USA road trip

71

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 25 February 2013 - 09:56

This is a question for the ladies who hail from the USA.

My husband and I are looking forward to our first USA road trip in July. We will fly in to JFK and out of DFW. We have about 2 weeks to complete the journey.

It is our hope to see parts of Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama.

If anyone has any suggestions about place to go and things we mustn't miss, I would be very grateful for the suggestions.

Many thanks in advance.

cobette

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2

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 04 June 2015 - 14:44

Thanks for sharing.

439

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EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 26 February 2013 - 10:25

Ladies, I am so grateful for all of your suggestions... Thank you so much. I particularly like the eating recommendations. My husband and I are big foodies (and embarrassingly have a Food Network addiction.) Any other ideas welcome! :) There is nothing better than a holiday where you an dig into all sorts of great new food! If you happen to take that suggested route through Pittsburgh, you must get a Primanti's sandwich. They're ridiculous. My first food off the plane every time I go home. If you're a Food Network fan, you may have already seen them featured on "Man V Food" or any almost any show featuring US sandwiches.

andi_the_diver66785

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 25 February 2013 - 21:51

If you're in Mississippi and like music I would recommend calling into Clarksdale and spending an evening at either [url=http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g43722-d626776-Reviews-Red_s_Lounge-Clarksdale_Mississippi.html'>Red's Lounge[/url'> or [url=http://www.groundzerobluesclub.com'>Ground Zero[/url'> for a great Delta Blues experience. The music is awesome and a great atmosphere. If you do decide to visit Clarksdale and want somewhere a little different to stay check out [url=http://www.shackupinn.com'>Shack Up Inn[/url'>. It's a great place to stay run by really nice folk and a great experience.

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EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 25 February 2013 - 21:43

I'm from Texas (Houston specifically) and agree with everything beebers said, including the part about Louisiana there is a ton of history in both of those states and so much to do... Just want to add Florida has some really nice beaches. My family used to vacation there every year. I lived in South Carolina for a little bit and it is beautiful there. My sister in law lives in Nashville and it is also a really pretty place. I second the Biltmore and the boiled peanuts!!! Also Atlanta is home to the worlds largest aquarium (or atleast it was when we were there 2011) Good luck with your trip planning. <em>edited by ShannonB on 25/02/2013</em>

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EW GURU

Latest post on 25 February 2013 - 21:12

If in Savannah- "Belfords" for crab cakes !

71

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 25 February 2013 - 20:54

Ladies, I am so grateful for all of your suggestions... Thank you so much. I particularly like the eating recommendations. My husband and I are big foodies (and embarrassingly have a Food Network addiction.) Any other ideas welcome! :)

816

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EW GURU

Latest post on 25 February 2013 - 20:18

IF possible try to see Big Bend and West Texas

774

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EW GURU

Latest post on 25 February 2013 - 20:05

You can have a lovely time with a trip around the south. You will meet some of the nicest people in the world in the south and see what they mean by "Southern Hospitality". My car broke down in southern Alabama and a one legged man driving an old El Camino stopped to help me and fixed my car with nothing but his cigarette lighter and hands. I still laugh every time I think of him flicking that cigarette lighter on inside my engine and how I took two steps back when I saw that. But the one legged man got me back on the road right away! True story. If you want a taste of class stop at George Vanderbilt's home, The Biltmore http://www.biltmore.com in Asheville, NC (gorgeous city!!!). When you leave Asheville drive through Franklin, NC through the Smokey mountains and down into Atlanta through a little town called Dillard, Georgia and stop and have dinner at the Dillard House http://www.dillardhouse.com . The food is true southern dishes and they serve it family style. Meaning, you won't get a table for just two, they will seat you at a large table and put all the food out on the table and everyone passes it around like you would eat with your family. Incredible food and you meet some great people. Just down the road on your way into Atlanta there is a dairy farm and you can stop and buy a bottle of chocolate milk that is so rich and creamy it's like drinking a chocolate shake. It's divine! Atlanta is a fun town, you can see the Coca Cola museum, go to Six Flags, catch a baseball game. There are lots of museums and natural monuments like Stone Mountain. You could see Savannah GA on the coast. We used to live there. It's a really pretty town. You can also go the other direction and see Alabama and go to Huntsville, AL where NASA has the US Space & Rocket Center http://www.spacecamp.com/museumHome if you enjoy that type of stuff. From Huntsville you can head west and see Memphis TN and visit Elvis Presley's home. I'm not as familiar with Mississippi and Arkansas so I can't help as much there. But Texas, deep sigh, Texas is home for us and it's such a great state. On your road trip in the south make sure you stop if you see a sign for boiled peanuts. You buy them at little road side stands and they come flavored like cajun or you can get plain. Delicious!!! Same goes for the fruits and vegetables along the road. When you are in GA stop for peaches. They are to die for. Same goes for Vidalia onions if they are truly Vidalia onions. So sweet and you'll never shed a tear when you cut them. Also, I-10 (Interstate 10) is not as pretty of a drive as 1-20. They parallel each other but I-10 is much further south. Enjoy your trip and I hope you are treated well in the south! <em>edited by SunDevil on 25/02/2013</em>

