Planning a trip from Dallas to Miami. Any suggestions?
10-22-2010, 11:23 AM
#1
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Planning a trip from Dallas to Miami. Any suggestions?
Hey guys, as the title says, I'm planning a 4 day road trip from Dallas to Miami at the end of December with my wife and sons.
Can I get any suggestions about where to visit and where to stay on the road besides New Orleans?
Thanks
Can I get any suggestions about where to visit and where to stay on the road besides New Orleans?
Thanks
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10-22-2010, 02:01 PM
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It will take a long time just to drive that distance. Mapquest is showing the most direct route to be east from Dallas on I-20 through Shreveport, LA to Jackson, MS. Then is shows you dropping south to Mobile, AL and following I-10 over to I-75. It says that will take you almost 21 hours of driving without counting fuel, bathroom, or food stops. At a comfortable pace without pushing too many hours of driving a day you will still be looking at three days of mostly driving. Some of the young guys would do it in one or two driving days, but that doesn't strike me as your style. Eight hours a day on the road will probably be all you want.
There won't be much extra time for sightseeing. And I don't think there is too much along the way to visit. When you get to Florida, your route will likely pass near Kennedy Space Center and all of the Orlando attractions. Parts of Mobile Bay in Alabama are attractive. Pensacola, FL is a dump. So is Tallahassee, FL.
When you come through west-central Florida, you can see and swim/snorkel with the manatees in December. They come into Crystal River, FL (an hour north of Tampa) for the warm water flowing out of underground rivers in the winter. I'll help you with lodging recommendations for a stop there if that sounds like something you are interested in. If you came to Tampa I could set you up with bistek salteado y arroz amarillo y frijoles negros but it probably wouldn't be better than you could get back home.
There won't be much extra time for sightseeing. And I don't think there is too much along the way to visit. When you get to Florida, your route will likely pass near Kennedy Space Center and all of the Orlando attractions. Parts of Mobile Bay in Alabama are attractive. Pensacola, FL is a dump. So is Tallahassee, FL.
When you come through west-central Florida, you can see and swim/snorkel with the manatees in December. They come into Crystal River, FL (an hour north of Tampa) for the warm water flowing out of underground rivers in the winter. I'll help you with lodging recommendations for a stop there if that sounds like something you are interested in. If you came to Tampa I could set you up with bistek salteado y arroz amarillo y frijoles negros but it probably wouldn't be better than you could get back home.
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10-22-2010, 02:30 PM
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It will take a long time just to drive that distance. Mapquest is showing the most direct route to be east from Dallas on I-20 through Shreveport, LA to Jackson, MS. Then is shows you dropping south to Mobile, AL and following I-10 over to I-75. It says that will take you almost 21 hours of driving without counting fuel, bathroom, or food stops. At a comfortable pace without pushing too many hours of driving a day you will still be looking at three days of mostly driving. Some of the young guys would do it in one or two driving days, but that doesn't strike me as your style. Eight hours a day on the road will probably be all you want.
There won't be much extra time for sightseeing. And I don't think there is too much along the way to visit. When you get to Florida, your route will likely pass near Kennedy Space Center and all of the Orlando attractions. Parts of Mobile Bay in Alabama are attractive. Pensacola, FL is a dump. So is Tallahassee, FL.
When you come through west-central Florida, you can see and swim/snorkel with the manatees in December. They come into Crystal River, FL (an hour north of Tampa) for the warm water flowing out of underground rivers in the winter. I'll help you with lodging recommendations for a stop there if that sounds like something you are interested in. If you came to Tampa I could set you up with bistek salteado y arroz amarillo y frijoles negros but it probably wouldn't be better than you could get back home.
There won't be much extra time for sightseeing. And I don't think there is too much along the way to visit. When you get to Florida, your route will likely pass near Kennedy Space Center and all of the Orlando attractions. Parts of Mobile Bay in Alabama are attractive. Pensacola, FL is a dump. So is Tallahassee, FL.
