General Chat / USA Road Trip

Hey guys, me and my girlfriend are taking two and a half months this summer to drive from San Francisco to Orlando in what should be the vacation of my life! Below are the places we will be visiting and I am sure that a few of you guys either live in some of these places or have at least visited. Basically I've been doing all the research I can recently to plan this trip so that we can make the most of everyday we have. What I ask of you is if you have any local knowledge, ideas or suggestions that wont be in your typical tour guide, of any of the places we are visiting?

29 June 2010 - San Francisco
05 July 2010 - San Jose
06 July 2010 - Santa Cruz
07 July 2010 - Anaheim
14 July 2010 - Las Vegas
19 July 2010 - Pioneer Lodge Zion National Park
20 July 2010 - Bryce View Lodge Bryce Canyon
21 July 2010 - Canyon Plaza Quality Inn Grand Canyon
22 July 2010 - Kayenta Monument Valley
23 July 2010 - Cortez
24 July 2010 - Durango
25 July 2010 - Santa Fe
26 July 2010 - Albuquerque
28 July 2010 - Las Cruces
29 July 2010 - Roswell
30 July 2010 - Tucson
01 August 2010 - El Paso Central
02August 2010 - San Antonio
05 August 2010 - Houston
08 August 2010 - Lake Charles
09 August 2010 - French Quarter New Orleans
11 August 2010 - Jackson, Mississippi
12 August 2010 - Tupelo
13 August 2010 - Memphis
15 August 2010 - Nashville
17 August 2010 - Chattanooga
18 August 2010 - Atlanta
20 August 2010 - Charleston
22 August 2010 - Savannah
23 August 2010 - Jacksonville
25 August 2010 - Daytona Beach
26 August 2010 - Miami
30 August 2010 - Orlando
13 September 2010 - Home

Also, I'm pretty well versed on Orlando since I have been their a few times but if anyone has any tips for visiting any of the other themeparks on our route regarding which rides to hit first, queue times, places to eat etc... it would be hugely appreciated! Thanks!

I would definitely schedule San Diego in between Anaheim and Vegas. It's only about an hour and a half from Anaheim and you can hit Vegas directly from there, There's a reason they call it one of the best cities in the world to live in and it's just as nice to visit.

No northeast? There's not 2 weeks worth of shit to do in Orlando.

Maybe worth going north from Chattanooga (or better yet Nashville) towards Richmond/DC and hitting Charlotte on the way back down to Atlanta, because MA is right about Orlando.

Edited by gir, 27 April 2010 - 04:06 PM.

I will go ahead and shamelessly promote my hometown, Dallas-Ft. Worth. If your interested I would take 20 after El Paso north to the Midland/Odessa area and then hit up abilene then continue to DFW then go south on 35 to Austin, San Antonio and then houston and your right back on your course to lake charles.

It probablly isnt practical for you to plan around this but ehh, I treid

Damn your missing out on the best part of the country in the northeast

Just wondering what exactly you're looking to do in these areas and how you're getting around. Based off of your schedule it looks like it's gonna be just a lot of eating out and going to bars because there's not a lot of site seeing to do in most of those cities

San Fran isn't really a full week city, don't know if you plan on hitting the parks up there while your there though. If not, I highly recommend going to Yosemite for two days because I think it's the most amazing landscape in the country. If your interested in getting to a baseball game while in the country San Francisco is probably the best place that your gonna be visiting unless your going to LA too, don't know if you are but considering your here for two and half months it's something to do

For San Antonio you don't really need more than a day and a half but you might be going to the parks so I don't know
Houston you definitely don't need three days for, a full day is more than enough

Those are the only places I've been so can't say much for the rest, I will say after this trip you'll have seen much more of the country than the average American though

If you could get to any of DC, Baltimore, Phili, NYC, or Boston I would though

New Orleans is great. Don't eat in the French Quarter- its crap. Go out to some of the neighborhood restaurants. One of my favorites was Jacque-imo's (down past Tulane- not too far on the trolly), Frankie and Johnny's (on tchopitulas street) and Dick and Jenny's (also on tchopitulas)and also make sure to get to the garden district.

It doesn't look like your stopping by Kansas City, but there's some decently interesting stuff here.

