I think it is doable, however if you only have 3 days, you won't have much time to spend in New Orleans. You didn't mention how long the entire trip would be.

Fairhope is very charming and quaint and Apalachicola is coming along as a desirable tourist stop with old homes being converted into B&B's. Don't miss the seafood...especially the oysters in Apalachicola. They are famous for them.

Thanks for the feedback and tip about the oysters! Luckily, we have another 4 days to spend in New Orleans once we actually get there. The 3 days I mentioned are just for the drive - so we can hopefully take it at a leisurely pace and see a few sites along the way. Are there any particular ones we shouldn't miss?! Thanks.

It's only 230 miles first day, 220 2nd, and about 170 the 3rd. Definitely doable. Even on the US highways, you can expect to average 45 to 50 miles per hour as the places you're going through don't have heavy traffic. So, that's under 5 hours driving each day, leaving you with plenty of time for sightseeing.

I don't see why it's mad to do a little road trip in December. It should be quite enjoyable.

Thanks rkkwan - we must have posted at the same time.

The only reason I questioned whether it was madness to do this in December was because I wondered if a lot of places might be closed if it's out of season?

In Apalachicola, a wonderful restaurant for oysters (and other seafood) is the Owl Cafe
<http://owlcafeflorida.com/>.

You make an excellent point about things being closed in December, however, that is not so much the case any more. I live in the panhandle and frequent the coast from Apalach to Destin. Some restaurants close in the winter but you will find that most establishments remain open year round. The weather will probably be very pleasant-highs in the 60's.

I second Orlanlo Vic's rec of the Owl Cafe. And there is also Boss Oyster for a taste of "real" Apalachicola. Also, you might want to drive across the bridge to St. George Island. There is a nice state park at the far east end.

Be sure to take highway 30A between Panama City and Destin. Plan to take a little time to stop in Seaside (and maybe Rosemary and Watercolor as well) and wander around. Nice shops and galleries. The old Jim Carrey movie, The Truman Show was filmed in Seaside.

Have a great time. You are smart to take some time to see old Florida. It is quickly disappearing.

Oh one other thing. Grayton Beach is also on 30A. Take a little time to drive around. It is a pretty good picture of Florida in the 40s and 50s. You might want to check out the Red Bar for lunch while you are there.

Wow! Thanks for all the suggestions - I'm really pleased to hear that there will be plenty to see and do along the way.

Any recommendations for anywhere we should stop off at when passing through Alabama and Mississippi?

Thanks.

Great trip!! Grew up in the LA (lower Alabama) area and know that area fairly well. Go back at least twice a year, as all my family are there in Fairhope. December is a time when many people visit Fairhope, as the winters are much milder than those up North. There will be places open on Sundays, although stores may close a little earlier (6pm). Magnolia Springs is very picturesque, but not a lot to do around there on a Sunday. There are several great B & B's in Fairhope. Fairhope Inn is one of the best known. Here are links to some others: www.awayatthebay.com;
www.fellerscove.com/
www.innthestyx.com
www.lanierbb.com/fairhope-alabama-bed-breakfast.html
I'd make reservations a few weeks prior to arrival, as they tend to fill up quickly that time of year on weekends.
Fairhope has numerous lovely shops with art, decor, clothing, books, etc. Maryann's is great for lunch if you want sandwiches. Old Bay Steamer for seafood, or Gambino's on the Bay; Julwinn's or breakfast or lunch; or Fly Creek for lunch. For a great dinner, drive to the causeway to the Original Oyster House and be sure to order the fried crab claw appetizer.
It is at least 1 1/2 hours to the Biloxi/Pascagoula area - you will have to possibly do part of it on interstate, but stick to highway 90 west as much as possible. If you don't mind getting into New Orleans later in the afternoon, stop by downtown Mobile for a historic tour of Fort Conde and some of the old buildings. Bellingrath Gardens is known world wide, but many plantings will be dormant (it's on the way to NOLA). Or, you could tour the Battleship Alabama by the causeway from Fairhope to Mobile. Please do drive 90 west once you get into Mississippi (you may have to take a few turns to get there). Although Katrina truly devastated this area, it still retains much of it's antebellum splendour. You can pretty much take 90 to NOLA, driving through some of the bayou country. Mary Mahoney's restaurant in Biloxi is reopened, I believe. Maybe others familiar with the area will update the great food list. Thanks for taking the time to visit our beautiful Old South. If you visit the Fairhope visitor's center, tell 'em Frankie's daughter sent you!!

Thank you so much for all the information! Any thoughts we had about the journey just being a means to an end to get from A to B have been dispelled - sounds like there's so much to see.

Hmmm...maybe we should take it even slower and add another day to the drive to make sure we don't miss anything!

If you don't want the interstate, you will be driving west on Highway 90 through Mississippi.

