The Hill Country is the area west of Austin and San Antonio. It's kinda headquartered by Fredericksburg which is a nice little city with some great German food and beer. The 3 sisters is the big known drive route in the area. https://ridermagazine.com/2013/07/08/twisted-sisters-the-texas-hill-countrys-most-famous-trio/
In reply to fasted58 :
Our races are going to be on Floracing tonight and tomorrow, the STSS from Port Royal. Our driver is Dillon Steuer car 17Z. I'll be there until Sunday then I'm thinking of stopping at Steamtown because trains and National Park.
In reply to bmw88rider :
You had me at German food. I picked a bad time to get my stomach stapled lol.
When we head down to Chattanooga from NH it is 8 hours to Haggarstown, MD. I know you are a bit closer though.
Bowling Green, KY has the Corvette Museum. One of the best $11 I have spent.
Deal's Gap for sure. If you can swing it do the Deal's Gap/Cherohala Skyway loop.
Otherwise I hit I40 west from there usually.
I know there is the biggest or at least huge Bass Pro Shop in Memphis.
Make sure you get TN BBQ and eat some fried catfish!!!
If you do go down I-81 in VA, there is the WW2 memorial in Bedford (east of Roanoke). I haven't been yet, but plan to one day. Also, the tourist trap of Natural Bridge. Skyline Drive & the Blue Ridge Parkway for more leisurly travel...
The weekend was E36 M3 for us but a friend won so I got a late start today after staying up way too late last night. The plan is to head towards the corvette museum to be there in the morning and to figure out where to go from there once I stop tonight.
+1 on the Graceland tour. I couldn't have cared less about him but I was surprised to enjoy the tour that someone else had booked
And WHAT-- there is an off-road route across the US!?! SIGN ME UP!!
There's a huge tank museum in Danville, VA that you might find interesting. It's not on the route but not very far off it.
Buccee's is on my list to visit for Florida later this week. 
I'm home and unpacked. Thank you everyone that had ideas, it was an ok time. This comes off a bit sad and I can't word it differently. I tried and it only sounds worse. I am as ok as I can be and not going to do anything to myself but it was a long week in a number of ways. This was my first long vacation alone and likely my last for some time.
I saw some and did some really fun things. I saw Dan again, visited the Nelson's shop, the Corvette Museum, a CARS themed town in Kansas, Buc-ees, and my first F1 race and Billy Joel for the God knows how manyeth time. I also had a lot of time to reflect on how little fun travel and often life itself is without Jodi. I thought I have been slowly getting used to the idea that my good days are mostly behind me and that I'll likely be alone from now on, but this trip really made it more obvious than before. Most days it was a struggle to put on a happy face to keep my family from worrying. As always I'm in awe of the people that look like they have their E36 M3 together all the time because I sure can't figure out how.
In reply to Wally (Forum Supporter) :
As I get older nobody in my family wants to go to Road America or the local car shows so I say fudge it and I go by myself. I can do whatever I want, right? Eat wherever I want?
I usually get weirdly sad and end up leaving early and going home. I've traveled a lot for my job and I never enjoy seeing sights by myself. I want my family with me.
Sorry to hear your post - shows you really loved that little lady.
I'm sorry life feels so heavy for you right now Wally. I know you are doing your best and these are sad times. I hope you turn a corner soon. You seem like a really good person, I am rooting for you.
I think you're being too hard on yourself, and expecting too much from that trip. The Wright brothers couldn't have much enjoyed their first flights, but they had to do it so I can fly business class overseas and get a warm cookie and that little kit that has socks and toothbrush and an eye mask and it seems like so much free stuff until you realize you traded in all your points from the beginning of time to get that cookie but then they bring out the warm nuts... sorry, I'll pull it together here.
Point is, that trip was a fearless thing to do. That's the win. And while I can only guess at how lonely you were, and continue to be, I know that I'm not the only person here who's proud to know you even at a distance. Know you have friends, you're awesome, and there's no way that you go through the rest of your life without another special person recognizing what a great guy you are.
