First, my mom is an extremely intelligent and well-learned librarian. She is fascinated by history, murder mysteries, haunted houses, and artwork. She would probably prefer to visit the less touristy areas of a state and find somewhere with character and charm. Though she still would love to visit the most famous landmarks. The catch is that she can't take a great deal of time off work (maybe 1-2 months?) so she can't really soak in anything. She's happy just touring the country.
hings I could really use are suggestions for:I really appreciate any advice you can give. I think it would help her decide to go for it if someone were helping lay the groundwork. Thank you!
. Yes, I agree, stay the hell off the Interstates (pardon my French). Doing that one little thing will magnify the experience..
2. Do NOT skip US 90 through southwest Texas (especially between Del Rio and Marathon). It's what I'd call the last frontier. Remote and bleak. There's a fantastic bridge over the Pecos River near Langtry, and in Marathon there's a fairly nice old-school, upscale hotel/restaurant called Gage Hotel. The desk clerks sucked, but the ambience was great and the restaurant food was just unworldly.
Anyway I figured I'd mostly give you advice for Southwest Texas since no one on Metafilter will probably have much experience out that way. And of course near Marfa you can investigate the tourist trap stuff with the Marfa lights, though personally I think it's all a bunch of hooey.
Would she camp? State parks can be amazing, and very cheap. Went from Mississippi to Minnesota on $10/night.
wow, what an amazing trip! does she want to do both borders or just southern? the canadian border would be really lovely this time of year, and it's always given me a little shiver to cross the mighty mississip'. it might be nice to make a point of crossing it at both the southern delta and at lake itasca, in minnesota.
i would definitely *not* skip the inner coasts. the shores of Lake Superior, Lake Michigan and Lake Huron are awesome. much better than skipping through the middle of those respective states. (besides the fact that those areas are vastly more boring, IMO.) The North and South Shores of Superior, the UP (all those abandoned copper mines north of Houghton-Hancock, especially), and just generally the remnants of a pre-interstate car culture are fascinating, though sometimes desolate.
Glensheen
is a good stop for those with her interests, though i've never been there myself. there's a book that explains all.
don't be afraid to stay at little family owned motels. and as someone who's always traveled off-season, i encourage it in others, as well as the allergic avoidance of all interstates.
have a cooler to store food for healthy breakfasts and lunches, and eat out only at dinner. (with an occasional stop at the in-the-middle-of-nowhere breakfast diner where the local old men go--those are great.)
Glensheen
is a good stop for those with her interests, though i've never been there myself. there's a book that explains all.
don't be afraid to stay at little family owned motels. and as someone who's always traveled off-season, i encourage it in others, as well as the allergic avoidance of all interstates.
have a cooler to store food for healthy breakfasts and lunches, and eat out only at dinner. (with an occasional stop at the in-the-middle-of-nowhere breakfast diner where the local old men go--those are great.)
http://www.trekamerica.com/images/4251.jpg
