Pumblechook

Hi Everyone,

I'm an Australian music tragic in the early stages of planning a trip to Memphis and beyond and would appreciate some help with possible things to see.

I will have 12 days touring at my disposal, travelling by myself in a hire car. I'll be taking the trip around this time next year - possibly in the first half of September. I have a few "musts":

- At least 3 to 4 days in the Memphis area
- Some time in Nashville (maybe 2 days)
- Some time in New York City (maybe 3 days).

Assuming that I start in Memphis and finish in NYC, that leaves me 3-4 days of travelling and looking at "stuff". I realise that doesn't give me a lot of time for doing anything other than driving, so I'm looking for one or two "must sees" between Nashville and NYC. I've been to Washington DC before and don't have any particular desire to see any big cities (with the possible exception of Philadelphia). I'm more interested in just seeing some of the countryside and spending the overnights in some smaller towns. I think I'll just stay in low cost chains like Days Inn, Comfort Inn etc until I get to NYC. Thinking of using Priceline for NYC accommodation.

Things I'm considering:

- Timing my visit to Nashville to see a Titans home game;
- Catching a baseball game somewhere (might save this for the new NY stadium);
- Visitng at least one significant Civil War site;
- Checking out Lousiville, KY (purely on the basis that it's Muhammad Ali's home town);
- Heading through the Appalachians in West Virginia.

Also thinking of spending my last night before reaching NYC on the Jersey Shore, just on the off chance that I bump into Broooooccccee. Seriously, I'm a pathetic Springsteen tragic but I have done the Jersey Shore homage once before (had a reading done by Madam Marie, went to the Stone Pony - and saw an Australian band!) so could probably skip it if time does not allow.

I know it's all crowded and people will want to tell me not to try to do too much - but I'm gonna! The good thing is that I'll be on my own so will be able to cover a lot of ground. I'd really appreciate any positive advice on the best way of driving from Nashville to NYC in 4 days and trying to get a "feel" for the country I'm travelling through at the same time.

Incidentally, my Memphis and Nashville stops will basically be music history lessons. I'll be hitting all the major music sites in Memphis (including a trip to Clarksdale, MS) but if you have any music-related recommendations for either city I'd be glad to hear them too. I'm happy to do a few kitschy touristy things ('cos I'll be a tourist) but I'm generally more interested in music culture than eating ribs.

Thanks in advance,
Pete

P.S. One kitsch thing I'm considering is staying a night at Elvis' Heartbreak Hotel next to Graceland. I know it'll be bad but is it so bad that I just shouldn't even consider it?

Ackislander

What is a "tragic"?

Ackislander

When you leave Nashville, try to stay on the older roads that parallel the interstate highways: US 70 from Nashville to Crossville, for example, and US 11 from Knoxville to northern Virginia through the mountains and the Shenandoah Valley, where you should certainly visit Lexington, and Civil War battle fields will come frequenty.

This is gorgeous mountain country, full of a living roots music tradition. Stop in the small towns and the university towns on your route (Blacksburg and Charlottesville among others) to learn about the local music scene.

The route also crosses and parallels the Appalachian Trail from Maine to Georgia. Stop and hike for an hour at one of the crossings and then imagine yourself doing it for 2000 miles.

Part of the route parallels the Skyline Drive, a scenic route over the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains, slow speeds but much wild life.

Finally, stop to see Jefferson's house, Monticello, near Charlottesville. He was an amazing man.

Gretchen

I think you can cross off baseball. Too late.

mclaurie

I don't see what being a music "tragic" (not a word used here) has to do with DRIVING from Memphis to NYC. I know you Aussies love your driving holidays, but really...If you want to drive, why not head to the Rock and Roll hall of Fame in Cleveland from Memphis and then fly to NYC? You'd pass right through Louisville.

