A real Lounge question on site seeing in the East coast

[Neville Bastian]

Hi Guys,
The air fares are really cheap between the US and Australia at the moment and I'm half thinking of coming over in late September.
I need to do a few thing in Albany NY and then drop a couple of cars off at the container port which is called New Jersey I think? From there I thought I drop in and see a friend in Albany Georgia. I'll only 10 days or so days available for travelling with the wife in tow. I thought I'd drive, so what would be a interesting route to take to see a few must see things. I might drop and say hello if I'm going past. Maybe you might be able to talk me in coming in from the dark side, frameless construction?

Regards

Neville

[DanEpps]

That's going to be a pretty good drive Neville, about like driving from Perth to Adelaide.

Where to go depends on what you like. If you are interested in American history, start in Boston (where the Revolution started) and go south through Washington DC. From there continue south to Colonial Williamsburg Virginia. After that, take the Colonial Parkway to Yorktown, where the revolution ended.

The easiest way to get to Albany Georgia from there is to head toward Petersburg Virginia and pick up Interstate 95 (I-95). At Savannah Georgia you would get on I-20 West to I-75 South toward Albany. Thats about a 12 hour drive.

You'll have to give me a shout when you get here...I live about 4-1/2 hours from Albany.

[Keith Neal]

Albany,NY(where 90%of my earnings go towards taxes)is a bit east of me but the drive south down the Hudson is priceless so long as you avoid the interstate(I-87 i think).There are all sorts of charming villages(New Paltz is my personal favorite nested right where the mountains and river meets,straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting)and the scenery can't be beat. It will completely erase the stereotype of NY as being only New York City and show you how wild the other 90%of the state is.

[Neville Bastian]

Thanks for the reply everyone.
I have to go west from Albany NY to Rome NY so will see a bit of the country side. If there was a Thermwood or Ecabinets user in that area I would appreciate being contacted as I need some advice on motor industry tradespeople.

The routes suggested sound interesting so will check them out on Google Earth.
Would there be any motor museums on the route down? The civil war history would be interesting as well.
I have driven from Adelaide to Perth which takes about 2-3 days if you are in a rush. I'm hoping the 10 days will be enough but that's all I feel I can be away from work without internal politics getting out of hand.

Regards

Neville

[DanEpps]

You could veer off course a bit and go to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania. The course I suggested would lead you through Richmond Virginia which was the capital of the Confederacy. Not too far from Richmond is Appomattox Courthouse, where the Civil War ended when Lee surrendered to Grant.

As for motor museums (we call them car museums ), I'm sure you are aware that the National Corvette Museum/factory in Bowling Green Kentucky has tours. That is quite a way off the course but you could get there from Richmond by taking I-64 west to Lexington Kentucky to the Blue Grass Parkway. Take the BG west to Elizabethtown then take I-65 south to Bowling Green. After leaving Bowling Green, you can take I-65 south to Nashville Tennessee then pick up I-24 east to Chattanooga Tennessee. At Chattanooga you take I-75 south to Macon Georgia then get on Georgia 300 south (exit 99) to Albany.

If you were to take this route you would pass very near to the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. It is one of the largest Civil War parks in existance and has lots of monuments.

You would also pass through my town on this route...in fact, about three miles from my house.

When I mentioned Perth to Adelaide, I was thinking only about mileage but the time looks about the same too. Straight-through from Albany NY to Albany GA via Washington DC and Bowling Green KY would be around 30 hours (~1700 miles/2800km)!

[Keith Neal]

You're going to be in Erie Canal country now(An hour from my neck of the woods)! All along the I-90/rte 5&20 corridor are all sorts of American Revolution and Erie Canal landmarks.Just south of Rome in Utica there's an awesome brewery,Saranac that does tours.A little west of that in Onieda the indians have a pretty nice Casino(Turning Stone).In Rome there is a reconstructed French Indian/Revolutionary war Fort Stanwix you can tour,all the workers are in period dress.

You should skirt a little northwest and check out the Adirondack park,theres a bride across Great Sacandaga Lake you can drive across and see the ruins of a victorian era resort when the water is low.Have Fun!!!

[DanEpps]

Don't forget all of the absolutely beautiful countryside in upstate NY. As Keith said earlier, most folks think of NY only in terms of Manhattan, but it is one of our most beautiful states once you get outside of the city.

[Neal Meyers Jr]

I agree with all of ya'll. If you decide to drive down I 95 and you have the time Charleston SC is nice to visit. Lots of nice shops and places to eat alone the water front over looking the harbor and of course Fort Sumter where our "War of Northern aggression" started. Most folks know it as the Civil war. There is also a place there called Patriots Point lots of military history and ships and aircraft to tour and also where you get on the ferry to Ft Sumter.

Enjoy your visit
Neal Meyers Jr
Euharlee Woodshop
White Ga.

[DanEpps]

Oh, and if you get homesick on your journey, be sure to visit Kentucky Down Under located just off I-65 in Horse Cave KY near Bowling Green. You can take a walkabout, shear a sheep, play a didgeridoo or just watch kangaroos, emus and kookaburras.

What more could you ask for--Corvettes and kangaroos!!!

[Joe Soto]

If you do take Dans route be sure to swing by my place. I'm only about 20 minutes from Ky Down Under. Abe Lincon's birthplace and boyhood home, FT. Knox and Mammoth Cave are also nearby.
Joe

[Neville Bastian]

You guys forgot the outback bar.
The people I stayed with in Georgia last year asked if I go the outback bar but I hadn't heard of it. Since getting back there is a franchise in Australia. That's a bit like sending ice to the Eskimos. Then again we do have global warming so who knows.
We have most of your food franchises like KFC,Burger King, Maccas,Pizza Hut but have missed the do nuts franchise which I can't think of at the moment.

Down south Dr Pepper is very popular drink but it didn't hang around long down here in Oz. I also found a real black and white choice with your pepsi and coca cola.You either drink one or the other. Iced tea was popular is the southern states but west to mid US that wasn't the drink of choice.
I did try some gritts which I have spelt wrong but didn't rush to try some more. I guess that is a acquired taste as is some of our food.
I don't think I would like to be a chicken in the US especially in the southern states. There are so many different franchises selling chicken but mainly fried. Rotisserie cooking here is more popular than fried.

Thanks for the ideas for places to see. I may have to extend the road trip time frame.

Regards

Neville

[Jason Susnjara]

Hi Neville,

If you were heading west more than south, I would invite you to come to Thermwood for a plant tour but I am sure that you would have more fun at some of the other sites mentioned.

[Neville Bastian]

I looked at the locations where there are trade shows that occur in September from Thermwoods Blog. Is there any in October?
I am restricted in the NY to Florida area. Is that big?

If there are any car nuts reading what about car shows in the same area?

Regards

Neville

[Keith Neal]

Too bad you were not coming next weekend instead of in september,the Syracuse Nationals is happening,it's one of the largest car shows in the nation,this year Adam West is going to be there with the original Batmobile!!!Alot of car clubs hold "runs" everyweekend,finding a car show shouldn't be much of a problem ...

[Dean Fehribach]

Neville, just remember, we drive on the right side of the road!