Road trip across the USA - looking for suggestions.
Sep 26th, 2013, 07:09 AM
#1
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Road trip across the USA - looking for suggestions.
I am currently in the USA and am about to start a four week road trip from North Carolina to California.
As I travel, I will be asking people to make the decisions about where I should go next, whether I should try this or that and how far I push my comfort zone.
So do you have any suggestions for "don't miss" things on the way?
I'm really looking or ideas, advice and suggestions for cities/towns to see because they have something unique or interesting; local characters I should meet; region/state specific foods, traditions or memorabilia I should check out.
I should probably add that I have already visited most of the 'big' sights so I'm looking for help to find the smaller or lesser visited...
Thanks for your help!
Sally
http://www.brightorangepillowcase.com
As I travel, I will be asking people to make the decisions about where I should go next, whether I should try this or that and how far I push my comfort zone.
So do you have any suggestions for "don't miss" things on the way?
I'm really looking or ideas, advice and suggestions for cities/towns to see because they have something unique or interesting; local characters I should meet; region/state specific foods, traditions or memorabilia I should check out.
I should probably add that I have already visited most of the 'big' sights so I'm looking for help to find the smaller or lesser visited...
Thanks for your help!
Sally
http://www.brightorangepillowcase.com
Sep 26th, 2013, 08:13 AM
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The fall meet at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, KY starts October 4. I encourage you to visit for a day. It is a beautiful track, different from your average horse race track.
http://www.keeneland.com/
While there, try some burgoo. You might also consider a visit to Shaker Village. It is only about 25 miles from Lexington and again is a beautiful well preserved/restored village where the Shakers once lived. It is a great place to eat and a nice place to stay overnight also.
http://www.shakervillageky.org/
Happy Travels
http://www.keeneland.com/
While there, try some burgoo. You might also consider a visit to Shaker Village. It is only about 25 miles from Lexington and again is a beautiful well preserved/restored village where the Shakers once lived. It is a great place to eat and a nice place to stay overnight also.
http://www.shakervillageky.org/
Happy Travels
Sep 26th, 2013, 08:37 AM
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I see Kansas is one of your tags. I would skip Kansas. Seriously. With four weeks there is no need to go in a straight line and certainly no need to spend (lots of!) time on mind-numbingly boring interstate highways.
Sep 26th, 2013, 08:51 AM
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Have done the trek from Charlotte to Denver a number of times.
The Kentucky Keeneland is interesting if that works for your schedule.
I go via Nashville, which would certainly be worth the stop. Then St. Louis.
Kansas IS a day's trip to get on toward Denver, but then it depends on what you are going to see in the west. It DOES illustrate the great open spaces of the US.
The Kentucky Keeneland is interesting if that works for your schedule.
I go via Nashville, which would certainly be worth the stop. Then St. Louis.
Kansas IS a day's trip to get on toward Denver, but then it depends on what you are going to see in the west. It DOES illustrate the great open spaces of the US.
Sep 26th, 2013, 08:56 AM
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Looked at your website and I too think it's time to start heading west. Lexington, KY would be a good start. I would also vote to skip Kansas and go farther south, particularly at this time of year.
I'd then drop south (even though you have to backtrack to near Chattanooga). Russell Cave, Huntsville, Florence and Muscle Shoals, Alabama (if you're into music) then you're on your way to Holly Springs, MS. Detour to Tupelo MS. to see Elvis's birthplace if you do decide to go to Holly Springs.
And/or some Civil War Battlefields--Shiloh, TN and a bunch in MS
That'll keep you busy for a few days.
I'd then drop south (even though you have to backtrack to near Chattanooga). Russell Cave, Huntsville, Florence and Muscle Shoals, Alabama (if you're into music) then you're on your way to Holly Springs, MS. Detour to Tupelo MS. to see Elvis's birthplace if you do decide to go to Holly Springs.
And/or some Civil War Battlefields--Shiloh, TN and a bunch in MS
That'll keep you busy for a few days.
