Just a few thoughts--

1. UT is playing TCU in football in Austin on November 22nd. Going to a UT college football game is an EVENT, especially if you have never seen an American college football game. The tickets are, IMHO, crazy expensive, but you may want to experience this. Check StubHub for tickets as well.

2. Do NOT drive from Miami to Washington, D.C. (I've done part of that drive and it's a long, long, long drive!) Look at flights on Southwest or Jet Blue out of Ft. Lauderdale (near Miami). They may have cheaper rates than airlines flying out of Miami.

3. Also, note that three airlines serve the Washington, D.C. area: BWI (Baltimore-Washington) is near Baltimore, Maryland and is about a 45 - 50 minute drive from D.C.--longer during rush hour; IAD (Dulles) is in Virginia and it is about 30 - 40 minutes from D.C. There is a dedicated airport road for most of this drive, so traffic is lighter.; DCA (Reagan National) is just across the Potomac River from Washington, DC. You can easily get to DC using the Metro subway from DCA. (All of the airports have some sort of public transportation to D.C. but the easiest by far is that from DCA.)

Hot Springs is one of my least favorite places.

I would stop a day in Nashville too.
See The Hermitage--Andrew Jackson Home
See Country Music Hall of Fame
Eat at Loveless Cafe
Get popsicles at Las Paletas (they are that good -$3)

Memphis--
See Elvis/Graceland
Eat at Blues City Cafe, Gus's Fried Chicken, or Rendevouz
See The Ducks at Peabody Hotel-free
The Peabody has a great Sunday Brunch

My favorite thing is NO is The plantations along the River Road I like The Nottoway and Oak Alley
Eat at Commander's Palace

I would make it a point to see Dry Tortugas while in the Keyes
Also South Beach--eat at News Cafe in South Beach

Jan 1,2, 3 Perhaps Death Valley or Sequoia National Park

I don't like Las Vegas and it isn't a place for kids. But, I would see it 1 day and at night. They have good fireworks there on Dec 31.

That Dec 27 flight could be interesting, because the airports will be super busy for Christmas. So, allow some patience and extra time that day.

I have no idea what the road condition will be when you're there but driving from Florida to Washington would take 871 miles or 14 hours 15min. driving time.If you take the more interesting road it would be 1085 miles or 18 hours 4 min.(as per Google maps).You then drive the Blue ridge parkway.Paul

Thanks for your speedy replies everyone.
Longhorn- definitely planning on the Thanksgiving game. My daughter has only been in Austin a month and she's already a dedicated fan! Should I purchase tickets early from StubHub or will she be able to get them easily in town?
We were planning to fly Miami to Washington so thanks for affirming that decision.

Spiro- Why don't you like Hot Springs? As frequent visitors to the hot pools in NZ we thought we might like to try a similar experience in the US but not if it's an awful place!
I booked the Dec 27th flight because it was the cheapest of the week. I'm also hoping that means it's the quietist day between Xmas & NY.

What would you advise for the trip between Washington DC and NYC? We'll do this bit by train I think. Is that easy enough?

Why Anaheim when you have already visited Disneyworld and Epcot?

I would suggest that you look into San Diego instead - there's more to interest a 9-year old (and adults, too!) - battleships, the San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, Seaworld:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g60750-Activities-San_Diego_California.html

You have, seemingly 5 days in total, spend one or two days in Los Angeles and the rest in San Diego.

Nice trip! Happy planning!

Hot Springs is one of our 58 National Parks. I have been to 32 of them. It would easily rank dead last for me. Yes, there are a couple of bath houses there that you can use. But those are really more like a spa. You aren't sitting in a natural pool outside. The park itself is basically small city American downtown. You can walk down the sidewalk and see a couple of very small pools of hot water. There are a few restaurants there that are ok, but nothing better than a little above average. Hot Springs is super small city compared to the other places you are going.
Hot Springs is the only National Park that is close to where I have lived(for 45 years). It is the only National Park, that I think of in these terms. The rest of them are all spectacular and I love to go back to them as many times as I can. It does have a bit of history that is interesting. But I don't get the natural beauty of the place and I really don't know why they consider it a National Park in the first place.

If I were making 15 trips to see America, I still don't think I would include it. There are far far better places in Arkansas to experience than Hot Springs, IMOP.

