Miami -Maine- Pittsburgh roadtrip

[mimi]

hey guys,
I'm an international tourist and I am coming to the States during the months of March and April. I am planning to stay in NY for about a week, fly down to Miami, stay there for about two more weeks and then drive all the way up for about 2-3 weeks and finally go to Pittsburgh. To tell you the truth, I am overwelhed by the number of attractions to see on the road. Could anybody give me some tips for the trip? what are the main attractions that I shouldn't miss? and what is the route that I should do in order to get from Miami to let's say, Maine and go down again to Pittsburgh?
Thank you very much!

[Quebec Gen]

Hi Mimi,
Welcome to the RoadTrip America Forum.

To tell you the truth, I am overwelhed by the number of attractions to see on the road.

:o)You are right, there so many attractions that sometimes we have no idea where to start! Here's an article on roadtrip planning that might help you to get more focused.

what are the main attractions that I shouldn't miss?

It's not easy to answer that kind of question when we barely know anything about your personal interests. If you tell us more about yourself I'm sure many people here will get back to you.

and what is the route that I should do in order to get from Miami to let's say, Maine and go down again to Pittsburgh?

The most direct route from Florida to Maine is I-95. However, I prefer using back roads since I think you can go deeper into the heart of typical America (small towns, Mom & Pop motels, funky diners etc.) but it's just my opinion. Here's a similar thread about some attractions and routes between NY and Miami and check out the links to other similar posts at the bottom of this page as well.

Pittsburgh is a fascinating city, I particularly like the variety of bridges you can find virtually everywhere around the city. I also enjoy walking along the Allegheny river and discover the old industrial quarters - like the site of the old Heinz factory for instance where you can still see a huge neon ketchup bottle on the roof.

Happy planning!
Gen

[mimi]

hi!
you are right, I wasn't being too specific.
The plan is to leave Miami the 2nd of April and be on the road for about two weeks, maybe a few days more. I am driving with my bf so gas cost and all that is going to be split into two, which is already a plus :).
I've been in NY, Florida and the main cities before (with family) but never on a road trip in the states all by my own so the possibilities are endless.
I know about the I-95 but it sounds like a regular route. We want to drive through scenic routes and interesting ones, because after all a road trip is not only about the sites you see along the way, but the route you are driving on as well.
What we are interested in seeing is some historic sites along the way, nature in general and national parks, good food, and typical small towns...
If anyone can advise me on any of these, I'd be pleased because I'm very confused!!! :)
THANK YOU!!!!

[tt2xr]

Try going over the Everglades, up the Gulf coast of Florida .. then go to Atlanta (Stone Mountain is nice). Then head across to Savannah, and from there go up the coast, don't use the I95. Go thru SC and NC and head for the Chesapeak Bay-Bridge-Tunnel http://www.cbbt.com/location.html

From there go through Delaware, making a trip into DC, then up through the New Jersey shoreline, including Atlantic City.

From there to NYC.

I drove that route about 5 years back and really enjoyed it.

[mimi]

thanks so much for the website, it's really helpful!
by the way, is it worth going to the North east such as vermont and Maine around April? I've heard from several people that its still cold at this time of the year.

[Quebec Gen]

Hi again!

I am driving with my bf so gas cost and all that is going to be split into two, which is already a plus :).

Yep, if you want to learn more about saving money on the road, here's another article you might find useful.

We want to drive through scenic routes and interesting ones, because after all a road trip is not only about the sites you see along the way, but the route you are driving on as well.

Exactly, here on RoadTrip America we promote the idea that road tripping is more like a state of mind instead of just a medium to get from point A to point B.

What we are interested in seeing is some historic sites along the way, nature in general and national parks, good food, and typical small towns...

