Trip around America

I'm tired of driving along the East Coast. So for a change, I'm gonna drive along the other sides of America. The basic route I've planned out for this trip is New Orleans to San Diego to Seattle to Vancouver, and then pull a straight line from there and shoot down to Atlanta, hitting all the major cities along the way.

Anything in particular I should do along the way, other than driving 130 miles per hour in Texas?

Thanks for the suggestions in advance.

If you are driving around Chicago/NW Indiana, you will want to avoid doing so any time that would be close to a weekday rush hour. If you can drive that very early on a Saturday or Sunday, you'll save a load of time.

I'm jealous, I always wanted to do something like this.

I've been wanting to do this for the longest time. Might as well get it out of my system when the weather is good.

Thanks but the plan is to draw a straight line from Vancouver to Atlanta on the way down, as much of a straight line as possible that is, so we'll miss Chicago from the left this time. I've done Chicago from the right though.

skip atlanta, for one - if you have to go that direction, hit birmingham instead

Why? What does Birmingham have that Atlanta doesn't?

birmingham is cool, and you likely wouldnt expect it.

Atlanta is probably the most boring big city in the Eastern US south of Hartford. If you must stop somewhere in Georgia, I would go to Savannah, a nice little city on the coast.

Dreamer, I assume you're taking PCH up the California coastline. I-5 from Sacramento to the Cali/Oregon border is pure bumblefook, but I like the mountains at the state line. It gets more exciting after you leave Portland and go through Seattle.

Agree on Atlanta--I think it sucks. Charleston, SC, and Asheville, NC, are much nicer.

Buy sunflower seeds, they'll keep you busy from falling asleep.

ME!!!!

Do you know when they're going to tear down the old bridge going into Charleston?

I like Asheville too - and it's right off I-40 so it won't be too hard to hit either on the way out or in from the east coast.

Did someone just say something?

Dammit, Dreamy.....

A couple years ago I drove up from San Diego to LA before I ran out of time so I missed it. Is the part between LA and San Francisco as good as they say?

There's gonna be some zigzagging but unfortunately, looking at the map, we can't really avoid the Sacramento to Cali/Oregon part, since we're headed to Vancouver, unless we hit Reno and skip Sacramanto all together. Maybe should do that. I'm not crazy about capital cities anyway. DC and Albany are more than enough already.

And Atlanta is that bad huh?

barbecue, nature, nicer people, it's prettier, cheaper, has more character and it is not atlanta (easily among the worst big cities in the country)

Yeah I thought I heard something. Sorry was just trying to make sure.

So what's there to do in Birmingham really?

The traffic is awful! AWFUL!!!!!!!!!!

And except for the nightlife, I am not that impressed with the city....
They keep trying to move the hubby there but he keeps refusing and as long as he is the only one on the complany that can do what he is doing, I guess we are safe.

I agree with whoever mentioned Savannah...tis a wonderful place to visit.

Birmingham is better though cuz of the wonderful people who live here .

Depends on what you enjoy and when you are gonna be here....Hell, just soak up some Southern culture.

btw if you go through st. louis, be sure to see a CARDINALS game at the church of baseball, eat an italian meal on "the hill" (just ask, everybody know where it is) and get a ted drewes custard

No, seriously, get the Ted Drewes. Now. Go now. That goes for all of you.

I once made a similar drive when I went from Detroit to San Francisco, to Portland, to Vancouver, and then home through Montana and the Dakotas. Providing some of the best experiences of my young life.

I've been to 38 states and most of the Canadian provinces, my experience is that the best plan is to have a plan with little structure. These trips usually don't come around too often, just go out and explore.

Some things I recommend:

- Make it to Tahoe if you can
- Driving the PCH is as good as hyped ... but Oregon's coast may be even better
- While in Vancouver make sure to do the Grouse Grind for a decent workout
- Ferry trip to Victoria, B.C. is a must
- North Central Washington state is absolutely amazing.
- Rocky Mountain Oysters are quite tasty
- The Wall Drug billboards will make you stop eventually.
- Set aside plenty of time to take in the Rockies.

In short, do everything and see everything. Definitely hit up the Grand Canyon, Mt. Rushmore, and Redwood National Parks if you can.

How much time do you have? Is there a purpose for your trip (event, relatives), or are you just driving to do your thing?

Savannah is gorgeous, but unfortunately smells like ass when it is downwind from the local paper factory.

Great, thanks. Looking at the map, we'll definately hit St. Louis before Birmingham and Atlanta.

Charleston is great and and worth the trip even if it is out of your way. Beautiful city with pleanty to do and great food. (conde naste rated as one of the top 15 food cities in the US) Plus you could stop by and visit Blackbaud and the Charleston Battery.

As for the new brige here is a great Special section from the local paper wiht some great photos and stories and gives you a true understanding of how big a project this really was.
http://ss.charleston.net/xcop/index.asp

and this one which has a lot of histroy of the brige the new one is replacing
http://www.cooperriverbridge.org/index.asp

the new brige will be open in June or July withe removal of the tow other brige starting soon after that. they are going to use them as artifical reefs some where off the coast.

mikey

If you go to Reno then definitely go to Virginia City, Nevada. It was the location of the Comstock Lode and is a well preserved "Old Western" town. Since it's basically on the side of a mountain it makes for a memorable and silly drive.