Planning a trip and need some info

[grizzz]

I am planning a trip for the first 2 weeks in July. I will be driving from washington DC to Ft Myers Florida. What I would like to know is where are the good photo ops along the way. I am not taking 95 straight to Florida but want to hit as many scenic areas as I can on the way. I know I want to hit the Smokey mountains. where else should I stop. I am planing to go inland on the way down and along the coast coming home. I will be planning on 3 days travel each way with a few stops each day. So what I need help with is location, location location 😛 . I now we have poeple here in VA, TN, GA, AL, FL NC, SC. Please let me know what are the good spots (in July) to see. Since I'm driving I'll have all of my gear including the RF's so this isn't a what camera for what trip thread. Just where to stop on the way. Thanks in advance. Griz

 

[ch1]

I am planning a trip for the first 2 weeks in July. I will be driving from washington DC to Ft Myers Florida. What I would like to know is where are the good photo ops along the way. I am not taking 95 straight to Florida but want to hit as many scenic areas as I can on the way. I know I want to hit the Smokey mountains. where else should I stop. I am planing to go inland on the way down and along the coast coming home. I will be planning on 3 days travel each way with a few stops each day. So what I need help with is location, location location 😛 . I now we have poeple here in VA, TN, GA, AL, FL NC, SC. Please let me know what are the good spots (in July) to see. Since I'm driving I'll have all of my gear including the RF's so this isn't a what camera for what trip thread. Just where to stop on the way. Thanks in advance. Griz

I did a similar trip many years ago. Here are a couple of ideas:

1) On your way to the Smokies - drive the Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway overlooking the Shenendoah Valley!

2) A detour over to Charleston, SC will provide lots of photo ops in the old town and Battery areas.

3) Didn't go there myself, but perhaps Savannah?

4) Ditto St. Augustine?

5) To see something very different from "stripland FL" go to Tarpon Springs (north of Tampa/St. Pete). There still are the old Greek sponge diver setups etc.

6) Continuing down the FL west coast to Ft. Myers detour over to Sarasota and Venice. They are the "old" FL resort towns - Venice in particular has very interesting architecture and Sarasota has the PT Barnum Museum (also a Dali Museum).

Unfortunately there is no "west coast" version of A1A so you will be forced onto I-85 (the alterntive of US-19 is not worth it - just 150 miles of "strip malls and restaurant chaines.

7) In Ft. Myers go over to Sanibel and Captiva Islands.

8) Take a drive down to Naples.

9) To me the best beach is Bonita Beach b/w Ft. M and Naples - but you no longer get to park your car on the sand like in Beach Blanket Bingo! 😀

Warning! It will be hot, very hot, very very hot.

Oh, did I mention that it will be hot? 😀

 

[raid]

I suggest to consider driving through the South-West part of Virginia (Shanandoah Valley) which can be beautiful. Also, take I-81 from NC to Virginia, diriving through Roanoke. Then, take the Skyline Drive which goes parallel to I-81 to DC.

 

[grizzz]

Thanks for the ideas so far. As far as Florida goes I will most ikely hit Venice, Napels and Key west while I'm in FL. Once I get the saddle bags on my bike I'll be making some road trips in the southern part of the state. And yes, I know it will be hoter then you know what down there. My family is there so I've been there before, I just normally fly and have decided to make this a photography/family trip. Anyone have any ideas on the smokey mountains? I know there is a park there. As far as the VA suggestions I think since I'm close enough to do those on a weekend so I will drive past them for this trip. Hell, I may even do a weekend to VA before I go on this trip since I've herd for years about skyline drive and such. How about the coast for the trip home? All I know about SC is Myrtle beach and for once in my life I will be doing photography without golf so Myrtel is out. How fa out of the way is it to get to the outer banks in NC? Geargia???? Never been there so I need to stop there for sure. Any body else want to chime in????

