First Cross-Country Road Trip: New Jersey to California and Back

[Serra]

Today wraps Week 5 on the road, with 6,328 miles clocked on this trip so far. Here's the rundown:

Day 29: Toured the Mystery Castle nearby South Mountain in Phoenix - a neat little local curiosity. Went back to the Golden Rule Cafe, because it was impossible to stay away - I had to have that incredible homestyle fried chicken one more time. Then for dinner, Had some nice, fresh sushi at Shimogamo in Chandler.

Day 30: Hiked a bit around South Mountain - like the "Mystery Castle," there are really great views of Phoenix and the whole valley. Walked around Arizona Mills - excessively busy on game night for ASU, but a new pizza restaurant, La Bocca, was worth the visit.

Day 31: Explored Tonto Natural Bridge, climbing all over some slippery rocks - the formation was beautiful as was the ride up there from Phoenix.

Day 32: Drove on to Tucson, and visited San Xavier de Bac Mission - a stark white building on red desert. Then, took a quick trip to Tubac - the little arts/shop community was deserted at the time, but it was worth it to find a gift I'd been keeping an eye out for at a local store that was sadly going out of business.

Day 33: Walked the natural preserved paths of the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, and then traveled down the road - slowing so a snake could cross - to Old Tucson Studios where many old westerns and some modern ones have filmed. If you're a western fan, it's worth the admission price, but others might find it too much of a small scale theme park - I personally really liked and was glad I got it in before leaving. I also squeezed in an oil change before leaving.

Day 34: Drove into Tombstone, walked around the OK Corral gunfight site and saw the Historama - most of which I knew already so I could have skipped it. Shopped in the stores on the main street of the historic district. Continued on, eventually heading into the forested mountains to the Billy the Kid Scenic Byway through lower Lincoln County, and on to Roswell. Ate a nice juicy steak at Cattle Baron and I was set for the night with a satisfied appetite.

Day 35: Ate a really good, freshly made egg & sausage sandwich at the Not of This World Cafe on Main Street in Roswell - imagine a Parisian-decor cafe with touches of a space theme. Walked through the International UFO Museum - went through pretty fast and there weren't nearly as many "scene recreation" exhibits I expected, leaving me kind of disappointed actually. There really is UFO obsession everpresent through the main drag as you might think - even the street lamps have little almond-shaped alien eyes. Moved north to Fort Sumner. Saw Billy the Kid's grave behind the Fort Sumner Museum - the grave is free, the museum is cheap and small, but worthwhile if you're a real wild west buff. Hit the Billy the Kid Museum in town too, and that was actually really extensive and you get to see a lot for the price of admission - and they're very upfront about what is and is not traceable to Billy and associates.

I'm feeling a lot better this week - I'm still a little congested, but doing much better than I was last week, so that's good.

I'll have another update next week - same Bat time, same Bat channel.

[Mark Sedenquist]

We'll be waiting for the next dispatch!

Mark

[Southwest Dave]

Hi Serra,

Thanks for the report, I am enjoying your "live" updates and they have so much useful info. Looking forward to the next one already.

I'm feeling a lot better this week

Pleased to hear this.

Dave.

[Serra]

Thank you, Mark and Dave! I've really enjoyed the last several weeks, and now as I wrap up Week 6, it seems I'm in the final stretch - this week ahead should see me home or nearly home at its end. Now at Week 6, I've clocked 7,872 miles.

Day 36: Stopped at the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, TX, which is looking its age, but is still worth stopping for over its historical value as an art sculpture and landmark curiosity. Had genuine Texas BBQ at the Railhead in Fort Worth, TX.

Day 37: Rode around Dallas and Fort Worth - the Stockyards is a cool shopping/restaurant district and the Water Gardens in downtown Fort Worth are lit up nicely at night. Saw Dealey Plaza and the Empty Tomb last time I was in Dallas, and didn't go this time.

Day 38: Stopped in Austin on the way down to San Antonio. Saw the Capitol building, but the street was blocked off for a fair. Ate lunch at the Hickory Street Cafe, which had a great and simple cheeseburger and live music on the hip streetfront patio. Walked Alamo Plaza and the Riverwalk once I arrived in San Antonio - been to both before and they always feel so welcoming in their historic and engineered beauty. Got a soda at Pat O'Brien's to just sit and relax inside before calling it a night.

Day 39: Walked around Friedrich Park. Had some good Tortilla soup and cherry sweet tea at Jim's Cafe and Coffee Bar, then saw the Lourdes Grottos at Oblate Seminary, the University of the Incarnate Word, and Basilica of the Little Flower, and then visited San Fernando Cathedral, where Crockett, Bowie, and Travis lie - contrary to popular belief that their tomb is at the Alamo.

Day 40: Saw the springs at San Pedro Park, and Espada Aqueduct in the well preserved and breathtaking San Antonio Missions National Park - I've been to San Jose and Concepcion before and everything in this park as well as the nature preserves surrounding the missions and river is amazing. Went to the Witte Museum and the San Antonio Museum of Art after 5 p.m. during the free admission period on Tuesdays.