^I disagree about the food in the French Quarter being crap. As long as you avoid laces on Bourbon Street, the rest of the Quarter is very charming, and no matter where you go, it's bound to be delicious. Cocoa's definitely spot-on with his recommendation, but really anywhere in NOLA that's not a chain will have awesome food.

Thanks for the suggestions guys, to clarify a few things:

The itinerary is final now as all hotels are booked so all nights must be kept to the designated cities, any excursions must be reachable from our base location/s.

We are hitting any and all parks within reaching distance, I am a coaster enthusiast after all! That may explain some of the decisions.

As far as spending 2 weeks in Orlando; I have to confess I am in love with Disney World, this trip will be my 8th visit to Orlando. I personally feel that if you are going to do it properly you need more than two weeks if you want to fit everything in and still have time to relax (which is exactly what I will need after driving over 7,000 miles).

I realise that a lot of the best that America has to offer is in the North East but that is a trip for another time. I hope one day to be lucky enough to do the North East in the Autumn/Fall at a later period in my life.

KONG - I would love to visit San Diego and it was a tough decision to miss it out but we decided in the end that the extra mileage (around 400 miles) it would take to travel down from L.A and then from San Diego to Vegas was just a bit much for one city.

Austin - I've actually been to Dallas and Fort Worth before staying with friends. I really enjoyed it there, we also took a trip down to San Antonio and I loved it and that's why 1) I decided to leave Dallas out (also as you said it's not practical really) and 2) Why we have 3 nights in San Antonio (coupled with Fiesta Texas and Sea World).

Comet - The general idea is to mix in modern entertainment such as theme parks, restaurants, museums, tours, Vegas etc... with National Parks, beaches and interesting or historical cities. Oh and yes we are doing L.A from Anaheim.

We are travelling by car. It's very expensive insurance wise for an under 25 non US-Resident to rent a hire car and we went for the bare bones option and will apparently be spending the best part of 2 months (no car for San Fran or Orlando) in a Chevrolet Cobalt...anyone driven one? Any driving tips in general other than stay on the right side!?

Cocoa - thanks for the suggestions!

Edited by Themeparkmaster, 27 April 2010 - 05:43 PM.

What if your car break downs after 2 weeks ? 

What if your car break downs after 2 weeks ? 

If your Alamo car develops a mechanical problem in the United States, call Alamo's roadside assistance desk 1-800-803-4444, 24 hours a day.

You should have a blast, TPM. Good luck with your little adventure, here. Something I've always wanted to do. Oh, and I think I'm gonna be in Disney the same time as you are... small world (yes, pun intended).

Sounds like an awesome trip - you'll certainly see a lot of diversity along the way. I've never been through Cali, Arizona and New Mexico so I'm not much help there. While in San Antonio you'll have to do the riverwalk, everyone will tell you that. Lots of good dining and a fun atmosphere. In Houston I've heard the space center is cool, but I've never been myself.
I'm afraid I'm only really familiar with the central US, so I don't have any theme park advice for you. Also, I've ridden in a Cobalt and they decent cars - not luxury by any means but I think it will do great for you. Have a blast!

We are travelling by car. It's very expensive insurance wise for an under 25 non US-Resident to rent a hire car and we went for the bare bones option and will apparently be spending the best part of 2 months (no car for San Fran or Orlando) in a Chevrolet Cobalt...anyone driven one? Any driving tips in general other than stay on the right side!?

Sounds obvious, but please study up on US road signage before you come. Some of our road signs are not immediately clear.

In the Southwest, fill up on gas at any opportunity. You do not want to run empty in the desert.

If you run into traffic/road work trouble on the Interstates (very likely in July) keep in mind that most Interstates parallel US highways that are generally less crowded (this does not hold for cities, obviously, and is more often the case east of the Mississippi.)

-ACE

Ah I see, good solution! 

If you're taking the 101 from Santa Cruz, stop by in Santa Barbara!

-disneylhand

during your two week stay in orlando, you should take a day or two to head out west to tampa.
busch gardens is well worth an entire day or two.
:]

San Fran? I always liked Village Pizzeria off of Sutter and Van Ness =D (w00t, pepperoni pesto ftw!)