From north to south here are some of my favourites scenic routes and attractions:

1) Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, ME;

2) Route 9 from Portland, Me to Rye, NH
On your way :
-Old Port Area, Portland;
-cheap lodging : Bay View Villa, Saco
-Wormwood's Seafood Restaurant in Camp Ellis;
-Cape Porpoise Lighthouse;
-Nubble Light, Cape Neddick;
-Footbridge Beach, Ogunquit;
-Vinnie's Restaurant, Ogunquit;
-Perkins Cove;

3) Salem & Boston
-Witch Museum, Salem
-Freedom Trail;
-Charlestown;
-Harvard University Campus, Cambridge;
-Legal Sea Foods;
-Dinner on Newberry St. (ex. : Stephanie's, Tapeo, etc);
-Fire & Ice Restaurant;
-P.s. Cheap lodging is not easy to find, even in the suburbs. You can either go to a youth hostel like this one or to the YMCA where you'll find private rooms for 60-100$. If you don't mind sleeping out of the city, you can easily find lodging for less 75$ in chains if you look at the right places.

4) Routes 6 and 6A to Cape Cod
-Commercial St. in PTown;
-Cape Cod National Sea Shore, Race Pt and Herring Cove Beaches;
-For cheap lodging look for the Budget Host Inn in Hyannis or one of the youth hostels. The Elephant Walk Inn in PTown is a great place to stay but is more expensive.

5) Cape May, NJ-Lewes, DE Ferry and US13 through Delaware - Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel to VA
-2 great ways to avoid traffic;
-lots of small towns and Mom & Pop motels on the way;

6) Historic Triangle, VA
-Orientation Walking Tour in Williamsburg historic district;
-Governor's Palace in Williambsurg;
-dig site in Jamestown;
-Victory Center in Yorktown, VA

7) Route 12 and the Outer Banks of NC
-Wright Bros National Memorial (US 158);
-Cape Hatteras National Sea Shore;
-lighthouses;

8) Charleston, SC
-Magnolia Plantation & Gardens;
-Charleston Museum;
-Bull Island

9) Whistle Stop Café from the movie Fried Green Tomatoes, Juliette, GA
-never been there but always wanted to!!:-)

10) Miami to Key West
-South Beach Art Deco District walking tour;
-Best pizza : Rocco's, Johnson St. Hollywood Beach;
-the Everglades;
-Jule's Undersea Lodge, Key Largo;
-the Ernest Hemingway Home in Key West;

Whew...Okay that's enough for today!:oP If you need more information, don't be shy, we're here to help!

Gen:-)

[tt2xr]

thanks so much for the website, it's really helpful!
by the way, is it worth going to the North east such as vermont and Maine around April? I've heard from several people that its still cold at this time of the year.

A good site for driving directions is http://www.mapquest.com/directions/m...?bCTsettings=1 Just put in City/State and It'll also give you a map. I drove up through Vermont and Maine in the Autumn and the weather was ok, it's nice countryside in places, but there's not really much there. The weather warms up around April http://weather.yahoo.com/climo/USVT0033_c.html but it's not guaranteed. I'm happy as long as the temp reaches 20C and it's not raining :)

[mimi]

thanks so much, you have absolutely no idea how much you helped me! makes thinks much clearer for me!!! :)

[Mark Sedenquist]

To tell you the truth, I am overwelmed by the number of attractions to see on the road. Could anybody give me some tips for the trip? what are the main attractions that I shouldn't miss? and what is the route that I should do in order to get from Miami to let's say, Maine

I just wrote a review of the 3rd edition of the Drive I-95 book. It really is the best guide I know of for traveling that section between the Geogia state line and Massachusetts. For travel tips between Miami and the state line I would go with Dave Hunter's new opus.

Mark

[mimi]

hey guys!
I actually wrote here a couple of times, and you all really helped me with building my own first road trip!
I am from Israel and I will be in washington DC at the beginning of April for about 2-3 days with my bf. Can anyone tell me about the main attractions that I should see in such a short time?
Another thing.. I've been looking desperately at hotels or motels in DC but everything is really expensive (over a 100$). The ones that were relatively cheap, I checked in the tripadvisor and there were some really bad reviews. If anyone can give me any advice, please help me! :) We will be there without a car so its important to find a place that is near the center.
thanx,
mimi