HereInFranklin

Hello...a couple of thoughts for you...Titans home games are always sold out so you will probably need to check on e-bay or Craig's List for tickets. Just south of Nashville is historic Franklin which is where one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War was fought. The entire downtown is on the National Register of Historic Places and there are a couple of good house museums as well that played prominent roles during the battle. In Nashville, you should plan on seeing the Country Music Hall of Fame and the honky tonks on Lower Broadway.

www.hereinfranklin.wordpress.com

Skiergirl

The Tennessee Titans are a FOOTBALL team, not baseball. Season will just be starting in September.

dfr4848

Ackislander and HereInFranklin have good suggestions.

tragic = junkie

He's making the trip early part of next Sept. - won't be too late for baseball.

Think he knows the Titans are a football team.

Gerb

Just a couple of thoughts:

1. In Nashville, a night at the "honky tonks" is a must. You can stay in Franklin but it's about 30 minutes to downtown. Stay downtown close to the Ryman Auditorium. Priceline can get you a good rate at the Hilton or Sheraton. Make sure you hit "The Stage" or "Tootsies" on Broadway St.

2. The Blue Ridge Parkway is a fantastic but slow drive.

3. If you're heading though VA/WV, check out the Homestead Hotel. A bit pricey but worth the trip. Its in Hot Springs, VA.

BTW, Mapquests directions are actually pretty good for Nashville to NYC

Pumblechook

Hi, thanks everyone for the suggestions.

dfr4848 - your summary was very good. I do know that the Titans are a football team and I'm deliberately timing the trip for early September so that I get the crossover between the football and baseball seasons.

McLaurie - the music loving and the driving aren't joined at the hip. I know I could fly - It's just my choice to drive. Probably sounds dull, but one of the things I'm really looking forward to is listening to the local radio stations as I travel through different areas.

I probably should have mentioned that I've been to the States a few times (including NYC and Cleveland but not Tennessee or much of the South other than New Orleans). I'm really after a fairly specific "feel" with this trip.

Ackislander, HereInFranklin and Gerb, thanks for your advice. They were the sort of ideas I was looking for and I'll go off now and do some more investigation. I especially like the idea of visiting Monticello, so will see how I can fit that in.

Cheers,
Pete

Pumblechook2

So, it’s been a few months (during which Pumblechook has morphed into Pumblechook2) and I’m back into planning this trip. My basic plan hasn’t changed much: start in Memphis, spend a few days exploring Memphis and Nashville, then drive to NYC. Based on some of the suggestions made in this thread, I’ve identified a couple of milestones along the way: Monticello, at least a small part of the Blue Ridge Parkway and/or Skyline Drive, and maybe Gettysburg.

But now I’m starting to wonder: would it make sense to do a loop in the car for a few days, finish up back in Memphis then fly to NYC? If I did that, I’d probably make Charlottesville the eastern most point of the loop, then head south and west to get back to Memphis but I’m totally open to suggestions. Any thoughts?

One of the reasons I’m thinking of doing this is financial: not sure what the drop off fee for a rental car would be in the NY / NJ / PA area? Also, although it was many years ago, I have already driven from NYC to Washington DC whereas I haven’t seen much of the south or the Appalachians.

Another question: when does the NFL release the 2009 schedule? I can’t find it on their web site.

Thanks, P'chook

shormk2

I probably wouldn't loop all the way back to Memphis from Charlottesville. You could always drive on in towards DC from Charlottesville and then train up to NYC. That will save you some time from backtracking and the train will be cheaper than a one way flight (most likely) from Memphis to NYC. (Instead of taking the train, I know there is a bus that goes DC to NYC and it is CHEAP. I haven't taken it, but I have friends that have and they said it isn't bad- just another option to consider).

The 2009 NFL schedule gets announced sometime in the spring. I know that isn't much help, but hopefully, it will be out before too long.

