how to live, travel and explore the world from your van


East Coast Road Trip Overall Initial Plan

Remember this document is what we started with - it is NOT exactly what we ended up doing. Over some 60 hours of planning each, we developed a rough plan for this trip. This portion of the overall Vanabode Destinations Guide covers an 18 week 7,532 mile trip from Florida to Maine to Chicago and most major points in between. We used a Vanabode, coupled with the strategies and equipment explained in the book, to keep costs to $20 a day per person for food, gas, and lodging. THIS KIND OF INFORMATION IS WHAT WE RESEARCH AND TYPE UP BEFORE taking in a big trip. You should do likewise! It will save you 100's and maybe even 1,000's of dollars and ensure you don't race through an area and see nothing. Vanaboding with a plan like this is the ONLY way to see and do nearly everything on $20 a day (and remember you can do it forever if you choose).

Remember the document below is what we started with. It is NOT exactly what we ended up doing. For details of how the ACTUAL JOURNEY WENT, see east coast vanabode road trip and get a super cheap copy of the book Big City Wild Country East Coast Road Trip on $20 a Day.

Initial Budget = 12 mpg at $4.00 per gallon, $10 per person per day for food and everything else.

FLORIDA

DAY 1 (April 1?)
178 miles - 8 hour drive w/stops
Playalinda national Seashore - BUY NATIONAL PARK PASS
US 1 x Ormond bch x Granada
Jacksonville Museum of Science and history 904-396-6674 and Kelly's Grandmother's old house
Jacksonville Timucuan Preserve (904) 641-7155
A1A north to Fort Clinch
Food $20 - Gas $60

DAY 2
Fort Clinch State Park
0 miles - spend all day
??? overnight fee, reservations
find tourist center determine where to canoe for day 3 on st. Mary's river
Food $20 - Gas $4 - $6 fort clinch park fee

DAY 3
Highway 200 to A1A - 17 - 95 north x 1 for St Mary's road to find place to canoe
35 miles - one hour - St Mary's river canoe trip
Food $20 - Gas $12

GEORGIA

DAYS 4, 5
Highway 40 north - 95 north x ocean highway 17 jekyll island road to the town of Darien highway 99 north back to highway 17 north way road -
112 miles to Savannah plus side roads on way up, east towards coast
stop about 5 miles before savannah to get addresses on gardens, etc.
Coastal Georgia botanical gardens FREE http://www.coastalgeorgiabg.org/
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist FREE http://www.savannahcathedral.org/
Bonaventure Historical Cemetary FREE http://www.bonaventurehistorical.org/

Wormsloe historic site, plantation, Best Driveway - 7601 Skidaway Rd., Savannah 31406
Highway 80 east to ocean
Tybee Island
Food $40 - Gas $38

SOUTH CAROLINA

DAY 6
Highway 80 - 315 speedway blvd. - 170 - 128 - 802 - 21
77 miles to Beaufort, SC to Hunting Island State Park
Hunting Island park $17 per night + taxes for tent sight with hot showers 843-838-2011 ASK them if we can stay only one night. Do we have to pay park entrance fee if we are camping? If too much trouble, spend the night in Beaufort instead of state park
Food $20 - Gas $25

DAY 7
Highway 21 - 17
70 miles to Charleston, SC
possible side trip to Folly Beach
Food $20 - Gas $24

DAY 8-9
Charleston, sc - welcome center
Food $40 - Gas $8

DAY 10
Highway 17 north
61 miles to Georgetown, sc
Food $20 - Gas $20

DAY 11
Highway 17 north
32 miles to Myrtle Beach, sc - state park 843-238-5325, $5 each, 6a.m.-10p.m., $18+ for camping CALL do we need to pay $5 fee if we are camping?
Food $20 - Gas $11

NORTH CAROLINA

DAY 12
Highway 17
62 miles to Wilmington, NC or +40 miles round trip to fort fisher state park
Food $20 - Gas $20

DAY 13
Highway 17 - 228
62 miles - Richlands, NC - April & Tim. CALL ahead.
Food $20 - Gas $20

