Road Trip from San Diego to New Orleans?

Question

We'll be heading from SD to New Orleans in March. So far in AZ we've decided to stop at the grand canyon, mesa national park and tucson. In New mexico we want to hit TorC, white sands, carlsbad caverns and roswell. In texas we want to hit san antonio but other than that we're not sure. Any suggestions or advice? we love nature, the outdoors, national parks, and weird quirky roadside stops. also anything historical or just downright interesting. megaparks and supermalls need not apply. Thanks guys!

Answer 1

Once you get to New Orleans you won't need a car to get around in the French Quarter, central business district, or Warehouse District. Also, the parking regulations are Byzantine and there are lots of Parking Control Agents. Park your car in a lot or garage and leave it there unless you are traveling away from downtown.

The Regional Transit Authority (www.norta.com) offers single and multi-day passes for using the buses and streetcars.  there are also lots of taxicabs.

Things to do in New Orleans:

Mardi Gras and the Jazz Festival are world famous events, but New Orleans hosts many festivals and celebrations throughout the year:  www.nola.com/festivals

The Saint Charles Streetcar is the oldest continuously operating street railway in the world and is a "tourist attraction" in its own right.  It is part of the public transit system, as are the Canal Street and Riverfront streetcar lines:  www.norta.com

There is always music, but the bands change: Go to www.bestofneworleans.com and click on Music then Listings or to www.offbeat.com and click on Listings, then Music.

Note that music clubs often advertise "No Cover", meaning there is no charge for entering. However, clubs with "No Cover" often require that customers buy a beverage each for every "set " of music (which can be every 20 minutes) so KNOW THE PRICE before you sit down. Clubs do that because some people will sit in the club all evening drinking nothing (clubs only make money from the drinks they sell - not from the music). It is also a good idea to pay for each round of drinks (in clubs on Bourbon Street) as it is delivered so there can't be any confusion at the end of the evening.

An incomplete guide to bars & clubs:   http://www.neworleanscheapdrinks.com/

About certain alcoholic beverages:  Realize that some famous drinks are VERY potent compared with regular cocktails that have only 1 to 1 ½ ounces of alcohol. For example, a Hurricane is basically 3 or 4 ounces of rum in something like red Kool-Aid, and a Hand Grenade has at least 4 ½ ounces of Everclear + rum + vodka mixed with melon liquor.  They don’t necessarily taste like an alcoholic beverage and it is easy to over-indulge.

Wander around the French Quarter, enjoy the architecture, watch the street entertainers (do tip), and visit some of the historic buildings that have been turned into museums (go to www.frenchquarter.com and click on Historic Attractions).

Assuming the weather is good, you can collect a sandwich lunch and eat in the riverfront park (watch the shipping) or in Jackson Square (a very nice park).

The Riverwalk shopping center has an air-conditioned food court with dining overlooking the river (www.riverwalkmarketplace.com).  The Canal Place shopping center is in the French Quarter and has a cinema and higher-end shopping (Saks 5th Avenue, Brooks Brothers, etc.)

The lobby for the Westin Canal Place Hotel is on the 11th floor and overlooks the French Quarter. It is a great place for an afternoon drink/snack:(www.westin.com).

Cafe du Monde is in the French Quarter and you shouldn't miss having cafe au lait & beignets (www.cafedumonde.com). Another great coffee shop is the Croissant d'Or (at 615 Ursulines Street), which is open from 7:00am to 2:00pm and has food in addition to pastry.

The Palm Court restaurant is very nice, has moderate prices, and traditional live jazz starting at 8:00pm: 1204 Decatur Street, tel [phone] (reservations are important and they are not open every day). The Palm Court is closed from about July 25th to about September 25th each year.

Maximo's Italian Grill has great food and atmosphere: 1117 Decatur Street in the French Quarter, [phone].

All of the famous restaurants (Antoine's, Arnaud's, Brennan's, Commander's Palace, etc.) have reopened. The Pelican Club (on Exchange Alley in the FQ) is not as well known but is the same type experience. Reservations are a good idea, and probably essential on weekends.  Tujaques Restaurant (823 Decatur Street) is very traditional and has moderate prices:  http://www.tujaguesrestaurant.com/

Cafe Degas is a very French restaurant near City Park at 3127 Esplanade - which is not within walking distance of downtown (5 to 10 minutes by taxi). They are closed on Mondays & Tuesdays (504-945-5635).

The Napoleon House restaurant is at 500 Chartres Street in the FQ, and has a menu of great local dishes:  http://www.napoleonhouse.com/

Preservation Hall has traditional live Jazz, and doesn’t serve alcohol so all ages are welcome:  www.preservationhall.com/

New Orleans has ballet, opera, a symphony orchestra, and theatre:

www.nobadance.com

www.neworleansopera.org

www.lpomusic.com

www.lepetittheatre.com

There is a free ferry across the Mississippi at the "foot" of Canal Street. It is a short trip but like a harbor cruise w/o a guide: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/canal_stree...

The Aquarium, Audubon Zoo, and the new Insectarium are world-class

Answer 2

You're talking about running the 10, so catch the 8 out of SD and run that all the way to the 10 in Eloy, Arizona. Texas, between El Paso and San Antonio is quite the drag, though. I'd do this: Pick up the 40 in California and run that, all the way to Texas. Take the 287 or the 35 downstate and pick up the 10 near Houston. Run that out to N.O. And stop in Lake Charles for crawdads and gumbo.

Answer 3

yes, pick me up in AZ!! haha.

Being born and raised here.... Mesa is not the greatest city.... but don't know about the national park.

I would suggest Sedona, AZ. Its BEAUTIFUL, and on the drive theres a small town on a mountain, Jerome. It's known for being haunted.

If you want to make fun of a small town there's Gila Bend, which from SD you may be stopping there. It's hilarious... theres a ton of shacks and literally the nicest building there is a Burger King.

I'm not joking. Burger King provides the "Welcome to Jerome Sign"

Lock your doors. lol

But Phoenix... AZ in general is really coming along and there are tons of beautiful parks to visit..

hope I help