Alison's Road Trip Around USA

Join Alison as she embarks on an epic adventure across the vast and diverse landscapes of the United States. From the towering skyscrapers of New York City to the sun-kissed beaches of Charleston.

Journey there

Who did you fly with?
British Airways from Inverness

Did you get any connecting transport from the airport?
Via London Heathrow to JFK

How was the journey?
Comfortable – economy but good flight and staff

Hotels

Where did you stay?

• Kixby in New York (Great location in lower midtown beside the Empire State) for a stay of 3 nights (great complimentary coffee machine).
• 2 nights Virginia Beach (Delta Hotels by Marriott Virginia Beach Bayfront Suite)
• One night stays during our road trip in Lexington, Cherokee
• 3 nights in Nashville (stayed in the upcoming Gulch area in apartments)
• 1 night in Alabama
• 3 nights Savanah (stayed in a local style house)
• 2 nights to relax in Charleston (Harborside at Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina) via Hilton Head.

Were there any special features?

• Kixby had a great rooftop bar overlooking the Empire State Building. 1-minute walk to the nearest subway and plenty of bars and restaurants adjacent to the hotel. (Request a high-floor street view as some rooms are internal).
• Cherokee was riverside overlooking the Oconaluftee River
• Savannah's Old house in typical local style with a stoop and sit-out porch
• Charleston Hotel beachside. Several pools and boats to town (at a charge). Purely a beach resort for relaxation.

What was your stay like? Did you enjoy it?

• After New York, we did a road trip – covering about 3k miles. New York exceeded my expectations. Having only 3 nights we put a lot of thought into our itinerary in advance to get the most out of our stay.
• Nashville was wall-to-wall country music. Quieter in the Gulch area and down towards the river. We did find restaurants a bit thin on the ground unless you wanted fried food.
• We drove the Blue Ridge Parkway through the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains. Stunning countryside throughout and often came off the interstate to take the more scenic routes to Nashville.

Any recommendations?

• Take a trip to Brooklyn to sample Italian food. Either walk back over the Brooklyn Bridge (great photo opportunities – or take the ferry back.
• The High Line is a must. We took the subway to the meat packing district. We walked the High line to Hudson Yard for our visit to ‘The Edge’—101st floor.
• Take a walk through Central Park.
• Set aside plenty of time if you are visiting Ground Zero, it can’t be rushed.
• If you don’t actually want to visit Ellis or Liberty Island and just want to see the Statue close up, take the cheaper option of the Staten Island Ferry rather than the official Liberty Ferry.
• Transfers to/from New York airports are expensive. We took an Uber on arrival but on the way back we took the Long Island railway to Jamaica Street and picked up the air track train to JFK all for $10 each.
• Use the subways

Activities

Where did you go?
New York

• Liberty and Ellis Island to visit the Statue of Liberty
• Brooklyn for pizza
• Ground Zero Central Park
• Madison Square Gardens
• High Line
• The Edge

We flew to Norfolk VA and took Uber to Virginia Beach for a couple of nights before heading back to Norfolk airport to pick up a car.

Started the journey on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Often travelling through 3 states in one day.

Nashville

• Be aware that the Grand Ole Opry is 18 miles from Broadway in Nashville. Tours are approx $30 per person.
• There is a great shopping outlet next door.
• For every country music fan, you can visit the Ryman Museum (downtown Nashville) and which is the original Opry building. Other museums such as Johnny Cash. You can also take the showboat ride on the river where you can also include lunch or dinner or just stay in the music venues ALL day if you prefer.

Did you learn any fun facts or see anything exciting?
Bears and armadillos on the Parkway
Visited the square from the Forrest Gump bench scene which was actually filmed in Savannah. ‘Chippewa Square’ The actual bench is in the local museum.

What was the weather like?
Hot with a bit of rain

Any recommendations?

• Don’t underestimate Savannah as a city, more than a few days can be spent here.
• Visit the Savannah markets (daily at the waterfront) and weekly Saturdays at the park.
• The Charleston market is HUGE and again worth a visit.
• Boat trips in these cities are a great way of seeing cities from a different perspective.

Food/Drinks

Did you go to any local restaurants/cafes?

• Juliana’s Pizza, Brooklyn
• Black Tap Craft Burgers and Beer, Kixby Hotel New York
• Fork & Dagger Airstream trailer for brunch (Savannah)

What did you enjoy eating/drinking?

• Corned beef hash for breakfast/brunch
• Peach Beer (Savannah) – game changer!
• Swordfish in Charleston

Did you try any new dishes? What did you think of it?
Definitely the Peach beer and beef jerky to snack on!

Did you go to any quirky places for food/drinks?
Fork & Dagger Airstream trailer for brunch in Savannah

Any recommendations?
When doing a US road trip, you may be hours before you see a restaurant to stop. Go to the local supermarket to buy a polystyrene cool box for a few dollars, and fill it with ice. Take sandwiches and snacks to stop where you want as many overlooks are en route.

Conclusion

Would you recommend this holiday and who to?
Yes, it was a fantastic way to see the country. Already thinking of where next! Great for couples and friends

If you would like to start planning your next USA Road Trip, get in touch today by calling us on 0808 169 8208 or email Alison at [email protected]