Road Therapy

[tabbiewolf]

After my breakdown last week, it was decided that I need a vacation. Technically, I think both me AND spotweld need a vacation -- possibly he needs a vacation from his crazy wife, though he doesn't see it like that (thank non-specified deity) -- and we were actually chatting about the possibility of going to Florida for warmth and sun a month ago. We decided against it, due to cost of plane tickets and necessary time off, but the breakdown was just a sign that if we didn't do something soon I would combust into a ball of self-hatred. As seen in my last post, I actually kind of did already; we're just cleaning up the mess at this point.

So Spot took next week off and we're leaving on Saturday for a good ol' fashioned road trip. Current route is basically straight down I-95, with stops at DuClaw Brewing and South of the Border. Nothing else is really decided, though I've been poking through online blogs of road trips of the same route and getting ideas (mostly food-related). I'm trying not to overplan, which is difficult for me because I enjoy planning, but I also want this to be a relaxing road trip and planning every hour of it will turn it into a "How come we couldn't do this?" situation.

Hell, I'm not even really sure what our final destination will be, or if we even have one. Orlando, Cocoa Beach, Key West...somewhere warm & sunny, basically.

Spot suggested we bring some D20s for those "What do we do?" moments. This actually seems like a pretty fantastic idea. Leaving it up to the Universe!

Comments

[stokerbramwell.livejournal.com]

God I could really use something like that myself, I think. x_x I hope it does the trick for you guys.

[dripbat.livejournal.com]

I really hope the roadtrip does you well and helps relieve some of that stress. :)

[dalesql.livejournal.com]

Take the time to enjoy the trip. I hope you feel better.

Interesting places I know of that you might wish to visit if you happen to be nearby.
Wilbur cross parkway (CT state road 15) from Hartford to the NY border. Its a lovely nice drive when it isn't rush hour, and every bridge along the way is a different style. You have probably already know this since it is local to you. There is a carousel museum in western CT, in the same industrial park with the Otis Elevator factory. (It's the large windowless skyscraper rising out of the trees.) I don't remember the name of the town.

PHilly has a bunch of touristy places and museums, grab brochures at a rest stop in NJ and pick the ones that looks interesting. The market at the convention center (former major train station) has lots of nice lunch countery places. Parking will be expensive though.

Delaware has the duck decoy museum, it's just off I95 someplace. There used to be a sign.
The Aberdeen Proving Grounds has exhibits of big guns, tanks and so on.
Baltimore inner harbor. The Aquarium and Harborplace. Watch fish at the aquarium, eat fish at one of the restaurants at Harborplace.
The NSA museum at Fort Meade, MD, between Baltimore and DC. Buy a KGB coffee mug, admire bits of obscure cryptography equipment.

Washington DC. Smithsonian, downtown and out at Dulles airport. You will have to go through metal detectors and security checkpoints to get into any government buildings, like the smithsonian, so check your pockets and leave your pocket knives in the car. .
The National Geographic Society building has a display space off their lobby that is usually filled with interesting stuff that changes periodically.
National Zoo is nice, but a lot of walking. Oogle the pandas.
NRA museum of firearms is interesting.
IF the weather is nice and warmish, Visit Glen Echo Park in Glen Echo, MD. Unfortunately the carousel will probably still be closed for the winter. Old trolley line amusement park, and adjacent Clara Barton national park. I spent many many hours volunteering there in the 90s.

Richmond, VA. The old confederate iron works. Read the first book in the John Ringo Posleen series, where he spends chapters destroying the city in loving detail.

On the drive down or back, take the chesapeake bay bridge tunnel. The bridge goes out onto the ocean, and you can't see the other end since it goes over the horizon. Daylight for the full effect. IF it is stormy, don't bother, it's miserable then. Driving up the peninsula marvel at the endless chicken farms.

Hope you have fun.

[tabbiewolf.livejournal.com]

GREAT suggestions...and I know because I've done a majority of them ;) I grew up in Maryland, so everything on that list south of Philly was local to me!

I don't think Spot's done a lot of it, though, so maybe we'll poke around...I think it's Cherry Blossom season!

Right now, though, I'm focusing on stuff where it's warmer -- basically South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. I've also not really done a whole lot of the South, so it's interesting to me because it's new :)

[dalesql.livejournal.com]

Also the broadway play Warhorse opened today in fort myers, florida, and is in Birmigham the following week. Amazing tearjerker of a show, the horse puppets are just an unbelievable extra.
If you do get a chance to see the show, I have a friend who is touring with it, and loves to show off his toys backstage. He also has amazing stories to tell if you are willing to visit interesting local bars and restuarants afterwards. Unfortunately the backstage and particularly the puppets are no photo zones. But a puppet the size of a warhorse, that an actor can ride around the stage is a thing worth marveling at.
Let me know and I will put you in touch with him.

[sabotlours.livejournal.com]

God does not play dice with the universe.
Wherever you end up, have a fun and safe time!

[tabbiewolf.livejournal.com]

God may not, but humans certainly do ;)

[syrusb.livejournal.com]

I'm in Richmond if you want to meet up for coffee or something as you head down the road.

[petercat.livejournal.com]

Sounds like awesome fun, have a great trip!

[thppbt.livejournal.com]

Vacations with no particular place to go are often the best trips. I still have fond memories of one trip many years ago where I just through my tent in my Camaro and headed south. And I still have great memories of a trip I took last year where I hopped on my motorcycle and headed north. Although I now prefer hotels over tents.