Day 41: Took a daytrip to Corpus Christi and continued to Padre Island National Seashore - this national park was just good for my soul. Walked about a mile of Malaquite Beach where cars aren't allowed to drive. I've never seen a man-of-war in my life, but walking this beach that afternoon, I saw 9 washed up on the shore!

Day 42: Headed for Houston, specifically for Space Center Houston - the whole place is geared towards kids, and though there are a couple interesting things around, the only reason I went was to take the NASA Tram Tour, which was totally worth it. Saw Historic Mission Control, part of the astronaut training facility, and Rocket Park where the Saturn V is on display in a hanger. The Johnson Space Center NASA stuff was worthwhile, but the food and souvenirs were as overpriced as Disneyland - I've never paid so much for a soft pretzel (that wasn't so soft) and a Pepsi in my life. My recommendation? Take the NASA tour and call it a day at this family tourist trap.

This next week is going to be tricky because I'm trying to watch my budget and my time, and I have friends and family who want to see me on my way back, so we'll see how things go.

Otherwise, that's all for now.

[Mark Sedenquist]

TWalked around Friedrich Park. Had some good Tortilla soup and cherry sweet tea at Jim's Cafe and Coffee Bar, then saw the Lourdes Grottos at Oblate Seminary, the University of the Incarnate Word, and Basilica of the Little Flower, and then visited San Fernando Cathedral, where Crockett, Bowie, and Travis lie - contrary to popular belief that their tomb is at the Alamo.

I didn't know that.

I've never seen a man-of-war in my life, but walking this beach that afternoon, I saw 9 washed up on the shore!

I would like to see one in person too someday.

My recommendation? Take the NASA tour and call it a day at this family tourist trap.

Excellent advice and duly noted.

Thanks for the latest dispatch -- pleasant and informative as ever.

Mark

[Nowhereman26]

Hey Serra, I've been planning a very similar roadtrip for myself. I had a quick question, how much cash should someone put aside for a cross country trip? Furthermore do you have any tips for a first timer?

[Serra]

Mark, thank you again! I'm really enjoying posting from the road, so I'm glad it's helpful! These stops are all things I've wanted to see for one reason or another - I have way too many interests - and have finally gotten to visit.

Seems it's a big misconception about Travis, Crockett and Bowie's resting place, and it's quite debated, but I've got a picture of the tomb, and it's just inside the vestibule of San Fernando Cathedral.

P.S. In San Antonio, I highly recommend Sam's Burger Joint and the original Rudy's - both are great stops for awesome Texas BBQ!

Nowhereman, first let me just say that this forum is full of great advice for planning your first roadtrip.

In my first post here, many of the people here provided me with great links to some basics. And everyone here is so helpful and full of great advice! So if you haven't already, I highly recommending doing searches using the Google Search bar on the left of the page (set to search RTA) for lots of information on the forums and in articles.

As for my trip, I budgeted for $5,000, but the cost will vary greatly depending on where you stay and what you want to do along the way - I've stayed with many friends over the course of this trip and found a lot of cheap motels using a budget travel guide, and both of those things have helped a lot.

Last but not least, the best advice I can give is take care of your car before, during and after the trip. I also suggest bringing necessary fluids with you - motor oil, transmission fluid, coolant/antifreeze, windshield washer fluid, and of course lots of water. And on a long trip like this one, make sure you get the oil changed at least once.

Another point is to keep track of everything - I've been keeping logs of my miles and my expenses, which keeps me accountable for my spending and lets me track exactly how much mileage I'm putting on the odometer each day and between stops.

Finally, I would say that having a general plan is a good idea and then you can build upon it as you go.

Okay, I've rambled enough now. Good luck planning your trip! I'm certainly by no means an expert, but if there's anything else you'd like to ask, please don't hesitate.

[Serra]

I'm home! I have completed my trip at a total of 7 weeks and 1 day (50 days in all), and it was the most amazing time of my life! I'm so happy I finally embarked upon this adventure, and I owe a great deal of thanks to everyone here at RTA who offered such great advice and encouraged me along the way, so thank you, everyone!

I traveled a total of 10,139 miles in my 50 days on the road.

As an additional note to my post above about my budget, I should mention that I budgeted an emergency fund of $1,000 for whatever might have come up in that time, and it turned out that I wound up needing that reserve in my last week because the pulley on my air compressor gave out right after my last big stop in Atlanta - the timing was perfect, actually, and I'm extremely grateful that I was nearby a Goodyear and they were able to put in a new one at the end of the work day so I could get back on the road by sunset.

That having been said, here's Week 7 - the last 8 days of my trip:

Day 43: Arrived at Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville, LA - toured the grounds once during the day for the history and took the mystery tour at night for the ghost stories since it's one of the most reputedly haunted locations in the country. (It's also a B&B, and yes, I stayed the night.) Their Carriage House Restaurant has delicious, authentic chicken and sausage jambalaya and great sweet tea - I'm now addicted to sweet tea thanks to my travels through the entire southern half of the country.

