Another plan-my-drive request
 

Flying from Los Angeles to Detroit on a red-eye Friday night.

Saturday I begin driving my daughter's fully loaded 09 Escape from southern MI (near Ann Arbor) to NYC - Brooklyn.

I've got to drop a friend in Youngstown, and have reserved a tour at Fallingwater for the later that afternoon. Plan to get back on the road and try to get near Gettysburg before stopping for the day.

I would like to visit the Gettysburg NP and maybe the Martin factory (not open tho) in Nazareth. Staying just one night on the road, I'm gonna try to get into Brooklyn before too late and join my daughter there.

Later in the week I will sell the car somewhere around Brooklyn (Carmax in CT?), and then train etc. to DC to see my other daughter. Or if I can't get a decent price, drive the car to DC and sell it there.

Any bad moves in that plan? Am I missing something really cool, historic or car related? Am I too optimistic on traffic/timing?

Any input would sure be appreciated!

Thanks,

Ramblin Dave

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The Henry Ford Museum in Michigan? Heavily steeped in automotive history.

Nothing to help... but you will be driving right past where I grew up in Jersey. Its very pretty by the Delaware Water Gap. Get out and take some pictures at the lookout spot.

Also, the AT cuts right through there so maybe see if you can find an easy spot to take a picture with a trail marker.

Too bad about the Martin factory. It is worth the wait if you have the time. Since I am much better woodworker then a guitar player, it was a more of an amazing place. Other then that, I can't help you with the route. I only had the opportunity to drive though some of those area only twice.

Sounds goofy, but don't skip downtown Pittsburg if you have not been there before.

If you can go off traffic hours, head down the the stadium area. Really beautiful.

If you need any assistance in the DC area, give me a shout.

Sorry to hear you have to stop in Youngstown lol

I can't help you much with things to do along the way. But, the CarMax in East Haven, CT will be close to a two hour drive from Brooklyn depending upon traffic. It is about a 70 mile trip. Plus, it is taking you further away from DC. If it were me, I'd drive the car to the DC area and then unload it at one of the CarMax locations in MD or VA that are within 20 miles of DC.

see if there's any interesting car related activities going on in Carlisle.

Carter

I agree. Great city.

There is a Carmax in Laurel, just about half way between Bmore and DC. Easy to get to from 95 or 295.

Cant help with the trip but I've found this site pretty useful for route planning:

Find The Best Route Between Multiple Addresses | Route Optimization Using Google Maps

HEY - thank you all very much!

Pittsburgh was mentioned by two friends as well - so I'll probably add that.

My thinking on the Carmax in CT was that the Escape would be a liability in Brooklyn, but I learned last night where I can park nearby that won't BK me, so I might just sell it in DC area as suggested. And that way I don't have to buy a train ticket to DC!

Anyone know how much time it takes to have a descent visit at Gettysburg? Like two hours or all day?

OR - skip Nazareth and add Delaware - that's a state I've never been too. Is Delaware Bay shore worth going out of the way for?

You can take a car tour and see some of the highlights and get the scale. But if yo are into it you can get out, walk the field, clime a tower, get into devils den... easily a day if you are into it.

Reschedule.....don't miss the Martin tour.

Well, I finally got wifi and my laptop in the same place.

The drive went very smoothly - deserved at least one ticket but got none; major stops were in Pittsburgh, Fallingwater and Gettysburg, all of which I thoroughly enjoyed. Lots of minor stop and exploring - mostly historic sights, and I stumbled across Shanksville. Traveling solo makes it quite easy to go where you please, but I do miss my wife. It's a mixed bag.

After Gettysburg (where I stayed much longer than I expected), in the essence of time I skipped Nazareth (esp. because it wasn't open and I still have lingering bad thoughts about selling my Martin 12) and finished the day in Brooklyn.

Thanks you for all your suggestions - maybe on the next trip I'll check off a few more of the recommendations.

And because it's all about the photo:

Pittsburgh
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What a beautiful place. Apparently it's gone through quite a renaissance in the last 20 years.
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We used to almost get arrested in those tunnels on the way to Carlyle from Ohio. .....lol

Fallingwater


Lots of crappy cell phone pics but...
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It's a very cool place - well worth the time and effort!

Gettysburg

A very somber and stirring place.
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I heard about these bullets in the 6th grade and was so glad they were still on display.
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My old teacher suggested that this was not that odd as there was so much ordinance in the air at one time.
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The only mention of religion in the whole museum. No mention that the abolition movement was fathered by Christians...
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Thanks for sharing, David.

How did the car selling go?

I was hoping for 6-7K, got 5. Would get close to 9 if I sold it myself in CA, but it would cost a grand to ship it home. Oh well. It was becoming an albatross around my neck and I'm glad to be done with it - that said, I will think twice before I send another car across country for a college student. There is probably a better way to do it than I did :)