Favorite part of the trip

[t]

When I was a kid we drove from Boston to Florida almost every year. Now I have my own family we have driven to Florida from Boston several times (this year we have already gone twice and we are going again in December). We go through Conneticut and New York then 95 all the way to rt 4 in Florida. Me and my son love to talk about our favorite parts of the trips. We both love leaving the house at 4 in the morning (probably the only time you are really excited about getting up early is when you are going on vacation!). My son looks forward to the "South of the Border" signs. My husband loves stopping at the "Harbor Freight" tool outlet in South Carolina, and I love looking at all of the scenery and signs along 95 (Kings Dominion, the "discount" cigartte signs, the open 24 hrs strip clubs, fresh orange juice, and McDonalds and Shoneys at almost every exit!) Anyone else have anything that they look forward to seeing on 95? Or something of interst that we should look for on our long drive?

[glen65]

We travel from the Lehigh Valley, PA to Ocean Isle Beach every year. I can't say I like the drive, but I sure like where we're heading. I do look forward to getting out of the car for a good meal at Cracker Barrel and stopping at JR's for cigars. The worst part of the trip is the ride home :cry:

[lou]

I have a love/hate relationship on I-95. Its the fastest, most reliable road on the east coast yet it carrys so much congestion that 95 cannot handle most of the day. I mean, the highlights of driving on I-95 are the convience of 7/11s north of Richmond (and most of Florida), the S.O.B signs, cheap fireworks, Bess Eatins equiv to Dunkin Donuts (up in Rhode Island and 1 at the CT/RI border), the Susqhahanna River Bridge in Northeastern Maryland, the HOV lanes running in the middle of Northern Virginia... just kidding, the countless breakfast restaurant chains which most are good-- Shoney's gets an F, the fake palm trees at the SC/GA border... I mean, I guess there are highlights of driving on I-95 thats worth mentioning. If it wasen't so long and so congested, it would be a very pleasant drive with no rush involved.

[Boston boy]

Old thread but on this cold January day - worth getting back into.

Favorite spots -

- South of the Border, because you know you're on your way to Florida.

- the long trestle bridge between Summerton and Santee SC, just south of Manning. If you drive south in March - this is where you'll most often notice a climate change. Often I stay in the Weldon, Roanoke Rapids NC area - and in the early morning it's cold, by the time you're in SC, it's warm and spring-like.

- the area around Brunswick Georgia - where you first see palm trees.

- crossing the St. Mary's River - when you enter Florida.

I might add, the South Carolina and Georgia welcome centers. Georgia's is probably the nicest.

[snowdog]

Lou, I never knew those palm trees were fake but now that I think of it they haven't grown an inch in over 20 years

[Albertlin]

I like seeing the "welcome to Florida" sign near the border of Georgia,but in a way it's bittersweet I still have more than 300 miles to go for the southern end.

[RocklandRVers]

I recall going down to Disney the past 2 Christmas vacations (not this year ) and how the excitement would build as we got closer to Florida. It was also quite an experience to leave home in freezing weather wrapped up in layers of sweaters and coats then shedding them gradually the further south we drove. It was so nice when our outside thermometer read 82 degrees as we crossed over the GA/FL border and pulled in for a pitstop at the welcome center. I shucked off my winter garb in the back of the RV and changed into my shorts, t-shirt and flip flops. AHHHHH! Now this sure beats a White Christmas anyday!

[rl]

You might find this odd. Going south from NYC, I enjoy Delaware through Springfield, Va but after that I find Va depressing and NC as well.

Yet on the return from SC back to NYC, I find i enjoy everything from Petersburg, Va through Delaware. The same northern va area that i found depressing going down seems just fine coming back.

This could be due to the fact that I am leaving and driving through Va early in the Am after i have had breakfast and coffee. The other way after i have been on the road for 6 hours i find i can't enjoy the road after Springfield, Va.

I enjoy Baltimore and the DC beltway. Thought they're just as congested as NY is, they have a different feel and the roads seem designed better than NY.

RL

[Shellron]

Here are some of my favorite things or memories going from north to south:

1. Crossing the Potomac River on I495 west (you go downhill and you are still high up) and then doing the ascending "S" curves coming up out of the river valley.

2. Jockeying for position at Springfield, VA exit of I495 and trying to go far left across a gazillion lanes of traffic to get to the express lanes (and finding they're open heading south yah!!.)

3. Taking a quick peek to the right, south of Springfield at a quaint little marina as we cross another bridge. Look left (east) you can see the Chesapeake I think.

4. Fredericksburg, VA Wawa at exit 130 and enjoying purchasing some of the least expensive gas along the East Coast. It was even cheaper than Georgia once.

5. Looking for the Kings Dominion sign and getting a quick peek at the Blast Coaster (best after the leaves fall) and Eiffel Tower.

6. The sights of Richmond. Unless it's work time, we always take the 12 miles shorter direct route (neat downtown skyline, historic train station, and Philip Morris cigarette.) Wonder if they smoke it?

7. Jarrett, VA near Emporia. This is where there were 3 monkeys hurling bananas and crab apples at passing cars on I95 a while back. The primates ran across the road and into the trees when the state trooper went to check it out. We always look for monkeys in the trees in this area.

8. The North Carolina Welcome Center, just because the bathrooms are clean.

9. Being able to go around the Beltway east of Fayetteville, NC. I remember having to go through Fayetteville before it was built. And of course exit 49 where I have spent more road nights on I95 than any other place.

10. The old church cemetery next to the Fairfield Inn at exit 49 and reading the headstones. Gets me in the mood for the Haunted Mansion at Disney.

11. The old Pedro signs that were animated. When they redid them, they lost a bit of their luster even though they were shiny and new. A lot of the good sayings were changed probably because they were politically incorrect.

12. Lake Marion bridge near Santee, SC.

13. The view of the swamp and marsh near the Satilla River especially heading north on I95 as you are atop the bridge. It feels so southern and primitive.

14. Cheap gas in southern Georgia!!!

15. Going over the Saint Marys River into Florida and seeing the "Welcome to Florida" sign. I always lay on the horn and we all cheer!

16. Florida Welcome Center, free orange juice, and loads of Orlando brochures to read for the last part of the trip.

17. Winding through Jacksonville. What cool bridges and views throughout. Never did the beltway. Never was slowed down in Jacksonville. OK a little bit of slowing where you do the wind around where I10 comes in.

18. Indian River Orange Groves. Gotta take some home to make everyone jealous and of course the huge alligator on the premises.

19. LPGA Boulevard. Grandly landscaped compared to the overpasses in the Carolinas and Virginia.

20 Interstate 4 intersection with I95 and the beginning of the Orlando signs!!


Didn't think I would come up with 20. This was fun on a rainy afternoon. Thanks. Ron

[Shellron]

After making the trip up the coast President's Week, I realized I made an error on my remembrance of the swamp-like area on I95. It is the view from the Altamaha River Bridge and bird management area looking north that really impresses me. The Satilla River is further south. Ron