"The Angel Barracks USA Roadtrip" Topic

In a few years, the family and I will be hiring a car to drive around the USA to sample American life.

The rough plan is stay at cheap motels and buy cheap Walmart clothes as we go.
We plan to travel as light as possible.

We are not that bothered by the touristy sights but are more interested in everyday American life.

This of course means what people in the US have as hobbies.
See where I am going…?

So if anyone has the space and inclination to invite some pale English family to their home to see their toys, visit their FLGS and maybe even stay for some home cooked American food, don't be shy in coming forward!
Some of you guys have massive gaming rooms and it would be an honour to step inside some of them.

Michael.

Just be sure to keep the windows rolled up tight till you get here.

If you come to Chicago let me know!

That's kind of a cool plan AB. Any particular reason, or just curious what makes us tick? I'm in the Kansas City area if you are passing through.

It's BIG. People don't seem to realize just how far it is from coast to coast or even NYC to Chicago.

Allow plenty of time

My trips going back home (central Minnesota) from Historicon when driving straight through was about a 20 hour trip. I am glad that I don't make those type of trips any more.

The other to consider when driving across country here is that you will cross time lines.

PM me if you come to NW Arkansas.

Do you have a tentative route map, or are you going to make stops based on responses you get here? Either way, I can probably put you up for a few days. Probably ought to talk to the wife first, though.

We want to experience all the things we see in the media.
The diners, the steakhouses, the big roads, the access cable TV, the driving on the wrong side of the road, the big houses, cheap motels, home cooked food, holding a gun, the giant malls, etc…

The sights are just that, things you can see.
We want to feel and experience what it is to live there rather than just observe things.

We plan on staying for about 3 weeks, hence the need to keep it as cheap as possible and travel light.

We will bring a few days of clothes a few electrical items for internet use and photos and that is it, the rest we will buy there and leave there once done.

No real plans on where yet, possibly Walt Disneyworld, depends if Charlotte is still into that, she is 5 now so she will be somewhere between 8 and 10 when we go…

Thanks for the replies, clearly it is a long way off but something of this magnitude needs planning and saving if we are to do it well and have no regrets.

:D

Someone mentioned time. Just as an example, to drive from, say Washington DC to Orlando Florida will take roughly 13 to 14 hours.

It is a big chunk of land. You will get a different experience in every state. North, South, East, West and Central US are all different with a lot to experience. You could spend 3 weeks just driving the east coast.

And there will be the few days to get over jet lag and use to driving on the right side of the road before heading out into the great unknown.

It will be fun and I think you are doing it right by planning early.

Matthew

If you come to the Houston, Texas area let me know.
BWW

Well Michael you know you are going to have to swing by Charlotte, NC and let me show you and the family around. Depending on when you are going to be in the U.S of A. you might want to schedule time for Historicon if you are going to be on the East Coast. 45thDiv aka Matthew is spot on about the driving time. Having driven from the east to the west once in my life it is a BIG country and yes each region is different.

Kim

How does driving work? Will you need to apply for a US driver's license? Insurance?

Took my kids to Disney when they were 6 and 8, they loved it.

I hate to rain on your parade, but most days "living the life" is just getting up and going to work. It's been quite some time since I've been to the range, probably need to schedule a trip.

We got room. Big dogs though, so not recommended for the faint hearted. Can also help you with the Disney planning.

This sight may help some:
roadsideamerica.com

Enjoy!

We're a big country. The east coast is much more populated than the interior and somewhat more than the west coast. I only say that because both distance and population (traffic) will effect travel times.

Here is a link for some ideas to help you narrow things down. roadtripusa.com/routes.html

As to Disney World: my daughter is 15 years old and still loves to go there. We get there every two or three years. Also very close to Disney are the Universal Studios Parks and Sea World. Universal has more mature (teenager) themes if Disney is "too young" for her.

You could start up north, Boston, New York, New Jersey, etc., and work your way down Interstate I-95. You'll hit a lot of American Civil War history, the Appalachian Mountains and lots of east coast seashore/beach options. The southern beaches starting with southern Virginia on down are warmer and really pretty. I-95 will also take you right down to Florida and get you close to Disney.

There are 3 or 4 common routes of travel to follow for east to west travel. Northern tier, central route and southern routes.

This sounds like an awesome adventure. Keep us all posted as to when it will happen. I'm sure many would welcome a chance to meet up with your clan during your travels. Good luck!

If you get to Fredericksburg, VA let me know.

If you are hitting the Orlando area, see if you can get it coincide with Hurricon or Recon, the HMGS-South show.

Recon 2015 – April 23rd. – 26th.
Hurricon 2015 – September 24th. – 27th.
Recon 2016 – April 28th. – May 1st.
Hurricon 2016 – September 22nd. -25th.

The convention site is up the road from Universal Studios and getting to Disney is easy.