New York to Miami (via Nashville, New Orleans....?)
Replies: 10 - Last Post: Nov 18, 2012 2:35 PM Last Post By: bzookaj
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New York to Miami (via Nashville, New Orleans....?)
Hi everyone,I'm having a hard time pulling together a 21 day itinerary for the US: New York to Miami. Instead of following the coast line, and after some reading, I'm thinking of doing the itinerary below. Tell me if you would suggest something else.
My current itinerary is way too packed - at least I think it is. The questions are... What to drop (or to add)? Where should I opt for an internal flight instead of driving for hours? Any specific highlights on the road that could help to break long trips?
I'm for example thinking to skip the Appalachian Mountains - I'd rather go for the American way of life experience (and yes, I might be spending too much time in the car to actually do so) than hiking mountains I can also see in Europe (or have seen on previous holidays around the world). So, I was thinking about taking the plane between Washington DC and Nashville. Your advice is welcome ;-)
DAYS 1-3 - NEW YORK
DAY 4 - NEW YORK - PHILADELPHIA - WASHINGTON (car 380 km - 4u45)
DAY 5 - WASHINGTON DC
DAY 6 - WASHINGTON DC - APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS - WHYTHEVILLE (VIRGINIA) (car 491 km - 5u11)
DAY 7 - WHYTHEVILLE (VIRGINIA) - NASHVILLE (car 579 km - 5u45)
DAY 8 - NASHVILLE
DAY 9 - NASHVILLE - MEMPHIS (car 341 km - 3u29)
DAY 10 - MEMPHIS
DAY 11 - MEMPHIS - NATCHEZ (car 502 km - 5u12)
DAY 12 - NATCHEZ - NEW ORLEANS (car 283 km - 3u02)
DAY 13 - NEW ORLEANS
DAY 14 - NEW ORLEANS - PANAMA CITY BEACH (513 km - 5u28)
DAY 15 - PANAMA CITY BEACH - ORLANDO (588 km - 6u14)
DAY 16 - ORLANDO
DAY 17 - ORLANDO - MIAIMI (377km - 3u49)
DAY 18 - MIAMI
DAY 18 - MIAMI
DAY 19 - MIAMI - KEY WEST (4u)
DAY 20 - KEY WEST
DAY 21 - KEY WEST - MIAMI - BRUSSELS
Thanks!
2 30something guys
1
When is this trip?How well can you handle heat and humidity, or cold and wind chill?
What about the "American way oflife" do you want to see? Are you shoppers? Foodies? History buffs? Art nerds? Bingers?
Are you dead set against getting outside? In other words, do you insisit that this be an entirely urban trip, or are you willing to ake a trip to thecountryside every now and then?
2
We'll arrive in New York end of February. We know it will be chilly up north and getting warm in Miami.Very much open to go to the countryside, that's one of the reasons why we choose for a road trip: to see things in between the cities.
I'm curious about experiencing the differences between the states. So, looking for typical things in Nashville, New Orleans etc. We tend to wander around when visiting a city/town and observe local life: in the park, malls, bars, etc. If I can also learn something about the places' history, that's even better.
No art nerds. I guess we'll do some art stuff in New York and Miami. Very interested in special architecture. Food in nice places. Also always feels great to discover people and places that are a bit avant garde, out of the ordinary, with new ideas.
3
Your main issue is the very large detour out west. Because ofthat, and the number of places you are trying to visit, you aren't spending enough time in most places to "observe local life." You get in, get settled, see a couple things, then move on.Consider this rough route:
Days 1-3 - xNYC
Day 4 - xPhiladelphia (by bus) (or add to xNYC, or some other location enroute)
Days 5-7 - DC (by bus)
Day 8 - pick up car, drive to xCharlottesville in the morning, via here and/or here.
Day 9 - leave for xRichmond in the afternoon.
Day 10 - xRichmond
Day 11 - drive to xCharleston, with a quick stop here
Days 12-13 - xCharleston
Day 14-15 - xSavannah
Day 16 - Drive to the Keys.
Days 17-18 - Keys
Days 19-21 - xMiami
Or something like that.
4
Bzook is pretty much right, although there are so many interesting sites near Richmond, I’ve always overlooked Richmond itself and would recommend you do so as well. (Perhaps i'm mistaken)If you want to do art stuff but you’re not an art nerd then do it in DC where the museums are free and world class. Either way I'd spend 2 full days in DC.
The drive through western VA (Skyline and Blueridge if weather allows) is 100% worth it if you like pretty drives. Personally I’d stop off, take a side hike to some minor cave or waterfall and stay the night in some cheap hotel where I can meet the locals.
The “standard route,” from NYC to Miami is to take the Interstate-95 corridor (very much eastern, but neither coastal nor mountains), with side trips. There’s a lot of history, a bit of worthwhile nature, and lots of American suburbia.
Edited by: LongIslandBob
5
Thanks for the feedback.Still... Richmond, Savannah... it seem nice stops on the road, but they don't give me the same excitement as Nashville or New Orleans. Even with flights from Washington to Nashville and from for example New Orleans to Orlando, my itinerary is a no go?
6
If flights are a consideration:Days 1-3 - xNYC
Days 4 - xPhiladelphia (by bus) (or add to xNYC, or some other location enroute)
Days 5-7 - DC (by bus)
Day 8 - Fly to xNashville
Days 9-10 - xNashville
Day 11 - Drive to xMemphis, with a detour
Day 12 - xMemphis
Days 13-15 - this rough drive (you won't be able to stop everywhere)
Days 16-18 - New xOrleans
Day 19 - Fly to Miami
Days 20-21 - xMiami
You can see it still gets rushed.
7
Three of my favorite places to visit in the US are Gettysburg, Colonial Williamsburg, and the Springs of Central Florida. All three could be on your route. Your itinerary lists only cities.8
You're right bzookaj, it still gets rushed. Memphis-New Orleans will remain a verrry long drive, and from what I understood not a very interesting one.Maybe I should just focus on NYC/Washington and drive around Florida.
Thanks!
Shelemm: yes my itinerary only mentions cities, I'm only setting the main directions out now and will see afterwards which small stuff there is to do on the way.
9
Richmond is near a half dozen battlefields,Jamestown, Monticello, Williamsburg,
a couple of theme parks,
and not terribly far from the Chesapeake Bay and the Blue Ridge mountains
etc..
If I had ever had time to visit Richmond I could tell you if it's worthwhile. Buts sheesh there is a lot of stuff around it, I just keep driving near it.
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