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EW GURU

Latest post on 25 February 2013 - 19:59

Every year I do a 3-7 week USA roadtrip. I have dont the horizontal/ vertical rountes- north , south, west, east you name it and sometimes different guests come with our family And ALL agree that the American West is by far the most spectacular in terms of scenery and not to be missed! Just breathtaking! you even can use NatGeo's highway and roadside guides - the scernery is nonstop, NOT monotomous. can you not do a roundtrip out of Texas? car rental will even be cheaper if returned to the same place

FrancieBrady34846

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 25 February 2013 - 19:37

Hi Cobette, Sounds like you will have a good time! Kentucky and Tennessee are very green and have some lovely mountains. As someone previously mentioned , the Bourbon Trail area is interesting. If you visit North Carolina, Asheville is a quirky and interesting small city and is right near the Blue Ridge Parkway. Charleston, South Carolina, is gorgeous and has crab cakes to die for. If you go to Birmingham, Alabama, don't miss Highland Bar & Grill or Veranda on Highland (especially brunch)--really great restaurants. The Civil Rights Museum in Birmingham is quite moving and well done. And don't miss the music and barbeque in Memphis! Now I am hungry...

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EW GURU

Latest post on 25 February 2013 - 19:22

California and Hwy 1 is so beautiful it would be doing it injustice to try it in this trip. All of California may need 10 days +

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EW MASTER

Latest post on 25 February 2013 - 18:57

Too bad New Orleans really isn't in route. I lived all over Texas, spread over more than a decade, and I'll say this. Austin, awesome. Lake travis is gorgeous. bass fishing in the US doesnt get much better than lake fork but july is a little too hot for that. Houston is okay. New Braunfels is really neat! It's about an hour outside of Austin. Quaint town and you can do the Schlitterbaun which is a water park, as well as float the river, excellent in July. San Antonio is one city I never made it to, but neat for history and has a beautiful river walk. If you finish 3 hours north in Dallas, you can stay at the W hotel downtown, the Joule, or the Zaza which is a cool boutique hotel. I guess what I'm trying to say is there is more to Texas than Houston or Dallas. You can go to fort worth and catch a rodeo every friday night in the cowtown district. buy some nice boots, too :) Also lived in Abilene and spent time in Lubbock and west Texas is not really a place for tourists. Bunch of tumbleweed and dust! If you are looking for some nice, scenic driving outside of NYC, Rhode Island is gorgeous, as is Vermont, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. Martha's Vineyard and the hamptons are quite popular in July. Just not sure what would float your boat in between NYC and Dallas/Ft. Worth. A little homesick now too! DH just got back from big D and I was green with envy! X

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 25 February 2013 - 16:47

You should DEFINITELY include Highway 1 in California as a part of your trip. It is the most beautiful road I've ever driven on. 14 hours just flew by. I did the trip from San Francisco down to Los Angeles. Big Sur is the setting for many Jack Kerouac novels and one of the most beautiful coastlines.

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 25 February 2013 - 11:00

You should look up the Bourbon Trail through Kentucky, definitely an "off the beaten path" trip that is worth the mileage. Nashville and Memphis (Graceland and Dollywood are very kitschy Americana) in Tennessee. I would suggest you skip Georgia, as you will end up traveling east and then back west. Instead, why not check out some places in Louisiana on your way to Dallas? Lafayette and New Orleans are amazing, as well as Baton Rouge. Don't miss out on a day trip to Fort Worth and Southfork Ranch when you are in the Dallas area.

