboard supposedly was inspired by 1970s ski wear.  The swirly carpet was a fun contrast, to the angular shapes of the mirror, headboard and chair. Darn, there was only one of those cute orange chairs. We Are All Made of Stars The words above the bed reminded us again about Flagstaff's connection to lunar history.  I wish we'd had time to visit nearby Lowell Observatory. I didn't know that this whole area had once been training ground for astronauts. Particularly those who walked on the moon! Desk and Decor There was quite a bit going on around that faux-wood paneled wall, opposite the bed. The 43-inch TV looked nothing like the boxy motel TVs I remember watching, on childhood road trips.  The left side of the long desk had a cabinet holding a bright orange fridge. We never had fridges! Cool and Cool Instead of an ice bucket, our room had a Playmate cooler and retro plastic glasses. I didn't realize that cooler design, (sometimes called America's lunchbox) goes back to 1971!
The 1970s disco ball was very cool! It was a hoot watching the colorful show in the corner of the room. The rotating mirror ball didn't exactly remind me of retro motels, but it certainly fit the space theme. Spherical, rotation, reflection... sparkling stars... Art There were a couple of fun collage accents. Is that the Thelma & Louise car above the planets?  Is that photo of man and telescope, Clyde Tombaugh? He was the astronomer who discovered Pluto, at Lowell Observatory in 1930. No comments about the rest... Pops of Red I liked the bathroom design so much I took 5 photos. There was no phone by the toilet, but the framed image of a red princess phone could fool you.
I love a little Pop Art in the bathroom. The pops of red color in the walk in shower were fun, too!
No complaints about the spacious bathroom or products or towels. More Perks There was also a generous dressing space. Gotta love the orange pegboard holding the Americana robes.
And yay for cute mugs. We made use. The Grounds Weather was not ideal and neither was my health.  I wasn't able to make full use of the property, but just wandering was the best medicine.  The cute picnic tables with metal umbrellas looked sort of charming.  The fire pit and Adirondack chairs were inviting.  I did try out a hammock for a moment. Celebrities in the Pool? This old postcard shows the hotel pool, back in the '60s. The pool had a slide and there was a snazzy fountain.  I wonder if Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper hung out around the pool, when they stayed in 1968. That was during the filming of Easy Rider. Quiet Today The only celebrity I found in the pool, was Chester, the Cheeto Cheetah.  He looked mighty cute, floating over the letters on the floor of the pool.  He also looked lonely. There were plenty of lounge chairs and umbrellas, if there had been a crowd.  Chester bobbed around while I took a few photos.  Then I was off to check out the games.  Bocce balls and beanbags for Corn Hole, were available in the lobby. Later, I saw a father and son pedal up on motel bikes. I was glad to see them making use of the games. Happy Hour Wherever kind of lodging we end up in, Don and I always find a good Happy Hour spot. We always have to offer a toast to whatever kind of adventure we have.  My happy hour drink was just a fruit juice, but it still worked for toasting. Baha Mar Seafood For dinner we could have enjoyed some Sinaloa-style Pacific Mexican tacos, or quesadillas.  Just steps from our room, there was an en-site cafe with walk up window. There was also an I-Hop, next door. Pizza at the Pit? We decided to just order pizza to our room. I almost had enough in me to enjoy it by this little fire pit.  But I we decided to just enjoy in our room, with the hypnotic disco ball and a little TV time. Night Wander I was ready to go to sleep by 8:00, when I suddenly realized I needed a photo of the motel at night. Motels, lodges... motor hotels. They always take on a different personality, after the sun goes down.  I knew I'd be mad in the morning if I didn't drag myself out to enjoy a quick glimpse of the The Americana AND the night sky. There were no stars in view, but the sky still looked dramatic.  I liked the soft glow of purple, green and yellow near the office. The lit up sign made me smile. The "i" was dotted with a 2-toned star.  "Host to the traveling world...". I guess Don and I are part of the Traveling World. Morning After a decent night's sleep, I put on a sweater and headed out to the same chair near the fire pit.  It was a pleasant morning and I was feeling a little better. I hated to leave. Posing Don was still in his lounging jammie-pants when we decided to wander over and take photos with the Astronaut Greeter.
We both were feeling rested and ready to hit the road for Santa Fe. What's Notable? Even with glum weather and gloomy health, our stay at Americana was sweet.  They've done a fantastic job creating a retro-futuristic oasis, right on Route 66. There's a happy feel to this place and it did us good!
