Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > United States
Reload this Page >

Road trips - CHI-ATL and MEM-NOLA - April/May 2014

Road trips - CHI-ATL and MEM-NOLA - April/May 2014

Old Oct 21st, 2014, 07:48 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Road trips - CHI-ATL and MEM-NOLA - April/May 2014

Hi,

I'm from Australia (30y/o male), spending 7 weeks travelling through the USA in April/May 2014, and hoping to get some advice.

I'm basically planning 3 legs.

1. NYC/PHILLY/B'MORE/DC (17 days, by bus, solo)

fly to CHI

2. CHI/LOUISVILLE/ATLANTA (meeting a friend in CHI for 7 nights, planning on spending 4 days to drive to ATL via Louisville, meeting another friend in ATL and surrounds for 7 nights)

overnight bus to Memphis

3. MEM - NOLA via highway 61 (driving, solo, 15 days, incl 3 or 4 days in both Memphis and NOLA)

Legs 2 and 3 is where I need the most advice. What is there to do, good places to stop, am I wasting too much time or not spending enough? Anything else I may be neglecting.

Looking forward to some responses.

Thank You!
oldsalty8 is offline  
Old Oct 22nd, 2014, 03:49 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,876
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Don't take an overnight bus anywhere.
Is there a theme to your trip for choosing some of these places? What is it you want to do? I understand some, but not others.
For your eastern trip you should be able to use Megabus.
Gretchen is offline  
Old Oct 22nd, 2014, 10:01 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,304
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Overnight bus isn't always a bad idea but in your case, why?? Atlanta to Memphis is a 5.5 hour drive and you'll have a car. Why not just drive yourself in the daylight and add that to your big road trip. You certainly have enough time to spend a night or two along the way if you want.

And I also wonder what you are interested in seeing and doing? For starters I wouldn't spend a lot of time in Baltimore relative to NYC/Philly/DC.
WhereAreWe is offline  
Old Oct 22nd, 2014, 02:03 PM
  #4  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for the feedback!

I guess I left out some minor details.

I'm hiring cars for the driving legs. We'll hire one car from Chicago - Atlanta. Then I figured it would be cheaper to hire a car from Memphis to New Orleans rather than from Atlanta-New Orleans... hence the overnight bus. I'll definitely look into car hire for the entire time (Chicago-NOLA)

Mainly interested in sightseeing, sports and music. Figured Baltimore/Annapolis had significant historical appeal. Also a huge fan of 'The Wire'. Would love to get to a few baseball games along the way.

The least leg is basically to get a feel for the deep south, check out some blues music places and eat soul food.
oldsalty8 is offline  
Old Oct 22nd, 2014, 04:19 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,884
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
When you enter Kentucky from Indiana via I-65, the bridge over the Ohio River dumps you right in downtown Louisville. We have become quite a "foodie" town with lots of restaurants on Market Street as well as Bardstown Road since you will have a car.

There are two historic hotels downtown, the Brown, and the Seelbach, as well as plenty of other brands. The Brown has its own signature dish, the Hot Brown, that is definitely worth going for.

We have numerous museums, e.g., the Kentucky Derby Museum, the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory of baseball bat fame, Muhammed Ali Center, Frazier History Museum, Falls of the Ohio Interpretive Center just across the river in Indiana, Locust Grove and Farmington historic houses, and oodles of bourbon-related tours.

Let us know your interests for more information.
carolyn is offline  
Old Oct 22nd, 2014, 04:32 PM
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi Carolyn, that sounds great! Thanks!

My friend who lives in Chicago is travelling that leg with me. He has never been to Louisville, but strongly suggested that we spend a day or two there as he heard its a fun place. Our rough itinerary has us in Louisville for a Saturday and possibly Sunday night in late April. Hoping to visit a few sports related museums, and sample the local bars and eateries.
oldsalty8 is offline  
Old Oct 22nd, 2014, 04:34 PM
  #7  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
And with my surname being Brown, I will definitely be checking out the 'Hot Brown'
oldsalty8 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
AlisonJThomas
Road Trips
5
May 5th, 2017 04:24 PM
sahj86
United States
4
Jan 23rd, 2015 11:53 AM
Sovereign_72
Road Trips
3
Feb 28th, 2013 10:28 AM
samras21
United States
9
Mar 3rd, 2012 06:19 AM
roxanne207
Road Trips
8
Jul 28th, 2009 05:38 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -