I appreciate your enthusiasm, and I would disagree with the editor about taking geography next semester (though we know he was kidding) Bottom line is that you'll learn more on a trip like the one you are planning than you would from any classroom.

I am also a lover of rollercoasters, so you'll probably dig this posting.


First of all, are you a member of AAA? If not, I strongly advise you to become a member before next summer. For less than $50 a year, you have 24 hour roadside assistance anywhere in the US. (Find Murdo, South Dakota on a map. AAA got us a tow to the next town of size from there!)
In addition, you are allowed unlimited maps, tourbooks, campbooks, etc. from their offices (hundreds across the country, in just about every major city and town) You can even try to hit your parents up for the fifty bucks, for the safety of you and your brother.

My next best advice is to SKIP DISNEYWORLD!!! Are you KIDDING ME?! You live an hour from Disneyland and Universal Studios out here, and you're going to waste your time and money in ORLANDO?! Skip it, trust me. There are some amazing parks on the east coast. I'll list them for you later.

Try this route:

From New Orleans (awesome town, but keep your eye on your little bro at night) go north up to Memphis, TN. See Graceland, whether you like Elvis or not. You may have to skip partying on Beale Street at night, as they're tough on underage admittance to bars and clubs. Go east and see Nashville, TN. It's a really fun town at night, and there is more a family atmosphere to the fun at night.

Next, consider this:

Find Great Smoky Mountain National Park on your free AAA map of Tennessee. Go there. Get on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Take it all the way to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. It is one of the most beautiful roads in the country. After the park, head towards the coast for some excellent amusement parks and beaches.

Look up the following amusement parks on the internet for their locations:

*Kings Dominion in Virginia (very rollercoaster oriented park)

*Dorney Park/Wildwater Kingdom in Pennsylvania (incredible deal-two parks, one admittance price...good rides, great waterpark)

*Riverside Park in Massachusetts.

**Cedar Point in Ohio. (This is the best park I've been to)


Good luck and safe driving.


ab