24-Nights Road Trip USA - Coast to Coast (Los Angeles to New York)

Pigeon Forge

Just north of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, is one big strip of motels, fast-food and family-style restaurants, outlet malls and theaters. The most popular draw in the area is Dollywood, the theme park owned by entertainer Dolly Parton, who hails from Sevierville.

Pigeon Forge is home to several other live-music theaters in addition to those at Dollywood. These venues are modeled on the theaters in Branson, Missouri, and play host to musical revues, variety shows and performances by headliners such as Louise Mandrell. Dixie Stampede, also owned by Parton, is an elaborate dinner show with rodeo acts, musical performers and trained animals.

Plenty of other family-oriented attractions can be found in town, including waterslides, bumper boats and go-kart tracks. An unusual attraction is Zorb, a giant ball (reminiscent of a hamster toy) into which people can climb and roll down a hilly course.

Special events take place throughout the year in Pigeon Forge, including a Storytelling Festival in February, the Festival of Nations at Dollywood in the spring, and the Celebrate Freedom Festival in August.

Should malls be more your idea of fun, you'll find more than 200 factory outlets in Pigeon Forge offering bargains on a variety of products. Some of the biggest malls to look for are the Belz Factory Outlet, Old Mill Village and Pigeon Forge Factory Outlet. Remember that some retailers manufacture clothing and goods especially for their outlets, so shop carefully. When purchasing fine luggage, handbags and accessories, be sure to check return policies.

Lafayette

Situated on the Vermilion River about 115 mi/185 km west of New Orleans, Lafayette, Louisiana, is the center and de facto capital of Cajun Country—the area settled by French Acadians in the 1700s. There are several sights of note in the immediate Lafayette area, and the town serves as a good base for exploring the true treasures of Acadiana—the smaller towns located within a 30-mi/50-km radius.

To the north of Lafayette is the Cajun Prairie region, which is made up of smaller towns that retain their French Acadian heritage. This is a largely rural area where cattle graze contentedly and flooded rice fields double as crawfish farms.

The tranquil formal gardens of the Academy of the Sacred Heart draw travelers to the town of Grand Coteau. Fans of percussive zydeco music will gravitate toward the towns of Opelousas and Plaisance, where living legends of the style play in dance halls. Traditional Cajun music (less electrified than zydeco but no less danceable) is also a big draw in the area. Fans of the music get up early on Saturday morning to hit Fred's Bar in Mamou, a microscopic barroom-turned-dance-hall that hosts an early-morning radio program that's popular with locals and visitors alike.

Up the road in Eunice, the beautifully restored Liberty Theater features the Saturday-night radio program Rendez-vous des Cajuns. Host and folklorist Barry Jean Ancelet takes the stage 6-8 pm for a live broadcast of Cajun music, stories and culture.

Ft. Worth

To travelers unfamiliar with the city, Fort Worth, Texas, may seem like a secondary travel destination—a place to visit only after taking in all the sights of its bigger, glitzier neighbor, Dallas. (It does have to live with second billing in the "Dallas-Fort Worth" phrase used to describe everything from the shared airport to the general urban area).

But Fort Worth has an identity all its own as a travel destination. Fort Worth boasts rich western heritage (lending it the nickname "Cowtown"), a world-class arts scene, beautiful parks, casual sophistication, great sightseeing and small-town charm despite its big-city population.

A significant downtown renovation has filled the Fort Worth city center, known as Sundance Square, with such attractions as shops, cafes and inviting pedestrian areas that appeal to travelers. Residents and travelers alike enjoy Fort Worth's top-ranked museums, which have earned the city the title "Museum Capital of the Southwest." Add to this the prestigious Van Cliburn Piano Competition and the stunning Bass Performance Hall, and it's clear why Fort Worth's devotion to the arts has earned even Dallas' grudging respect.

Even though it has its share of high-tech businesses and contemporary culture, Fort Worth keeps one boot in its frontier past. The restored historic stockyards—once the world's largest—remind visitors of the city's authentic cowboy heritage.

New York City

New York City is a captivating, awesome, and glamorous empire. There are countless museums, theaters, restaurants, parks and towering skyscrapers. It is a shopping capital of the world. In midtown Manhattan are most of the designer boutiques; Fifth and Madison Avenues are locations of such world-renowned department stores as Bergdorf Goodman, Lord & Taylor and Saks Fifth Avenue. FAO Schwartz is one of the largest toy stores in the world. New York is also a world-class culinary experience - with pockets of ethnic restaurants: Chinatown, Little Italy, Little India and Little Brazil. The famous Statue of Liberty sculpture symbolizing the American Dream can be reached by ferry from Battery Park. Once the first stop for over 12 million immigrants, Ellis Island now houses the Museum of Immigration, including the American Immigrant Wall of Honor. The Art Deco Empire State Building is one of the world's best-loved skyscrapers with two observation decks. Also take time to visit the Chrysler Building, Radio City Music Hall, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Washington D.C.

Washington D.C. is the nations capital and is full of things to see and do. See where the President lives or even where the laws are made; take a tour of the Capitol building and White House. Washington D.C. is situated perfectly between Virginia and Maryland which allows its visitors the convenience of great attractions and activities. There are tons of museums, historical landmarks, art galleries, monuments, and all the government buildings right in Washington D.C. for you to visit. For a little more excitement visit Busch Gardens, Water Country USA, and Six Flags America close by.