DAY 14
60 miles round trip to visit these places based out of April & Tim's house
Hammock State park and Croatan Nat'l Forest
Old Beaufort Burying Ground, Anne Street in Beaufort
Food $20 - Gas $20

DAY 15
Highway 41 - 70
43 miles to New Bern, NC
Food $20 - Gas $14

DAY 16
Highway 17
40 miles to Washington, NC - visit Goose Creek state park 252-923-2191
Food $20 - Gas $13

DAY 17-18
Highway 32 - 45 - 65 - 158
107 miles to Nags Head
Bead Shop in Kills Devil Hill 252-449-5055
Food $40 - Gas $35 - Elizabethan Gardens $9 per person

DAY 19
Highway 158
40 miles to Barco, NC
Food $20 - Gas $13

DAY 20-21
Highway 168 - I-64 x 284B - I-264 east to beach
50 miles to Virginia Beach, VA
Food $20 - Gas $18

DAY 22
Highway 60 north east - stay along water - to I-64
30 miles to Fort Monroe Nat'l Monument FREE museum closed on Mondays? 757-788-3391
Food $20 - Gas $10

DAY 23-24
143 - 258 - 169 turn right on Atlantic around to Buckroe Fishing Pier then north to Buckroe Park
when leaving take Buckroe Ave - 169 - 278 - Langley Air Force Base Memorial Park
134 n - 17
37 miles to Gloucester, VA - Faye
Food $20 - Gas $13

DAY 25-27 (3 days) - hwy 14/17 west and 14/33 west
34 miles to West Point, VA - Earlene
Food $20 - Gas $11

DAY 28 (1 day) - VA33 E to US17 N
48 miles to Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge | Virginia
Food $20 - Gas $17
804-333-1470 Ext. 1 Open Monday-Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Wilna, Hutchinson, and Laurel Grove Units are open from sunrise to sunset unless posted.

DAY 29 State road 3 to SR 631 - SR 218
58 miles to Caledon state park - freshen up before Simon's
Food $20 - Gas $20

DAY 30 - US301 - I-495 - MD 185
73 miles to Kensington, MD - Simon's house
Food $20 - Gas $25

WASHINGTON DC

Day 31 - day 52 $600 for food for month (+$700 for parking rail pass?)
Simon or possibly Craig list parking by the day week or month
Simon in Kensington? North of Bethesda?
http://dcparking.org/dc-monthly-parking/

VISITOR CENTER - 1300 penn ave nw 866-324-7386
BRING sheet to lie on during the day to get off your feet, light one

Do white house tour then Lafayette Park

Library of congress 100 million items research facility genealogy or see photography - 202-707-5000

http://washington.org/topics/free-attractions
Air and Space Museum: The most popular museum in the world houses 23 galleries that trace the history of flight. - See more at: http://washington.org/DC-guide-to/visiting-smithsonian-museums#sthash.OqoSrroi.dpuf
Collectively called the Smithsonian Institution, the world-renowned museum and research complex consists of 15 separate museums and the National Zoo in Washington - See more at: http://washington.org/DC-guide-to/visiting-smithsonian-museums#sthash.OqoSrroi.dpuf

Metro station parking free on weekends
SUNSET SPOTS
On steps of the w front of the capitol with Washington monument in background
Café or bench at Washington harbor, Georgetown
River or roof terrace at Kennedy center
Docks at Maine ave, waterfront
Scenic overlook heading west toward I-495 on George Washington parkway

SHOPPING
Shake your booty 2324 18th street NW 202-518-8205 has 1,000+ walking shoes

FREE - call each and confirm free issue, parking price, hours
US botanic gardens
Textile museum 2320 s. street nw 202-667-0441 VERY GOOD
Union station
Google "free Washington dc gardens
Riggs bank square hosts farmers market may - nov
Georgetown has lots of architecture, house sightings, art galleries, shops MUST hit Georgetown visitors center to hike along the canal and maybe to the falls 202-653-5190
Millennium decorative arts - super cool retro stuff - 202-483-1218
Walk bridges at night for view if safe otherwise in the day MEMORIAL bridge
National zoo
Hirsburn museum?
Dupont circle thousands of passerby's, big park and shops
National air space museum
John Paul Jones statue near s end of 17th street has 2 original cherry trees

Corner of 18th and Columbia HUGE eclectic bars clubs, music scene Adams Morgan here you can stay out all night, shops too

US National arboretum 446 acres MUST SEE

Kennedy center, millennium stage performance free 6pm nightly

National cathedral
Lincoln memorial
Arlington national cemetery
Dumbarton oaks 10 acre preserve park

U street has strong upscale African influence, shop cool shops in the day then hit interesting restaurants at night while there

Curcoran gallery of art free THURSDAY after 9pm????

