Besides being a great way to see the country, road-tripping is also a great way to take the pulse of the country. I am incredibly curious to know what’s really going on in these Divided States of America – especially as we head into the elections.

I’ll be hitting the road in September.

My goal is to experience firsthand how people have dealt with COVID-19, the lockdowns, the protests, the riots, and now the post-pandemic reopenings.

My itinerary covers the spectrum from small towns to big cities, blue states, and red states, rural and urban.

I’ll be starting out shortly after Labor Day, returning sometime in December.

My itinerary is built around:

• Places that have been on my radar for years but I’ve never gotten to, e.g., Portland Maine, Taos New Mexico, Silicon Valley, CA.
• All-time favorites, e.g., Montana, Wyoming, the Dakotas.
• Major cities, e.g., Chicago, Miami
• Tourism meccas, e.g., New Orleans, Memphis
• There are 20 ANCHOR destinations plus another 25 spots for day-tripping or overnighting.
• Although I have a plan, I’m good with serendipity and last-minute changes. I realize places may or may not be open, some are possibly closed permanently. Some places may be crossed off the itinerary because of quarantine issues.

Here’s what I need your help with:

• Feedback on my overall itinerary. Thumbs up/down?
• Recommendations for additional or alternative things to do/see, tips for restaurants, and hotels. Watch-outs.
• Most importantly, PLEASE let me know if there are people you can connect me with along the way. I will gladly treat people to coffee, lunch, or dinner for a chance to chat and do some “pulse-taking.” I’m not looking to take up too much of people’s time but having the opportunity to meet with locals will be invaluable. I’m especially interested in meeting with entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Scroll down to scan the itinerary.

✅PORTLAND, MAINE (est. 5 days)

My first visit to Maine!!

To Do:

• Portland Museum of Art
• Portland Head Light (the most photographed lighthouse in America)
• Portland Schooner Cruise, Portland Discovery Land and Sea Tours, Islands of Casco Bay, Maine Sailing Adventures
• Portland Fire Engine Tour?
• Cape Elizabeth for the lighthouse
• Peaks Island
• Woodfords Corner (Brooklyn of Portland?)
• Portland Farmers Market (Wed/Saturday)
• Portland Observatory
• Commercial Street
• Victorian Mansion (guided tour)
• Day Trips: Ogunquit, Kennebunkport, Farnsworth Museum, Rockland

Eat/Drink:

• Duckfat✅
• The Shop
• Eventide Oyster Co (overrated?)
• Portland Hunt & Alpine Club
• Jewel Box
• Woodford Food and Beverage
• Central Provisions✅
• Petite Jacqueline
• The Honey Paw
• Standard Baking Company
• Scales
• Cong Tu Bot
• Drifters Wife
• The Porthole (lobster rolls).
• Bard coffee ✅

Stay: Press Hotel

en route to Chicago

ROCHESTER, NY (overnite/cocktail scene/Daniel Udell)

NIAGARA FALLS, NY

YELLOW SPRINGS, OH (Chappelle Comedy Pop-Ups)

Cincinnati, OH (Nick B)

COLUMBUS, IN. (Architecture/DSkeens Reco): Home to 80 modernist buildings designed by some of the 20th century’s best-known architects, including I.M. Pei and Richard Meier.

✅CHICAGO, IL (est. 3 days)

To Do:

• ✅Pilsen: a mash-up of Chicago’s Mexican community and hipster underground. Murals radiate off the buildings on practically every street. A walkabout with Pilsen Public Art Tours is a good way to explore.
• The National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen
• The Field Museum
• Chicago Art Institute
• The 606 (2.7-mile elevated park and bike trail that was built on an old industrial train line)

Eat/Drink:

Stay: Soho House

✅MILWAUKEE, WI (est. 2 days)

To Do:

• Bobblehead Hall of Fame & Museum
• Milwaukee Art Museum

Eat/Drink:

Stay: Kimpton Journeyman Hotel OR Saint Kate Art Hotel

✅HORICON, WI. (est. 2 days)

Major birding hot spot (and visit with Bev and Jeff Kahlhamer)

✅KANSAS CITY, MO (est. 3 days)

To-Do:

• Nelson-Atkins Museum
• Kemper Museum
• Crossroads Arts District
• Old Westport neighborhood
• Union Station/ Parisi Coffee
• Penn Valley Park
• Kessler Park/ Colonnade
• Berkley River Promenade/ River Market area
• ✅Warm Springs Ranch/Clydesdales (Day Trip – 2 hr drive)

