Driving across country (I-40), any suggestions?

[Richard]

May 17, the wife & I are flying out to San Diego. going to pack her sister up and help her move back to Tennessee. (I guess the way that's worded, it might sound like the sister gets her own box? /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif)

She's using one of those "Pods" things, so all we do is pack her up. We're then going to spend a day in Tijuana (sp?). The following day, we're heading to the Grand Canyon.

Beyond that, we're essentially keeping an I-40 track straight back to Knoxville. We've looked at a roadmap but still don't know of anything specifically worthwile to visit while en route.

Any suggestions are appreciated

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[frank29]

AAA will provide that sort of information. I have family members that have used AAA's "attraction feature" along a planned route. Several times they have mentioned they visited "attractions" they would have unknowingly bypassed without the AAA suggestions.

 

[Richard]

Ironically, the wife just joined AAA. I mean "just" as in not only has her check probably not cleared the bank, AAA might not even have her posted.

Good idea, I'd not thought about them in this regard.

 

[frank29]

AAA is great. Make sure your wife knows that her car is not covered, she is covered: by this I mean, to use a wild idea just to make a point, if she was hitchhiking and the person that picked her up had a flat, ran out of gas or whatever, she could use AAA to get help.

It's also not just on the road help. My parents had a flat tire changed in their garage. A friend's car was towed from her house to a mechanic. As long as you don't exceed AAA's usage limit (something like 3 times a year) there is not extra charge.

 

[hudr]

OK, used to run that a lot w/ Dad when we were trucking together.
You can stand on a corner in Winslow AZ (if you're an Eagles fan)
The Petrified Forest nat'l park is East of there (Just East of Holbrook)
Albequerque NM is pretty cool (actually hot--no pun intended--but its a dry heat), nice zoo, lovely botanical gardens not too far from 40.
you will pass Carl's Corner (typical tourist trap, but a decent fuel stop and cafe)
Check out the Big Texan restuarant (and tourist trap) in Amarillo. If you want a good fuel/food stop there is a Petro truck stop on the East side of town (sorry, don't remember the mile marker)
Next big stop is OK City after looking at a whole lot of nothing for SEVERAL miles. Seems I remember an Air Museum there somewhere?(the Omniplex, maybe?)
From there the next big stop is Ft. Smith.. Actually never stopped there myself, but I did visit a friend of mine in the Coast Guard in Sallisaw,AR (weird, huh?)
40 will also go through Russellville and close to Dardanelle AR. I highly suggest checking out Mt. Nebo and possibly Petit Jean if you are able to spare the time. Wife and I spent our Honeymoon on Mt. Nebo. I had been there before and we have been a few times since. I have never seen it crowded and it is beautiful.
After that you are into Little Rock, AR. Then on to Memphis.
Don't know much about things East of there since the bulk of my travels have been West.
Hope this helps. And I also hope someone corrects me if I have confused/mistaken any landmarks.

 

[Amontilado]

When going to see the "Big Ditch", go to the North Rim. There's a scenic point that has an about 300 degree view. Spectacular. Plus there's the Painted Desert. There's an overlook on the road that heads to Page and the Glen Canyon Dam.


Steve

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Check out the Big Texan restuarant (and tourist trap) in Amarillo. )</font>

Tourist trap? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Maybe so. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif When we visited the Big Texas, I did not attempt to eat the free steak, but certainly did have a fine meal there are a reasonable price, including the Mountain Oysters (the menu warns you that if you think that's seafood, you better order the shrimp cocktail instead). /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[milkman]

Gotta stop in Amarillo and eat the free steak. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Wish I could remember the name of the place, the first Exit in Ok. stop and get the bean soup and onions and fried cornbread, it's on the north side of I40, Exit 7 I think, been about eleven years, but I still remember the good eating. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Richard]

lot of good ideas, thanks guys... I'll be printing this out later (in case anyone else chimes in) and letting the wifey read it.

In Memphis, she wants to stay at the Peabody and watch the ducks walk out. Once we leave Memphis, it will probably be a nonstop drive to Knoxville.

I admit to a part of looking forward to this trip, having never been in this part of the country. Another part of me is realizing I'll be doing the bulk of the driving, while the two gals will be sleeping or gabbing.

So if I understand this correctly, I am paying for two plane tickets from Knoxville to San Diego so that I get the pleasure of being the grunt to pack her belongings. I then get the pleasure of being the taxi driver as we drive back across the country. I imagine I'll be a partial sugar daddy in that I'll pay most of the travelling expenses to traverse the country. (can I be a sugar daddy to my wife? /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif or is that non-sensical? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

I'm sure they think they're snookering me and I'm not onto their gambit (of me saving them from doing all the work AND me paying for said honor) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[ScottAR]

Be aware they're rebuilding some of I 40 west of Memphis. Some rerouting and lane closesures. It wasn't bad when we went down Saturday to the super chevy show.

Personally, I'd stop to eat somewhere in West Memphis and keep driving... I digress, I don't much like cities and only venture to them for events...

Too many people to suit me...