We are thinking of driving down from the western suburbs for our Sept 2006 (so far away!) due to hurricanes. I thought it would be easier if we had the threat of one on either end of our vacation. I hate to fly, but do it anyway, and the prospect of having to change flights and everything else makes me crazy.
We would probably do the I-57 route and leave after work on a Friday - just far enough to make it to Marion and go from there. On the way home, we of course plan to stop back in Marion/Carbondale and see what has changed at SIU in the last couple of years.