It was the ride of their lives – a summer road trip from Santa Barbara to New York. Can their friendship last 3,600 miles? Now this is reality television!
After The Oprah Show’s huge 20th season, what do you do for a summer vacation? How about doing what Oprah says “was one of the craziest things I’ve ever done.”
Time for a road trip!
Oprah says she got the idea from a Chevrolet commercial from her childhood. The ad, with its catchy “See the U.S.A. in a Chevrolet” jingle, always aired right after Lassie. “It was 30 seconds that really stuck with me for several decades,” Oprah says.
Now, years later, Oprah was going to do just what that jingle said – see the U.S.A. in a Chevy Impala. This epic journey would start in Santa Barbara, California, and end 10 days and 3,600 miles later in New York City…just in time for the Tony Awards…
Oprah and Gayle in Sedona, Arizona!
…As Oprah and Gayle get closer to Sedona, Arizona, the breathtaking scenery gives them a second wind. “The best part of this road trip for me was getting a chance to see the beauty of this country,” Oprah says. “It really is incredible. I have to say that after we got to Sedona, it was like a breath of fresh air.”
With the windows rolled down, the smell of pine trees fills the car. They even stop for a “Kodak moment” to take pictures of the mountains. “Now this was worth the trip,” Oprah says…
Arizona Travel says: Oprah and Gayle visited New Frontiers natural foods market in Sedona as well as the Beall’s Outlet. Then they were off to Holbrook, Arizona where they intended to stay in a “motel room in the shape of a tee-pee” at the Wigwam Motel. And even though she’s one of the most famous women in the world, Oprah went unrecognized by the innkeeper!
After deciding not to stay at the Wigwam Motel after all – there just weren’t enough tee-pee wigwams for their large 18-person crew – the Oprah crew was off to continue their road trip. While in Arizona, Oprah attended a pow-wow with the Navajo Nation in Window Rock, Arizona.
The Arizona portion of Oprah and Gayle’s road trip aired on KTVK 3 TV Phoenix on September 26, 2006.
