leaving in 2 days!!!

[Xarsis]

Hi everyone,

My friend and I are planning on taking a road trip across country. We are both flying out to Los Angeles, and then driving back to Philadelphia. we will be staying overnight at each stop and moving on in the morning.

We have the following legs of the journey. and any tips from people who have made similar trips would be great.

1. Los Angeles to Las Vegas - Inspired by the book fear and Loathing in Las vegas I am looking forward to driving into vegas. Is there anything interesting along this path that we can stop and see before we hit sin city?

2. Las Vegas to Phoenix - I know the grand canyon and the hoover dam are along this path somewhere, do you have any tips on what to visit or see along here?

3. Phoenix to El Paso - I have no idea what is on this leg of the journey, New Mexico is a mystery and it seems every major NM city is well north of our path. Are we just driving into a dead zone? or is there actually a way to make this trek a bit more interesting?

4. El Paso to Austin - Again this leg seems to have us cruising across open country I know there are a few interesting things as we close in on Austin but any suggestions on stops along this path would be great..

5. Austin to New Orleans - Houston and Burbon St are the highlights here as far as I can tell.

6. New Orleans - Memphis - Mississippi is a mystery and other than going through the state I am not privy to anything interesting until we hit graceland.

7. Memphis - Somewhere in Virginia - Not sure where we will end up stopping on this leg, we will pass through nashville but we may just drive until we can;t on our way north to PA

8. Philadelphia Bound..


So yeah if you live in these areas or along this route or have driven any of the legs I would love to hear from you..

[w0312447]

Hi, I'm from the New Orleans area. Bourbon Street is a good choice and is now up and running since the hurricane hit. If you are in to haunted houses, we have a great one. It is called Myrtle's Plantation and is located in St. Francisville which you can hit on your way to New Orleans. It has been on some of the top most haunted places in the US and if you like, you can spend the night. I also highly recommend the Riverwalk which was built for one of the World's Fairs. It is in Downtown New Orleans, pretty close to Bourbon St. It is right on the Mississippi and has some great shopping. While in the actual mall, stop at the fudge shop. It is great fun, you can watch the people make the fudge and there is a song they sing to go along with the whole process.

[cool]

Depending on how much time you have, you can have small detours to Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Preserve and maybe, even Mohave.

Anza Borrego Desert State Park is a little out of the way, but if you have the time, you could still do this. Its gorgeous!

All this falls on your LA to Vegas leg.

I don't know if I would recommend the deserts during summer. You can make your choice.

cheers
cool

[Mark Sedenquist]

Hi, I'm from the New Orleans area. Bourbon Street is a good choice

Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum -- it is always so cool when new members share tips of new places on some of their first posts. It is good news about NO!

Mark

[Mark Sedenquist]

My friend and I are planning on taking a road trip across country. We are both flying out to Los Angeles, and then driving back to Philadelphia. we will be staying overnight at each stop and moving on in the morning.

Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum. Unfortunately, your schedule doesn't really allow for much looking around. It does offer slightly more than a plane trip, but not much.

1. Los Angeles to Las Vegas -

You won't have sufficient time but you might be interested to know that within 1.5 miles of the Interstate you will be passing by some of the fanciest pro waterskiing lakes in the world, three nudist camps, four "lost gold mines," the tallest themometer in the world (Baker), parts of Route 66, lava tubes, cinder cones, and the "Grand Canyon of the Mojave."

2. Las Vegas to Phoenix - I know the grand canyon and the hoover dam are along this path somewhere,

Here is article about visiting the dam and there are plenty of posts on this Forum about the Grand Canyon!

3. Phoenix to El Paso - Are we just driving into a dead zone? or is there actually a way to make this trek a bit more interesting?

It is hard to imagine that you could be serious about this.

I think you might benefit from this essay -- roadtrips are not about destinations -- roadtrips occur in the mind.

So enjoy the journey and the planning.

Mark

[azo]

2 days ago I drove from phoenix to the I-20 intersect of I-10. Thats a decent chunk of road you will be treking.