Nashville

Nashville is the perfect destination for all kinds of visitors - from music lovers to history buffs to Southern lovers to sports enthusiasts and nature lovers. Nashville is the Country Music capital of the world. Have fun searching through the past or getting close to the Country Music stars of the present. Hike, bike, golf, go for a balloon ride and take tours guiding you through the history of country music. View homes of current stars including: Joe Diffie, Bryan White, Brooks & Dunn, Lorrie Morgan, George Jones, Reba McEntire, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson, Marty Stuart, Dolly Parton and more. Find tons of historic sites from the Civil War dating back to the 1700s.

Memphis

Memphis is known as the home of Elvis Presley and as birth place of the blues. Don't forget to travel down Beale Street and listen to some of the worlds best blues bands. Hike, bike, golf, go for a balloon ride and take tours through the history of Elvis Presley's life. Don't forget some great sites in Memphis such as: Alex Haley's Home, Beale Street, and the W.C. Handy Home. Take a trip to the Memphis Zoo or jump on exiting amusement park rides at Libertyland Amusement Park.

New Orleans

New Orleans is a happy, high-spirited city with the pulsing beat of Dixieland jazz. It delights visitors with its riverboats, Creole cuisine, quaint antique shops and narrow streets of the French Quarter. While here, be sure to take a ride on one of the picturesque trolley cars. Eccentric, elegant New Orleans is strongly connected to both the Mississippi River and the South, but its identity remains aloof from any regional or even national affiliation. It reminds some visitors of European cities, in part because French and Spanish colonial architecture adds an Old World backdrop to some streets. But the feeling of foreignness goes deeper: The celebrated New Orleans atmosphere, cuisine, music, traditions and lifestyle are rooted in an embrace of the decadent and assimilation of the unconventional. New Orleans welcomes all, but is familiar to none, and the result is a city which attracts the romantic, the spiritual, the wild and the inquisitive—all while successfully promoting itself as corporate America’s playground. No matter what is expected from a visit to New Orleans, no one goes home disappointed.

Amarillo

A hard-nosed Texan cattle town, Amarillo is epitome of the Lone Star State with cowboys, oil, steak, and cacti. It is the "Helium Capital of the World" (as self-proclaimed) with a productive helium field. However, this Old West attracts its travelers to visit beautiful Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Amarillo also proudly hosts the famous outdoor musical, "TEXAS." 

Santa Fe

Even though Santa Fe is capital of New Mexico, the state's third largest city, and has been around longer than all but one other city in America, it is still relatively unknown to many U.S. travelers. The city history spans almost 400 years yet much of Santa Fe is unexpected, including its Rocky Mountain climate and geography and the cultural diversity created by a mix of Native American, Hispanic and European traditions. Theater, dance, and music all play a significant role in Santa Fe's past and present and the importance of art has made the city one of the country's largest art markets. Surrounded by millions of acres of National Forest and public land, the city offers diverse outdoor activities. For the sightseer, the beauty of the area offers an amazing diversity of scenery and places to discover. Take some time to do some world class shopping or investigate why the city is a major center for alternative healing. Every visitor should explore the local cuisine.

Durango

Durango was established in 1881 as a frontier mining town. But many of the old-time settlers discovered they got more out of the scenery than the mines. Nestled in the Animas River Valley, in the afternoon shadows of the San Juan Mountains, people still get pretty much the same feeling. There’s something about being where picture-postcard beauty circles like an old wagon train. It tends to slow folks down a notch or two and let their best side catch up to them.

Monument Valley

A window into the Navajo Nation's culture rests in Monument Valley of the Colorado Plateau. For over 250,000 years sandstone masterpieces towers between 400 - 1,000 feet high photographed with scenic clouds, casting shadows, and spellbinding shapes.

Flagstaff

"Flag" (as it's called locally) is the largest population center north of Phoenix, home of Northern Arizona University and gateway for many of the state's northern travel attractions.

At 6,970 ft/2,125 m, Flagstaff's climate is very different from that found in the desert commonly associated with Arizona. You may need a sweater even in the summer, and in winter it can be bitterly cold and snowy. Enough snow falls for skiing at the Arizona Snowbowl, and the sunset views from the Snowbowl are terrific any time of year.

Las Vegas

Las Vegas is one of the nation's hot spots. There are nightly shows, great dining, and world famous live entertainment to thrill and dazzle every visitor walking down the strip. Las Vegas is the largest city in the nation for gambling and entertainment. Casinos continuously amaze with their shows, attractions, and non stop gaming. Las Vegas has many local attractions and entertainment. World famous shows such as, Tom Jones, David Copperfield, Siegfried & Roy, and Steve and Eddie are here. Casinos offer live entertainment, fine dining, and all types of gambling to fit everyone's desire. Las Vegas also has great shopping, museums, and some of the nations best golf. Although Las Vegas is primarily known for gambling, everything else is worth offering here as well.

Los Angeles

Much of Los Angeles lies in a fairly flat basin, surrounded by mountains and ocean. Although the Santa Monica Mountains, one of the most unheralded of the city’s remaining natural treasures, splits LA between the familiar sights of La-La Land to the south and the charmless suburbs to the north, the metropolis is easily traversed. Places for visitors to explore include Hollywood, Mid-Wilshire, the central strip of Wilshire Boulevard with faded Art Deco "Miracle Mile" zone and good museums, and the beach towns of Santa Monica and Venice, where visitors can stroll along the former’s remodeled pier and Third Street Promenade outdoor mall, or visit the latter’s famed Muscle Beach and oceanside Boardwalk. Lengthier trips to LA may include the old-fashioned charm of Old Pasadena, home of ever-popular Rose Parade and Bowl, Downtown, site of much city heritage and setting for what skyscrapers the area does have, the South Bay, the place to find the region’s second biggest city of Long Beach, and Malibu, where visitors can try to get a glimpse of movie stars and assorted celebrities.