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Van's United States Tour |
 Here's your guide to Van's USA tour. You'll find a map, important links, and instructions on how to contact me while I'm away. The trip is divided into three main phases in case some other obligations come up, or in case I decide "I just can't drive any more." The whole ordeal is expected to take about two months. Please feel free to e-mail and leave comments on my journal while I'm gone to keep in touch! |
Overall Description
Starting at the beginning of April, I will drive around the United States in my car, giving myself about two months to complete the whole journey. My schedule is very flexible, and the destinations are not set in stone. My main purpose here is to visit cultural centers of the country, not historical or natural landmarks. I'll primarily be staying at youth hostels when they take me, cheap motels when they don't, and my back seat at camp grounds if nothing's available. Each of the three phases ends in a station to digest the experiences up to that point, with the final phase ending in the nation's ultimate site of reflection on life—the Grand Canyon.
I will update a travelogue as much as possible along the way.
Phase I: Capital of the nation, capital of the
world, and capital of steel guitars
(Nashville, Washington,
New York and St. Louis)
Starting in my home town of Natchez (also the oldest city on the Mississippi), I'll follow the historic Natchez Trace to Nashville, the world center of Country music. On the way, I'll stop off in various civil rights exhibits, see the home of Elvis, and tour the subtle Mississippi culture that has produced so much of the arts, but has no central city where one can observe their birthplaces. In Nashville, I will attend the Grand Ole Opry, walk "music row," tour the country music hall of fame, and immerse myself in perhaps the tackiest tourist destination on Earth.
From Nashville, I'll head to the nation's capital via the Appalachian Mountains. Along the way, I'll stop off at various nature sites in the mountains, and maybe visit a few Civil War battle fields along the way. Once in Washington, I'll see all the usual government sites and monuments, see the newly damaged Pentagon, and visit my friend and ISDS Alumnus, Sanjay. From Washington, I'll take a train to New York and back, spending a week or so at the self-proclaimed "Capital of the World." I'll see the usual sites there, plus the site of the Word Trade Center, the New York Stock Exchange, spend a couple of days absorbing Greenwich Village, walk central park, tour the Guggenheim and Whitney, walk the Brooklyn Bridge, take the Staton Island Ferry, get mugged, and generally just take in as much of New York as I can.
After also spending a week in Washington around the New York visit, I'll head out to St. Louis, the country's "gateway to the West." St. Louis will complete Phase I, and assuming I decide to continue, I'll nail down the details of my route out West.
Phase II: Go West, young man
(the
great plains and Salt Lake City)
What is there to say for this phase? I'll stop off in little towns, hopefully run into some county fairs, and, if I'm lucky, make the trip out West in about a week. Let's just say I'll have a lot of time to reflect on the East coast and listen to "Learn Spanish in your Car" CD's.
Once in Salt Lake City, the world headquarters of the Mormon church, I'll visit the site of the most recent Olympic games, visit Temple Square, and attend a recital of the famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I'll also visit the widely recognized genealogy research library, and maybe some natural sites. I'll also take a detour to overlook the allegedly largest human-made hole on Earth, Brigham Canyon.
I'll take my time in Christian environment of Salt Lake City to reflect on the experiences thus far in the journey, reflect on my life and past, and decide if I want to continue on to phase III, the left coast.
Phase III: And just when you were finally becoming
Religious....
(San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and the
Grand Canyon)
From Salt Lake City, I'll head into San Francisco, and visit what I hear is America's favorite city. I'll hike the Golden Gate (if they still let you do that sort of thing), eat in China Town, tour the gay capital of the world, and find a group of students that are protesting something at Berkeley. I'll do my best to protect my SUV against getting its tires slashed by eco-terrorists.
From San Francisco, I'll head down California's coast to Los Angeles. There, I'll visit my friend, Everett, and see Hollywood, the place that has nothing to say, but can scream it really loud.
From the land of plastic surgery, I'll head to the heart of Sin City, Las Vegas. There, I'll visit friends, see how much the city has reinvented itself since the last time I was there, and use it as a springboard to get to the Grand Canyon. I'll also try to see some Vegas shows and a real live cat house (though I have no plans to buy anything at one).
To close this phase and the trip, I hope to hike down the grand canyon with a tour group and camp at the bottom.
Then it's back to Red Stick via I-10 through San Antonio.
But Van, when will you be in my town?
This trip is very loose. I have not done anything that ties me to certain arrival/departure dates. I plan to spend only a week in New York... but for all I know, I'll love the city, stay two months, and then go home. My above plan is not really a plan at all—it's just an educated guess on what I'll probably do. Thus, I don't have any dates on when I'll be where. When I'm a couple days or so from your city, I'll try to let you know when I think I'll be there. All calls other than, "Hey, I'm down the street, want to go do something?" are to be taken as tentative dates, subject to change without notice. I don't expect anybody to rearrange their schedules or make themselves available for me.... but if you happen to be free when I'm in the area, I'd love to see you.
Posted on 2002-03-28 at 22:51 GMT Minor revision on 2002-06-10 at 08:47 GMT Copyright © Van Goodwin, 2002 Contact Van