Hi folks,

I've been surfing this site for the past week, absorbing as much as I can to get ready for my a road trip my wife and I plan to take this summer. Last summer we started in Charleston, SC and went New Orleans, via Nashville and Memphis, and had an amazing time. We did it in a week, but we're still relatively young (33), enjoy scenic drives, and try to plan things out well, so we managed just fine in 8 days. This year we're going on another 8-day trek, this time from Austin to the Grand Canyon, with a final destination being either Phoenix or Las Vegas, depending on everyone's suggestions here. We're New Englanders, but we love country music and southwestern culture and are excited to experience what everyone says is a gorgeous part of the country (then again, isn't it all?)

Our first thought was, Let's go to Austin! I'm a musician and we both enjoy music, so Austin seems like the place to be. But I can't spend a week in Austin. I need to see more than that, hence the road trip...

Here's my basic plan:

Day 1: Fly into Austin.
Day 2: Austin
Day 3: Drive to San Antonio (this will be our 5th anniversary day, btw)
Day 4: SA to El Paso (cross the border? yes? no? suggestions?)
Day 5: El Paso to Tucson/Phoenix area
Day 6: Tucson/Phoenix to Sedona, via Salt River Canyon, Camp Verde, Prescott
Day 7: Sedona to Grand Canyon
Day 8: Grand Canyon to Las Vegas
Day 9: Fly out of Las Vegas

Alternately, we could go from the GC back down to Phoenix and leave from there, but I'm not one for backtracking. Or over to Albuquerque, but I'd like to do Four Corners and see Utah, southern CO, etc, on another trip when I have more time.

Can we cover Austin in one overnight stay? Should we spend our time elsewhere, even if it's still in Texas?

Also, I'm aware this is just an appetizer of all this area has to offer. But I would love some suggestions, just the same. You all seem to know just what you're talking about!!

God I love road trips :)