Route Planned for 2013 Road Trip

We have the route planned for the 2013 Great American Road Trip. This year's journey takes us on a tour of New England - we'll be stopping for some "chowda". Here's a map of the planned route showing some of the major stops.

The more detailed route is 1600-1700 miles stretching across 9 states. Plans for each day include:

• Day 1: From Bensalem PA, we head to Niagara Falls NY for a ride on the Maid of the Mist and a view of the Falls.
• Day 2: We'll drive along the Finger Lakes to Seneca Falls NY -the town that inspired Frank Capra's holiday classic, "It's A Wonderful Life." From Seneca Falls, it's on to the Shelburne Museum in Burlington VT.
• Day 3: We get wild with an early morning zip-line adventure and then it's on the road to Franconia NH - with a stop in Waterbury VT for a tour of Ben & Jerry's (free ice cream!).
• Day 4: We'll take the Cog Railway up to the top of Mount Washington and then it's off to Acadia National Park near Bar Harbor ME.
• Day 5: Soaking in the splendor of Acadia National Park.
• Day 6: We head down the coast to Boothbay Harbor ME and embark on a whale watch. A lobster dinner to follow?
• Day 7: From Maine, we head to Boston MA for a walk along the Freedom Trail. Night time is the right time for some fright time in Salem MA as we take in a witch tour.
• Day 8: Hopefully the weather cooperates for bike riding and some beach time in Cape Cod and then it's off to Newport RI for the night.
• Day 9: We'll tour some historic mansions and explore Newport before resting for the night in Connecticut.
• Day 10: From CT, we head home through NY & NJ back to Bensalem PA .

Day 10: Heading home

Today we awake to a beautiful, crisp morning on the Skyline Drive. We take in a last view from our lodge and then head out on the road. We coast along the Skyline Drive for a while and watch the sun slowly rise above the mountains. Some deer enjoy their morning breakfast along the roadside.

At last, we take in the final views offered along the skyline and then head out along the highways toward home in Pennsylvania. We covered 3500 miles over the last 10 days and crossed through 13 states. We had beautiful weather along the way and are grateful for the opportunity to see even more of what America has to offer. We're hopeful for future road trips along the Northwestern and New England portions of the country.

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Day 9: An unexpected stay on Skyline Drive

Today we continue our journey along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Yet again, the weather is superb and provides beautiful views and excellent opportunities for taking photos. We work up an appetite winding through the parkway and we find a beautiful spot along the James River for a short hike and then a picnic lunch.

After lunch, we connect to the Skyline Drive and take in more spectacular views. While we initially planned to leave the drive and stay the night in Harrisonburg, we are enjoying the Shenandoahs so much we decide to change our lodging and stay along the Skyline Drive. We are fortunate to find a room with a view at the Skyland Lodge.

We check in to the lodge and head out for a hike along the Stony Man trail. The trail leads to a breathtaking view of the Shenandoah valley as you stand atop Stony Man's forehead. We finish our hike and have a relaxing dinner at the lodge while overlooking the mountains. We end the day with a beautiful sunset and then some star-gazing. This is our last night on the road. Tomorrow we head home for Bensalem.

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Day 8: The journey north

We start our day in beautiful Asheville, NC and head to the Biltmore Estate, built by the Vanderbilt Family. The Biltmore is the largest house in America. It's interior opulence could not be photographed but it was most impressive. Equally stunning is the house architecture and the surrounding gardens, plants, trees, and waterways. The wealth of the estate seems almost obscene but one cannot help but be impressed by the works of art displayed around the estate.

Following the tour of the Biltmore, we dined on some delicious pizza in the River Arts district of Asheville. The food was fantastic and some of the locals made for some interesting viewing as well. Then we were off to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Again, the weather was most cooperative and we took in some amazing views along the parkway as we pressed northward. Tonight we rest in Hillsville, VA and continue our journey tomorrow back on the Blue Ridge Parkway and then onto Skyline Drive.

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Day 7: A long day's drive

We begin our day in Laurel, Mississippi. It is dark and gloomy start to the drive and rain arrives. We do not fret... JT is playing on the radio and we keep steamrolling through those country roads with sunny skies on the horizon.

We cross into Alabama and stop off in Birmingham for a visit to the Civil Rights Institute. They have some amazing exhibits. We stop off to visit the 16th Street Baptist Church famed for the KKK bombing that killed 4 girls. Our visit provides an important yet sobering view into a dark chapter of our country's history.

After Birmingham and some lunch, it's on the road for many more miles. We cross into Georgia and then into Tennessee, traveling by way of the Great Smoky Mountains. After 9+ hours of driving, we arrive in Asheville, NC for a night's rest. Tomorrow we tour the Biltmore Estate and then begin our journey north along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

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Day 6: The Deep South

Today we venture further into the deep south and visit an 18th century plantation along the Mississippi River. The Oak Valley Plantation provided an interesting insight into plantation live in the 1700 and 1800s. The grounds and building have been restored and maintained throughout the years. The weather is a balmy 85 degrees... perfect conditions for a mint julep on the veranda.

We continue further down the Mississippi to New Orleans. The French Quarter did offer some street-side musicians whose talents did not go unnoticed. However, the Bourbon Street scene was less impressive than expected. Although the housing and building architecture around the quarter was a pleasing site.

We cross Lake Pontchartrain out of NOLA and head into Laurel Mississippi for a night's stay. Tomorrow's journey will be the longest thus far as we expect to drive about 9 hours and cover 4 states - Alabama (with a stop in Birmingham), brief pass through Georgia and Tennessee, and into North Carolina.

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Day 5: Mecca

Day five starts with more driving through the desolation that is Texas. Some time before Ft. Worth, the skies are dark and gloomy. Then, on the horizon, a beacon shines through the clouds... Cowboys Stadium!

We stop to pay homage to the house that Jerry built. Inside we find a pleasant smell unfamiliar to Eagles' fans... the smell of victory. We tour the stadium and have access to the field, stopping on the famed star.

Our tour concludes and reluctantly, we leave an press on for Louisiana. After what seems an eternity of driving, we're finally out of the state of Texas and come to rest in Shreveport, LA. Our hotel is along the Red River and we enjoy a lovely stroll along the waterfront area before satiating our appetites. The evening concludes with a chilly swim in the hotel pool.

Tomorrow we plan to visit a plantation along the Mississippi River in Vacherie and then off to Bourbon Street in New Orleans.

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