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Historic Peery Hotel A Google search, led us to our stay at this fine hotel. A fresh hotel with years of history.  The Peery opened as a luxury hotel, 115 years ago. Perfect Location We arrived in downtown SLC, on a pretty Saturday in May. The 3-story hotel looked pretty spiffy sitting there, in what's now called the Warehouse District.  I'd read good reviews, but one traveler fretted about whether the area was safe. Safe from what? From my view in the passenger seat, the area looked pretty great! Stylin' in 1910 The location was also ideal in 1910, when the Peery family opened the hotel to mostly wealthy travelers. Many arrived by train at the nearby Denver & Rio Grande Depot.  I wonder what the first visitors thought when they laid eyes on the new hotel, with its E-shaped design. A Taller Version We've stayed at a few hotels with this unique shape that allows for more windows and light! Houston's Rice Hotel comes to mind. 18 stories instead of 3!  Actually Don and I have only dined on the first floor. The 1,000 hotel rooms became lofts before we moved to Texas. P or HP? We found the hotel entrance in the center wing. It was impressive, from the brick walkway, up to the flags.  The logo on the black canopy got me wondering. HP? Is that for Hotel Peery? Or maybe it was for Hilton-Peery? The hotel is now part of the Tapestry Collection of Hilton. Or maybe that's just a single fancy P! Brick Quoins Before we stepped inside, I took in a few architectural details. Standing on the corner of one of the hotel wings, I looked up and admired the brick quoins. A pleasing contrast of white and gray.  Honestly, I only studied the quoins after reading a plaque on the outside of the hotel. I actually didn't know the name of that decorative feature! More... Once inside, I looked up again, to notice something else the plaque had mentioned.  This time it was Egg-and-Dart molding. Another new term for me! I will make up my own name, for the shape below the eggs. Sugar cubes! Lobby I likely would have missed the pretty molding if I hadn't read the plaque.  There was a lot more than molding to attract my eye in. Another Era I know the hotel was built during a time of rapid growth, fueled by the gold rush. People with big bucks were lured to the Peery Hotel. But where was the glam, in this vintage postcard?  The image seems to be luring Old Folks, to come gather 'round and sit a spell. The words on the right, claim the hotel is for Wife, Sister or Mother! That's odd. I guess ladies could enjoy the rockers, while they enjoyed some Fatima cigarettes, purchased from the nearby glass case. Check In I saw no rockers or cigarettes in the lobby. We did find a classy little 2-desk set-up, for check in. I liked the nearby framed decor, focusing on trains. I once again pondered the logo, tastefully displayed on the wall behind.  I could have asked the young staff member about the logo, but she'd already made it clear she wasn't into history. Classy Less than 10 years ago, the hotel completed a major renovation.
The spacious lobby was such a lovely mix of modern and vintage decor. The open space was broken up with different kinds of sitting areas.  There were cozy couches and seats for chatting, or reading. A couple of tall tables had sockets for laptops. No signs of business travelers on a Saturday. Near the elevator, I couldn't miss the intricately carved display cabinet.  I read somewhere that this piece has been around since the hotel's early days. Staircase Initially we used the elevator for luggage, but the grand stairs were much more fun to use.  I loved the light fixture at the foot of the stairs. Like a giant birdcage with about 20 glowing birds! Looking down from the landing, I had to pause and wonder...  ... where is everyone? It's Saturday on the last day of May? We often used another staircase, near our room.  I loved the 3-piece artwork. We found a lot of railroad themed accents in the hotel. Railroad and mining industries were a huge focus at the time when The Peery was built. Cozy Halls As we wandered to find our room, I had to give the hallway an A+. Hilton didn't scrub away all the history.  The narrow hall still had the feel of an old hotel, with dark woodwork and molded ceiling. It was pleasing to the eye... AND nose. Some old hotels just smell... old. Room 349 Our old door (with transom) opened to a modern room.
There are about 70 rooms now. There were nearly twice that originally. That was before renovations enlarged many rooms. Our room was not one of those larger ones! It was pretty small and the view made me chuckle.  We could have played Jimmy Stewart, in Rear Window. We didn't need Jimmy's binoculars to spy on neighbors. (I promise, we did not spy)  I would have preferred a view of mountains or old city buildings. But in truth it was interesting to see how this whole E-design works! The rest of our cozy room was nice.  There was a lot squeezed into the desk corner! A nice vintage train image on the wall, nifty coffee maker with different mug options, a make-up mirror, lamp with sockets, an ice bucket with 2 comp bottles of water.