I like some of your plan--
Washington, Philly, NY (I wouldn't stay in NY 5 days though)
Orlando and Florida
Memphis, New Orleans(I would include Nashville and Smoky Mnts)

LA doesn't do much for me. San Diego and San Francisco are far better, IMOP. Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks are my very favorite things in California. They are best experienced in the summer, but can be good in the winter too. The trees and waterfalls there are just amazing. I think easytraveler is correct--You are doing the best in Florida, skip Anaheim.
Your 9 year old would enjoy San Diego. I really like the Wild Animal Park, that the zoo owns.

I've been to the Grand Canyon 4 times and even rafted a portion of it. It is something you should see, but I like the Utah parks better. If you can even hike down a portion of it. Not sure I would include Sedonna on a trip like this either.

There will be about a ten day period that airports will be super busy around Christmas. You probably won't have any problems.

Yellowstone is one place you would definately want to see if you are ever here during the summer.

I have used stubhub many many times. It is a huge risk, but if you wait until the morning of the game the tickets are usually about half price. You may not get tickets that way though. UT events are something to experience.

I think your trip is shaping up nicely. I want to reinforce the decision that you should fly from Florida to Washington, DC. It's a long, boring drive on very busy interstate highways. Also, definitely use Amtrak between Washington, Philadelphia and New York. You won't need a car in any of those cities and in fact you don't WANT a car in any of those cities. Public transportation is convenient (I'm not familiar with Philly, however) and easy.

Why go all the way to Key West?

After the Grand Canyon I would stop off in Las Vegas (5 hour drive). You can stop at Hoover Dam on the way in and also make a visit to Red Rock Canyon. I agree that it's not a great place for kids but there are some kid-friendly attractions and you'll be fine for a night or two. I'm not aware of another place like it so it would be a shame to miss seeing it.

Leaving Las Vegas I agree with everyone else to head to San Diego. It's a lovely city itself but it also holds great appeal for kids of all ages. The zoo, Seaworld, Wild Animal Park, etc. No one will be bored.

If your 9-year-old needs another amusement park you might consider a stop at Legoland on the drive to Los Angeles, but a warning it might be disappointing after Disney World. I just remember a trip report from one of your fellow countrymen about his 6 weeks trip to the U.S. They made a stop, not expecting much, and they really enjoyed it. This trip report is a very intersting, detailed report you might enjoy and pick up a few tips from. I had saved it for my own trip planning purposes. Here's the link and the San Diego portion is near the end of his report:

http://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/a-californian-odyssey-2010a-live-trip-report-from-the-golden-state.cfm

I've used StubHub many times with no problems. I don't know what the UT games are like but if it's over Thanksgiving then most of the students may not be around and it just may be a tiny bit easier to get tickets without too much of a mark-up. It's a tough call as to when is the best time to purchase.

What a fantastic trip! How lucky are you? Not sure why you are planning so much time in Northeast cities. Is this an American History educational trip? Seems you could scrape a few days for other areas.

That said, posters have said Why Key West? I say why not??? Just the drive is iconic.
Another said too much time in NYC? Why not? And the whole LA Aneheim thing? With all due respect, it wouldn't be in my top ten of things to see in my country.

What fun! Best of luck with your plans.

I didn't mean that stubhub was a huge risk. I meant waiting until the last minute when tickets prices are a lot less is a big risk.

Agree with the others to leave the rental car in Florida. Glad you don't have a big drop off fee.
There are 2 overnight Amtrak trains from Florida to Washington DC if you did not want to fly. The advantage to flying to BWI is that there is an Amtrak station right there with a free shuttle bus from the terminal.
The things for a 9 year old to see in Las Vegas are the Fremont Street Experience including the zip line and the light show over the street and the Golden Nugget display of the 62+ lb. nugget which is the largest on display anywhere.

You might carve a couple nights from your Anaheim/LA schedule and come down here to see beautiful- easy to get around San Diego. A little over an hour from Anaheim.

And there are plenty of things to see and do:

http://www.sandiego.org/what-to-do.aspx

BTW - in Vegas - there are a lot of other things for a 9 year old to see - including one of the Cirque de Soleil shows (but not one of the more risque ones) - the M & M "factory", the mini-zoo at the Mirage - Zigfreid and Roy's Garden or whatever it is, Red Rock Canyon Visitor's center, take a ride up the Eifel Tower at Paris, watch the fountains at Bellagio - which I/we never tire of, and the list goes on.

Wow, great feedback for me, thanks.

The trip to Anaheim is not for the 9yr old, rather for my 43 yr old husband who cannot be convinced that Disneyworld will satisfy his life long need to go to the 'real' Disney! Maybe once we've been to Florida he will rethink and I'll be able to scrounge a trip to San Diego.

