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Old 05-19-2012, 04:12 PM
 
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Driving to NY from Phoenix.....wanted to stop in Graceland on the way.

Anyone do that drive (or part of it). Trying to find interesting side trips along the way. It is a little hard to since I have not done this route before. Been to graceland, but coming from NY, not other way around.


Ditto on the Memphis to NY trip, any spots worth looking at?


Thanks!
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Old 05-19-2012, 07:55 PM
 
Location: the AZ desert
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I've done many PHX to Dallas round trips and also Dallas to NY round trips, but never PHX to NY.

While you're in TN, you may want to stop at the Jack Daniel's distillery for a tour, if you haven't been there before. If you do go to Lynchburg, make sure to have reservations at Miss Bobo's Boarding House, for a fabulous noon-time "dinner". (They take dinner reservations up to a year in advance!)
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Old 05-20-2012, 01:34 PM
 
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Very cool ideas. Thank you so much. Looking at Miss Bobo's now
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Old 05-20-2012, 04:23 PM
 
Location: Raleigh, NC
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We've done Phoenix to NC several times using this route:

Phx - Albuquerque
Albuquerque - OK City
OK City - Memphis

I can't say that I found any interesting side trips using this route until after Memphis, unless you want to add a couple of days to the trip, or take the first part of the trip using Route 20 instead of Route 40. That doesn't add that many miles. But if you go Route 20, you can add White Sands National Park (which is a truly amazing site, and I've traveled A LOT) and/or Carlsbad Caverns (which is very well done and HUGE).

In addition to Graceland, do make time to go over to the Peabody Hotel to see the Peabody Duck Parade. It's one of a kind and a hoot. Get there early for decent standing room.
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Old 05-20-2012, 04:35 PM
 
Location: the AZ desert
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Carlsbad Caverns is a great idea.

If you add just a little extra time after TN, you could stop at a nice beach for a day, (ie: Virginia Beach). You could also stop in D.C. and tour around.
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Old 05-20-2012, 04:35 PM
 
Location: SW OK (AZ Native)
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If you take the northern route (I-40) just west of Amarillo is the famous Cadillac Ranch with the Caddies all stuck into the ground. Then on the east side is The Big Texan and the famous 4.5 lb steak challenge.

I do the PHX-OKC or nearly to OKC trip annually and find AZ 87 through Payson and AZ 260/377 to Holbrook to be a time saver.

Bricktown in OKC is a lot like San Antonio's Riverwalk, not nearly as big or well-established, but a great diversion (was there yesterday, but it's going to start to get hot soon and it's not that pleasant when it's really hot out until the sun goes down). You can't miss it with the new Devon Tower just being completed.

I agree with the above post about the Peabody and the ducks. Stayed at the Little Rock Peabody once, great top-of-the-line hotel. I do not recommend Rendevouz ribs in Memphis, they get a lot of hype, but I like my ribs smoked and not slow-cooked over charcoal.

A nice side trip for the adventurous wine enthusiast: Altus, Arkansas, right off I-40 about 50 miles east of Fort Smith. Used to live in Fort Smith and the wines are different and not for everyone, but great for something unique to the South.
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Old 05-23-2012, 05:42 PM
 
Location: Charlotte. NC
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While in Memphis, make sure you eat at Gus' Chicken. BEST Fried chicken since I have moved east....Complete hole in the wall when you walk in, but totally worth it. And the fried pickles were amongst some of the best I have had.
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Old 06-16-2012, 12:13 AM
 
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Finally mapped it out and we are definitley taking the I-40 route and pretty much going where you described- NM to TX to OKC to TN then through VA and NY. Someone else suggested Cadillac ranch and I want to go to little local places, not chain restaurants, along the way to eat, so Gus' Chicken sounds like the kind of place.
Thanks!!
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Old 06-16-2012, 05:50 AM
 
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I just moved from Memphis, having lived there for 6 years. If you like dry rub ribs, you can try Rendez-vous. However, I'd recommend Central, Corky's, or Germantown Commissary over Rendez-vous. Don't stay in a hotel near Graceland (sketchy area of town), but rather get a place downtown or the cute bed and breakfast hotel on Mud Island. I second the Gus's recommendation for fried chicken (but be warned, its a tad bit spicy if that's not your thing).

Depending on the route that you are taking, the drive between Memphis and Nashville is very long, flat, and boring. However, it helps that you can go 70mph.
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Old 06-16-2012, 07:34 AM
 
Location: Raleigh, NC
19,432 posts, read 27,815,202 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sidrah View Post
Finally mapped it out and we are definitley taking the I-40 route and pretty much going where you described- NM to TX to OKC to TN then through VA and NY. Someone else suggested Cadillac ranch and I want to go to little local places, not chain restaurants, along the way to eat, so Gus' Chicken sounds like the kind of place.
Thanks!!
Expect a waiting line at Gus's. We tried to eat there twice on both our trips east, on weeknights. And, for us to stand on a line that long, the food better be free.

On another topic, you might want to add the Biltmore in Asheville to your list of stops along the way. The Versailles of America and quite impressive.
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