MasterDunk

Hi

I am planning a vacation with my girlfriend. We are both 24 and are traveling from Toronto. We are trying to think of potential destinations within the US. We have already been to NYC and California so we don't really want to do that again. So we're thinking of New Orleans for culture, food, and just a different atmosphere.

I think we'd want to spend about 3-4 days in New Orleans and then travel somewhere else. Within driving distances, I see that we could to go Atlanta, Austin TX, or Memphis. Which is desireable among these 3 or where else would also be good to go to.

I would like to do Toronto-NO and then fly to Miami from NO and stay 3-4 days and then back to Toronto. Is this doable?

MasterDunk

update.

after looking at flight prices, I think the trip would now be toronto-NO-miami-toronto.

does this sound good? it gives a mix of culture, food, great weather, beaches

AustinTraveler

I'm not clear on how much total time you have for this trip. I don't like New Orleans so I would never suggest going there, but if you did, it would not be a fun drive to the other cities. Plus, would you have to drive back to NO to fly to Miami??

My suggestion is to go to Miami with a side trip to Key West. You could easily spend 3-4 days just in the Keys.

sf7307

I love New Orleans so I definitely think it is a good idea to go there (obviously, different strokes for different folks!). I got the feeling you would fly from one city to the other, not drive, so i think this would be a fun trip.

tomfuller

My suggestion: Fly Toronto to Chicago. Take the El downtown and spend the daytime hours in Chicago. Take the 8PM "City of New Orleans" train to Memphis. You arrive in Memphis early in the morning. Drop off your luggage at your hotel (maybe the Peabody?). Spend the day wandering around Memphis before getting back to the hotel. Decide if you want to spend 2 days in Memphis. Get up early enough to catch the "CONO" south to New Orleans. Enjoy New Orleans and only rent a car if you want to see something out past where the streetcars go.
Fly from New Orleans to Miami (or Orlando).
In Florida it is probably best to rent a car.
When you are ready to head back to Toronto you can take a Silver service train overnight to Washington or New York.
There is a daily Maple Leaf train from New York to Toronto.
If you decided to bypass Florida, you can take the Amtrak Crescent from New Orleans through Atlanta to Washington.

MasterDunk

that sounds like A LOT of commuting.

i was just going to fly to NO, then fly to Miami. I think I will forget about memphis and austin altogether. Maybe I could fly to Orlando and visit disney world after NO and from there, drive down to miami and fly back to toronto. it might sound like a lot of one-way flights but they are pretty cheap from what i have looked at.

another option i could do is to do NO to miami and then do a 2-3 night cruise to nassau from miami.

starrs

Sounds like a fun trip to me.

MasterDunk

Thinking about adding chicago to this....


Would Toronto-NO-Miami-Chicago-Toronto be too much? Would spend 3 days in each of NO, Miami, and Chicago.

Gretchen

Sounds like an interesting trip!

tomfuller

Think about fly Toronto to Miami-fly Miami to New Orleans- train New Orleans to Memphis- train Memphis to Chicago-fly Chicago back to Toronto.
The City of New Orleans leaves NOL at 1:45PM and arrives in Memphis about 10PM which might be a bit late for checking into a hotel.
If you stay on the train you get to Chicago about 9AM the next morning.

starrs

tom, they haven't expressed any interest in taking a train.
Why a second post about a train? I know you enjoy train travel but it's not so great in the US. One of the most miserable nights I've ever spent was on the Southern Crescent -and I can sleep anywhere...or so I thought.

If they fly they'll be there in a couple of hours. Much better than hours on a train.

sf7307

I think that would be a great trip, so long as you have enough time to actually enjoy each of the cities (at least 3 full days in each?) If possible, based on geography, go to Chicago, THEN New Orleans-Miami-Toronto, less criss-crossing. But it's not that out of the way, so if airfares and schedules work out better the other way, you should still do it!

Gretchen

They have actually said "no" to the train. Train travel is iffy at best as to schedules--and what the heck do you do forever on the train that wouldn't be more fun IN the town you are going to.

MasterDunk

I am having second thoughts on the itinerary. I don't think I will be able to do this trip until mid July so I am thinking NO and Miami are going to be SUPER hot. I'm wondering if a NO-Memphis road trip is a better idea while skipping out on Chicago/Miami entirely.

I hear the drive from NO to Memphis is very nice and it isn't too far. How does a NO-Memphis trip sound? Would Miami be TOO hot? Also, I am thinking of skipping Chicago because I feel it may be somewhat similar to where I live (Toronto) while Memphis/NO/Miami are completely different. I'm not saying I don't want to travel to Chicago but just not on this particular trip.

MasterDunk

So basically, I am thinking between:

Toronto-NO-Miami-Toronto

Toronto-NO-drive to Memphis-Toronto

starrs

As strange as this sounds, July in Miami sounds hotter to me that July in Memphis. Humidity is a big factor and in Miami you have breezes off the water and can get in the water if you are too hot. I like the fly to NOLA than Miami and back to Toronto. If you want to add on a road trip, take the amazing drive through the Keys.

AustinTraveler

starrs, I think you meant Memphis sounds hotter than Miami in July. I would definitely not do Memphis (or NO) in July. Would definitely do Miami and the Keys.

starrs

AustinTraveler is correct. I wrote it backwards. Go to Miami in July. The heat and humidity in Memphis will be far worse - and will feel hotter IMO.

Thanks AustinTraveler


In NOLA in July, I'd concentrate on air-conditioned options during the day and save the walking about for the evenings - and NOLA is lovely at night.

MasterDunk

I think I will skip Memphis and do NO to Miami and the Keys drive.

Is NO unbearable in July? I live in Toronto and it gets pretty hot here but I know that it is nothing like it is in NO but how unbearable is it?

sf7307

The hottest I have ever been in my life, other than Egypt in August, was New Orleans in July.