National aquarium

FOOD
Columbia road near Bard has New Orleans café and 30+ eclectic restaurants from Indian to Ethiopian, shopping and jewelry and music.
In Mortons steakhouse in Georgetown from 5-6:30 super cheap food and drinks
Washington harbor has overpriced food but great views, bring food
Swankiest place for a drink NEST bar in Willard hotel 202-628-9100

VIRGINIA (do from Washington DC)

Eden supermarket MUST SEE super cool exotic Vietnamese town, food, shops
Is in Eden Center in Falls Church Virginia

MARYLAND

DAY 53 - From Washington, d.c. 44 miles hwy 50east to Annapolis, MD
41 miles - us 301 / us 50 east to Tuckahoe state park
Food $20 - Gas $1

DELAWARE

DAY 54 - Eveland Road south - US404 Shore Hwy - 404/313/16 E - SR1 coastal hwy south- US 98
54 miles to Lewes, Delaware
Nassau Valley Vineyards in Lewes DE free winery tours. 302-645-9463 M-Sat 11-5 Sun 12-5 tastings $5 per person includes tasting glass, tour is free
Go to Cape Henlopen SP
Food $20 - Gas $18

DAY 55 - SR1 coastal hwy north west
21 miles to Milford Abbotts Mill - historic Grist Mill & nature center
then 10 miles to Harrington Casino via SR 14 west
Food $20 - Gas $7

DAY 56 - US13 north
7 miles to Killens Pond State Park & Water Park $6 per vehicle, $4 per person for water park
Food $20 - Gas $3

DAY 57 - US 15 to Dover Downs 20 miles - check it out will probably spend night here
Food $20 - Gas $7

DAY 58 - SR13 north - Leipsic - SR9 east Smyrna Leipsic
12 miles to Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge
Food $20 - Gas $4

DAY 59 - Whitehall Neck Rd - Smyrna Leipsic Rd - US13 north - SR 1 - SR7
41 miles to Casino Delaware Park in Wilmington Delaware
Food $20 - Gas $14

NEW JERSEY - FROM PHILADELPHIA

DAY 60 - I-295 N, US 40E to N Main Street in Elmer, Centerton Rd S to CR 540 (Almond Rd) in Pittsgrove Township
40 miles to Parvin state Park
Food $20 - Gas $13

DAY 61 - Somers Mansion - 1000 Shore Rd 609-927-2212 - 300 years old, Free -
Path getting here is negotiable
40 miles to Somers Point NJ
Food $20 - Gas $13

DAYS 62-64 - 17 miles to Atlantic City - Visitor Welcome Center, Mile Marker 3.5 AC Expressway, and Boardwalk & Mississippi Aves, 888-228-4748
Food $60 - Gas $9

Atlantic City Historical Museum 609-347-5839 FREE open daily 10-4

Atlantic City Casinos hop the big ones, most have some kind of small free show

Showboat casino House of Blues, Party Pit near Poker Room Fri - Sat Free concerts 9pm-4am

Atlantic City BOARDWALK is FREE - 609-348-7100

Boardwalk Hall, (609) 348-7100, 2301 Boardwalk FREE laser show do not face Caesars led sign
Atlantic City Art Center 609-347-5837 Free Admission/Parking 10-4 7 Days

DAY 65 - 61 miles to Cattus Island County Park FREE - 1170 Cattus Island Blvd Toms River 732-270-6960 500 acres
Food $20 - Gas $20