I think your trip sounds awesome. Nashville is a great, great town. If you can, try and get tickets to the Bluebird Cafe (http://www.bluebirdcafe.com/) It's a hole-in-the-wall in a strip shopping center. You reserve tables and you sit around several songwriters who will all take turns playing there songs. A real Nashville experience.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a great scenic drive. The going is slow, but the scenery worth it. Southwest Virginia is one of the prettiest parts of our country, in my opinion. I think you'll really get to see a different part of America on this trip.

jent103

I agree - it's a long way from Memphis to Charlottesville. Google maps says about 12 hours, which sounds about right to me - and that's just driving straight through, not going out of your way to other cities. I don't know what the difference in dropoff fees would be for a one-way rental, but I can't imagine it being enough to make me want to drive that much over again, especially since you only have 12 days for the whole trip. I'd just do what you were planning on originally. Maybe you could drop the car in Philadelphia and take a train to NYC? Hopefully someone else will chime in there.

Besides, if you only have 12 days, your schedule might look something like this:
- 3 days in Memphis (plenty for me)
- 2-3 days in Nashville
- 2-3 days en route to PA, through mountains
- 2 days around Gettysburg/getting to Philly, if you choose that
- get to NYC, rest of time there

So I don't think you'd really have time to loop back anyway, unless you planned to spend every minute in the car.

As far as the football schedule, a September Titans game will be great. Sorry if you already know this, but NFL games are almost always on Sundays, so you would need to be in Nashville over a weekend. (Though we won't know which are the home games for a bit, as shormk2 mentioned.)

The Bluebird is a great idea. I've lived in Nashville for almost four years and I still haven't been, which is something I keep intending to remedy! There are lots of other venues around town as well (and they don't all play country!).

Pumblechook2

Thanks shormk2 and jent103, your replies both make good sense. I think I'll go back to my original plan and forget the big driving loop. Can't do everything (sob). Will definitely put the Bluebird on my list of things to do.

My itinerary might be affected by the NFL schedule, as it now looks like my trip will cover the last week of August and first week of September, which I expect will mean Week 1 will be the only week available to me. Fingers crossed for a Titans home game in Week 1.

jent103

Right - I think the season kickoff the last few years has been the first Thursday in September (one game played on Thursday, with the rest of the teams following the usual Sunday schedule). However, if you're in Nashville earlier, you might be able to catch a preseason game. Not quite as fun, but better than NO football! I think those are usually on Friday or Saturday nights for about a month before the season officially starts - again, some home, some away.

Of course, if you end up in NYC on a Sunday, either the Jets or the Giants might have a week 1 home game. I'm partial to the Titans, obviously, but either of those might work in a pinch.

Pumblechook2

My preference is definitely to catch a Titans game but I know I'll have to just take whatever I can get. Even a college game might be fun (I went to one at Stanford many years ago and it was a really good day out). I have been to one Giants game at Meadowlands, about 5 years ago on a Monday night. It was an awesome match - they lost to Dallas in OT. Didn't get back to my hotel until about 3 in the morning. There would have been a lot of sore, angry heads in NYC that Tuesday.

jent103

Oh, a Monday night game would be awesome. The college schedules are already out (they do those a couple of years in advance). The University of Tennessee plays its home opener (in Knoxville) Sept. 5, if you'll be in Tennessee then. If you know you won't, you may ignore the next paragraph...

Even though the game isn't a huge one (Western Kentucky - smaller, non-conference school), the atmosphere will be great. College football in the South is a huge, huge deal, plus there will be a lot of attention on that game because Tennessee hired a new coach after last season who's already made some enemies in the conference. So, there's that if you're interested. If you're in Nashville you could also go to the Vanderbilt game, but... I would definitely drive the extra three hours to Knoxville. It's a completely different atmosphere than Vandy. UT's stadium holds somewhere around 110,000, unofficially. Vandy's holds about 40,000.

You can just scalp a ticket when you get there - it's legal in Tennessee. You can also try to buy one beforehand, though it doesn't look like they're on sale yet.