Road Trip: Boston, New York, Nashville, New Orleans
Replies: 14 - Last Post: Nov 3, 2012 2:15 PM Last Post By: summercandy
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Road Trip: Boston, New York, Nashville, New Orleans
Hi everyoneMy boyfriend and I are planning a road trip in April 2013 to celebrate our graduation of University! Our major stops are Boston, New York, Nashville and New Orleans, going around the more east coast of United States. We may change Boston since it is a little back tracking, but I think I may still want to check it out. We are planning to do this trip 2 weeks (maybe a few days longer, flexible on time), we plan to stay a few days at each major city. Our budget is pretty low since we are graduating students so we are on a tight budget, but we will spend more money on places that are must sees. Also interested in smaller towns, I love old towns with a lot of culture, so little towns on the way I would enjoy to see (also a fascination with ghost towns if anyone knows of any on the route). Around the southern states I'm really interested in seeing the more religious parts, fascinated by the christian culture around here. In Nashville, the best honky tonks, and country must-dos I would be really interested in. New Orleans I'm fascinated by the voodoo culture, so anything that involves that I would be interested in seeing. As well as jazz, any must go jazz clubs. My boyfriend and I are also big foodies, so good food or interesting restaurants we are really interested in too. Appreciate all feed back!! Thank you
1
We will be starting in the Toronto area.2
That's too much in too short a period of time.You stated you want to spend a "few days" at each major city. Let's make that three days in each of the four cities. There's 12 of your 14 days right there. It's a long drive from Boston to NOLA.
In two weeks you can see Boston, NYC and Washington D.C. or similar.
I think you've underestimated the distances involved.
3
Our major stops are Boston, New York, Nashville and New Orleans
That's a lot to pack into two weeks, unless you plan to fly at some point.If you figure 3 days in each, you're already at 12.
Then you need to account for getting to each.
New York to Nashville is a 14.5 hour drive, excluding any delays for food, sleep, traffic, sightseeing, etc. That's about two days on the road. 14 days. That's two weeks, and we haven't gotten to the "to/from xCanada" yet.
Our budget is pretty low
How low? In numbers, please.
4
Where to start?I think Boston is “worth it” if you can find affordable accommodation.
NYC is generally a budget buster. You could spend two weeks there and not feel you’ve “done it all.” If you need to trim your budget, start there. If you go, 3-night 2 full days is a minimum, 4 days is recommended.
The cities you’ve chosen are pretty far apart so it seems like you have tried to pack too much into too short a period of time.
The best “old towns” along your route are Philadelphia and Annapolis. Baltimore has some cool ones too, but the main draw (inner harbor) is kinda pricey and I’m guessing that extends to the neighborhoods too. (maybe I’m wrong.)
If you really want the “Americana” experience you should spend multiple days in Philadelphia. See the sites (they are significant), have scrapple and eggs for breakfast, cheesesteak for lunch, get half snockered on cheap beer, then go to a Flyers match and either get into or avoid a fight according to your interests.
Philly’s a town. I think it’s what you’re looking for.
5
Baltimore has some cool ones too, but the main draw (inner harbor) is kinda pricey and I’m guessing that extends to the neighborhoods too. (maybe I’m wrong.)
Depends on the neighborhood.
6
Boston is a "student town" which means that there are many, many, many graduations between May and June. Graduations can fill lodging in the area. Look up the heaviest hitters--Harvard, MIT, and Boston University--and avoid Boston 2 days before and after those dates.7
Look up the heaviest hitters--Harvard, MIT, and Boston University
And Boston College. It's a little farther out, but still brings them in.
11
My trip is very flexible on time- we can go to a max of 3 1/2 weeks if necessary. Time is not an issue. Budget, we are hoping to spend around 3500, but we are also saving as much money as we can before going so we can have a few luxuries and since we know accommodation will be more expensive in these cities we know thats where majority of our money will be, we are looking for more free activities. But around 3500 we are HOPING.12
Thank you! I didn't even think of Baltimore, I would love to visit there. Thanks for replying!13
I consider myself a "budget traveler." I'd stay at youth hostels but with a family of 3 (and often one or more tag alongs) we stay at cheapo-tels, We avoid high cost locations, tend to get supermarket food for breakfast and lunch, but then we bust the budget by doing all the $25 per person sites (aquaria, museums, tall buildings. concerts, amusement parks etc, 1-3 per day per person).We budget "just over" $1,000 per week.
DC is a great "sites" location. Once you get your accommodation worked out (it has/had a decent youth hostel), it's actually a budget destination.
I sense that you are looking to find a bit of Americana more than see tall buildings and pretty sculpture. If that's the case, all I can do is recommend Philly w/ sports or rock concerts and whatever part of Baltimore turns the worm for you.
Edited by: LongIslandBob
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