Eats/Drinks:

• Bluestem
• Julep Cocktail Club
• CaVa
• Happy Gillis (breakfast/lunch)
• Mission Taco Joint

Stay: 21C Hotel

SIOUX FALLS, SD

✅RAPID CITY, SD (est. 4 days)

To Do:

• Art Alley
• Prairie Edge Trading Company and Galleries
• Black Hills National Forest
• Custer State Park – one of the “Top Ten Wildlife Destinations” in the world. Early morning or late afternoon drive on the Wildlife Loop Road.
• Buffalo Safari Jeep Tour—named one of the 10 best safaris in the U.S. – departs daily from the State Game Lodge, through the park in an open-air jeep where only they are allowed to go.

Stay: Alex Johnson Curio Collection (haunted??) OR Tru by Hilton

✅CODY, WY (est. 3 days)

LOVE this little town!! I’ve been here once before.

To Do:

• The Buffalo Bill Center of the West (affiliated with the Smithsonian) is five museums under one roof. One of the finest museums I have ever visited.
• HIGHLIGHT: Plains Indian Museum featuring large dioramas of life on the plains, with an emphasis on culture, customs, artwork, and belief systems of the Native American people who called the area home. It is spectacular.
• Red Canyon Wild Mustang Tours.

Eat/Drink:

Stay: Chamberlain Inn, although the Irma Hotel is tempting (but a bit too kitschy)

✅JACKSON, WY (est. 5 days)

To Do:

• Town Square with antler arch
• National Elk Refuge
• Snake River Scenic Floats
• Rockefeller Preserve – one of the jewels of the park
• Hike the Phelps Lake Trail Loop
• National Museum of Wildlife Art – looks spectacular (pic top left)
• Daytrip to Yellowstone/ Grand Teton Nat’l Park Wildlife Tour

Eats/Drinks:

• Glorietta Trattoria✅ (The roasted acorn squash; ricotta cavatelli with spicy sausage, brown butter, and fried sage; and zeppole topped with mascarpone and strawberry compote come highly recommended.)

Stay: Anvil Hotel: redesigned 1950s motel reflects the region’s rugged past with a mountain-modern twist. Stylish interiors, courtesy of Brooklyn-based firm Studio Tack, are done up with brass fixtures, custom iron bed frames, and Woolrich blankets.

ENROUTE: Potential Stops/Overnights 

LIVINGSTON, MT (Historic Murray Hotel)

✅BOZEMAN, MT. (est. 2 days)

To-Do:

• Main Street
• American Computer & Robotics Museum
• Echo Arts
• Hopefully, meet up with Rab Cummings (expedition leader on Nat Geo/Lindblad Alaska trip)??

Eat/Drink:

• Nova Café
• Mackenzie River Pizza
• Rockford Coffee Roasters
• ✅Wild Crumb
• ✅Blackbird

Stay: The Lark OR the newly opened Kimpton Armory Hotel

ENROUTE: Potential Stops/Overnights 

MISSOULA, MT: (Red Rooster Home, Dudley gallery, Scotties table in the Wilma building. Plunk has a really nice rooftop deck.)

McCALL, ID

BEND, OR. (John M’s sister?)

✅REDDING, CA. (est. 2 days)

To-Do:

• The 217-foot-tall Sundial Bridge
• Shasta Lake – California’s largest man-made reservoir
• Cascade theater

Eats/Drinks:

Stay: Americana Modern Hotel (although there was a horrible death there recently 😳)

✅SILICON VALLEY: SAN JOSE/ PALO ALTO/MOUNTAIN VIEW (est. 3 days)

To-Do:

Eat/Drink:

Stay:

ENROUTE: Potential Stops/Overnights 

LAS VEGAS (Cosmopolitan Hotel) – 1 day/night

FLAGSTAFF (Barringer Meteor Crater) – 2 days

SEDONA – 2 days

✅Truth Or Consequences, NM (801 Gallery)

✅MADRID, NM

✅SANTA FE, NM (see Jean)

✅CHIMAYO, NM

✅TAOS, NM (est. 5 days)

To-Do:

• Taos Pueblo (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
• Millicent Rogers Museum
• RAMMED EARTH construction
• Harwood Art Museum
• Taos Art Museum at Fechin House
• Day trip to Bishop’s Castle in Rye CO (3-hr drive)?