When you come through west-central Florida, you can see and swim/snorkel with the manatees in December. They come into Crystal River, FL (an hour north of Tampa) for the warm water flowing out of underground rivers in the winter. I'll help you with lodging recommendations for a stop there if that sounds like something you are interested in. If you came to Tampa I could set you up with bistek salteado y arroz amarillo y frijoles negros but it probably wouldn't be better than you could get back home.
I was planning to make that trip in 4 days. I saw that it was 1,300 miles and figured I could do about 350 a day without too much hassle.
Orlando is not on my plans this time around. I thought about going through Tampa but I'm really interested in going to see the PGA's Hall of Fame in St. Augustine so that would mean taking I-95 down to Miami.
Is there anything worth seeing in MS., Ala. or LA. (besides New Orleans)?
I also wanted to see if there were any good eating joints along that route? Nothing fancy. I'm looking for good, simple food. No Latin food for me on this trip
I definitely want to try Cajun food but I don't know what other local foods I can find in the South.
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10-22-2010, 02:49 PM
#4
I do not know what you are into, but I regularly visit Apalachicola. It has an old Florida feel to it, and there is a really cool historic hotel, but for the life of me I can not remember the name. It is in the historic downtown. You can't miss it.
If you like seafood, there is this cool place called Bosses in Apalachicola as well. It is by far my favorite place to eat there. Lots of neat shops.
If you are into nature, that whole area has a lot to offer. A great state park on St. George Island, with a very nice unmolested beach. There are also some pretty cool old towns just east of there if you really want something authentic.
I live in Tampa, and there are some decent things to see and do in this area. We have a place called Ybor City that has some similarities to the French Quarter in New Orleans, but not near as big and famous. Ybor has some historic value however. The west coastal areas of Florida are much different than the East coast of Florida.
If you are in the area, look me up. I may meet you for a drink somewhere. Sixshooter is real close too.
If you like seafood, there is this cool place called Bosses in Apalachicola as well. It is by far my favorite place to eat there. Lots of neat shops.
If you are into nature, that whole area has a lot to offer. A great state park on St. George Island, with a very nice unmolested beach. There are also some pretty cool old towns just east of there if you really want something authentic.
I live in Tampa, and there are some decent things to see and do in this area. We have a place called Ybor City that has some similarities to the French Quarter in New Orleans, but not near as big and famous. Ybor has some historic value however. The west coastal areas of Florida are much different than the East coast of Florida.
If you are in the area, look me up. I may meet you for a drink somewhere. Sixshooter is real close too.
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10-22-2010, 03:00 PM
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It has been a long time since I took that ride through Shreveport to Dallas and I can't remember anything specific to see. Maybe somebody up that way could tell you.
As for good southern cooking, there is plenty of that in central Florida. We have lots of native Florida country people here. Florida is the third largest beef cattle producing state in the union.
If you want to take the family on an airboat ride through undisturbed natural areas, there is plenty of that here also.
If you go to St. Augustine check out the old military fort called Ft. Matanzas.
As for good southern cooking, there is plenty of that in central Florida. We have lots of native Florida country people here. Florida is the third largest beef cattle producing state in the union.
If you want to take the family on an airboat ride through undisturbed natural areas, there is plenty of that here also.
If you go to St. Augustine check out the old military fort called Ft. Matanzas.
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10-22-2010, 06:44 PM
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Thanks for all the info guys! 
Those crab cakes sound delicious.
Shooter, I was at that Fort about 15 years ago. I just want to visit the PGA museum this time around. I had a really good time there.
Miata2fast: St. George Island sounds like a really interesting idea!
BTW shooter, that beef cattle tidbit is really surprising.
Those crab cakes sound delicious.
Shooter, I was at that Fort about 15 years ago. I just want to visit the PGA museum this time around. I had a really good time there.
Miata2fast: St. George Island sounds like a really interesting idea!
BTW shooter, that beef cattle tidbit is really surprising.
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