So, I'm moving half way around the world, and I'm going to drive a lot of that move.

Any recommendations on crossing America?

I got my beloved R53 up to the port here and Germany, and she's waiting for me right now in Baltimore.

I fly to Baltimore next week, and head off to Kansas. Not an option -- I have to go there. I will have a couple of days to get there, and was thinking of swinging low in order to go to Louisville (I've always loved the city).

After a week in and around Kansas City, I'll be heading to Augusta, GA, where I'll hang out for a few weeks. Yes, there are weekends at the Dragon planned -- my brothers in the Tar Heels Mini Gang / Borg are standing ready to show me, in light of the recent smack-talking I've been doing (text / video).

From there, I'll be heading to Long Beach to put her on a boat across another pond.

My question is, what's worth seeing along the way? I've penciled out a route (here), but it looks to be rather, well, dull. I could swing south, through Dallas and El Paso and Tucson. Time permitting, I could cut through Wichita and hit Denver.

Let me know. I'd welcome some thoughts on this.

 

The title got my attention, funny mental image there!

If I had my choice I'd take a detour through the Denver area to hit some of the twisites up around the mountains. Then head to Utah and go through Vegas to LA.

Hit up some of the canyons if you can. I've seen some pictures when others have driven through and it's pretty sweet.

My 2 cents.

 

Summer cross-country drive is all about BBQ! I'd go out of my way to hit Rendezvous Barbeque in Memphis. You'll be in KC to hit Arthur Bryant's, which is also a must.

I'd try to avoid the big interstates as much as possible, particularly 10 in the south and 80 in the North. One word - boring.

I agree with Geekswrath - I'd certainly try to go through Utah and also through Monument Valley and Sedona in Arizona.

Also, portions of the Natchez Trace in Mississippi are awesome. You'll be heading through Tupelo according to your route, so you should absolutely stop in Oxford. I would definitely stay there too - either the Oliver-Britt House or the Barksdale House are two great antebellum bed-and-breakfasts (I lived in Oliver-Britt for six months doing a record back in 1997). Oxford is the gem of the South, home of Faulkner, John Grisham, Fred Smith (Fed-Ex), Jim Barksdale (Netscape), and home of the best blues around. If you do stop, go to Square Books and maybe try City Grocery for dinner or stop at Bottletree Bakery for coffee or breakfast (if you do, say hi to Cynthia if she still owns Bottletree). Gosh, I hope they are all still there!

There are some fantastic drives in North-Central New Mexico around Taos, like Highway 64 through Cimarron and Eagle's Nest. From there, it's easy to do the Arizona stuff and head on into SoCal.

But seriously, your mission will be a failure if you don't sample the Barbeque!!

 

I just did a Memphis to SF a few weeks ago, I highly recommend, swinging up to CO and doing several awesome drives in the mountains, leave denver out toward Salt Lake City, there's some good canyon runs in UT between Grand Junction and SLC then after SLC the Salt Flats area surreal experience (and bug free! ) Nevada is a fairly dull crossing (look out for tumble weeds, fires, dust devils), but the Tahoe area is beautiful, then after passing Sacramento the Napa Valley has hundreds of miles of scenic twisties, that can take you to the coast, for more twisties cross the Golden Gate Bridge into SF and follow a string of twisties on down the coast.

For crossing the Atlantic and pacific oceans I highly recommend a heavy duty flotation device for your MINI

Also the CB was excellent source to traffic/road info as well as good entertainment!

Edit: Also now that snow closures wont be a concern for you, also look into stopping in Jackson Hole,WY Some of the most beautiful parts of the country I've seen are up that way.

 

 

Folks, this is good, good stuff!

 

Avoid Nebraska at all cost.

 

Another good BBQ place in KC is Rosedale's. It's cheaper than Arthur bryants.

 

Just rent an R56 with the optional H2O package.

 

The military once moved me from Germany to Guam. 26 hours of flying time... I should have thought to drive !

Nah... I had a Nissan Sentra at the time.

Lots of good restaurants in Baltimore. If you need some recommendations, just say the word.

 

+1 on the BBQ! And +1 on Rendezvou. great ribs! Stay at the Peabody (across the street (kinda)) if you can and see the ducks.

To get to Memphis from Baltimore, make the Blue Ridge Parkway part of the drive. There's a thread somewhere here that has the Road trip America book (free)... found the site, byways.org. I don't know if you have time to wait for shipment; I'm still waiting for mine.
:(

Get a AAA plus membership if your Mini is out of maintenance. Satellite phones are under a grand nowsadays (cell coverage can be spotty in the middle of nowhere). Radar detector, CB, etc. See, I can help spend your money as well.

Man, I wish I could do the same right now.

