Have any Californians done a roadtrip from California to Florida and back? (Lafayette: hotels)

[terryclinker]

I'm just curious, have any Californians done a roadtrip from California to Florida and back? If so, where have you stopped on the way?

If I lived California (I don't though), that would be something I would like to do yearly.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Only one direction: SoCal to South Florida. My friend was moving out there for school and three of us turned it into a road trip and two of us flew back. We saw the Alamo, Johnson and Kennedy Space Centers, New Orleans (lost a few days there), USS Alabama in Mobile, and the Florida Keys. Oh, and some great BBQ at the Salt Lick outside of Austin.

[MisterDuke]

I've done LA to Houston and back along I-10 a few times. It's torture without cruise control. There are always things to see in the big cities, but not so much once you leave them. My favorite stops were always the dinosaurs at Cabazon, and "The Thing" which is a classic roadside tourist trap in Arizona.

Doing pacific coast highway in a convertible during summer is a much better road trip.

[Soccersupporter]

Originally Posted by terryclinker

I'm just curious, have any Californians done a roadtrip from California to Florida and back? If so, where have you stopped on the way?

If I lived California (I don't though), that would be something I would like to do yearly.

We did it several years ago taking our daughter's car to college. It was one of the best road trip we ever took. On the way we stopped in Las Vegas, Nevada, Prescott/Flagstaff Arizona, Las Cruses, New Mexico, San Antonio, TX, DFW, New Orleans, Louisiana, Gulfport Mississippi, Pensacola, Florida.

We came home a more northern route went through Georgia, Alabama mostly on the 20/40. The only real memorable stops on the way back were Oklahoma to see the memorial and we hopped over to Santa Fe, New Mexico, very beautiful. It was a beautiful trip but a little rushed as it was done in only a little over 2 weeks. Lots of night driving. I think everyone should take a trip like this to see that other people live quite different that the way we do.

We ended up moving to DFW because our daughter lives here. It was nice to see the country and how diverse the people are. What was really amazing to us was how friendly people were, even in the poorest regions of our country. We saw so many historical places. We always talked to the local people, ate in small local dives, stayed away from chain restaurants and hotels except in Pensacola. It was quite an experience that our children will never forget.

[Jaybee]

We took about 3 weeks in 2004 and headed east, primarilly to visit our son in the USAF in Biloxi, MS. But we continued to FLA to see friends in Pensacola-just barely into Florida, but there nonetheless.

We live in northern CA and drove east to St. Louis, then south to Memphis, Jackson and diverted to Vicksburg, MS-since I'm a Civil War buff. Spent the night at a casino in Vicksburg before touring the battlefield. From there south to Baton Rouge, and on to New Orleans for a crazy night in the French Quarter. (Note this was prior to Hurricane Katrina, and just after Hurricane Ivan) Then over to Biloxi and eventually on to Mobile and Pensacola.

The return trip was thru south Louisiana, Houma to Lafayette, Lake Charles and on to Galveston, Houston. Then we visited some friends in Killeen TX before heading home thru San Angelo, NM, AZ and NV. Stopped in Roswell (didn't really want to but its the law) to see the UFO Museum. Also visited the Grand Canyon-breathtaking!

We happen to love road trips and this was the "Grande" version-included 14 states. It was a wonderful trip, and one that we'll never forget.