50states

Hi Folks,

After considering various views from Fodorers n elsewhere we decided on a road trip (bit crazy) for the memorial day weekend. Here is the trip itinerary...please suggest must visit places:

Friday: Raleigh - Indianapolis (10 hr drive & rest)
Saturday: Indianapolis - Chicago (should be a quick one) - Please suggest places in downtown for first time visit
Saturday night: Travel from Chicago - St. Louis (4 and half hrs drive & rest)
Sunday: Arch & Cathedral....let us know if we are missing any thing here.
Sunday night: St. Louis - Nashville (4 and half hrs drive & rest)
Monday morning: Pretty much open...thinking of driving via Mammoth Cave to Raleigh or via Asheville.

I know it is pretty crazy & tiresome but we want to keep it that way as a memory to laugh about in future

Gretchen

So you interest is in a road trip but not much else? Really, just asking. In Indiana there is Brown County south of Indianapolis famed for its covered bridges that are truly wonderful.
How are you driving to Indianapolis. There are 10 hour drives that are a lot more interesting than interstates.

50states

Driving via West Virgina & Dayton....I posted this itinerary just to know if we re-route to stop by and see a few places...Thanks for Brown county info.

Tabernash2

You are driving at night, allowing some time to "rest", but it looks like an exhausting schedule I'd never be interested in. I would take Indianapolis out of the mix.

Ackislander

Mammoth Cave isn't really between Nashville and Raleigh, though it might be near your route from NC to Indiana.

I would bag Indianapolis and go to Brown County, Columbus INDIANA, not OHIO, which is full of great buildings by famous modern architects, and Bloomington, which is the Chapel Hill of the Midwest.

Gretchen

Agree with Ack.
You can really take a scenic drive along the Ohio River by taking Route 52 out of ______--maybe Charleston, WVA.
I'd take ST. Louis out and do Nashville, Franklin, etc. and then Asheville on the way home.
I am not really understanding "your" trip--emphasis on the "your"!!
If you like antiquing, southern Ohio and Indiana will be good.

tomfuller

Did your planned route go through Louisville KY? It is more interesting than Indianapolis IMO.
Still an easy drive to Chicago going through Indianapolis.
If it is a solo trip, I suggest the HI hostel on Congress. It is within walking distance of most of what you want to see on a first visit to Chicago.

cd

You might want to rethink Indy, Sunday 26th is the Indy 500 and even though it is in Speedway, the traffic that weekend could be bad.
Since you have so little time in Chicago, I would recommend lunch in the Signature Lounge John Hancock Building, it's on the 95th floor and the views of Chicago and the lakeshore are great. http://www.signatureroom.com/ Then you could walk Michigan Blvd and the Pier before taking off. You will have to Google where to park.

jent103

You're only going to have what, eight hours in Chicago, so if the weather's good I'd stick to Michigan Avenue: Millennium Park for the Bean, the Art Institute if you're interested, shopping further north if that floats your boat. You could book an architecture cruise - it would be a good way to see a lot. It leaves from a dock close to Michigan Avenue and East Wacker.

50states

Thanks all! Will keep track of Indy event and be careful not to get caught up in traffic...Nope this is not a solo trip and we will take turns driving

lizlemon48

Friday in Indianapolis is Carb Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Saturday is the parade Downtown, it is free to attend or you can buy inexpensive bleacher seats. That said, many roads Downtown will be closed due to Parade traffic. If you stay east/south/north of the city you will avoid all of the 500 madness. Good luck on your trip!