Totally take the coastal route coming down the west coast from san fran, practically rainforest in some sections (and a cool little restaurant in the canopy somewhere along the way).

Oh yeah, me, ed, corkster, and friends did like, the trip UP the coast, so if you need info on that leg of the trip, just ask anyo- scratch that, just ask corky.

And if you get the chance, passing through hollywood, grab some pinks for good measure ^_^

Also, if you head to vegas from anaheim, there is a particular stretch on that road that is extremely long without a gas station, followed by a HOLY CRAP expensive gas station, followed by an even longer stretch without a gas station. So really REALLY watch your gas unless you like paying 5 bucks per gallon. Enjoy driving through felony flats (har har).

And IN vegas... is really no fun =\
just play some video poker and order a drink and keep playing, they may bring you like, over 100 dollars worth of drinks for free if you keep betting. Streets are intentionally confusing, keep track of where you are. Coasters in vegas suck =( (and hurt).

yay, that's all I know unless you want to visit mt baldy for a scenic ride *pimps mountain* (it's beaauuuuutiiful...)

First off, general advice; you'll be traveling directly through the deep south. People are typically very welcoming and friendly, but be prepared to encounter some of the most ignorant xenophobes in the country. If you have an accent be prepared to hear the same inane comments throughout the entire trip.

Bad news over.

San Diego is a lot of fun if you can spare the time. Big Kitchen is delicious and the woman who runs the place has enough personality for an entire city. Be sure to stop for seafood along the coast and take the scenic routes whenever possible.
Hit up the LA farmer's market. Stop at a Jack in the Box. Go to redwood national park and walk around a bit.

Bring lots of water and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas with you for the long desert runs. maybe do the grand canyon skywalk if you're okay with spending that much.

Buying a mexican blanket in san antonio was easily the best decision I've ever made. You could probably find them anywhere in the southwest, but it is an essential item to living a better, more fulfilling life. I kid you not. Riverwalk isn't terribly exciting, imho. Definitely go, but be prepared to have trouble finding a restroom, finding anything authentic buried under the tourist souvenir shops, and finding anything open after 7. Fun place to wander around though. Find a Bill Miller's BBQ. Get a gallon tea. Actually since you'll be traveling through prime BBQ country be sure to try some somewhere along the line. You could even try comparing different regional styles.

In atlanta any of the Marietta Diner branches are good. Also try the varsity- never been myself, but I'm told food is good and experience is worth it.

Disney- if you aren't on the dining plan you're doing it wrong. You've obviously been enough to understand how fastpasses work. Go to the pepper market at Coronado Springs- everything is delicious, the steak ranchero is amazing. Try the School Bread from Norway at epcot. Try not to be offended by the UK pavillion. Eat at the sunshine seasons food court in The Land, get a fruit and cheese sampler. the grapes are the size of your head. Ride everest as many times as humanly possible, but in between rides appreciate the theming in Asia, its crazy awesome. Find the souvenir stand near yak & yeti and get a chinese-take-out-box lunchbox. Be aware that anything new and nemo-themed is aimed at families with young children. The current-surfing effect on the Living Seas ride thing is awesome though. Don't skip Barnstormer. Extra Magic Hours are your friend. Ride things during parades. Be slightly upset at how much a double bacon cheeseburger costs at pecos Bill's and then get one anyway because they're so goddamn delicious- just don't eat outside under the trellis or you will also be eating bird poop. Go to Boma at the AK Lodge and try the soups - ALL OF THEM - and eat seven zebra domes for dessert. Ride the TTA and the train and the monorail around in loops whenever you get tired. Get Dole whips. Do Kiiamanjaro early in the day when the animals are more active; don't bother doing rafiki's planet watch at all. Browse the shopping areas in Japan and China and marvel at how they go on forever. Do not eat at the Teppan Edo restaurant in japan- you can get better food for less at any japanese steakhouse outside of disney. Do not do easymode on mission space unless you really think you'll need it. Ride Toy Story, but get fastpasses ASAP- they run out quickly.

Take lots of pictures. Visit a Wal-Mart. Also just want to throw the possibility of catching a DCI show out there.

If you're going to be visiting a lot of six flags parks maybe get a season pass?

Sounds like an awesome trip. Just wondering which amusement parks you'll be visiting?