koalaroo Loc: Gold Coast, Australia

I've had some helpful tips about driving around Utah, many thanks. We only have a week, might head to Arches NP, maybe too cold and hectic going north to Yellowstone.

The trip is early Oct. to early Nov. We fly to New Orleans, have a week there, then a 5 day Carnival cruise (on the poop boat) to the top of Mexico. Fun! We then have a week before getting to Atlanta to fly to SLC. Not sure how to spend that week, thought about Amtrak to McComb, then hiring a car and driving to Natchez, Vicksburg, then Greyhound to Hattiesburg or Meridian, then train to Atlanta. Though that might be a bit rushed. Other option would be to get to Tennessee to explore the hills and small towns. After touristy New Orleans, we'd like to quieten down and soak up some local areas, where tourists don't usually go. Any ideas would be helpful.

We have been to the US before, 6 years ago, driven around Arizona, Nevada, and southern Utah...best time in the world. Haven't been to the central parts before.

The picture is a selfie of us camping near Bluff or Blanding in southern Utah.

(Download)

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Don't spend your entire week in New Orleans. There is too much to see in the rest of the state. PM me when you arrive and I will be happy to give you some travel tips. Have fun no matter what you decide to do.

koalaroo Loc: Gold Coast, Australia

thanks kpmac, I wish we had more time. After leaving New Orleans, we will probably explore Natchez, and hopefully La Fayette and surrounding areas. What do you think?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

"Tips appreciated" brought something entirely different to mind. $$

llamb Loc: Northeast Ohio

Enjoy yourselves, but be careful.

~Lee

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Not sure what things you like to do but:
New Orleans has lots to offer:
-French Quarter for architecture, street photography and great food/drink/music.
-Streetcar rides to various parts of the city, especially uptown on St Charles to see the old mansions, old university buildings, visit the Aubudon zoo, etc
-Riverfront to watch/photograph the bridge and boats
-A cemetery tour is great fun and good photo ops too, they're so elaborate, but don't go alone, hitch up with a group.
-Side trip can be arranged from most hotels to take a swamp tour on a boat, see alligators, birds and other wildlife

Your train/bus/car plan sounds like you'd spend a lot of time switching conveyances. You might consider renting the car in New Orleans, following the Great River Road from NOLA to Baton Rouge to see all the amazing old antebellum plantation mansions, some of which you can take a night's lodging in if you plan it. You could then drive up through the Felicianas. St Francisville is a great place to stay overnight, wonderful historic town with old churches, plantation homes including one where Audubon lived and worked. From there up #61 you can reach Natchez and see its variegated historical offerings from old homes and museums to Indian mounds. The Trace can then be followed all the way to Nashville if you want. Be sure to stop for lunch at the Lorman Country store if you want the best fried chicken ever, served by a singing proprietor who's become quite famous. Alternately, after you leave Port Gibson, you could get off the trace to take in Vicksburg Military Park and/or the Blues Trail up through the delta. There's lots to see and do, and that time of year, you will have no crowds to contend with after you leave NOLA (where there are always plenty of tourists). You could turn the car in at whatever Amtrak stop your car rental company could accommodate.

The hill country of Tennessee is nice too, but you'd need info from someone who's been there more than me.

Rick Spencer Loc: East Tennessee

I live in the hill country of Tennessee. while beautiful because of the greenery. The National park sites in Utah is where you want to be for beautiful photographs. There is a reason there are so many National Parks there. Novemeber is still usually OK. But be wary, it can change quickly, and last year they had a big change in normal weather.

fuminous Loc: Luling, LA... for now...

I agree with Minnie... New Orleans- NOLA- has much to see but also much you may have no interest in... a few days will satisfy most folk, in my opinion, after all, so much gumbo and loud music becomes tiresome. Taking the train to McComb is a quizzer... can't think of any reason to do such a thing... I'd instead recommend renting a vehicle in NOLA and heading north on US Highway 61 to Natchez and Vicksburg - both great places to visit- and the old plantations are wonderful but are huge time eaters... pick one... maybe two... eat lots of places but order one meal and split it... even gas stations have pretty good boudine, crabcakes and fried pies. In Greenville- be hungry for tamales... (tamales are cause, reason and catalyst for America's music; "The Blues" - which I will happily explain- AND! Hwy 61 has much of "The Blues Trail"- which is much fun if you like music and listening to old folks talk "yo erz off"... see Clarksdale's "Ground Zero" blues club and the "Delta Blues Museum" and a short side trip to Indianola, MS for the BB King museum... The scenery is flat, boring and repetitious... but is marbled with adventure and history and fascinating people.... I envy your journey... do take lots of pictures...

koalaroo Loc: Gold Coast, Australia

Haha..nice one Jerry. Thanks for the tip.

koalaroo Loc: Gold Coast, Australia

Thanks Lee, I like to think we're pretty travel smart.

koalaroo Loc: Gold Coast, Australia

Thanks Minniev, all good advice. I think you are right about too many conveyances. We will simplify. Your plan sounds very good.
Jude.

koalaroo Loc: Gold Coast, Australia

Thankyou Rick, much appreciated.

koalaroo Loc: Gold Coast, Australia

Thanks Fuminous, you're making me hungry! We are stuck with the 6 days in NOLA, got a guesthouse in Fauberg Marigny and also a couple of days in an airbnb in Arabi. (Away from tourists, and experience local life). All that before we take a 5 day carnival cruise to Mexico. We will do some tours I guess to the bayous and cemeteries etc. We love Blues music, not so much Jazz. Your advice sounds good.
The reason I picked McComb (I'm the travel planner in our family), is because I was trying to pick a small town that Paul would feel comfortable driving out of. He has driven in America before, but it's tricky. Steering wheel on the opposite side, driving on the other side.....and he aint' getting any younger! On your advice (and also Minniev's), I'll look into where the rental car companies are in NOLA, and how tricky it would be to drive out. It would cost more to drop the car closer to Atlanta, but worth it I think.
Thankyou for all the great advice, I'll take it on board. Jude.