Day 44: Stopped in New Orleans because it would be so wrong if I didn't have breakfast at Cafe Du Monde - beignets are the most simultaneously sinfully delicious and coma-inducingly sugar-laden treat imaginable. Walked around the French Quarter on a busy Saturday morning taking pictures and soaking up the New Orleans atmosphere - I've been there four times and every time has been full of bohemian romance and historical enchantment. Moved on, all the way to Georgia, and ate at a place called Austin's Steakhouse in Valdosta that had fresh pumpernickel bread and hearty burgers topped with the right amount of non-greasy cheese and crispy applewood smoked bacon.

Day 45: Had breakfast at a Waffle House before getting on I-95, because, like Cracker Barrel, the freshly made food (especially the breakfast selections and the sweet tea) at this southern staple is too good to avoid! And we have none of those within a 60-mile radius of my home in Jersey. Drove into Savannah and parked at the Welcome Center since it's free on Sundays. Took the Oglethorpe Trolley Tour, which I chose because for the price of a $10 ticket, you get the tour and unlimited on/off service from their shuttles throughout the historic district during the course of the day. At night, I took the Oglethorpe Ghost Tour, which is also one of the trolley-shaped buses - we drove around and got off at several places, including the cemetery (ie. Colonial Park), which is open until 8 p.m. Saw Jim Williams' house (from "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil") and the home he had moved into the historic district, wandered the squares during the day, and ate the famous honey pecan fried chicken at the Pirate's House Restaurant. (Forget about getting reservations at Paula Deen's Lady & Sons Restaurant if you arrive the day you want to dine anytime after 9:30 a.m.) Left Savannah with the sense that this is a place I would love to return to one day and explore even more.

Day 46: Hit my last stop on my cross-country must-see list - the Georgia Aquarium. I love sharks - love them! I've been diving with them in a tank in Sydney and a cage in Hawaii, and I've always wanted to see the whale sharks in the Georgia Aquarium's One-World Ocean tank, which contains other species you won't see most other places, like hammerheads and sawheads, and a juvenile Manta Ray they just adopted from a South African Aquarium. The whale shark is an endangered species that is completely harmless (feeding on plankton) and can grow to be 40 feet long, and the Georgia Aquarium has 4 that it's raising, the largest being 23 feet long - these peaceful and stunning creatures can't be found in any other aquarium outside of Thailand, which I'm sure they believe justifies the unfortunately steep admission price of $27. The aquarium is also currently hosting Titanic Aquatic, an exhibit of items raised from the sunken wreck of the Titanic and never before displayed. The exhibit is, again unfortunately, an extra $7 on the ticket price - since I've always been fascinated by the story of the Titanic (I've even visited the graves in Halifax, Nova Scotia, which are very humbling and melancholy), I paid the extra cost. The price of these things is worthwhile if you are very passionate about these things or if you have children, because the giant picture window and the walk-through tunnel for the One-World Ocean tank stimulate the senses and overwhelm the childlike sense of wonder - in kids most of all, but in people of all ages too. About 40 miles after leaving Atlanta, that's when the air compressor forced me to make a very expensive emergency automotive attention stop.

Day 47: Returned to Knoxville, TN, visiting the same friend I had stayed with on my way out west. This time, we drove around the Smoky Mountains, and the leaves were just past peak. The colors, hills, lone roads, farms and animals along the way all reminded me of New England - only without the high-class colonial homes and mansions. This was a very relaxing drive full of tranquility and lovely views.

Day 48: Drove up to Falls Church, VA, stopping at Leno's Pizza Restaurant and Bar for dinner - the pizza is rectangular and the cheese is done just right with lots of appetizing options. I was disappointed though that I was so far north now that sweet tea (or sweetened iced tea as we northerners say) was getting harder to come by - especially good sweet tea.

Day 49: Traveled to Frederick, MD (and through Germantown), where I have family, and visited with them a while - Frederick has some beautiful homes in its historic district and its downtown conjures notions of the city being trapped in time that you won't get from passing the Golden Mile with all its superstores and strip malls from the highway.

Day 50: Rode around the Washington D.C. area through Bethesda and Georgetown. I've been to D.C. before, so I've seen the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, but this time I rode past the Capitol, the White House, FBI Headquarters, the Smithsonian, and National Cathedral. Then I took a route home through Pennsylvania, returning home along some of the same roads I had taken before, thus avoiding the costly tolls of the New York-D.C. inter-metropolitan commuting insanity.

I've been home a few days now, so it's taken me a while to relax, rest, and get some things done so I could catch up here.

Again, all I can say is thanks to all here for all the information and confidence that you gave me along the way.

This trip has been so good for my soul, and I hope it won't be another decade before I set out on another road trip, no matter how big or small.

[Southwest Dave]

Hi Serra,

What a great adventure and well done, give yourself a big pat on the back.

I have really enjoyed following your journeys [as so many others have with over 900 views] in which you have accomplished so much.

I'm not sure why you was a little worried to start with, I mean you swim with sharks ;-) Lol!

This trip has been so good for my soul, and I hope it won't be another decade before I set out on another road trip, no matter how big or small.

Make sure it isn't, you hear !

Regards Dave.

[Sykotyk]

Amazing trip. A lot more liesurely than my trips have been.

Sykotyk