Oatman
Nestled in Arizona's rugged and remote wilderness, this tiny town's rich Wild West history comes to life with staged shootouts, wooden sidewalks and a bounty of burros that roam freely. Oatman is best known for its beloved burros—small donkeys descended from miners' beasts of burden. The town is home to more burros than people, and it's not unusual to see dozens of donkeys in Oatman wandering the main drag, sticking their heads through the rails along the wood-plank sidewalks, nudging people for treats and otherwise delighting visitors. With the Black Mountains rising all around it, Oatman is surrounded by sharp-toothed ridges and forbidding rock formations. If you take Route 66 in either direction from town, you'll be greeted by a plethora of otherworldly views—watch for Thimble Mountain to the west and Elephant's Tooth to the east. If you have time to venture even farther afield, continue south on Route 66 for another 25 miles or so. The drive will take you through Joshua tree-dotted ridges and needle-topped peaks before arriving at the marshy banks of the Colorado River. (Oatman, Arizona, USA)
