I'm leaving in 2 weeks to drive across the US for about 6 weeks. We're starting in Sarasota, FL and heading across the southern US, up the Pacific coast, and across the midwest, ending up in Lake Placid, NY. I'm not too excited about seeing giant balls of twine and the like, but I do want to make sure we see all the cool stuff we can. Any suggestions?

You're kidding, right? You need to run down to your local bookstore and purchase a guidebook to the ENTIRE United States. I'm figuring since you're in Sarasota and have 6 weeks to kill, you might need the LARGE PRINT version of that guidebook.

Once you've formulated some specific questions, come back and try again.

Hey, snippy, I've already done a lot of reading, I'm just looking for suggestions other than what a person would read in a guide book.

And I'm 27, and I can see fine, and I'm just lucky to have all this time on my hands.

My daughter took a trip two years ago from Wisconsin across the Major interstate (the one that goes thru the Dakota's) to Oregan, down to California,
to Las Vegas, thru Oklahoma, Kansas to Illinois and then back home.
It was a three week trip. She would never do it again that way, but it is up to you. The three weeks were basically driving and having a day in one place a day in the next. It sounds like your plan will be the same. Can't see to much from the freeway. Might suggest condensing and finding some really interesting things to see and be able to enjoy them instead of being a driving in the car vacation.
If you pull it off. Hats off to you.
It just sounds like a driving marathon.
Just thought of something that might help you. Go on "freetrips.com"
you can put in city by city. It will give you the driving times and distances
(short way, scenic way) lots of options
It is a free (trip tik thing) that might help you decide or narrow your plan down.
Didn't mean to preach, just trying to help.
Ps might think of going the other way first and heading to Wisconsin by June 27th-July 7.
we have the largest Music Festival in the country "Summerfest" It has approximately 10 stages plus a main stage act (extra for that ticket) everyday. The 10 stages have anything from country to rap to punk to rock, (big name bands) Everything and the ticket is only 9.00 per day.You would not be disappointed. It is right on the lake front. They might have a web page. Just look up Summerfest or the big ticket.

Looked it up for you and they do have a web site:
www.summerfest.com
Look and enjoy! You won't be disappointed

cmw, What have you seen already? Six weeks is not a lot of time to make a horseshoe across the country. If you've already seen the south, I'd make haste all the way to New Mexico (2 days), then visit Santa Fe (2 days). Then up to Mesa Verde for the cliff dwellings (2 days) (maybe go to Telluride and the Colorado Rockies), through Monument Valley (2 days) on the AZ Navajo reservation. Then Grand Canyon (2 days).

On to California. San Diego, La Jolla and up the California coast - route one, San Simeon to SF. (7 days up the coast, 3 days in SF) (We're at almost 3 weeks here)

Up the coast to Oregon, and up the Oregon Coast (cutting out from the coast north of Mendocino and returning around Coos Bay) Maybe visit Ashland and the Shakespeare festival in southern Oregon on the way. (5 days) East to Porltand and up I-5 to Mt. St. Helens, then Mt Rainier (4 days). Maybe Seattle and through the NW Cascades (2 days)

East to Glacier National Park (3 days). South to Yellowstone (4 days) We're at 36 days here...You have 4 days to get back to NY. That's doable.

There you have it! There are lots of other choices. Like Yosemite, the Painted Desert, the Olympic Peninula. To some degree, you will have to pick and chose.

Good luck!

We're definitely going to Memphis, New Orleans, and Santa Fe--but I fear the rest of that stretch is going to be a little boring. What else is there to see around there?

We're also going to Rapid City SD for a wedding...

If you have never been to the National Parks in the western part of the country you could consider the following. Head for the southern USA and route yourself to Santa Fe. From Santa FE head for Colorado and Mesa Verde NP. Then onto Monument Valley, Gr. Canyon and Las Vegas. From Vegas head to San Diego and then up the coast to LA and San Francisco stopping at Yosemite NP. THen onto Oregon and Washington with a visit to Mt Ranier NP. Then onto Vancouver and going east in Canada to Calgary. From Calgary south to the US going through Glacier NP followed by a visit to Yellostone NP. From Yellowstone to Salt Lake City and then Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef and Arches NP. THen to northern Colorado and Rocky Mtn. NP. THen home going through the Midwest. Did a similar trip many years ago. Was on the road 7 weeks and traveled more than 10000 miles.

A friend and I did 1/2 your trip (Florida to Oregon). We did it in just under 2 weeks. It was a marathon but I do feel like I got to see stuff - I consider it my preview trip to help me decide where to go back to. I found I liked some places much more than I expected (Louisiana) and was surprised by some (San Antonio). I didn't try to do any of the 'out of the way' stuff. We just didn't have enough time.

Some things I remember (good and bad). I did my first gambling ($5) in Biloxi (or Mobile?) not very exciting but we needed something to do before retiring for the night. (I still had jet lag so I wasn't in top form yet.) I believe in Mobile there is an old navy ship that you can tour and explore. I really enjoyed exploring all of it. I also really loved the old houses - very different for me - so pretty.

New Orleans for 3 nights - disliked it so much we left 1 day early. (I did have reservations there). It is dirty and smelly. I did like the architecture and the houses and the beignets (donut type things). It was fun to see but I am not a smoky club/drinking person so it didn't hold much appeal to me, though they do have these great fruit/icy drinks that are pretty good! The cemetarys were fascinating to me, but if you are from the south they may be typical for you.