Sep 26th, 2013, 08:57 AM
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Depends on what you want...I think Kansas is worth a visit. Dodge City, while touristy, has interesting history. Also I think the Eisenhower Presidential Museum and Library in Abilene make a nice stop.
There are so many "interesting" out-of-the-way locations you'd need a lot more than 4 weeks to see them all...just a couple of ideas...
cross Nevada on "The Loneliest Highway", US 50 from Ely to Fallon;
check out some of the Bourbon Trail whiskey makers in Kentucky;
visit the Tamale Train in the Mississippi delta region
drive the Beartooth Highway between Red Lodge, MT and Yellowstone.
Enjoy!
There are so many "interesting" out-of-the-way locations you'd need a lot more than 4 weeks to see them all...just a couple of ideas...
cross Nevada on "The Loneliest Highway", US 50 from Ely to Fallon;
check out some of the Bourbon Trail whiskey makers in Kentucky;
visit the Tamale Train in the Mississippi delta region
drive the Beartooth Highway between Red Lodge, MT and Yellowstone.
Enjoy!
Sep 26th, 2013, 10:26 AM
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Wow - thanks for your replies guys!
To answer your question -some of the 'big sights' I have already visited are: Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Denver, Graceland, Memphis, Nashville, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Bryce, Monument Valley, Canyonlands, Zion, Yellowstone, San Francisco, L.A.
I like the idea of Keeneland Race course -it's not a usual tourist place and I haven't really been to much horse racing so it would be a new experience for me.
All your suggestions are very gratefully received...
To answer your question -some of the 'big sights' I have already visited are: Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Denver, Graceland, Memphis, Nashville, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Bryce, Monument Valley, Canyonlands, Zion, Yellowstone, San Francisco, L.A.
I like the idea of Keeneland Race course -it's not a usual tourist place and I haven't really been to much horse racing so it would be a new experience for me.
All your suggestions are very gratefully received...
Sep 26th, 2013, 12:31 PM
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Have you considered New Mexico? The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta runs October 5-13, and it's pretty spectacular.
http://www.balloonfiesta.com/
Lee Ann
http://www.balloonfiesta.com/
Lee Ann
Sep 27th, 2013, 04:57 AM
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With your timing, you might stop at the Renaissance Festival of Kansas City, a them park sized festival with entertainment food and crafts in Bonner Springs Kansas. Be sure to check out the Steamboat Arabia when passing through KC.
Perhaps the most unique stop in Kansas is about 15 miles off I-70. Lucas, Kansas with the Grassroots Art Museum, Garden of Eden, and other quirky attractions. If you enjoy folk art, it is a must stop. http://www.kansastravel.org/lucaskansas.htm
Farther west, I would visit the Castle Rock Badlands and Monument Rocks. http://www.kansastravel.org/castlerock.htm
If you are crossing the southern part of the State, I would stop in Hutchinson with the Underground Salt Mine Museum and the Kansas Cosmosphere. The Cosmosphere has the 2nd largest collection of US space memorabilia anywhere and the largest collection of Russian space memorabilia outside the former Soviet Union. They are the experts that the other space museums come to for many of their exhibits' restoration. The craft there include the two most famous space craft in the US: Apollo 13 and Liberty Bell 7.
Perhaps the most unique stop in Kansas is about 15 miles off I-70. Lucas, Kansas with the Grassroots Art Museum, Garden of Eden, and other quirky attractions. If you enjoy folk art, it is a must stop. http://www.kansastravel.org/lucaskansas.htm
Farther west, I would visit the Castle Rock Badlands and Monument Rocks. http://www.kansastravel.org/castlerock.htm
If you are crossing the southern part of the State, I would stop in Hutchinson with the Underground Salt Mine Museum and the Kansas Cosmosphere. The Cosmosphere has the 2nd largest collection of US space memorabilia anywhere and the largest collection of Russian space memorabilia outside the former Soviet Union. They are the experts that the other space museums come to for many of their exhibits' restoration. The craft there include the two most famous space craft in the US: Apollo 13 and Liberty Bell 7.