DAY 66 - 38 miles to Highlands Twin Lights Historic Site Lighthouse Road (732) 872 1814 - FREE
&
Middletown - Deep Cut Gardens 152 Red Hill Road, 732-671-6050
8-dusk daily FREE 50+ acres of home gardening show
Food $20 - Gas $13

DAY 67 - 38 miles to Princeton Art Museum Princeton University nicest Free attraction in NJ
Food $20 - Gas $13

DAY 68 - 18 miles to Titusville - Howell Living History Farm 609-737-3299 FREE, Use "70 Wooden's Lane" NOT Hunter Road address to GPS the entrance to the farm. CALL ahead weird days/hours
Food $20 - Gas $6

DAY 69 - 65 miles to Upper Montclair The Presby Memorial Iris Gardens Mountainside park - Hilly terrain, wondrous homes, park has over 4,000 varieties of Irises. FREE best in may and june for blooms
Food $20 - Gas $22

DAY 70 - 18 miles to Hudson Terrace Fort Lee Fort Lee Historic Park and Visitor Center, 201 461-1776 Wednesday - Sunday, 10-5 FREE historic stuff and grounds. Fort Lee Museum - Judge Moore House - 1588 Palisade Ave 201-592-3580. Free Revolutionary artifacts weird hours - call ahead.
Food $20 - Gas $6

NEW YORK

DAYS 71 & 72 - 16 miles to Whitehall Ferry Terminal $8 parking FREE round trip to Statue of Liberty & 6 miles to Central Park parking $20 possibly for 24 hours.
Food $40 - Gas $8

DAY 73 - 13 miles to Pelham Bay Park & City Island NY
$9 to park
Food $20 - Gas $5

CONNECTICUT

- Big towns all have paid parking sometimes metered

DAY 74 - 26 miles to Stamford Connecticut Cove Island Park
Shore Road - Pelham Road - Echo Ave - US1 - Stamford
2 miles to First Presbyterian Church 1101 Bedford St, Stamford, CT 06905
8 miles to NORWALK - SoNo s Norwalk historic district, 860-721-2939
Food $20 - Gas $13

DAY 75-76 - 24 miles to MILFORD - Walnut beach has free parking, shells, pebbles, pier, boardwalk to Silver Sands beach. Take boardwalk to Charles Island when it's low tide.
Then 11 miles to New Haven modern + old, Yale university you can walk starting at visitor center 149 elm street 203-432-2300. Yale university art gallery Free? Closed Mondays 203-432-0600
Boutiques, specialty shops, atticus bookstore, Louis Lunch - origin of the hamburger
East Rock Park 203-946-6086 old park cool views
Food $40 - Gas $13

DAY 77 - 12 miles to Sleeping Giant SP
Food $20 - Gas $4

DAY 78 - 28 miles to Woodbury, 50 antique shops in, world-class + old buildings
Food $20 - Gas $9

DAY 79-80? - 40 miles to Wethersfield 200 old buildings in largest historic district in state, 1-2 days here, park behind Wethersfield museum on Main Street for free
Food $40 - Gas $13

DAY 81 - 33 miles to Gillette castle state park 860-526-2336
If go to Gillette castle sp do not take sr 9 because you have to take a ferry (at least $5) across the river. Free parking to see site, fee if you want in the house
Food $20 - Gas $11

DAY 82-83 - 23 miles to New London old coastal city, marinas, start at visitor center at trolley waiting station, need full day here or two, 860-444-7264
Connecticut college arboretum FREE? 860-439-5020 750 acres, 200 trees from around world
Then 2 miles to Groton Historic ship nautilus submarine base 800-343-0079 Free closed tuesdays
Food $40 - Gas $8

DAY 84? - 10 miles to Mystic seaport costs $24 for a 2-day pass ANYTHING FREE?

