More than just another American town, Seligman is unique for many reasons. With its old shops and colourful vintage cars, it's impossible to drive through the town without stopping off for a stroll, almost in the middle of nowhere in Arizona. Over the years, Seligman's growing fame has enabled the village to reconnect with tourists. It has become a must-see address along Route 66.
The construction of Route 66 in 1926 enabled many towns like Seligman to develop thanks to the passage of truckers and many travellers in search of freedom on their way to the American West. The town was an essential stop-off point for taking a break, catching up with fellow travellers and, of course, maintaining your ride. This was Seligman's golden age, as the town was teeming with people.
But Seligman almost fell into total oblivion with the creation of the Interstate 40 railway line in the 1980s, which linked North Carolina in the east of the country to California in the west.
But Angel Delgadillo was not to be counted out when, at the end of the 1980s, he and his brother decided to set up an association to restore Route 66. The gamble paid off, as Route 66 was restored to its former glory and rose from the ashes thanks to the titanic work of this barber.
Now aged 90, he has become a local celebrity that all tourists dream of meeting.
What strikes you most when you visit Seligman is its decor and atmosphere, straight out of the 50s and 60s. With its flashy-coloured facades and vintage cars in blue, pink, yellow and green, you'd almost expect to bump into Elvis Presley in the town's main alley.
With the aim of making the town as attractive as possible and attracting tourists to the legendary town of Seligman, the cars used as decoration have been made up in the image of famous characters from the Pixar cartoon 'Cars', a film whose story might be thought to have been inspired by that of Seligman, as it tells of the rebirth of a small village lost along Route 66. The illusion is successful, as we almost expect to see the cars come to life before our very eyes and meet Steve Mcqueen speeding down Route 66.
The best time to visit Seligman, Arizona is from May to October. During this period, the temperature is warm. It reaches an average of 29°C in June. But be careful if you're visiting in July or August, as the sun is likely to raise the mercury and make you blush. So it's important to protect yourself from the sun and bring plenty of water to keep you hydrated, as the climate is very dry in summer. In winter, the lowest average temperature is 7°C in January.
Seligman is impossible to miss, as it's easy to spot with its flamboyant, fifties-style colours. Seligman is located along Interstate 40, between Kingman and Williams, on your way from Los Angeles or Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon. The nearest international airport is Las Vegas.
