What route do you take from Ontario, Canada, or North Eastern States?

[lovemy4sweeties]

Mapquest gave me a direct route to take, but since this is our first road trip, I wanted to stop along the way to enjoy the sites. Does anyone have any recommendations on a good route to take where we have lots of stops for the kids? Also, I'm homeschooling and I would love to encorporate a few lessons into our trip (which will happen anyway, but I'd love to do a bit of prep work before our trip so the kids already know about a few of the places that we stop at). We're planning on going Jan 09, so my kids ages will be 7, 5.75, 3.5 and almost 2. I'd also like suggestions of places to stay along the way. At what point (or how south do I need to go), before it's warm enough to camp along the way. I'm sure we'll plan a hotel for at least our first stop.

TIA
Kerri

 

[drafthorsecrazy]

We usually start making stops once we get to the Savannah Ga. area. Fort Pulaski is a good informative stop. Skidaway campground while touring the area. Farther south is Brunswick ga. Visit the islands around it. Jekyll island and St. Simmons. Blythe Island campground is a good choice here. St. Augustine is a must stop. Very touristy but still plenty of informative things. Anastasia sp is great if you can get a campsite. You MUST book early here to get a spot ! Have fun planning!

 

[disney4dan]

Sounds like your family is going to have a great trip. There are a few threads on this board that discuss the routes, and there are some on rv.net as well.

We've been travelling south for years and have taken many different routes, and people on this board keep bringing up more suggestions and great spots to try, so hold on to your seat and prepare to be amazed! I'm subscribing to this one just to see if there are more interesting places suggested

If you like the seacoast, we've taken the trip down Jersey to the Cape May - Lewes ferry, then travelled along the DelMarVa penninsula to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and followed the coast and sun all the way. This was done mainly when I was younger and my Dad wanted to enjoy the trip. Took three weeks one time (paid for that when I got back to school, but that's a whole other topic!)

We've also enjoyed Rte 81 south and stopped at some of the caverns and the Natural Bridge along the way.

And don't forget all the civil war and revolutionary war battle areas around Pennsylvania, Virginia etc. We are considering taking Route 15 south out of Harrisburg PA area next trip and then picking up Route 95 near Fredericksburg.
We've already made ressies for two nights at Hunting Island State Park in South Carolina based on suggestions on this board. Also considering Anastasia State Park on the way back.

Happy Trails!

 

[lovemy4sweeties]

Thank you so much for the suggestions (I'm writing them down). Going along the coast would be really nice!!!

 

[DaveInTN]

Hi - you mentioned you are going in January 09 and that you homeschool. Are you aware of Disney's Homeschool Days? They typically hold them twice a year in Sept and January. We also homeschool, and are planning on checking it out this coming September. Dates for that event have just been finalized as far as I know...so next January is likely not scheduled. If you haven't seen it before, there is information here: Disney Homeschool Days

 

[lovemy4sweeties]

Hi - you mentioned you are going in January 09 and that you homeschool. Are you aware of Disney's Homeschool Days? They typically hold them twice a year in Sept and January. We also homeschool, and are planning on checking it out this coming September. Dates for that event have just been finalized as far as I know...so next January is likely not scheduled. If you haven't seen it before, there is information here: Disney Homeschool Days

Thank you so much!!!! I will definately look into this. We're brand new to homeschooling and I'm excited about all of the opportunities I've been hearing about for homeschoolers. I had no idea Disney has homeschooling days.

 

[kimluvswdw]

We go the fastest way for us. Straight down I95 to I4. Boring, but easiest.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

We take the I-75 all the way down from Detroit, and we use the book "Along the I-75" by (I think) Dave Hunter. I think you'd find it very helpful if you decide to take this route, because he not only lists all the restaurants, hotels and gas stations at each exit, he tells you about interesting places to see along the way (museums, historic monuments, etc.). He seems to be kind of a Civil War history buff because as you drive past places where there were battles or events he will give a summary of what happened there - very interesting for homeschoolers. I think my kids' entire knowledge of the US Civil War is based on the I-75 book!

I'm not sure if this is actually the shortest route, but after trying other routes we now always take the I-75. It's straightforward, there are plenty of places to stop, and having the book makes it so easy!

Teresa

 

[lovemy4sweeties]

If you like the seacoast, we've taken the trip down Jersey to the Cape May - Lewes ferry, then travelled along the DelMarVa penninsula to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and followed the coast and sun all the way. This was done mainly when I was younger and my Dad wanted to enjoy the trip.

If we take this route, where do we go after the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel? Mapquest brings me to I-95, but it doesn't look that close to the coast. Is there another way to go that brings you closer to the coast? What cities will we be passing through in NC? We figure that's where we'll stay for one of the nights.

 

[lovemy4sweeties]

We take the I-75 all the way down from Detroit, and we use the book "Along the I-75" by (I think) Dave Hunter. I think you'd find it very helpful if you decide to take this route, because he not only lists all the restaurants, hotels and gas stations at each exit, he tells you about interesting places to see along the way (museums, historic monuments, etc.). He seems to be kind of a Civil War history buff because as you drive past places where there were battles or events he will give a summary of what happened there - very interesting for homeschoolers. I think my kids' entire knowledge of the US Civil War is based on the I-75 book!

I'm not sure if this is actually the shortest route, but after trying other routes we now always take the I-75. It's straightforward, there are plenty of places to stop, and having the book makes it so easy!

Teresa

Teresa, thanks . We're going to take 2 different routes there and back. So, I'm going to start looking into the I-75. Thanks for the suggestion of the book.

 

[ntsammy5]

Whee in Ontario? It makes a big difference. If you plan on stopping often it's a great idea to plan the trip along historical routes. If you go the coast route, Williamsburg and that whole area are great.

If you go down I-77 through Charlotte, there are tons of places along the way such as (step in here Ami) the Jefferson National Forest, New River gorge, Stonewall Jackson parks, etc, etc.

No matter which route you take, there are great place along the way. In my experience, though, it all starts to look the same when the kids start screaming at each other!

 

[lovemy4sweeties]

No matter which route you take, there are great place along the way. In my experience, though, it all starts to look the same when the kids start screaming at each other!

LOL!!!

We'll be coming from Toronto.

 

[ILoveDisney&Cruising]

In my experience, though, it all starts to look the same when the kids start screaming at each other!

Ain't that the truth!?

 

[ntsammy5]

Oh then you can come right through Buffalo. I've always been the kind to go the shortest quickest route. The last time I drove was in 1995 and I'd rather poke my eye with a pencil than do that again! We fly now. Of course our kids are 27, 29 & 33. I was going to say that they don't come with us any more, but they sometimes do.

Your fastest route would be to Buffalo I-90 to I-79 to US -19 ti I-77 to I-26 to I-95 to I-4

We go to Charlotte 3-4 times a year and are very familiar with the route up to I-95. It's a good drive and probably at least 20 hours drive from Toronto not including gas & food stops. West Virginia is great. There are lots of places along I-79, US-19 & I-77 to stop including Jefferson National Forest, Tamarac (Beckley), Stonewall Parks (Confederate General), New River Gorge.

Have a nice trip -- we're going again in November -- flying. Since there are oly 2 of us it's actually cheaper than gas.