MA to NC via Blue Ridge Pkwy & Outer Banks

You are absolutely correct, Foy. I was getting well ahead of myself (I was getting excited about the trip) and just using the software planner without detailed maps to guide me was a maddening experience. I will wait for my atlas and companion road map to be delivered. It should only be a few more days now. After all, I do have 4 more weeks to do the fine tuning and please, do give my sincere apologies to the Asheville clan concerning my spelling of their "place", I shan't make that mistake again! :)

Thanks for the link to Megan's trip Mark. I will take a look and get more ideas for my trip.

Mass_crazygrrl

Mass Crazy,

With my synapses firing full strength yesterday, I was able to give a gentleman from the UK some more specific intel on SD/BRP travel yesterday. See the post referring to Gettysburg-Smokies to tack on to that. Given your own timeframe, there may not be much else you can do, but I figured you could benefit from reading that one somehow or another.

Best,

Foy

You definitely have to stop and get some of that good Carolina 'cue. There is a chain of great bbq and chicken places in NC called Smithfield's, often located near interstates.

Wilber's in Goldsboro is something else as is McCall's across the US-70 East Bypass. McCall's also has a buffet and sometimes also has Calabash-style shrimp. Scott's BBQ on William Street could be called the father of Goldsboro bbq, but is only open Thursdays and Fridays.

I just ate at Snappy Lunch in Mt. Airy, NC, last week. One of the best samwiches ever. Unfortunately, Oliver, the long-time owner, was not cooking 'em up in the window as he has done for so long. It cost $3.75. The World's Greatest Porkchop sandwich. Get there early as the place gets quite crowded.

I'd suggest continuing to Wilmington and stopping off at Paul's Famous Hot Dogs at Rocky Point. They've been serving them since the 1920s and have a famous relish. Three dogs and drink for $4.99.

Perhaps even a trip to Calabash on the NC/SC border for the aforementioned Calabash shrimp, like none you've ever had before.

Go to Southport and cross the Cape Fear on a ferry and check out Fort Fisher and Britt's Donuts at Carolina Beach.

Road Dog,

There was a touching story in the newspaper here in Raleigh a few months back. It was about Oliver's advancing dementia and his having to leave his duties cooking the porkchops behind the window at Snappy Lunch.

I hope your testimony of late means the quality is still there, but the personality has had to retire.

Foy

Hello All,

Thanks again Foy, I have been taking your suggestions to heart and I advised AAA (I finally got there the other day at lunch time) who are now building my Trip-Tik, that I wanted to go from the BRP down through Roanoke VA from Harrisburg, after a side trip to Gettysburg of course.

I'll probably spend the night there in Roanoke because I am sure I'll burn up a considerable chunk of time at Gettysburg being the tourist and history buff that I am, and then, come morning I told the AAA guy that I wanted to continue through to Winston-Salem, NC - I just picked a spot in the general direction I wanted to go in but, I told the guy I HAD to swing by Lexington instead of making a bee-line east on my way to Grantsboro, NC.

He asked me why I was going there; he asked, did I want to stay the night or something? Not really, I told him, I just need to find some of the BBQ that I have been told is considered out-of-this-world and it is in Lexington and that is worth the detour. He gave me a sad smile, (poor soul had NO personality) and continued to write my requests down.

Well, Foy, you who are EXTREMELY knowledgeable in all areas “NC”, here's another question, I told the AAA guy that I wanted to go to Winston-Salem because I was just aiming at a big city and the drive is only 2 hours via Rt. 220 from Roanoke, VA. It may save on gas (says she with a grimace on her face – yeah that’s gonna’ hurt, I certainly picked a fine time for this road trip) BUT, in your estimation Foy, considering that I may never be going this way again (Hmmmmm, sounds like a song...) should I continue along the BRP to Fancy Gap and MT. Airy and then to on to Lexington for the great Q? Or should I take route 81 and save time? Is the scenery that much of a "must see" considering that I have been on BRP for a while at this point in my trip. Should I continue on it to Mt Airy and the possibility of a pork chop samwich or, shall I hit a highway and make up some time on my way to Lexington?

The poor AAA guy (his name was Kevin) who was 'helping' me at counter was earnest enough but he had never made any trip south or even been in the general area. So I could not get any of my questions answered that I had for them. That is why I am asking you for your considered opinion. Oh, I also must mention that I read your earlier post to the British gent about the BRP and I have saved snippets of that for future use. You are a veritable gold mine of info, dude!! (or as the kids now write....dood!)

I have received my road atlases, yippee!! (I clicked on the link here guys when I purchased them – I hope that you get the credit!) and I must say, planning this trip is certainly fun (I love reading maps it’s weird, I know, but I do enjoy it) and, I am glad that I bumped into some very helpful folks here at the forum!

I leave in 12 days! Wow, this will be FUN!

Mass_crazygrrl – hoping that gas waits until AFTER my trip to top 4bucks a gallon!

I can't give you any tips on that area as I've never been there at all but did you know that the AAA website has a fantastic tool for creating your own TripTiks? I'm using it now to create my own trip. It lists all the AAA recommended lodging, restaurants, attractions, etc. on your route. You can tweak it and move your route around as much as you want. It's really a great way to plan a roadtrip. You might check it out.

If you have any questions about how to do some things on it, although it's fairly self-explanatory, feel free to ask. One thing that's helpful to know, you do have to get down to the choice right above "city" view on the zoom control on the map for those locations to show up on the map. And you can click on the "Show" button to choose just what kind of things you want to have the map show you.

Not only is it helpful, it's fun.

Hey, thanks Judy.
I didn't know that about the AAA site. I'll go over there and check it out now.

And I enjoy being able to tweak and customize my own trip instead of depending on them to do it. Not that they do a bad job or anything. I just like planning my own trips. Of course, you could get their version and use it as a base to input into the program on their website and then tweak it so you don't have to start from scratch.

There are several choices for your print-out. You can get a very detailed one that is very similar to their TripTiks or something a bit shorter and less detailed if that's all you need, and a few in-between choices.

Let me know if you have any questions.