Coast to Coast, 1st road trip, please HELP!

[Foy]

Hello yada723,

Getting the pass will give you more reasons to take a weekend trip from Norfolk to the Shenandoah National Park and its Skyline Drive, a beautiful ridgetop highway which runs roughly 100 miles from I-64 west of Charolttesville up to Front Royal, at I-66. A longer trip using the pass can bring you down to the Smokies here in North Carolina.

The "San Diego to Norfolk" and the 10 days allowance has the sound of a Navy PCS move. My son is a Seabee and his last PCS was from Port Hueneme back home to North Carolina. Whether or not that's the case with you and your husband, travel safe and enjoy the planning and the RoadTrip.

Foy

[yada273]

There's so much to consider, but instead of feeling overwhelmed, I'm just getting more excited with each post. Thank you guys!

@ GLC: there's such a disparity between google maps and real life. Your blunt 600 miles = 12 hours really hit home. I'm going to be careful to keep it under 500 if I can. If that means a few more days on the road, let's hope we can afford them.

@ Roadhawk: You make me feel so wasteful. I've lived in San Diego for 2 years now, and haven't even heard of half these places. I'll have to re-work the whole first leg. My husband suggested that we come up from above the Grand Canyon and work our way down, instead of my initial plan. What this affords us is a guilty pleasure trip in Las Vegas first. On the way down I'll do my best to follow you're route.

@ Foy: You guessed it. I just completed 6 years and transitioned to Navy Spouse at the same time. So, with my free time, I'm the one planning the PCS move. Funny that Shanandoah is one of my favorite a cappella songs, and it never occurred to me to see the inspiration. IF, all goes well with this trip, I fully expect to plan more in the future. (Maybe not quite so long next time).

I've created a map on community walk. It will change I'm sure fifty more times from now until August, but to anyone else planning a trip I highly recommend this free service.

[travelingman]

Well, unless you're going to enter at least 4 National Parks (typically $20 each) on your trip, it doesn't make financial sense to buy the $80 America the Beautiful Pass.
AZBuck

True. However, the pass is good for twelve months from the date of purchase. If you plan on visiting more National Parks before August next year, it might still pay to get the pass. Double check though, because things always can change.

note: oops, you DID say that already. My bad.

[Foy]

So, which installation are you PCS-ing to? The Big Base, Oceana, Dam Neck, Little Creek, Yorktown?

I was born across the river from downtown Norfolk, in Portsmouth, and lived there until age 6. In the intervening 49 years, I've been a regular visitor and my family keeps a Bayfront home near Lynnhaven Inlet (and about 2 miles east of the Little Creek Amphib Base). I just returned to Raleigh from 4 days up there. Shoot me a PM if you'd be interested in an independent discussion of where to look for housing, etc. Plus, my wife grew up in Charlottesville and we lived up there for several years and still visit regularly, so I can offer some tips for weekend travel up that way. Depending on traffic getting out of Hampton Roads, you're only 3.5-4.0 hours from Shenandoah NP in Norfolk.

Enjoy the planning and the RoadTrip!

Foy

[yada273]

Hey guys,
I took the last few weeks off from planning the trip to locate a place to live (just slightly more important). Wonderful news I have a home under contract in the very lovely Colonial Place and ready to move into for the middle of August, just after my road trip is over.

Now back to the more fun planning. My first road trip!

As I start to hammer out the time line, I notice small questions come up as to what to do with the "filler" time in between my major highlights of Grand Canyon, New Orleans, and Savannah. Also, where are the best places to check out to make the most of those areas. Direct questions seem to work out best, so this section of the thread will be about Savannah.

Of all the places, this is the one I'm most excited to visit, and will dedicate two full days to its exploration. What are the can't miss places for food and tourism? What hotel will afford me the classic southern charm with access to the great old world park and not be too hard on my budget ($100/ night max).

Thanks!