 

Arthur Bryants is historic, but not the BBQ it used to be (and it can vary by location). Rosedales is fair to middlin. Best in the city is Fiorella's Jack Stack...hands down. It's pinky raising bbq though, but second to none. Bandanas BBQ in St Louis isn't bad for lunch either.

As far as trips in KS and beyond...

Starting out in KC I'd take 70W towards topeka and then hit the turnpike south to Emporia. You'll get an appreciation for the Flint Hills. In Emporia take H13 north to Council Grove and Manhattan. You'll pass through the middle of the flint hills, several twisties in there and lots of historic places (Indian battles and such). In Manhattan you've got the tuttle creek area which has tons of twisties in it..beautiful area. You can also see where the F4 tornado just tore things up...that'll give you an appreciation for what we see here in the midwest every summer

Leaving Manhattan take 70W to Denver. Western Kansas has a beauty best appreciated in small sips.. you'll have 6 hours of it (Thank me later). Once you hit Denver you've got lots of options. 70W continuing to Utah is a great great great road for twisties and areas where you can open it up at. You could take I25 N to Wyoming and visit Yellowstone/Grand Tetons and then swing down to Salt Lake city on your way to the Bay area (Yosemite is within 4 hours of the Bay Area as well).

If you stay on the 70W route you can head to Vegas which is a place every must experience one in their life... From Vegas LA is just another 4 hours or so. Death Valley is in there as well.

 

When you get to Long Beach, here are a couple recommendations (I just returned yesterday from there): the famous Mulholland Drive- but from a first timer perspective, hit the section west of LA, very twisty and scenic, not much traffic. And the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) is a must. In the Long Beach area it's boring, but north toward Ventura in the Santa Monica Mountains and further up the coast is some beautiful scenery. Your biggest problem will be keeping your eyes on the road not the ocean. . .

 

Yeah, not such a thrill go to go LA. Lived there (and in San Diego, too) for a bunch of years . I'll probably just hit Tommy's for a burger (the original one, downtown, to eat there and NOT in the car), and call it a day.

And I use to drive PCH a lot -- loved north of SF, and went to college in San Diego. Drove it a couple of times a year. It was nice -- don't get me wrong -- but once I get out west, yeah, I'll be looking for my boat and a plane ticket.

Vegas, though. Depending on the timing, a night there might be pretty cool.

 

And if anyone is interested, I've had one other Mini owner from here on NAM ask about hopping on for the drive from GA to LA.

I was playing with Google Earth today, starting to plot it all out (like we did for MITA), and I gotta say, just cruising Route 66 might be pretty damn cool.....

So, if you're interested, let me know. October is the time frame. We'll leave when "they" release me to go, and take as long as I can get the Ok to take. "Tess Takes The States" I'm calling it.

 

I recommend floaties.

 

So, yeah. Tess Takes The States. I have no idea how much I'll be on NAM (going computer-less), but I'll try and post updates and photos as I can.

 

If you are passing through St Louis there is always the Arch to visit. And if you like Italian food, try The Hill. Lots of restaurants, groceries & bakeries. Just west of St Louis off I64 or I70 is Wine Country. The Germans settled there because it reminded them of their home country. Lots of twisties & beautiful scenery. I recommend either Hermann, MO or Augusta MO. Have fun!!!

Lois

 

One place I might swing through is Jeff City, so those two (Hermann, MO or Augusta MO) are great ideas! The drive along the river looks perfect!

Much thanks -- will keep those two in mind.

Gonna come join me? I'll be through the area on Friday....

 

Would love to, but we've got guests from Canada to pick up at the airport that day.

Another area is Rocheport, MO just west of Columbia, MO. It's right off I-70. Beautiful winery that sits on the bluffs of the Missouri River & the town is pretty interesting, too

The Capitol building in Jeff City is beautiful. The design is similar to D.C. It sits right on the MO river also.

And while in K.C., check out the riverboat museum if you haven't been there.

Lois

 

Just got hold of an old friend, who lives in Jeff City. Looks like I will be stopping off there for the night. He agreed that the drive out through Hermann is well worth the time. I think I have a plan!

 

 

Alrighty, then. Taking off for the airport.

If you're between Baltimore and Kansas City, be on the look out for a blackened R53 sporting authentic German license plates, the famous "Police Interceptor" package from BMW, and the Nordschleife sticker on the butt.




If you see us tooling along, be sure to motion for us to slow down, and throw us some devil horns or something.

 

Have a safe trip!

 

Look who I ran into today?



And look who had a dead battery that consumed my afternoon? I think she was faking it, just to get me to take her out for a couple hours of quality time together. We did a loop through Baltimore together, and then a loop around Baltimore, and then obeyed the low fuel warning and filled up.

We are both very happy to be back together.