Through Louisiana we stopped at a few of the old plantation houses - loved them all, pick a few to visit they are worth it. Stopped in a wonderful town where they have recreated a creole village (Lafayette I think). Learned some fun things and had a good time. Ate at a wonderful restaurant and tried all the southern foods that we certainly don't have in Oregon! (frog legs, alligator, and some kind of crab).

Directly to Houston after Louisiana. Went to NASA and left. Houston is ugly (no city zoning, and pollution) so we didn't spend much time there. Then to San Antonio. Loved that place!! Saw the typical stuff, Riverwalk (wonderful day and night) and the Alamo. It was hot there but the Riverwalk was so inviting. Headed a bit north to Schlitterbahn - the BEST water park ever made. Should have spent at least a full day there! That night we drove to Ft. Stockton and spent the night. Absolutely nothing there! Then we headed north to New Mexico (that was a long mileage and hour day). Stopped in Santa Fe for a brief visit and dinner. I wished we had more time there - a full day would be best. Stayed in Taos, another nice place went to the Native American reservation (not sure it was worth it).

Then to Denver to Salt Lake to Oregon. Since I think you are going through California not Colorado I won't go into the rest of the trip. I was traveling home with a friend in the military and he was very eager to get home so we pretty much drove straight from Taos without any sight seeing.

Definately drive up Hwy 101 along the Pacific. It is slower but very pretty. Ashland is fun if you are on I-5. If you don't go Hwy 101 in Oregon through the Willamette Valley I recommend taking Hwy 99 (east or west). Either one parralels the freeway but is much prettier and you see more of the 'real' Oregon.

I am sorry I can't remember more names of places, if I remember I'll haul out my scrapbook and see if I can send you more info. I didn't make any reservations except in New Orleans. Have a great time. You'll love it. Drive safely!

Thank you SO much! I'm actually from Boston, but my boyfriend's mother has generously offered the use of her car for our trip, so we're starting our trip in Florida, where she lives.

Your suggestions were great--we're actually going to skip CO and Vegas since we've been there recently. The Nat'l Park info is really helpful!

Don't spend too much time with the guide books...take a few of them with you and read them on the trip- helps kill the time during the long stretches.

Books-on-tape are nice to have too, if the car has a cassette player.

Lesley's Cafe in Salisaw Oklahoma has the best pie in the world if you drive through town!

cmw

Between Memphis and New Orleans, try to hit Nachez. It's on the cliffs of the Mississippi River and has some of the best anti-bellum homes left in the south.

Zip between New Orleans and Santa Fe. It's a long drive, but go for it, so you can save the time for the pretty stuff. You may see a lot of dead armadillos on the highway. That will be the excitement of that long stretch of road. Plus, the sky opens up over Texas and the vistas are forever (as is the drive!).

You will not regret saving time for the west. The west is God's country. It is awesome, in the old fashioned sense of the word, not the teeny weenie Valley Girl talk sense.

When during your trip does this wedding fall in SD? SD is a very out of the way place, except for on your return it is perfect. You get there after seeing Yellowstone and Glacier (and the Grand Tetons if you have time).

Tell the happy couple to get married at the end of your trip, or plan your trip to get to the wedding by the end, if that is more feasible.

As for SD, visit Wall Drugs, recently in competition on this very web site, for the cheesiest tourist attraction in America. (I'm not sure that South of the Border didn't squeek past Wall Drug to victory, though.)

You could see the Badlands, too, if you have time, and maybe Mt. Rushmore.

But remember. Go west. And stay west as long as you can.

Most of all, have fun!

When in SD don't forget to take in Chief Crazy Horse. Price is now $9 per person or 19 for carload. Very interesting artifacts in visitor center if your into that sort.

Time for me to reminisce about my "trip out west" when I was in college. Took a trip from Rochester, NY going thru Ohio, Nebraska, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, CA, Or, WA, Montana, Wy, ND, SD. and all states in between. Did it in 5 weeks, 10,000 miles. Wow.

My favorite places along the way: Number one was Glacier NP in Montana. Nothing like it. Others: N. CA and Oregon coast, All of WA state. So many things happened on the way - stayed at the opening of a campground in Montana, dedicated to an Indian Chief named Chewing Black Bones. Sat around a campfire with Native Americans who sang, danced, played instruments. Amazing. Of course the Grand Canyon and also the Bad Lands of SD. Stop at out of the way diners, cafes, bars and saloons. I remember still (and my trip was in '77) stopping at an out of the way bar somewhere in the mountains around Vail. One meets the most interesting people!

Such a great thing you are doing. I think everyone who can should drive across the US and see this beautiful country. Have a great time.

By the way, I think someone suggested that 6 weeks wasn't enough time? I think it's plenty. I also agree that you should save most of your trip for the West and Pacific NW.

That sounds like so much fun! A few places you might want to see in the north on you way to lake placid are in michigan. It is beautiful in the north! Cheack out Taquaminon Falls area and if you are into dirt bikes and such, cheack out Bull Run. Many people go there every year to watch the races up the sand hills in trucks or four/ three wheelers too. It is neat to whatch and its always a party. Also Mio for some canoeing or South in Sagatuck for some shopping. Another cool place is Macanaw(sp?) Island and the Bridge. You could see this stuff and drive through Canada on the way to NY and stop at Niagra Falls, or go through Ohio and stop at Ceader Point, the best coasters in the US if you're into them. Then go through PA mountains on the turpike Get off at Somerset, and go to Seven Springs and ride the Alpine slide. You can find all this stuff on the internet, and it is all worth seeing!