Tucson- Has alot to do, ask and ill go in depth
Benson (not far past tucson) - is like a little tourist trap
Ketchican caverns - Just south of there, a really pretty state park
Tombstone- a little farther south, real fun western town, try to go on a weekend (its almost dead during the week)
The Thing- You will see about 20+ billboards for it, after you leave benson
High Jolly Monument- Quartsize NM
In NM, there are a few Gas Stations with themes that have alot of bildboard also, they sale merchendise from antiques to Fireworks
Rest stop outside of las cruces- Its on a hill overlooking the city, it has very good landscaping and is home to a 20 foot Road Runner made out of old shoes
El Paso - Also has alot to do, ask
A little past El Paso on for a few hundred miles, the speed limit is 80 MPH... Everything is bigger (faster) in Texas


Thats what i would recomend on that stretch :)

[kcstockdale]

I'll assume you are taking the I10 to hwy 290 and then into Austin. That is the easiest route and best one. Hwy 290 is also what you will take out and pass through Houston and then onto New Oleans.

When you get off I10 and onto 290 you will be going through some rural areas. Best to make this trip in the day light, as the dark can be creepy (we kept hearing that "Jeepers Creepers" song). You'll pass through some small towns and then get to Fredricksburg. Beautiful town. Get out and streatch your legs down main street. cute shops. Great restaurants. Its a German town. One restaurant is built from an old house with a HUGE willow out front. I recomend that one, although I can never recall the name. There is an icecream parlor with homemade icecream. Peach is awesome. There is another store that sells sides, sauces and fudge. Everything is up for tasters. Walk around the store and dip their cracker and pretzels in all kinds of jellies, BBQ sauce, cheese, dips and mixers. And the fudge is incredable. You could just have lunch there! Another store farther down has beer and wine from around the world. I recomend buying a bottle and enjoy it while strolling through town.

As you leave Fredricksburg and head east, you will pass through peach stands. PULL OVER!! It's peach season and these are award winning peaches picked fresh daily. They sell other stuff but nothing compares to the peaches. And some fresh homemade peach cobbler. Yummy!

next you will drive through Johnson City. Podunk town. Blink and you'll miss it so be sure to keep your eyes open. I havent eaten there but they have beautiful shops and great antiques.

Then onto Austin. Let me know if you want any tips. This is my home now. I can give you plenty!!

Good luck and happy planning.

Oh yeah, LA to LV is only 4 hours max. NO SPEEDING through Barstow. HUGE speeding trap. I swear, they have a fleet of trafic cops just waiting around for all the unsuspecting travelers. And stop at State Line. I think their roller coaster still holds the title of the tallest. And they have a bunch of wild west type casinos.

[azo]

Rollercoasters are one of my expertices, and "Desperado", though now nowhere close to tallest in the world, is still quite exciting.

On your way across 290, I suggest you go about 15 minutes out of the way to see wimberlry. It is a great example of a town living in the past, its got alot of old time shops and many fun things to see and do all around. Plus They went 15-0 Claming the 3A-D1 State championship in football. Texas HS football is another one of my expertices...

Actully, depending what time of year you come, I might have missed that, if you mentioned it... But Texas has some real good High school football, if your in the state on a friday night. Now I know its fun to just stop at any old town and see the game that night, but ask me and i can tell you some good matchups along your way. Thats just a thought, because I love THSF and like to spread it...

[kcstockdale]

Rollercoasters are one of my expertices, and "Desperado", though now nowhere close to tallest in the world, is still quite exciting.

What claim to fame does this one have? I thought it held some record at some point. Or I guess it could have been a story out parents told us.

On your way across 290, I suggest you go about 15 minutes out of the way to see wimberlry. .

Where exactly is this? How do I get there? I go that way often.

[Mark Sedenquist]

...And stop at State Line. I think their roller coaster still holds the title of the tallest.

....Actually, the "Top Thrill Dragster" ride at Cedar Point, Ohio sports the tallest one now. For those who like sudden drops, this monster is 128 meters tall (420 feet) and the "car" accelerates from 0 to 193.1 Km/H in slightly under four seconds.

Mark