Sep 30th, 2013, 07:19 AM
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If you've "done" Yellowstone and the Utah parks like Bryce, you might consider the southern, Route 66 sights like Santa Fe, Taos, Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam and Las Vegas. Even further south could include Billy the Kid country and Tombstone, but Santa Fe/Taos is pretty unique and tourist friendly.
Sep 30th, 2013, 11:22 AM
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Actually, Kansas has some great roadside attractions. You could really plan a day through Kansas that covers both miles and interests.
In addition to Keith's excellent suggestions, another good roadside attraction is the Hays, Kansas Sternberg Natural History museum, which is heavy on dinosaur displays.
There are at least two zoos of note along i-70. Topeka has a very easy to walk zoo. It's not on par with Omaha or one of the big ones, but in some ways that's the charm of the Topeka zoo.
Just West of Salina is Rolling Hills, which I would describe as two parts zoo, one part farm and one part natural history museum (but I haven't been for a few years). Salina is home to the Cozy Inn, which is kind of like a White Castle restaurant with some history, but I think it might be a little ways off the interstate. Probably easier to stop at the Brookville hotel for Chicken in Abilene (another somewhat historic restaurant, though not at the historic location).
Topeka also has the capital bldg but its under renovation. Right off i-70 in Topeka is a history museum which, like the zoo, is well done for its size and is "just right" for a place to stop and stretch your legs.
Lawrence KS has the University of Kansas which is a very pretty campus. There is a natural history museum on campus, which has a real historic/academic feel. I think there is an art museum on campus as well but haven't been through it.
These are not in geographic order, sorry.
In addition to Keith's excellent suggestions, another good roadside attraction is the Hays, Kansas Sternberg Natural History museum, which is heavy on dinosaur displays.
There are at least two zoos of note along i-70. Topeka has a very easy to walk zoo. It's not on par with Omaha or one of the big ones, but in some ways that's the charm of the Topeka zoo.
Just West of Salina is Rolling Hills, which I would describe as two parts zoo, one part farm and one part natural history museum (but I haven't been for a few years). Salina is home to the Cozy Inn, which is kind of like a White Castle restaurant with some history, but I think it might be a little ways off the interstate. Probably easier to stop at the Brookville hotel for Chicken in Abilene (another somewhat historic restaurant, though not at the historic location).
Topeka also has the capital bldg but its under renovation. Right off i-70 in Topeka is a history museum which, like the zoo, is well done for its size and is "just right" for a place to stop and stretch your legs.
Lawrence KS has the University of Kansas which is a very pretty campus. There is a natural history museum on campus, which has a real historic/academic feel. I think there is an art museum on campus as well but haven't been through it.
These are not in geographic order, sorry.
Oct 1st, 2013, 04:56 AM
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There is another nice zoo, the Sunset Zoo is about 10 miles north of I-70 in Manhattan.
The Bug Zoo, Call Hall Dairy Bar, and Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art (all on the KSU campus) are also worth checking out when you are in town.
Abeline may also interest you with the Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum and several museums & mansions.
Other restaurants to try along the way from east to west, all within a few miles of I-70:
Rosedale Barbeque or Quick's Bar-B-Q in Kansas City, Kansas
Free State Brewing Company in Lawrence
Bobo's Drive In in Topeka
Korean Garden in Junction City
Bunker Hill Cafe in Bunker Hill
The Bug Zoo, Call Hall Dairy Bar, and Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art (all on the KSU campus) are also worth checking out when you are in town.
Abeline may also interest you with the Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum and several museums & mansions.
Other restaurants to try along the way from east to west, all within a few miles of I-70:
Rosedale Barbeque or Quick's Bar-B-Q in Kansas City, Kansas
Free State Brewing Company in Lawrence
Bobo's Drive In in Topeka
Korean Garden in Junction City
Bunker Hill Cafe in Bunker Hill
Oct 5th, 2013, 07:11 PM
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Here is something unusual. The "Wizard of Oz Museum" in Wamego, Ks. It's right off I-70. I haven't been to it, because I'm traveling in a tractor trailer, but I've saw the signs. I just checked their website. It looks quirky.
