I am beginning to plan my great American Road Trip. Scheduled for June 08, I plan to cover as much as the Eastern side of the country as possible. Starting in Ithaca, NY my halfway point will be Tampa, FL. There I will visit my best friend, Colleen for a couple weeks, and then make my way back up north. Required stops along the way...Falling Water, The Smokey Mountains, Savannah, just to name a few.
Along the way I will be blogging here daily to let all know what I am seeing and doing. First step of this blog is getting some help... Where should I stop? What should I bring to read? What should i listen to? All tips welcome (Anything East of the Mississippi, North of Tampa, South of Ithaca).
9 comments:
Dear Kate:
What a great idea! Wear your seat belt, always drive the limit, and bring rosary beads!
Love, Mom (getting out her rosary beads)
Follow Sue's advice to a T.
Music:
None of your angst folk mountain, Kate. Keep that to a minimum.
Dip Set
The Smiths.
Young Jeezy
Lil Wayne
Kanye West
Outkast
a pair of crazy iDs
an audio of your favorite comedy standups so you can laugh
a picture of you cat on the dashboard.
hahahahahaha
oh and breathable clothes so you don't get a car tan, Boo.
xoxo
Lauren
eddie what ever you do, dont use a GPS system.. they suck mucho!! and and uhh stop when your tired, but not at a rest stop.. The movie "somthing about mary" comes to mind when i think of rest stops. see you soon... KKWIERD
Hi Kate:
Well since I have not seen much of the USA, I can't offer advice on what to see, but I can offer some brief suggestions for a trip soundtrack:
1. Never go on a trip of any kind without some Elvis Costello. I would suggest early EC such as "This Year's Model". I took that on my backpacking trip through Europe and it was a majorly essential choice.
2. Matthew Sweet is a good thing; "Girlfriend" is still one of my favorites, although the album he made with Suzanna Hoffs when they teamed together to record "Under the Covers Vol. I" is also a really good thing to have.
3. Monkees; don't laugh. I loved them when I was six and I love them now! Take "Headquarters", it is fabulous!
4. My more contemporary suggestions: Plain White t's, Kean, the Moldy Peaches, She & Him, & oh yeah, if I can suggest a song that makes me laugh every time it would be from the "Flight of the Concords" "If you Want me To". Great song, great fun!
Never forget on a trip:
*PRODUCT: good deoderant/anti-persp.; shampoo/conditioner; hair gel; powder; facial wash; bdy wash or soap; moisturizer; some form of hair removal product; feminine devices (for that not so fresh moment of the month); a nice scent in case you want to smell special.
Keep some flushable wipes handy as well.
It is also good to pack some snacks for the road along with bottles of spring water.
That's all I can think of, oh, except do not forget the camera. You will need to document this whole journey extensively so you can share and remember for years to come!
Have a fabulous time! Speak to you later...
Miriam
Dear Kate,
A stop over in Cary, NC seems like a no brainer. You be chillin and swillin while I be cookin and checkin your oil. Home cookin and bed sleepin for a while.
I suggest Audio Book CD's. David Sedaris reading his own books. Dylan reading his book. Catcher in the Rye read by George W. Bush.
Make sure you stop at South of the Border and give my regards to Pedro.
Go to the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg Fl.
Don't go to Dollywood.
Don't eat boiled peanuts in Georgia.
Don't sleep in rest areas off I-95
Bring plenty of Altoids
to be honest, every one knows its a bad idea to listen to any advice from me considering i'd run out of underwear the moment i passed the state line. heres what i would probably THINK to bring if i left right now. which i might, you never know.
1. lip plumping gloss: i dont use this to make my lips poutier, because honestly i pout all the time and i dont need any help. BUT, it burns so much its a good distraction from all the things i worry about due to my chronic procrastination. HOWEVER, this is actually the new age pepper spray, wear it, and any guy who kisses you off guard will likely be in paralyzing pain from his upper to lower lip.
2. ruby
3. turkey hill diet green iced tea, by the gallon.
4. Cigs.
.... well thats all i've got for now. by the way, ask miriam "what is hair removal product?" on my behalf. thanks!
-dotts
Kate,
You have some nice stops planned already. Seeing Falling Water was a moment that stuck with me. Its incredible both inside and out. Since I don't know what you're into at this point in your life, I'm going to tell you where I would stop if I could go on a fantastic road trip like the one you are planning.
First, I know Lyn told you to stop over here. You should. Its free. We both cook well. You will be in position to see DC, Baltimore (both have cool ballparks), or Annapolis, which is a beatiful bayside town with a colonial feel. I would personally want to visit at least one Civil War battle field. I have been to a few. Antietam is the one that got to me, but on your route, you will pass Gettysburg, Antietam, and Bull Run/Manassas just to name a few.
The Shenandoah mountains in Virginia are also incredible. There is a highway called Skyline Drive that runs from Front Royal straight south along the ridgeline almost all the way to Roanoke. The ride commands great views and I believe there are a number of small time minor league ballparks along this route--I know people who swear this is like seeing a game from the late 50's, though I haven't done this yet. Good hiking too.
The Cape Fear River is also a place that calls to me. The movie--either version--is reason enough to want to see this area. Also, since you are traveling in the early spring, there will be music festivals as your head south. My advice is to find a fiddlers contest in some small town and watch a 16 year old play bluegrass the way it was meant to sound.
I could go on, but I'm getting jealous. Just try to stop here if you can. We would love to see you.
If you're going to Savannah I highly recommend checking out Mercer House, take obligatory photo on bench from Forest Gump, River Street & Elizabeths for a nice dinner.
Definitely make sure you spend a little time in Charleston, SC at Battery Park and check out all the row houses.
I'm sure I'll think of more.
Mike a/k/a "The King"
Ok... so I have no advice on where to go or what to bring..but I do have law enforcement advice...
1. always wear your seatbelt and never go over 9 miles of the posted speed limit.
2. Use cruise control, but remember, remove the cruise control in case of emergency, I have seen a lot of accidents that flew off the road while still cruising...
3. In case you do see swirly lights behind you, please follow these instructions:
a. reapply lip gloss - not lip stick, lip gloss cops like luscious lips.
b. keep your hands on the steering wheel and have a coy and innocent smile on your face. Don't look like it is a given that you are going to get out of this, look frightened - that works as well.
c. after he asks you "Why did I pull you over" say I don't know.. never confess
d. If it is speeding, say, oh I did not realize, I am on my way to see my nana in Cary and I am so excited and my favorite song just came on the radio and I guess i did not realize I was speeding....
e. tell him that his uniform reiminds you of your uncle Mikey, he is a New York state trooper.
f. If all else fails...take the ticket gracefully and thank him and ensure him that you will be more careful - because once you go to court and plead not-guilty, oh you get the picture....
And remember, I have extra money saved for bail. Just call!!!
I love you!mb
Post a Comment