Lancaster, PA to Baton Rouge, LA.
We've got a week, Friday to Sunday.
Currently our options are: Westward Bound or Down to Deep South
We've got a few places to stay in both directions, but when I think of awesome outdoor scenery I don't think of the South, I think of the Rockies.
If I was going south, what should I see and do along the way?
Would you be taking I65? If you are there is the Corvette factory, NASA Space and Rocket center. I don't know if the opryland hotel is open or not but if it is that is worth a visit.
I would stick to I-81, check out Asheville, NC (Biltmore)...then hit the Dragon.Down to Charleston/Savannah.Hit Jacksonville and drive straight over to Baton Rouge (I-10).
Return trip: I-55 to Memphis...I-40 East to Nashville...I-81 back.
I try not to follow the highways when I can get away with it...I know which direction I need to go and try to find the out of the way dives and towns along the way.
Opryland Hotel and Grand Ole Opry in Nashville are both still closed.
If it were me I'd come down I-81 through the Shenandoah Valley, pretty interstate road, watch for cops. Then I'd head into the TN/NC mtns. Blue Ridge Parkway is a good one if you like scenic roads, its not real fast though. Biltomre is cool if you have never seen it. Lots of great roads even if you skip over the Dragon, which was recently closed, see below...I wouldn't do the Dragon in the summer anyways, too many bikes, and other traffic out and about.
ROCK SLIDE UPDATE June 3, 2010: The rock slide on US 129 is located between the Dragon and Happy Valley Road/Foothills Parkway. TDOT has announced in a press release that the 11 mile section known as the Tail of the Dragon will be open from 8 am to 8 pm. The only access is from North Carolina US 129. THP announced that there will be zero tolerance for traffic violations, so I'd travel the Tail with extreme caution. Please obey the traffic laws and report any undue harassment to us. We will forward all complaints to the Tennessee and North Carolina senators and representatives who worked so hard to get the road open. We will continue to post the latest information here so keep in touch.
FOAMHENGE
I-81, absolutely. Shenandoah Valley, into Tennessee, very pretty indeed.
East Tennessee has some amazing scenery... the Smokies are pretty cool.
If you want some good seafood, check out Middendorf's in Manchac, LA.
It's about a half-hour - 45 minutes east of Baton Rouge. If you're going down I-55, it's halfway between I-12 and I-10 in the middle of the swamp between Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchartrain.
People make the trek out there from New Orleans occasionally just to eat there.
Graceland, people, Graceland.
Whether you like Elvis or laugh at Elvis, you should be "going to Graceland, Memphis, TN". You're going to have to go close to get to Memphis to go to Red Stick (Baah-ton Roouge)
I had a good friend that got kicked out when her friends sang her happy birthday. They were told it was "disrespectful".
You have to pay extra to see the plane and cars IIRC.
The Natchez Trace is a most excellent way to go between Louisiana and Nashville, TN. Quiet, limited access and 400+ miles of National Parkland.
Downside? Speed Limits. However, there's some great scenery.
The aquarium in Chattanooga is really neat. Ruby Falls is there, too, and the National Tow truck museum ! Take the inclined railway up the mountain and look around if you're into civil war history at all. You can even stay in a railcar room at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel !. Jack Daniels distillery in Lynchburg. I'll also second hitting Biltmore House in Asheville. That place is amazing !
Corvette Museum is worth seeing, but not worth going too far out of your way for. Neat, but I was only there for an hour, and easily saw everything...
Tip to tip on the Blue Ridge has always been one of my dream trips. I'd jump at that opportunity.
US Space and Rocket Center at Huntsville, Alabama.
Access to the Marshall Space Flight Center on Redstone Arsenal is limited, but might be workable, too. Ask at the USSRC.
JFX0001 has it. That trip through the Blue Ridge will be awesome. Cooler too due to elevation. You can also hit up some great caverns and plenty of nice towns along the way.
The Beechcraft Staggerwing Museum in Tullahoma TN is worth stopping if you are near. There is a lot of cool old airplane related stuff as well as several of the most bad ass hot rod airplanes ever manufactured. http://www.beechcraftheritagemuseum.org/
+1 on the Natchez Trace idea. I lived within 5 minutes of it for about 6 years. I loved driving on the trace. BTW...speed limit is 50mph...set your cruise for 55 and enjoy the ride. Space and Rocket center is awesome too. Just got back from there about a month ago. Awesome stuff!
The Dragon is now open on the Tn side. A ride on the Skyway is also a great trip. You cant beat the drive from Asheville(after seeing the Biltmore House) into Tn on I-40. Then maybe drive the length of Tn to Nashville and then to Memphis before the boring trip to La. Great music and food in both towns.
