We are planning our December vacation to the States, to include a road trip from Dallas to St Pete.
We are from South Africa and quite adventurous... We have one week to travel from Dallas to St Pete, between 15 & 23 Dec 2012.
Our group consists of my husband and I, our 18month old son, one couple and one single friend.
We plan to rent an RV in Dallas and go directly to San Antonio (as I've heard that San Antonio is a great place to visit - maybe do river walk and some wine tastings?), from there on to Houston (possibly) and New Orleans next.
Mississippi would also be nice to visit.
We then have from there to St Petersburg to cover - any suggestions on 'must-see' places and what to do while there?
I'll really appreciate all suggestions and input!
Thanks!
RV road trip from Dallas, TX to St. Pete, FL
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The Salvador Dali Museum in St.Petersburg is an amazing experience and I highly recommend you put it on your list. The exhibit is wonderful and audio equipment and docent are included in the price of admission. Also, the building and location are stunning.
you want to consider this wonderful state park
http://www.floridastateparks.org/manateesprings/default.cfm
You might not all be friends by the time you get to Florida in an RV. With an 18 month old maybe a 8 passenger van with a car seat would make more sense. You will not save any money driving an RV if you try to find camping in the area of cities.
Agree with the above suggestions. Unless you want to visit NASA I would skip HOuston: http://www.spacecenter.org/prices.html I would take I 10 to New Orleans and then on to Pensacola. Then 98 out of Pensacola as it follows the coast and is very scenic. Stay on 98 thru Panama City to Apalachicola stay on 98 to Homosassa Springs then south to St Pete. These routes follow the coast and you can stop and stay or not. It is a longer ride to St Pete but one I enjoy because it follows the gulf.
Pensacola has the beach or http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/
Panama City has the beach
Before arriving in Apalachicola there is a state park with an RV park on Cape San Blas: http://www.floridastateparks.org/stjoseph/ then on to Homosassa Springs to visit the Manatees.
ps If you want to stay at the state park rv park before reaching Apalachicola in Cape San Blas you would have to take 30A out of Port St Joe.
You could also stay in the rv park on St George Island which is after you pass thru Apalachicola. http://www.floridastateparks.org/stgeorgeisland/
Great - thanks for all the ideas & input.
What about things to do / see around Mississippi & New Orleans?
Where should we allow more time?
I think you would enjoy Natchez, MS and I know you will really like New Orleans. Stay in the French Quarter and walk to all the attractions. Natchez is a very historic city with a lot of antebellum homes and great sight seeing. NOLA has great food and a lot of fun attractions.
http://www.visitnatchez.org/?gclid=COCNx_fhvLECFURfTAodE0wAyg
Thanks Littleman - that is very helpful info! Natchez looks great - my type of place!
Stop in Hattiesburg, MS. It's a long drive. There are some nice hotels at I 59 bypass around HB at # 98 or Hardy Drive. Go to Leatha's BBQ just W of this area on the S side of # 98 behind a RV sales joints for good BBQ.
The best seafood in Mobile, AL is at Wintzell's Oyster House. Get off I 10 at Exit 26 A and go W on Canal Steet. Go .4 mile and turn right on S Washington Avenue. Turn right and go .3 mile to Dauphine Street. Take a right and Wintzell's will be on your right. The best BBQ in the area is at Brick Pit. Get off I 10 at Exit 15B and go N on Highway 90 for 3 miles to Demetropolis Road. Take a left and continue on Demetropolis Road which becomes S University Boulevard. Go about 5 miles from the left you took on Demetropolis to Old Shell Road. Take a right and go to Brick Pit for outstanding BBQ. For fine po boy's and fresh seafood get off I 10 at Exit 15A and go N on Government Boulevard to Hall's Mill Road just past the shopping center on the right. Take a right and go to the Boiling Point.
Wintzell's Oyster House @ 605 Dauphin St., Mobile, AL 251 - 432 - 4605.
http://www.wintzellsoysterhouse.com/
The Brick Pit @ 5456 Old Shell Rd., Mobile, AL 251 - 343 - 0001.
http://brickpit.com/
The Boiling Pot @ Suite G, 5300 Halls Mill Road, Mobile, AL 251 - 602 - 8405.
http://www.theboilingpotllc.com/
Be sure to go through the tunnel in Mobile in the early part of the day and not during rush hour at closing time. Stop by the Battleship Alabama and visit for an hour or so. Enjoy your trip.