5 nights is too many in NYC? It's certainly too expensive so maybe I can rethink the northern section and spend some more time in Florida. Maybe drive Naples to Miami on US41 and then to the Keys and backtrack to Orlando on the way out? The decision to go all the way to Key West is based on trip reports from friends who just loved it.

Lookin-Glass, many of our 'places to see' are based on the iconic things we see & read from the other side of the world & I guess American history plays a big part in that.

So much to see! So many decisions! I just can't wait to get there.

I like both Disneyland and Disneyworld. World has so so much more to offer. Animal Kingdom, the waterparks(our favorites), MGM, Epcot, etc. You will find The Magic Kingdom in both parks to be very simmilar. Cinderella's castle at land is far far smaller. California Adventure section is probably my least favorite of any of the sections in both parks.

I would definately skip one of them (and probably would be Land). Disneyworld is huge and requires 4-5 days(or even more). You can do Disneyland/California Adventure in 1-2.

Some of our cities are very compact. You will see a lot of people walking in New York with tall building. While places like Dallas and LA are really spread out.

Have you ever experienced Thanksgiving before?
Are you planning on dining out or eating in someone's home?

Hey now - don't be shorting short the "magic" of the Original Disneyland.

Would agree that after Epcot Center, etc - the original Disneyland will seem smaller - but it's still got the Matterhorn and some fun things/rides - for 9 ---- and 43 year olds as well.

And yes, you could cut NYC to 3 nights (one can always return to the Big Apple, eh? - if you like it much as I/we do) - and yes, you could drive down the beautiful east coast of Florida from say Orlando to Miami (4 plus hours?) - which is also where renting a convertible would be ideal.

Think your daughter (and her dad) may also appreciate the two great museums over by Cape Kennedy/Canaveral (45 minutes east of Orlando) -- one being the Air Force Space Museum http://www.afspacemuseum.org/

and then there is the real deal - the Astronaut Hall of Fame, where one of my Classmates from the Blue Zoo (Air Force Academy) is "ensconced". http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/astronaut-hall-of-fame.aspx

It also has the "space camp" for junior astronauts - and a good IMAX theater with several different - exploring "space" type movies.

BTW - the flight simulator at the Astronaut Hall of Fame is as good as any jet fighter I had to privilege to be in - and when my wife exited - she was sort of wobbling to her right, but did recover after a few minutes

And from Miami to Key West is a long drive - but it's pretty cool going over some of the long bridges. Personally - I think Key West is a bit over-rated - but to each their own.

Guess the visit to the original Disneyland is more like a visit to a shrine.

Why not just spend one day there, another day in LA, and the rest in San Diego?

Driving chews up a lot of time. Did you friends do an extended trip like you and still drive to Key West? Or did they have more time?

You're doing a "sampling" trip and, IMHO, you need to consider flying to make maximum use of the limited time you have. Leave driving to a more focused-in-one-area, specialized trip.

Disneyland is the original but Disney World is the mecca. Plus, there are plenty of other nearby theme parks.

Hot Springs is a bloody dump. It's like a resort town from the 1950s and still stuck in that time period except that the "Colored Only" water fountains and "No Coloreds" food establishments no longer exist. You could better spend your time driving the River Road from NoLa to Memphis, or fly to Memphis from Austin and drive south to NoLa. Skipping Hot Springs is a no-brainer.

And really, other than seeing Graceland why do you want to go to Memphis? Unlike NoLa, which has ton(ne)s of interesting sites, sounds, and attractions, Memphis is just Graceland, Beale Street (which you can get a fix of on Sixth Street in Austin) and a ton of crime. For the Nov 24-29 leg, I'd just barrel over to NoLa and take day trips, skipping Memphis and Hot Springs. And if you really like American football, not that Aussie Rules nonsense, then try to scare up tickets for the Nov. 25 game at the SuperDome. New Orleans Saints fans are complete nutters (think all-Blacks supporters, and yes, I know they're Kiwis) and their team will be playing a former rival that is currently probably the best team in the NFL.

You could definitely cut Baltimore too. Take day trips from DC to any place that seems interesting, but Baltimore is what it is - a poorly run formerly major city that has lost relevance and residents and lacks historic or current significance of the type that Philly and DC have.

<And from Miami to Key West is a long drive - but it's pretty cool going over some of the long bridges. Personally - I think Key West is a bit over-rated - but to each their own.>

<Driving chews up a lot of time. Did you friends do an extended trip like you and still drive to Key West? Or did they have more time?>

This was my point in asking why go all the way to Key West. You are doing a LOT of driving in Florida after leaving Orlando. It seems that's about all you'll be doing. Unless you have a specific reason for driving all the way to Key West I think you can get the general feel for the Keys by stopping in Islamorada and turning around. Unless the drive IS the journey. If so, carry on. I'm just worried you're going to spend all of your precious holiday time in the car driving by everything.