 

[kmack]

If you have the time Currituck Beach Lighthouse at Corolla (Outer Banks) NC. There is a small bar-b-que stand there that has some truely good pulled pork.

The Lighthouse is open for tours and has a good view of Whale Head Beach.

 

[ch1]

Thanks for the ideas so far. As far as Florida goes I will most ikely hit Venice, Napels and Key west while I'm in FL. Once I get the saddle bags on my bike I'll be making some road trips in the southern part of the state. And yes, I know it will be hoter then you know what down there. My family is there so I've been there before, I just normally fly and have decided to make this a photography/family trip. Anyone have any ideas on the smokey mountains? I know there is a park there. As far as the VA suggestions I think since I'm close enough to do those on a weekend so I will drive past them for this trip. Hell, I may even do a weekend to VA before I go on this trip since I've herd for years about skyline drive and such. How about the coast for the trip home? All I know about SC is Myrtle beach and for once in my life I will be doing photography without golf so Myrtel is out. How fa out of the way is it to get to the outer banks in NC? Geargia???? Never been there so I need to stop there for sure. Any body else want to chime in????

For timing purposes, keep in mind that going out the KW is 120mi back/forth on 2 lane highway. You are lucky if you average 30MPH! Plus you need 4-5 hours to get from Ft.M through SE FL (lower Miamii-Dade/Homestead) just to get to the upper Keys.

There are now fast boats b/w Ft M. and Naples down to KW - so unless you want to see all the Keys (including the Marathon strip mall) - I'd suggest you consider that option.

 

[grizzz]

Hmmm, I did not think it was that bad of a ride to KW. What if I left at 5am? We are talkin July so I'm hoping I could get it done in 3ish hours???? I got a new fat Boy waiting for me in FL and I need to take her for a nice ride 😀 😀 😀 . Don't know if I want to do 5 hours though...

 

[ch1]

Hmmm, I did not think it was that bad of a ride to KW. What if I left at 5am? We are talkin July so I'm hoping I could get it done in 3ish hours???? I got a new fat Boy waiting for me in FL and I need to take her for a nice ride 😀 😀 😀 . Don't know if I want to do 5 hours though...

The problem is that much of the route is 2 lanes and you only need one RV to s-l--o---w things to a c-r--a---w----l :bang:

Yes, earlier is better and you might not be as constrained on a motorcycle in passing the elephants. 😀

 

[grizzz]

Ya, I shouldn't have a problem with slowness on the bike. yankees fan huh? Oh well I guesss I can't hold that against ya 😉

 

[Theo-Prof]

I agree with the suggestions that you take the Blue Ridge Parkway and/or Skyline Drive. You could also stop by Charlottesville, Va to see both Jefferson's home and his university (UVa). On the way back I can certainly suggest that you stop by Charleston, SC.

Kevin

 

[raid]

I am more a Virginia Tech guy! That's why I suggested the roads to Roanoke and Blacksburg (VA).

 

[macnorfin]

4) Ditto St. Augustine?

I've been to St Augustine several times and it's well worth the trip. It's (arguably) the oldest city in the US and much of the original architecture has been preserved--albeit made tourist friendly. Stop in the big Colombian restaurant if you're there (the name escapes me), the food is outstanding.

For whatever it's worth, if you're looking for photo ops, anytime you can detour onto A1A, the ocean views are generally beautiful.

 

[Eryximachos]

I drove DC to Florida's East Coast over three or four days last summer, avoiding I-95 for the most part. I second the suggestion for Charleston, but you shouldn't miss Savannah, either. The plan of the old city (a system of squares) and the abundance of old architecture presented a lot of photo ops for me. Savannah also seemed less crowded than Charleston.

 

[jtzordon]

I think Florida's been pretty well covered by previous posters. A couple of corrections/additions. The Dali museum is in St. Pete and is absolutely amazing. I think the Columbian restaurant in St. Augustine referenced might be "Columbia"; it's on St. George St. I think (it's the main street for tourist traps) and is excellent.