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EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 25 February 2013 - 10:53

I second the mention of Philadelphia. I adore the city, and with its history it also makes for a good visit. If you're keen to head west to Kentucky and Tennessee, you could cross PA from Philli to Pittsburgh (5-hour drive if it's non-stop), along the way seeing the Amish and Dutch portions of PA, just outside of Philli. Once in the Pittsburgh area you check out Ohiopyle, which is gorgeous and home to a few Frank Lloyd Wright home, such as Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob. Note that for the former you need to book your reservations to view weeks in advance - but it's worth it. You can make it down to DC from there in about 4 hours if you like.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 25 February 2013 - 10:39

Oh my God this thread is making me bite my nails ! We had organized some trips but none as long as 2 weeks, If you are sure you want to see the South, here is what I would do : 1) Spend 2 days in NYC. 2) Drive to DC, DC and northern Virginia (including Shenandoah park) should take ~3-4 days 3) Make a loop from DC to Atlanta via the Carolinas to the Great Smoky Park shuld take ~5-6 days 4) Drive from great Smoky Park to Dallas ~1-2 days This way you get to see some of the South's more "elegant" places in the Carolinas, the wonderful DC area, and also the most popular national park in the US, and also Atlanta, a symbol of the "New South" You can skip Atlanta and go from DC to Carolinas to Great Smoky as well. If you are not that interested in the South, I would do this: Spend the first 2-3 days going north from NY to see New England at its best (or 2nd best afer October) I love Dallas but i think its a bit dull for tourists even more so in July when it will 100+ If you wil be in the USA the 4th of July, you should fix where you would want to be on that day. <em>edited by Arch on 25/02/2013</em>

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EW MASTER

Latest post on 25 February 2013 - 10:38

This thread is officially making me homesick! 4...more...months...4...more...months... can't wait for a little dose of home! Yes, the USA is a great place.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 25 February 2013 - 10:16

This thread is officially making me homesick! 4...more...months...4...more...months... can't wait for a little dose of home!

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 25 February 2013 - 10:16

I'd go with Meagle's original suggestion if you haven't yet seen those places. If you need more inspiration, have a look at the book [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lost_Continent:_Travels_in_Small-Town_America'>[u'>The Lost Continent: Travels in Small Town America[/u'>[/url'> by Bill Bryson. It's quite old, but a very humourous travel log written by an American who visited these smaller off the beaten track places.

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EW MASTER

Latest post on 25 February 2013 - 10:13

Of course I'm biased because I'm from the Northeast but if you are flying into JFK, I think you should stay in the Northeast. There are so many things to do and see there and I agree about going to DC. IMO, it is the most beautiful city in the USA. Have you already booked your tickets? I do agree that you will see a different part of the USA if you go down South...

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EW GURU

Latest post on 25 February 2013 - 10:11

You posted while I was writing. If you've already done some of the East Coast, I'd head inland from NYC. You could see Niagara Falls and then follow the Great Lakes through Chicago before heading South along the Mississippi River, maybe. Lots of driving, but many cool places to see along the way.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 25 February 2013 - 10:09

I have to agree with Sakhifa. The South isn't necessarily the first place I'd recommend for someone who hasn't been to the States before. A lot more interesting and exciting places to check off the list before those areas. Nevertheless, you may find the South quaint and hospitable. Charleston, South Carolina might be worth a visit (although not on your list of states). Are you planning to hike the Appalachian trail maybe? I've heard good things about Savannah, GA for a good taste of the South. Flying into JFK and out DFW, I'd recommend that you do NYC, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, the Outer Banks/coastal Carolina and possibly through Charleston and/or maybe Savannah before heading West. The rest of your trip will probably be pretty long and uneventful until you get to TX. Lots of great beef to eat there!

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 25 February 2013 - 10:08

I guess we're keen to be a bit unconventional... We've done a bit of travel in the USA before (NYC, Boston, LA, SFO, Seattle)... Perhaps we'll see a different side of the States by venturing inland?

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 25 February 2013 - 10:01

Is there a particular reason you've chosen those states? Those aren't places that I would have chosen for a road trip, but maybe there is something drawing you there? I would add Washington DC to your list.

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