FYI - you can drive from a "base" in San Diego to Disneyland in Anaheim in little over an hour - assuming you avoid the early rush hour and the afternoon one coming back.

LA is a two hour drive - same parameters.

And Big Russ: Think you hit it pretty well on the head - and the 'Aints (this year anyway?) at the Cowboys for Thanksgiving should be a raucous game. You might have to break open the cookie jar for tix however.

BTW - if someone wants to dine on soft crab in Baltimore - or to see the US Naval Academy (which we called "Canoe U" while I was at the AF Academy ) you can easily do a day trip from DC to get there.

Did the Original Poster once mention DisneyLand?

Anne_DeManser on Sep 17, 12 at 5:56am
The trip to Anaheim is not for the 9yr old, rather for my 43 yr old husband who cannot be convinced that Disneyworld will satisfy his life long need to go to the 'real' Disney! Maybe once we've been to Florida he will rethink and I'll be able to scrounge a trip to San Diego.

thanks

Crikey (good Australian slang word for 'Oh my goodness!'), great feedback.

Spiro- We've never done Thanksgiving, except for the pumpkin pie an American friend whipped up for us once. My daughter is living in a house with 5 other international students in Austin & none of them have experienced Thanksgiving either. We haven't decided whether we should try to cook for them or dine out yet.

Tomsd- We will definitely go to Cape Canaveral, it's iconic. My husband will love the flight simulator and I might be able to trade it for some non Disney time

easytraveler- Yes, the visit to Disneyland is a shrine thing, as is the Memphis/Graceland visit. Plus I want to drive the Natchez Trace Parkway & check out antebellum homes on the way to NOLA.

Ha ha, Big Russ, we don't understand American Football at all (all that padding & running on and off the field!). My husband is a Kiwi and therefore an AB fan & I am a Geelong Cats supporter. We're after the atmosphere at a manageable price & my daughter assures me the Longhorn fervor will satisfy us. I even have my orange shirt with 'Longhorn Mom' emblazoned on it ready to go.

I appreciate all the advice about the amount of car travel. We are used to long trips to get anywhere but maybe we'll rethink the Key West trip.

This thread has been worth it just to know I need to avoid the pit of doom that is obviously Hot Springs. Imagine if I'd inadvertently ended up spending a night there! What about Little Rock, home of Nellie from South Pacific and some politician fellow? Is that worth a stop over?

The fastest route from Austin to Memphis will have you going close to Hot Springs and through Little Rock. It would be ok for a short stop at either place, but I wouldn't go out of my way for either. Perhaps a visit to Clinton Library in Little Rock or a short stop at Hot Springs for the history of it.

It would be a long all day 11-12 hour drive, but you could just bite the bullet and drive it straight through.

You might want to experience the insanity of shopping somewhere on Thanksgiving night or early the next morning. People line up and nearly trample each other in hopes of finding a good sale item. Places like Walmart, Target, Best Buy, etc. These places set a special time of reopening after being closed all day on Thanksgiving.

If you are in Memphis or New Orleans on a Sunday, both places have great places for Sunday Brunch.
In Memphis, be sure and see the Peabody Ducks and Beale Street after you've had your fill of Elvis.
We like to eat at Blues City Cafe, Rendevouz, and Gus's Fried Chicken in Memphis.

If you can - do beg, borrow or steal a few days to come down here to San Diego - where again - you are just over an hour up to Disneyland in Anaheim, and it's much easier to get around/do things here - including even some uncrowded beach time. The weather should be nice even if the water is a little cooler than the summer - but hey - coming from Oregon originally - I am half Polar Bear.

You and your daughter will probably love the Zoo, perhaps even more so - Safari Park (formerly called Wild Animal Park - where you see the animals in more of their natural setting - and definitely do catch the Cheetah Run - those cats are FAST!!! ) and also Sea World - which has the new Mantra?/roller coaster ride. http://travel.usnews.com/San_Diego_CA/Things_To_Do/

LOL - your husband is a big All Blacks/AB fan? At my ole law school - UC Hastings - in San Francisco - every year at the Rugby banquet (through the 70's into the 80's) we would show a great film - which was a length of the field try/score - actually - a VERY long try by the All Blacks team - playing at the right proper citadel of all things in the "civilized" world of sports - Wembley stadium. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wembley_Stadium_(1923)

Some fast half (blond chap as I recall) wound up taking a pass (after some beautiful ball handling by the AB's to get it to him) and just motored down the field to score against the Brits. Classic.