A 55-inch TV welcomed "Donald" when we entered. Sadly No Turner Classic Movies station. I love TCM movies in old hotels. Decent Bathroom I liked the black & white tile and large window with frosted glass.  Nice walk in shower and fluffy towels. Wandering I did a little exploring before dinner.  One more set of stairs took me down to the basement. Fitness Friends Besides conference and event rooms, there was a decent sized fitness room.  I was tempted to get my workout gear from the car. But instead I just enjoyed the artwork. Love those Circus Folks! Christopher's Prime Steak House I love a hotel that has it all. Like being on a big ship, with multiple restaurants. There were a few food & drink options on the street level.  We thought about making reservations at Christopher's Prime, located on the corner.  I peeked in a window before it opened. Interesting decor. 2-Part Restaurant? Around the corner I saw Sonoma Grill... But wait, it was so confusing. Were the 2 restaurants connected? The website had one name, Christopher's Prime Steak House & Sonoma Grill & Wine Bar. I'm sorry, that's just too long of a name.
Toro Rosa Tapas & Tequilas is another long name. I peeked in through a lobby door. It looked cute and informal. Spritz on Saturday We couldn't decide on dinner, so we stopped in to have a drink at the hotel's Spritz Lounge.
I loved the little pink phone display, near the street entrance. A handy reminder that guests need to check in with their IDs. Don and I came through the lobby entrance and sat at the bar. I almost burst out laughing when our IDs were checked. A SLC thing?  We sat on dainty stools that looked like they belonged in a Ladies' Powder Room. We sipped our beverages and amused ourselves watching the woman behind the bar. She spent about as much time dealing with IDs as she did making drinks.  I enjoyed my Pink Prosecco, sitting on my pink velvet stool, beside a shiny elephant with curled trunk! Fun! Evening in SLC We switched gears about dinner. Instead of enjoying the steakhouse, we decided to embrace the good location and explore the downtown vibe.  Weather felt balmy and our wandering was entertaining. We ended up at Caffee Molise for a wonderful Italian dinner. Peery at Night The lit up hotel looked festive when we returned.  It also felt very safe. Not sure about that review comment about safety. Before heading inside, we enjoyed the night air...
... and we read another plaque. Evidently this hotel was built on (or very near) the site of the Utah's first permanent Jewish house of worship, in 1883. Eggsburgh In the morning, we spotted another hotel cafe. This one was hopping with breakfast diners. We had just slugged down some coffee and granola bars in our room, so we held off a bit.
We got a late check out and took off to see the city before the temps warmed up. We enjoyed breakfast/lunch at Eggsburgh, around noon. Walking Distance We had the absolute best time exploring the city on a pretty Sunday morning. There was lots within walking distance. I share these photos, because it feels like our stay at Peery Hotel was enhanced by the location. So much to see, nearby! What's Notable? Our stay at the historic Peery Hotel was pleasant and comfortable. It was quiet for a Saturday, which was nice. But a curious or memorable people encounter, could have made our visit extra fun,  I was pleasantly surprised that the hotel renovation was better than expected. Surprised to learn the hotel has been open continuously since 1910. That's unusual. I wish there had been more hotel history spotlighted. I read that a box of 300+ old photos was discovered, during renovation. I wish they could have displayed some.
Mostly I'll recall, how easy the stay felt. Easy parking. Easy getting to and from the room. Easy wandering in the evening and morning. Easy dining options. It was an enjoyable stay for a reasonable price of $140. |
Ninety Notable
Nights My New Year's Resolution for 2014 was to start documenting some of the memorable overnights I've had in some very odd and curious motels and hotels. Like the adventures in my Dining Blog, I have learned to enjoy the surprises that happen when you step out of the comfort zone, far away from the well-known chains. I began with a few entries recalling my very first home away from home memories from my youth. Then, I started sharing about some of the quirky and unforgettable motels, hotels and inns that my husband and I have discovered in recent years. The best part about this challenge was making some lists with Don and getting on the road in search of new overnight adventures. I gave myself a 2-year goal to write up 90 stories and the goal was met. Now we just keep on adding! Archives
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