Planning my next trip - your advice is very welcome! (1 Viewer)

1A25R

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I been in USA twice and I only drove through Nevada, Utah and Arizona.
As I want to visit other parts of the country, I started planning my next trip in USA. If all goes well it should be late Q3 early Q4 for 2 weeks. First part of the road I will rent a car, but I will ride a motorbike from Tennessee to Dallas.

So far, the big idea:
Landing at Washington DC and pick up a car.
Go to Pittsburgh see Steelers win at Heinz Field
Drove to Nashville, drop-off car pick-up motorcycle
Memphis
Baton Rouge
Dallas (drop off motorcycle, take the plane)

Overview of the trip

And here is how you can help me with your advice;

I like BBQ, beers and live music what venue do you recommend along the road to have all 3 at the same time? What’s your favorite BBQ?
I quite like whiskey, but I know nothing about bourbon. As I will drive though Kentucky, where should I go to learn about bourbons and taste a few ones?
Which scenic road should I drive?
Poker wise Baton Rouge, New Orleans or Lake Charles? Which are your favorite poker rooms? (I only play NLH, it’s lame, I know)
What should I add to my list of Must do / must visit? ( I will NOT do museums / theme parks and I avoid big cities as much as possible.)

Thanks in advance
 
Sounds like a fun trip! I'll leave this here for you with regards to bourbon & Kentucky:

https://kybourbontrail.com/

It's a little out of your way, but I'd highly recommend a detour to the Knoxville / Chattanooga area to visit the Great Smoky Mountains. When I visited, I drove in from Chattanooga on Rt 74 through the Nantahala National Forest and up to the Smokys, it's an awesome drive if nature is your thing. I did the trip in the spring, but I imagine it would be even more incredible in the fall with the foliage season.
 
>Landing at Washington DC and pick up a car.

Unless you have some specific destination near Washington, you should consider flights to Baltimore-Washington Int’l. Airport (BWI) and Philadelphia as well as Dulles (DIA). Both of those are likely to be cheaper than DIA; all three are convenient for driving to Pittsburgh. And both have casinos much closer than Dulles (not that that matters, I am sure. :cool:)

>Go to Pittsburgh see Steelers win at Heinz Field

Are you certain about the “win” requirement? You might be in Pittsburgh for a long time. It looks like the Steelers are headed downhill, and Big Buns is showing his age... :rolleyes::eek::p
 
Don't miss New Orleans and the casino is pretty good. Cruising the French quarter on a bike would be pretty cool.
 
Ive been to CH many times. I’m always amazed at the stunning Mountain Views. I have friends I visit in Zurich and in Chur. I think Switzerland is one of the most beautiful places in earth.

That said, when my friends have come to visit me in the Midwest (where it’s relatively flat), They’ve exclaimed that our area of the country is the most beautiful place on earth to them. I always found this funny, but I believe it’s all based on perspective. When you’ve grown up living in mountainous country where you can only see a few miles in any direction, and rarely see the horizon, I believe it Must be amazing to be able to look out and see for many many miles without a damn mountain in the way of your view.

I’m unfamiliar with any parts of the country you are looking to travel to, but I hope you have an amazing time. Your trip thus far sounds like a blast
 
If you want to see a win at Hienz field prob best to avoid a game when the Ravens are in town.
:whistle: :whistling:

>
>Go to Pittsburgh see Steelers win at Heinz Field

Are you certain about the “win” requirement? You might be in Pittsburgh for a long time. It looks like the Steelers are headed downhill, and Big Buns is showing his age... :rolleyes::eek::p

DislikeButton.jpg
 
I been in USA twice and I only drove through Nevada, Utah and Arizona.
As I want to visit other parts of the country, I started planning my next trip in USA. If all goes well it should be late Q3 early Q4 for 2 weeks. First part of the road I will rent a car, but I will ride a motorbike from Tennessee to Dallas.

So far, the big idea:
Landing at Washington DC and pick up a car.
Go to Pittsburgh see Steelers win at Heinz Field
Drove to Nashville, drop-off car pick-up motorcycle
Memphis
Baton Rouge
Dallas (drop off motorcycle, take the plane)

Overview of the trip

And here is how you can help me with your advice;

I like BBQ, beers and live music what venue do you recommend along the road to have all 3 at the same time? What’s your favorite BBQ?
I quite like whiskey, but I know nothing about bourbon. As I will drive though Kentucky, where should I go to learn about bourbons and taste a few ones?
Which scenic road should I drive?
Poker wise Baton Rouge, New Orleans or Lake Charles? Which are your favorite poker rooms? (I only play NLH, it’s lame, I know)
What should I add to my list of Must do / must visit? ( I will NOT do museums / theme parks and I avoid big cities as much as possible.)

Thanks in advance


Looking at your map around the DC -> Pittsburgh part a few thoughts/suggestions.

The Meadows and Wheeling Island Casinos are not very exciting. I would skip those if you are looking to cut out time. Would go with Rivers and Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin instead. Lady Luck sits on the Nemacolin resort and you have to pay a slight fee to get in, $5 I think, but there is so much to do there, get ready to spend a lot, you might want to look into spending a night there.

Flight 93 memorial is a definite but would rethink the Johnstown Flood museum and Jennerstown/Bedford Speedways. Again none of those are really exciting. I would suggest swinging down to Ohiopyle and Fallingwater instead.

Also, since you are heading through Ligonier, I would say make a stop at Joe's Bar grab a drink and head into the back and also Walat's to grab a large ham sandwich. Both places are the diviest of dive bars but worth the stop.
 
Unless you have some specific destination near Washington,
The closer direct flight that I have to Pitt is Dulles and as I will need to rent a car anyways the savings going to another airport are gone on the time spend in a scale + additional cost for the last part of the trip.

If you want to see a win at Hienz field prob best to avoid a game when the Ravens are in town.
Actually if I can chose a game it's that one. (or vs Pats)

and rarely see the horizon
That's true. Any direction you watch, you'll have a mountain within 25 miles :) But I understand what your friends can feel. I've lived in Argentina for 18 years so I was used to the flat land that ends at the horizon. Switzerland had beautiful sights, however I really enjoyed the deserts of Utah and the shades of red ...
 
If you do decide on coming through Pittsburgh and are in need of any advice please feel free to contact me. I could possibly get you Steeler tickets at a fair price depending on the game.
As for poker. You can go to the Rivers Casino. It is right next to Heinz Field. There are many hotels right there also. Lots of different sites to take in. Even on a short stay. Primanti Brothers is a must eat while in the Burgh.
 
Getting a motorcycle in Nashville and heading to Louisiana - that demands a tour along the Natchez Trace.

I don't ride myself, but I know a lot who do - and some of them have travelled over 300 miles just to ride on the Trace.

When you get dates settled, drop me a PM. I should be able to hook you up with good food and lodging and perhaps some NLHE at the Club Zombie, which is only 20 miles from the Natchez Trace.
241577
 
Getting a motorcycle in Nashville and heading to Louisiana - that demands a tour along the Natchez Trace.

I don't ride myself, but I know a lot who do - and some of them have travelled over 300 miles just to ride on the Trace.

When you get dates settled, drop me a PM. I should be able to hook you up with good food and lodging and perhaps some NLHE at the Club Zombie, which is only 20 miles from the Natchez Trace.
View attachment 241577

I'm always up for an impromptu game... ;)
 

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