BTW - American football hits a lot harder than Rugby - and that is part of the problem with our lads trying to learn the sport of Ruffians - played by Gentlemen. They just hit too hard initially - playing as if they still had their football pads on - but eventually - we sort it out - and then it's all about the camaraderie and who can sing the best songs after the match - around the beer keg.

BTW - if you want to go to Graceland in Memphis - let me know. I might be able to put in a good word with the guy who really built it up for Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley - as he used to live across the hall from moi in the dorm at Regis College in Denver, where I finished undergrad.

Jack's a fine fellow - and we are having a class reunion there at the end of October - but alas - I may be deep sea fishing off Cabo at the time. Life is tough - eh?

I'm sure there are reasons to visit Arkansas for some people but I'll be danged if I can think of one for someone who's not from America. And it's not like Little Rock is close to anything interesting either, other than more of Arkansas. Entirely too much Sling Blade environs for a visit. I'm not thinking you tell people to go visit ocker hell.

<<You might want to experience the insanity of shopping somewhere on Thanksgiving night or early the next morning. People line up and nearly trample each other in hopes of finding a good sale item. Places like Walmart, Target, Best Buy, etc. These places set a special time of reopening after being closed all day on Thanksgiving. >>

Another good waste of your valuable time. I know people who do this and they're completely daft. Three words: Amazon Free Shipping.

Still say you should go to NoLa first, enjoy it and then bomb up to Memphis - it's only a 6+ hour drive (400 miles) straight up I-55. Drop the car in Memphis, fly to Orlando and get another car there to tool around Central and South Florida before flying to DC.

PS - We all know what Crikey means - the Croc Hunter and his wife (who's a Yank) were staples of US TV until his tragic demise.

For Thanksgiving the sane thing to do is to reserve at a good restaurant and let them do all the cooking (how are you going to cook a turkey in a hotel room?). As BigRuss has said, don't go and join the frenzy crowds of shoppers. It's really nuts: for a 7am opening, people will line up at midnight. Good luck finding what you want - if you wanted anything - by the time you arrive at 6am.

On the whole, I'm with BigRuss's comments.

No way, no how would I ever recomment driving from NOLA to Orlando - even if you have 7 weeks. Your time could be much better spent.

I'm enjoying the repartee on this thread as much as the advice.

Unfortunately I'm locked in to the Austin- Memphis- NOLA track because oldest daugher & sil have tickets booked on the Amtrak from NOLA on the 29th (Maybe I'll check if they're transferable) and they really want to go to Memphis.
Tomsd- I'm more than happy to pull in anybody's favours to get me special treatment at Graceland! As for the footy, I think the common factor in all codes is how much better all the plays get once they are discussed around the keg!

Given that shopping is one of my preferred pastimes I may well pop into Walmart to get a feel of the Thanksgiving crowd. Sounds a bit like the nightmare we experience the day before Good Friday at Easter. I'll take my husband with me to remind him what the queues will be like at Disneyland over New Year!

We would be able to cook our lunch in my daughter's rental but having someone else cook sounds like a pretty good idea, especially now I've heard about the shopping drama.

I'll be back with a re jigged itinerary for your perusal in the near future.

Thanks to your great advice, he has agreed to for shorten our Anaheim stay so that we can get to San Diego before we come home.

Do be careful on the Friday am - shopping after Thanksgiving.


Really - at a few stores - people have been trampled more than once in the crush of shoppers who lined up outside waiting for the doors to open for some mega sale and then they went nutso running to get to the first 25 deals or whatever the promotion was.

More later - as all thumbs on my wife's laptop but send me an email and I will see what I can do re: VIP type tour at Graceland. Tschiffsd@aol.com

Sounds like a fabulous trip.
I am a fan of Hot Springs, personally, and love staying at the Arlington Hotel, which is very historic and has a great 1930s-era mineral bath spa downstairs. They also have an interesting Gangster Museum.

www.arlingtonhotel.com
www.tgmoa.com

If you drive from the Keys (I would skip Key West)consider a stopover in Charleston, South Carolina. There are many reasons it has displaced San Francisco as the Conde Nast number 1 city for tourists. Marathon to Charleston is a reasonable day trip and Charleston to DC likewise.

Ain't no way Charleston has replaced SF as a #1 city for tourists, despite what Conde Naste is trying to sell.