I'm not sure if it's open all the way to New Orleans, but I'm pretty sure it's open all the way through Mississippi. If you take this route, you will see the staggering destruction that Katrina caused in both MS and LA.

Two places to stop along the way in MS along hwy 90:

For down-home casual (and I mean really casual) and fabulous barbecue, visit The Shed on Hway 57 in Ocean Springs:

www.theshedbbq.com

For more upscale seafood in a historic building, Mary Mahoney's in Biloxi:

www.marymahoneys.com

If you have any questions about New Orleans when you get here, please let me know.

Also check out Bellingrath Gardens and Home just south of Mobile, AL. Winter won't have all the usual flowers and blooms in the spring, but still worth a visit.

www.bellingrath.org

Thanks everyone for the additional suggestions!

bk - my first NOLA question for you! As we have 3-4 days there before we catch our flight back to London, would you suggest we return our rental car after the drive from Florida and then walk/get cabs etc in the city? It would save a few $$$ on rental, and I'm guessing would just be a hassle to park if we stayed anywhere central?

Thanks!

quiUK,

I guess that depends on whether you plan to tour any of the plantations or the swampland around New Orleans. If you just plan to stay in the city, then I'd definitely just return the car in New Orleans as a car is a big hassle there, with hotels charging upwards of $25 per day for parking and you'll be walking everywhere anyway (or using the streetcar or cabbing it).

My suggestion would be to keep the car for the first day and see the plantations that day, and then come back to the city and return the car and spend the last 3 days in the city without a car. You can do fine walking around or using the streetcars or cabs...

Also note that the car rental company will charge a "drop fee" for dropping the car off at a different destination.

bk - I hadn't thought about going to the plantations (haven't really done any research for the NOLA part of the trip yet!) but that sounds like a great idea and I'll look into it as a side trip out of the city. Are any of them near where Tabasco sauce is made? The place must surely be my spritual home - I put Tabasco on everything - including scrambled eggs.

Thanks also for the tip on the rental car drop off fee. I am aware of it and we've included it in our budget.

quiUK: I kind of disagree with bk. After three days driving around, I say ditch the car and enjoy the city. You can get on a tour to see some of the plantations near New Orleans for a half a day or so if you want. You absolutely do not need a car here in New Orleans if you stay in or near the Quarter.

Tabasco is made at Avery Island about three or so hours to the west of New Orleans. Really though there is so much to see and do (and hear and taste) in New Orleans, I would spend my time in the city. Have you been before?

Hi quiUK,

Lots of good suggestions from your pals at Fodors! My husband and I did this drive in December 2006 although we started in New Orleans and ended up in Orlando Florida. After 3 nights in NO we headed along the coast (sorry, not sure of the roads).

The first night we spent in Fort Walton Beach. Nice area and we stayed at the Four Points Sheraton. We got a great rate by just stopping at the visitor center and they gave us a coupon along with their recommendation.

The next day we continued on and ended up in Apalachicola. We stayed at a B & B called the Gibson Inn. A nice victorian inn dating around 1907. I think we just walked down to a restaurant along the ocean. Can't remember the name of it though and I'm not much of a foodie anyways

The next day we continued along the coast and then inland to Almonte Springs. I remember stopping at several places along the way but can't remember the names of the towns/cities.

So, as you can see it only took us a few days to drive from NO to Orlando. Of course we'd have probably been able to see and do more had we more time. I remember it being a delightful drive with not alot of traffic. I seem to recall that some places were closed but not sure if that was because of the time of the year or just the day of the week.

I'm sure you'll have a lovely time - enjoy!
PamT

BKD - thanks for the suggestion. We haven't been there before so that's maybe why we're trying to cram as much in as possible! I like your idea however of maybe taking a short half day excursion to see the plantaitons if we have time.

Pam - It's great to hear from someone who has done a similar trip (at the same time of year as well!) and glad you had a great time. Thanks for posting about it.

quiUK, we drive to New Orleans and on to Florida every year, and I always try to work in a meal at a very casual, down home truck stop called Dick Russell's just off I 10 at Tillman's Corner a few miles before Mobile, Alabama. Breakfast is fabulous: grits, fresh homemade biscuits every 15 minutes, peach preserves, home made sausage, etc., and lunch is also downhome and great.

Don't miss the Camelia Grill in New Orleans for excellent breakfast at the end of the trolley car ride. Pecan waffles, omelets like air, wonderful everything.

Be sure to take Hwy. 30 A outside of Destin to Panama City. Neat little place for lunch or dinner on lovely patio across st. from ocean...Smiling Fish in Santa Rosa Beach, just 5 minutes before Seaside, another must-see.

A place in Destin we never miss is The Back Porch. On the white sand, huge open windows to the sea, best grouper sandwich in the world. We are going next week and I can hardly wait.