Eats/Drinks:

• Lambert’s in Taos,

Stay: The Historic Taos Inn

✅CADILLAC RANCH, AMARILLO TX (est. 2 days)

To-Do:

• Cadillac Ranch
• Route 66 District/ 13 block area with unique architecture
• Big Texan Steak Ranch

Eats/Drinks:

Stay: The Barfield (if open?) or TRU by Hilton

ENROUTE: Potential Stops/Overnights

LITTLE ROCK, AR (Nick B. reco)

✅MEMPHIS, TN (est. 4 days)

To-Do:

• Sun Studio
• Graceland
• Mississippi River Park and Museum
• Bass Pro Pyramid
• Natl Civil Rights Museum

Eats/Drinks:

• Flight

Stay: Peabody Hotel (with duck parade) or Hu Hotel

en route:

✅Mississippi Delta Route/ Oxford/Sumner/ Lusco’s Restaurant Greenwood (Robert Cameron recommendations)

✅NEW ORLEANS (est. 5 days)

To-Do:

• Gator Spotting
• Jackson Square
• Garden District
• Gallier House
• The LaBranche House
• Besthoff Sculpture Garden
• Chapel St. Roch Cemetery
• Bike tour
• Abita Mystery Taxidermy Museum (kitschy?)
• Ogden Museum
• St. Louis Cathedral and Cemetery
• Whitney Plantation / the only plantation told from the enslaved perspective

Eats/Drinks:

• Tsunami Sushi
• Peche Seafood Grill
• Mosquito Supper Club (Kara rec./need res)
• Peche
• Port of Call (dive bar)

Stay: Ace Hotel

ENROUTE: Potential Stops/Overnights

ST. PETERSBURG, FL

✅Sarasota, FL. (Sarasota Art Museum)

Boca Grande, FL. (Gasparilla Inn)

Ft. Myers, FL (Batson’s)

✅MIAMI, FL (est. 3 days)

To-Do:

• Rubell Museum
• Cloisters of Ancient Spanish Monastery
• Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
• Deering Estate (birding)
• Wynwood Walls

Eats/Drinks:

• PAMM patio
• KYU

Stay: Soho House

St. Augustine, FL.

✅CHARLESTON, SC (est. 3 days)

To-Do:

• Farmers Market (Sat)
• Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
• Historic Charleston City Market
• Rainbow Row
• Self-Guided Walking Tour
• Robert Lange Studios (first Fridays – kitschy?)
• King Street (rebuilt post riots?)
• Mrs. Whaley’s Garden
• Schooner Sail/Charleston Harbor Tours
• McLeod Plantation Historic Site
• Calhoun Mansion Tour
• The Battery (historic landmark)
• Gibbes Museum of Art
• Unitarian Church cemetery

Eats/Drinks:

• Husk
• Magnolias
• The Ordinary

Stay: The Restoration OR Belmond Charleston Place

✅ASHEVILLE, NC (est. 5 days)

Nothing but raves for Asheville. Plus, friends live there.

To-Do:

• Street art
• River Arts District
• The Biltmore Estate
• Carl Sandburg Home
• Blue Ridge Parkway,
• Walking tours
• Grove Arcade
• Maggie Valley museum
• Moog Factory
• Asheville Drum Circle (Fridays)
• Battery Park Book Exchange
• DAY TRIP: Boone NC?

Eats/Drinks:

• Salsas
• The Marketplace
• Omni Grove Park Inn
• White Duck
• Top Of The Monk
• Over Easy Café
• Tupelo Honey Café
• Buxton Hall Barbecue
• French Broad Chocolate Lounge
• Sovereign Remedies (cocktails)

Stay: Aloft, Foundry

EN ROUTE: Potential Stops/Overnights

✅WASHINGTON, D.C.

✅BALTIMORE, MD (Sharon L/Bill Aarhus)

✅LANCASTER, PA (est. 3 days)

To-do:

• Central Market
• Lancaster Cemetery
• Wheatland
• Wolf Sanctuary
• Rock Ford Plantation
• Lapp Valley Farm
• Ephrata Cloister
• Watch & Clock Museum

Eats/Drinks:

Stay:  Cork Factory Hotel, Lancaster Arts Hotel

READING, PA (Mindy Elgart?)

NYC – HOME SWEET HOME!

AND THAT’S A WRAP!

It’s a long post today. For any of you who made it all the way through, I am deeply indebted.

I look forward to your tips/recommendations and most especially any introductions you can make for me.

Have a good weekend everyone!