Hi all.

I've been following this forum and reading articles for quite some time and decided to post one myself.

We're two friends arriving in Miami late in July, driving coast to coast and flying home from L.A. 31 days later. We're planning on using the "Southern Pacific" route in Jamie Jensen's Road Trip USA Guide. We would like to see New Orleans, Austin and San Diego and stay off large interstates. Besides that, we really haven't decided much else (plane tickets and rental car are booked though).

I would therefore like your opinion on the following:

- Which route should we choose in Florida going north from Miami?
- Should we stay close to the coast while driving to New Orleans (Panama City, Pensacola etc.) or instead go further to the north and west thru southern Alabama?
- What's the best way after leaving New Orleans? Thru the southern Louisiana and Houston or go north instead?

Also, feel free to comment on the route as a general and regarding cities, sights, things to see, places to stay etc.

Thanks a lot!

- Jakob, Denmark