If your going through Memphis you should stop at Rendezvous BBQ its one of the best in the country. Also, Beale St is a must. Lots of great places for live music. In NOLA you have to do some kind of a tour of the French Quarter and the Garden District. Really amazing places. The thing you need to do in New Orleans is EAT!!! I was there twice last year and we are going back next month and the food was incredible. ACME oyster house for the broiled oysters, Central Grocery for muffaletas, and of course Cafe Du Monde for coffee and beignets. The later being the best place to just sit back, relax and people watch. They have live music there all the time as well. Try all the local eats in NOLA while your there you will love it.
Drive safe and have a great trip. And put up a trip report after you get home I would love to hear how it went.

Thanks for the suggestions! It's been 12 years since I was in New Orleans and I still remember the little cup of shrimp etoufee I had at the Jazz Festival.

I will definitely NOT forget to eat thanks!

If you haven't been to MS before, I-55 isn't the best way to see it IMO. It's very straight and is lined with trees, LOTS of trees - can be a little boring.

If you've got the time, I'd take US61 from Memphis through the Delta Country. Clarksdale is home to lots of blues venues with some great music and restaurants (a couple owned by the actor Morgan Freeman). Then head down to Vicksburg with its history, etc and to Natchez with its ante-bellum homes, parks, etc. Then head down to New Orleans. Much more interesting.

oh right! I did want to see Clarksdale - thanks!

You didn't give dates but we are also doing a road trip and will be in NOLA 13-17 February. The 16th is my birthday and I understand they will be putting on a great celebration for me. As a heads up:

I booked our hotel months ago and understand hotel space is getting tight. Just yesterday I ended up booking restaurants for 2 of the nights just because many of them (as per Open Table) are quickly booking full.

Elsewise, we are looking forward to a great time, even though this will be my fifth visit.

I did check the dates of Mardi Gras, I mean...NoFlyZone's birthday, online and I most likely will be there before the festivities. I've been wanting to get back for years, I just loved the city and want to explore the area a bit too

have a great trip and happy birthday!

if youre passing thru oklahoma city, make sure to visit the oklahoma city national memorial and the bricktown area. http://www.bricktownokc.com/

Thanks osakaorchid - this is just the kind of thing I'm looking for!

For the main tourist attractions in Wichita:
http://gowichita.com/static/index.cfm?contentID=566

I'm not sure what you are in to, but the Museum of World Treasures might catch your interest. Exploration Place is more for kids, but is a cool site while driving along the river to The Keeper of the Plains (and it gives you a good view of downtown). There are many unique restaurants that are trendy, but I would recommend The Old Mill Tasty Shop downtown for lunch. It's a complete hole-in-the wall with a smalltown feel. Best Chicken Salad sandwich in the world....the lone waitress will be sure to tell ya. Head to Cafe Moderne in the Old Town square for a gelato treat http://www.caffemoderne.com/. I always check out foodnetwork's show Diners, Drive-In's and Dive's Web site before visiting a new city and the spot they visited here in Wichita is definitely NOT recommended. It's a diner that you could find in any city/town in the world and has nothing unique or outstanding on the menu.

The Hutchinson Cosmosphere is about an hour and a half NW of Wichita http://www.cosmo.org/ and really cool if you are in to space.

There are weird things in Kansas, such as the world's largest:
- ball of twine
- salt mine
- hand dug well
but these will probably be pretty far out of your way.