Asheville, baby!

Also, doesn't Agro have enough hobbies already? He makes me feel like a total slacker.

I looked at Asheville on the map actually! It's looks to be other opposite side of Nashville as Memphis...we may have to look at a couple of quick stops on the way home.

Haha, thanks richat!

matildaben: I'm going to go through every possible hobby, one by one.

richat: remember that road food is an adventure! Sometimes it will be awful, but sometimes you'll just really luck out. Be happy whichever it is.

agro: take some figure drawing classes. You need to start developing your eye, and that really is the best way to do it.

If your route was to the east a bit I would suggest Stone Mountain in Georgia.

There's the USS Alabama in Mobile, Alabama

Maybe not your cup of tea, but it's what I could think of at the moment.

I also like the Asheville idea. Asheville is beautiful.

Asheville! Richat!!! Beers!! We have many beers! You must come and visit us!!!! YAY Richat!!!!!!!!

Hmmm....beers eh? I dunno...

I will have to see if we can make it MGL. I sure do hear great things about your hosting skills!

Too bad Virginia Beach is so far out of the way. The kid did mention maybe doing the eastern seaboard back home though. Who knows?

And, sadly, both Portland AND Seattle are a little too far out of the way...Wah.

You can stay at my house as long as you're not allergic to dogs!

Dollywood!

Also, doesn't Agro have enough hobbies already? He makes me feel like a total slacker.

Wow. That's saying something. mats is about as un-slackerish as I could possibly imagine while still liking the person.

I find Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree Forum pretty helpful for travel info. Here's the US branch. Though my somewhat adequate search skills failed to come up with anything for you, you may fare better yourself or you could post your own question, even.

Sounds like a great trip, richat. Be sure to pack plenty of Social Distortion ;)

I've made that drive before, although I'm far more familiar with New england > south florida I-95 route. Go to Stucky's if you see one. Get a greasy spoon breakfast and some pecan rolls. Stop overnight if you can, because honestly, that's a lot of damn driving.

I'm a nerd, but I would care to point out that there's a whole lot of history in your path.

Check out the Roadfood books by Jane and Michael Stern.

Stuckey's, sadly, is just not what it used to be. These days it's just another gas-station mini-mart. No more cedar knick-knacks.

One very small but nifty thing: if you come into Florida near Pensacola, go to Destin this way: Take Highway 90 east through Milton. After you cross the river and leave Milton, keep an eye peeled for the fascinating brick road that will show up on your left in a couple of miles. This is the old road out of town, and it's still remarkably intact. It hardly looks wide enough for two lanes, but my parents drove on it in their youth. When you get to Route 89, take a right and follow that down to either I-10 or Navarre and then go on to Destin from there. The brick road is COOL. Pictures here.