RHODE ISLAND

DAY 85 - 10 miles to Westerley - Scenic Drives book page 308. S Cty Coast scenic drive 40 miles
Food $20 - Gas $17

On the way to Newport hit Beavertail State Park for rocky views if not too high $

DAY 86 - 14 miles to Newport Stop at the Gateway Visitors Center at 23 Americas Cup Ave.
In Newport walk around the neighborhoods of Historic Hill or The Point. Al visit Bowen's Wharf
Excursions - Jamestown, Little Compton known for its production of Rhode Island Red chickens.
Park on Memorial Blvd. near Newport Exploration center to walk Cliff Walk.
MUST - Cliff Walk, newport's 3.5 mile oceanfront path to see the mansions.
Drive along Bellevuew Avenue, which runs south from Memorial Blvd to Land's End where it intersects with Ocean drive. From that point, Ocean Drive follows the coast for 10 miles to the southern end of the island.

End day sunset view along Ocean Drive, especially from Brenton Point State Park.
Food $20 - Gas $17

DAY 87 - 14 miles to Middletown - Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge
25 miles to Little Compton is one of RI's prettiest villages.
Food $20 - Gas $13

MASSACHUSETTS

DAY 88 - 20 miles to New Bedford working fishing port, Walk from waterfront to Johnny Cake Hill see whaling stuff. New Bedford Whaling national Historical Park covers a 13-block area. 33 William St 9-5 daily Free? Open area then NB Whaling Museum $14. The largest museum in America devoted to the history of the American whaling industry. Elm Street parking garage. Eat at a Portuguese restaurant.
40 miles to Sandwich spend the night, walk the city
Food $20 - Gas $20

DAY 89-91 - 160 miles round trip Scenic Drive book pg 302
Cape Cod National Seashore use park pass or pay $15
Nickerson SP spend night, cost 28 night
Provincetown - at the tip of Cape Cod. Visitors center 9-5. Observation deck has good view of dunes. Climb to the top of Pilgrim Monument. SIGHTS: MacMillan Wharf at the end of Standish St, public parking on the wharf. SIGHTS: MacMillan Wharf at the end of Standish St with public parking on the wharf later in the afternoon when the boats return, Nauset beach, shining sea bike trail, main street, catham, Falmouth heights, moby dicks, Nantucket, heritage gardens, daffodil festival, provincetown, oak bluffs, whale watching, sandy neck, old king's highway, wellfleet
Food $60 - Gas $53

DAY 92 - Sandwich to Plymouth 33 miles, Plymouth Plantation 3 miles south of downtown; the Mayflower II (a full scale replica of the original from 1620) sits at the Plymouth waterfront. Plymouth Plantation is the major must-see here - $26, Pilgrim Memorial State Park, Plymouth Rock, National Monument to the Forefathers.
Food $20 - Gas $11

DAY 93 - FROM Plymouth 28 miles to World's End Park - Martins Ln, Hingham, MA 02043
Take SR 3A north to US1 to Boston, stay here overnight for cheaper parking?
Food $20 - Gas $10

DAY 94-96
Boston - Visitors Center on Boston Common 147 Tremont St at West St 8:30-5
Don't drive in Boston, parking is $$$$, Walk and take the T train. Parking: good rates try the Boston Common Garage enter on Charles Street, if full go to Government Center/Quincy Market and Post Office Square. Subways and busses - the MBTA is underground and surface transportation in greater Boston.
Ye olde union oyster house
North end Italian focus - Italian Canteen, café Victoria,
Irish pub - the burren

1 day, walk the Public Garden and Boston Common, state House, brick sidewalks of Beacon Hill for brownstones. Then go to the Common to see Freedom Trail with Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market or turn right for the city's most upscale shopping district Newbury Street.

Beacon Hill city's early black community "the hill" preserves an undisturbed old world. Begin at the corner of Park and Tremont Streets and walk up the hill on Park St. Turn right on Beacon St. (Boson Athenaeum and State House). Continue walking down Beacon St, cross Spruce St., return to the corner of Beacon and Spruce streets turn up Spruce St. and take a right on Chestnut st. Continue one block up Chestnut st., turn left on Walnut St., and continue one block to Mount Vernon st. Leave the square via Willow St and turn right onto Acorn St. At the end of Acorn St., turn right on West Cedar St then left on Mount Vernon St to Charles St. Continue one block on Charles and turn right on Pinckney St. Turn left on West Cedar, after one block go right on Revere Street. Walk back to Anderson St and turn left. Continue uphill on Pinckney st. Turn left onto Joy St. At the foot of Joy st cross Cambridge St.