Margie
Wally it takes a big heart to share all that with us, thank you for that.
We’re all behind you and it’s OK to be just OK. It’s also OK to miss your best friend / co-conspirator / partner in “crime” each and every day, I literally cannot imagine what you’ve been through and I’m not at all sure I would be able to myself. You took a trip, you saw some things / people and that in and of itself is progress and a pretty big deal. You’re a very brave good person doing the best you can every day under impossible circumstances. I continue to hope and pray for better days for you.
As always I'm in awe of the people that look like they have their E36 M3 together all the time because I sure can't figure out how.
Same. I don't think I'll ever have my E36 M3 in order.
Wally, I don't have a ton to add right now - the responses above are better than I can offer - but I agree wholeheartedly that you were brave and strong to give it a shot.
I believe you will get there. I don't think it's going to be quick or linear or meet anyone's expectations, including your own. Sometimes pushing harder can break up the log jam, but sometimes that just jams it up harder.
Keep navigating and you'll get there. Sometimes it will be forward, sometimes it will be sideways, sometimes it will be backward, and sometimes it will be time to heave to for a bit. That's all OK.
mtn said:
As always I'm in awe of the people that look like they have their E36 M3 together all the time because I sure can't figure out how.Same. I don't think I'll ever have my E36 M3 in order.
Same.
Wally, it has been 3.5 years since Baltimore Girl dumped me and I still find it a little odd visiting the places we used to go. I can't imagine what it's like to have someone pass from your life. My heart is with you, brother. Give yourself grace.
I know this is gonna be rough, but find a friend to travel with. I am not advocating a romantic interest and it doesnt have to be a lady friend in the least. Just someone to foil off of. I have very often been a person who needs to see someone else's excitement at something to get excited myself, otherwise it can just feel like I am pushing myself.
I'm married with kids and my wife isnt always interested (and usually unable due to juggling the kids) in coming along for a race weekend. If its just me going to an event where good friends of mine wont be there, the juice just isnt worth the squeeze and my mood around the whole thing is just radically different. I only bring this up because I want you to know that feeling that way, in many ways, isnt unusual at all and may not by necessity be isolated to just missing Jodi, though your thoughts are caught on the loss of the irreplaceable and likely will be for some time.
Companionship need not be a replacement for Jodi. Striving for momentum to get out of a funk need not be putting on a brave face and burying your legitimate grief.
As alone as I am sure you feel, we are all here and pulling for you.
In reply to Wally (Forum Supporter) :
Just a hint Wally. Those that look like they have their E36 M3 together all the time are usually a train wreck waiting to happen because they can't deal with things.
I get what you are saying though having made a few trips solo recently after the divorce and my mom passing. It's different. On the plus side, I have found myself to be more of an extrovert because of it. Your time will come at some point and we are here to help when needed. The wounds are still fresh.
Wish you could have been on my side of the fence for the F1 race. It was a lot of fun striking up a conversation with the sound guys, learning how to film F1 from Mick the camera guy, and marshaling the race. I would have loved to share that with you.
In reply to Wally (Forum Supporter) :
Wally, please come to the Challenge next year. It's truly more like a family reunion to me than anything else(except I actually love this family), and I think you'd likely feel the same way.
Just something from my pre-vid therapist (she was really smart)... Maybe rather than doing a trip like you would have before, you rtry something different. Something for you.
But others here have said it, no one has their E36 M3 together. Some just hide it better than others. But we're all here for you if you need.
Also also... Pete is correct. You need to come to the challenge.
margie and curtis said it better than i will. all i can add is that you are one of my favorite people on this forum and i hope i get to hang out with you someday.
Thank you everyone, I appreciate all the kind words and thoughts. You all and my Facebook group have been far closer than my real life family and I wouldn't be doing as well as I am without you all.
I expected a few bumps along the way but was caught off guard by how many there would be. After a few days home it's starting to ease a bit but it's going slower than I'd like.
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