Hello Dave,
I'm glad to help. Not sure if you wanted more on NJ. Morristown NHP is nice as well as Washington Crossing State Park for Revolutionary War sites to visit.

I have been to Washington, DC a few times. There is a lot to see. Like I said before cities are not our favorite.

Last May we actually did a southern loop beginning in Manassas, VA.The battlefield held a few reenactments while we were there. Williamsburg, VA has a lot of different things to do. The village is great. There are a few hundred 18th century buildings and people dressed in period clothing. They have the ghost tours that we did not do. They also have the ghost tours in Gettysburg. Busch Gardens, an amusement park, is nice. We visited it about 15 years ago, not sure how it has been updated, but I'm sure not as nice as Disney. I am a Disney person. (that's why so many trips up and down the east coast 28).

Jamestown and Yorktown are very close to Williamsburg and worth the visit. Colonial National Historic Park and the Jamestown settlement are well done. We did see ongoing work on a dig in the Jamestown settlement. The areas are connected by the Colonial Parkway, a very beautiful ride.

You can go through Newport, many ships will most likely be in port. The next area will be the outerbanks. The ride is very nice. We drove from Williamburg through the outerbanks and stayed in Carolina Beach, NC. It was a too long day. The outerbanks are beautiful with the coastline and lighthouses. If you are interested in the Wright Brothers, the National Monument for the first flight is in Kill Devil Hill. It was great.

MOST IMPORTANT. There are 2 car ferries you must take to complete the drive through the outerbanks. The first is at Cape Hatteras. Last year it was free and ran every 1/2 hour. It is about 40 minutes long. The next is the Ocracoke to Cedar Island ferry. For this one, you must have reservations. You do not have to pay ahead ($10.00 last year), but you must have a space. This one is about 2 hr. 15 min. The ferry rides are a lot of fun. You just drive your vehicle on and ride. They sell snacks etc. Nothing fancy. The phone number is 1-800-293-3779. I got the phone number from my info from last year so just check. The state runs the ferries.

Since this does take extra time, you may wish to stay over on the outerbanks. We didn't do that not realizing what a very long day it became.

Wilmington, NC is the home to the Battleship North Carolina. It is easy to get to and on the way to Charleston. We were lucky to be there on a very slow day and had a free private tour with a volunteer that was eager to tell his own story about his travels on the vessel.

Charleston, SC was a big disappointment to both of us. The actual city proper was just like the pictures. The immediate surrounding area a slum. We had 3 nights planned and did not stay one. My husband is a retired cop and didn't want to be near it. We were very surprised. If staying there, I would stay in the nice city proper section or not at all.

Kings Mountain NMP is in SC on the way to Great Smokey Mountain NP. It is a nice stop on the way to the park for lunch and a quick history lesson. It is Revolutionary War not Cival War.

We stayed on the eastern side of Smokey Mountain in a small town called Cherokee. Yes, it is in an Indian Reservation. It was very nice plus interesting to us. They also have a casino if that interests you. We did not visit it. The park has many hikes and is quite nice. You can exit through the west in the Gatlinburg area. This is the more touristy side.

I have not done much in TN except Shiloh, which is south of where it seems you are going.

Atlanta is a beautiful city if you choose to make a more southerly route. I have driven through TX and MS if you ever need info on those states.

St. Louis is the next area I have visited on your itinery. The Arch is something else. It is easy to get to. You can get off Rt 70 and visit easily. You can take a rocking tram like vehicle to the top, get out and see the view and return down the same way. There is also a well done free (with the NP pass) western museum in the base.

Going either directly west from St. Louis or south the next stop I have visited is NM. If you are ever in the south of NM, Carlsbad Caverans is my favorite cave park. San Antonio, TX is also well worth it.

You can visit Petrified Forest National Park off Rt 40 just east of Flagstaff. You will also pass Winslow AZ. You must know the song.

I wasn't sure if you are visiting the North Rim of the Grand Canyon or the South Rim. You listed it with Zion and Bryce so I thought you might be visiting the North Rim.

First, Sedona is an upscale town. Red Rock pass is the ride there and quite nice. The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is much more crowded and does have a lot more to do. This is the only side to take a mule ride into the canyon.

The North Rim is much less visited due to is distance from most anything. It is my favorite. You will have to stay there if going since there is only one place to stay anywhere near the rim. We stayed in cabins and arrived at night. It was my husbands first visit. I had been there in the late 80's. Our cabin was almost near the edge of an embankment and he almost walked off. In the morning when looking out the bedroom window, in the distance you could see the canyon. It is a beautiful place. The lodge had huge windows overlooking the canyon and many outdoor seats.

The North Rim is about 200 miles in road distance from the South Rim. I really was not sure of your plans, since Zion and Bryce are closer to the North Rim.

Bryce and Zion are both beautiful. We did a horseback ride into Bryce Canyon. Careful if you have a fear of heights. Also with the Grand Canyon mule ride. You will pass over Hoover Dam. It is spectacular. Lake Meade's water level was very low when we visited in 2004. (Same at Coulter Bay in Grand Teton NP).

We are not much for Las Vegas. There is much to do I'm sure.

You should visit Death Valley back into CA. We had planned to visit and stay in the park in 2004, however, there were flash floods that closed the park and caused 2 deaths so we could not visit. We did really want to visit and may do so this fall.

Sequoia/Kings Canyon is one of my favorite parks. The Redwoods of the north are dwarfed by the Giant Sequoias. The ride in is also wonderful.

You most likely have visited Yosemite. We entered the 2 times through the Tioga Pass in the east. It is truly beautiful. I found the park very crowed and that took away from it.

My favorite NP is probably Rocky Mountain NP in CO. Grand Teton most likely second.

If you have any questions or need any other info feel free to ask.

Diana