Freedom Trail - Boston's Freedom Trail 2.5 mile walk features 16 historic sites, Paul reveres house. Trail begins at the Boston common visitor information center and ends at the Bunker Hill monument in Charlestown. Includes most of the historical monuments. The route is indicated on the pavement by red brick or a painted red line
Quincy Market in Boston
City Hall - Congress and State streets across from Faneuil Hall M-F 8:30-5:30
Faneuil Hall - 9-5
Quincy Market M-Sat 10-9, Sun 12-6 restaurants, pubs, shopping
Haymarket (Blackstone between Hanover & North) Fri & Sat only popular outdoor farmer's market.

North End - southern Italian immigrants have maintained a strong presence here. Rooftop gardens, shops bulging with fresh meats, poultry and vegetables. Hanover and Salem Streets are main thoroughfares. Old North Church (Christ Church) 193 Salem St

The Waterfront - parks museums and excellent views of Boston's working harbor
Institute of Contemporary Art 100 Northern Ave. Free Thursdays 5-9 pm & free for families last Saturday of every month

Back Bay well preserved historic district of townhouses lined with flowering dogwood trees.
Mansions of Back Bay
John Hancock Tower
Trinity Church free guided tours every Sunday following 11:15 service
Copley Square
Boston Public Library 700 Boylston St on Copely Sq
Public Garden Enter from Arlington St gate
Newbury Street - a rodeo drive, seven blocks from the Public Garden to Hereford Street. At Society of Arts and Crafts locals sell their handmade furniture, textiles, glass and jewelry.

Museums
Museum of Fine Arts 465 Huntington Ave. 617-369-3300. $25 or Free Wednesdays 4-9:45 pm

CHARLESTOWN Warren Tavern, 2 Pleasant St

CAMBRIDGE
Harvard University borders the Charles River off Memorial Dr. You could spend a lot of time browsing Harvard Square. Parking is expensive. Don't miss Mt. Auburn Cemetery.
MIT - East Campus to the right of Massachusetts Ave arriving from Harvard Bridge, the Rogers Building has a visitor center. Next-door is the Hart Nautical Gallery with more than 40 ship models 10-5. List Visual Arts Center free $5 contribution suggested with 3 galleries

Food $60 - Gas $53 (parking)

DAY 97
From Boston take SR2 19 miles to Walden Pond State Preserve 978 369-3254 Must CALL ahead max 1,000 per day in park may need reservations
Then 33 miles to Marblehead - prominent outcropping between Boston and Gloucester is one of east coasts major yachting capitals. One-way streets with antique houses built into the rocky ledges. Best views of the harbor from Fort Sewall (at the end of Front St), Crocker Park (off Front St.) or the lighthouse on Marblehead Neck. Check out Atlantic Ave.
Food $20 - Gas $17

DAY 98
25 miles to Cape Ann
Myopia Polo - Sunday afternoons May-Oct.
Singing beach in Manchester-by-the-Sea - the sand sings when you walk on it
Eat-Woodman's - 121 Main st, Essex
Driving tour - 32 miles following routes 127 and 127A around Cape Ann. Start from Magnolia, Gloucester * oldest seaport in the nation. Many of Gloucester's fishermen are of Portugese or Italian descent. From 127 turn left on Manuel E. Lewis Street, left of Main and right on Pleasant to Cape Ann Historical Museum. Return to Route 127 by Prospect St you will pass the Portuguese inspired Our Lady of Good Voyage Church with two blue cupolas. Follow 127 north to E. Main st and bear right. Follow Eastern Point road to Eastern Point (private). Visitors to Beauport are permitted access via the private road. Beauport* is a 40 room summer residence overlooking Gloucester Harbor. Return along eastern Point Blvd. To the entrance of the private road then turn right onto Farrington ave and left onto Atlantic road. The drive east along Atlantic Road offers a good view of the coast and across the water of Thatcher Island's twin lights. Follow Atlantic road to route 127A (Thatcher Road) which skirts beaches, salt marshes and rocky, wooded areas. Thatcher becomes South St. as you approach Rockport town. Granite was quarried from its shores and shipped to south America in the 19c. In the vicinity of Main St. there are art galleries and shops. Look for the red fishing shed Motif No. 1 named after many paintings it has inspired. The shed is accessible from Bearskin Neck* a small promontory where old fishing sheds have been convereted into shops. Leave Rockport on Mt. Pleasant St which turns into Main st and leads back to Rte 127 (Railroad ave) Just before Pigeon Cove, turn left onto Curtis st then left onto Pigeon Hill st . Stop for a look at no.52 the Paper House a house made almost entirely of newspapers (furnishings too). Return to Rte 127 continue north for almost 1 mile and turn right on Gott Ave.
Halibut Point State Park $2 per vehicle plus parking? Numerous self guided trails through woods and past granite quarries to the northern tip of Pigeon Cove. Vantage points on the rocky short provide extensive views across Ipswich Bay to the south and as far as Maine to the north. The visitor center is set in a World War II fire tower.
Food $20 - Gas $20

