[dreamingat30fps]

Will being going on an extended road trip along I10 from FL to CA and back. In total will probably be about 3 months. Will be stopping at major cities along the way. What place along that route do you guys recommend? Restaurants, attractions, parks, whatever.

[HyeWarrior]

Neptune’s Net is a nice drive and the food is actually pretty damn good too.

[HXS]

Originally Posted by HyeWarrior

Neptune’s Net is a nice drive and the food is actually pretty damn good too.

Last time I checked Neptune's Net is off PCH in northern Malibu, nowhere near the I10. The I10 ends at the Santa Monica Pier on the Wesssiiiieeeede!

[dreamingat30fps]

We are using I10 as our general guide to get from FL to CA but will definitely visit stuff around the area. Definitely want to see LA and some of the national parks like Joshua Tree, Yosemite etc. I'm not a big planner so we will be mostly winging it. I'm thinking a month or less to get to CA then spend a month or so around the CA area then another month to come back.

Going in RV and also working at the same time so wont alway have full days to see stuff so will take longer than if we were just spending all our days visiting sites. Plus I don't like to rush. Depending on the weather when we come back may do I40 on the way back.

[stooker]

I'm sure you'll get tons of recommendations around the big cities, but if you're looking for something in the remote west Texas/New Mexico border area, check out:

- Carlsbad Caverns National Park. It's in NM, but about 1.5 hours north off the I-10 from Van Horn, TX, per Google maps. They have bats fly out the cave every evening, depending on time of year of your trip. (https://www.nps.gov/cave/index.htm)

- A little further west, you have the White Sands National Monument, an hour off the I-10 at Las Cruces, NM. (https://www.nps.gov/whsa/index.htm)

- If you're feeling landlocked while in that region and need to see some water, Elephant Butte Lake State Park (NM) is around there. (http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/spd/ele...statepark.html

- If you're really feeling daring, perhaps a crossing into Juarez, Mexico? I was stationed about an hour away and we were banned from going there in the late 2000s. I've heard it's improved, but I think it's still risky.

[kscarrol]

Lot's to see and do here in New Orleans. Let me know if you're going to stop and I'll get you some recommendations for food etc...

[UncleWede]

+1 for White Sands. That was always an interesting stop when we traveled I10.

Be sure an look into some of the native American spots along that route as well. And don't keep thinking the next one will have the belt buckle you really like in silver, just get the first one that catches your eye

[Banana Hammock]

If you're looking to go to the beach, El Matador is the place to be.

https://www.californiabeaches.com/be...r-state-beach/

[dreamingat30fps]

Originally Posted by kscarrol

Lot's to see and do here in New Orleans. Let me know if you're going to stop and I'll get you some recommendations for food etc...

That will be our first stop outside FL.

Originally Posted by stooker

- If you're really feeling daring, perhaps a crossing into Juarez, Mexico? I was stationed about an hour away and we were banned from going there in the late 2000s. I've heard it's improved, but I think it's still risky.

LOL I'm scared to even stop in El Paso, a little to close for me. Will probably go straight to Las Cruces. However the stretch from San Antonio to Las Cruces seems like it's gonna be a bitch. Not sure if there is anything in between.

[9krpmrx8]

Balmorhea State Park is a nice stop in West Texas.





Actually there are a few great State Parks off of I-10.

[Captain Blood]

Make sure you check out the basement of the Alamo. Breathtaking!

[kscarrol]

Originally Posted by dreamingat30fps

That will be our first stop outside FL.

Let me know if you need any recommendations... First recommendation is to stay away from the French Quarter! Not a place locals go.

[GoRomeo]

Originally Posted by kscarrol

Let me know if you need any recommendations... First recommendation is to stay away from the French Quarter! Not a place locals go.

I was there one in 2012. Was an experience! So other than the French Quarter, where do locals go to?

[stooker]

Originally Posted by kscarrol

Let me know if you need any recommendations... First recommendation is to stay away from the French Quarter! Not a place locals go.

That’s like skipping Times Square in NYC. Should at least go once to check it off the list. Anyways, I did really enjoy the WW2 museum in New Orleans.

[kscarrol]

True enough, I even visited Time Square... once!

If you must go to the FQ, go during the day. There are some interesting, but way over priced, antique stores. The old buildings/architecture are beautiful as is St. Louis Cathedral If you are there during the day, the Historic New Orleans Collection is a great museum full of local history. WW2 museum as mentioned is excellent and should be on the list. The only music worth seeing in the Quarter is at Preservation Hall.

Just past the Quarter is an area called the Fabourg Marigny/Bywater. More interesting old architecture and some fun music clubs and good restaurants. Frenchman street has a number of jazz clubs for those who are jazz fans. Snug Harbor has great music and some good food.

If you are staying downtown (most do), Herbsaint is a great restaurant! Also close by is Compère Lapin, Cochon and Emeril's.

Magazine Street is a long walk full of interesting shops and galleries. It runs from the Garden District to Audubon Park, something like 6 miles.

For more music there is Tipatina's, Howlin' Wolf, Maple Leaf Bar. If you're coming through late April, the Jazz and Heritage Festival (Jazzfest as we call it) is the last weekend in April and the first weekend in May.

If you need more dining suggestions, let me knew. I live Uptown, close to Audubon Park and there plenty smaller places that the locals go that I can add to the list...

[Captain Blood]

Originally Posted by kscarrol

Lot's to see and do here in New Orleans. Let me know if you're going to stop and I'll get you some recommendations for food etc...

You have to eat in NOLA for 2 or 3 days, or you haven't lived. BBQ shrimp, Rib Room, Mothers (crawfish etouffee and eggs for breakfast. YUM!).

Also, Greune Texas, if you get the chance. Live music in Gruene Hall is awesome. Food at the restaurant is great also (Grist Mill?).
And some great roads to drive in that area. San Antonio Area

[dreamingat30fps]

Thanks for the ideas! Definitely looking forward to New Orleans and eating everything! We are not really into the party scene. Planning to spend like a week in New Orleans not sure if too long or not enough.

[kscarrol]

Originally Posted by dreamingat30fps

Thanks for the ideas! Definitely looking forward to New Orleans and eating everything! We are not really into the party scene. Planning to spend like a week in New Orleans not sure if too long or not enough.

Really depends. You can use New Orleans as your base and explore south Louisiana. Lots of old plantation homes to see, if you like fishing there are great trips to be had either inshore in the marshes or offshore for bigger fish.

St. Francisville is just north of Baton Rouge and worth a stop if you have the time.

When leaving New Orleans, be aware that I-10 crosses the Mississippi in Baton Rouge and it can be a real bottleneck at rush hour times. Avoid 7-10 AM and 4-7 PM when going through BR...

[NemesisX]

Two of the top 10 barbecue places in the U.S. (by various rankings) are in Austin Texas if you want to take a slight trip up north via 71 - Franklin barbecue (#7) and Kerlin barbecue (#1)

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-2...ustin-texas-25

[zentanker]

Also in San Antonio is the Riverwalk. A lot of out-of-towners swear it's the one must-go any time they visit.

I've only been a handful of times so I don't have quite the zeal for it many do, but if passing through I'd definitely say it's worth checking that block

[dreamingat30fps]

Originally Posted by NemesisX

Two of the top 10 barbecue places in the U.S. (by various rankings) are in Austin Texas if you want to take a slight trip up north via 71 - Franklin barbecue (#7) and Kerlin barbecue (#1)

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-2...ustin-texas-25

Oh I'm DEFINITELY having Texas BBQ, main reason to go to Texas as far as I'm concerned!

[dreamingat30fps]

Originally Posted by kscarrol

True enough, I even visited Time Square... once!

If you must go to the FQ, go during the day. There are some interesting, but way over priced, antique stores. The old buildings/architecture are beautiful as is St. Louis Cathedral If you are there during the day, the Historic New Orleans Collection is a great museum full of local history. WW2 museum as mentioned is excellent and should be on the list. The only music worth seeing in the Quarter is at Preservation Hall.

Just past the Quarter is an area called the Fabourg Marigny/Bywater. More interesting old architecture and some fun music clubs and good restaurants. Frenchman street has a number of jazz clubs for those who are jazz fans. Snug Harbor has great music and some good food.

If you are staying downtown (most do), Herbsaint is a great restaurant! Also close by is Compère Lapin, Cochon and Emeril's.

Magazine Street is a long walk full of interesting shops and galleries. It runs from the Garden District to Audubon Park, something like 6 miles.

For more music there is Tipatina's, Howlin' Wolf, Maple Leaf Bar. If you're coming through late April, the Jazz and Heritage Festival (Jazzfest as we call it) is the last weekend in April and the first weekend in May.

If you need more dining suggestions, let me knew. I live Uptown, close to Audubon Park and there plenty smaller places that the locals go that I can add to the list...

We just got to NOLA today and ended up at Cochon. One of the best meals I've had.