DAY 99
30 miles to NEWBURY PORT Converted red brick mill buildings and tanneries. SIGHTS: High Street carved porches and columns. Market Square District.
Portsmouth is a city of interest in NEW HAMPSHIRE on way to Maine. Maple sugar houses - vtmaple.org and nhfarms.com
Food $20 - Gas $7

MAINE

- go north along us1 and hit all the flea markets, gift shops, food venues
Should you buy a parking pass for all beachs in Maine?

DAY 100
30 miles to The Yorks walk shops and houses and nature trails on beaches

7 miles to Ogunquit, huge artist complex with awesome sandy beach, expensive food, Ogunquit museum of American art $10 with views of coast NOT important, Perkins cove has cool boats but limited parking and expensive, take trolley instead
Food $20 - Gas $13

DAY 101
12 miles to - Kennebunks, visit the historic homes in dock square in Kennebunk port and back streets, Kennebunkport townhall sells parking passes for beaches $15 a day or $50 a week 6-15 or later?, narrow streets, shops, Kennebunk beach, shops along tidal river
23 miles to Old orchard beach see pier then 17 miles crescent beach state park SERIOUSLY consider not going here as it look boring, $6.50pp NO camping - go here instead 18 miles from Old orchard beach Two Lights state park $4.50pp in Cape Elizabeth, wild rocky shore, see lighthouse for $2 and go inside
Food $20 - Gas $17 parking at least $15

DAY 102-103
10 miles to - Portland 207-828-0149 2 days probably at least, visitor center downtown, biggest city, do old port walking tour in day and bar scene at night, shops, galleries, see eastern promenade, west end architectural walk, paid parking but get one hour free for each place visited and stamped, visit exchange, middle, and fore streets. Self-guided tour map of the old port district at the preservation society's Greater Portland Landmarks, museum of art is free some days 207-775-6148
Two lights state park, hiking,
Fort Williams state park, big city prices
Eastern Prom trail people watch and great city scenery
Portland architectural salvage 4 floors of reclaimed building parts 207-780-0634
Food $40 - Gas $17 parking at least $15

DAY 104
17 miles to - Freeport - LL bean factory + 170 outlet stores and shops, then 5 miles to
Wolfes Neck Woods state park 207-865-4465 $5, calm beauty, overlooks bay
Food $40 - Gas $7 parking at least $15

DAY 105
20 miles to - Bath historic homes, waterfront, maritime museum, sea-faring town, bath iron works.
Food $20 - Gas $7

DAY 106
15 miles south to popham beach state park $6.00pp 207-389-1335
Food $20 - Gas $5

DAY 107
14 miles to Reid state park 207-371-2303 not as busy as popham, beautiful $6.50pp
Food $20 - Gas $5

DAY 108-109
32 miles to AUGUSTA MAINE - free parking in lots w and n of state capitol and Maine state museum, Free capitol tour, $5 museum tour entrance, 2 miles south is Hallowell the antique capitol of Maine, on water street, big city
Food $40 - Gas $11

DAY 110
26 miles to JOHNNY SEEDS in Albion 877-564-6697, free self-tour
Food $20 - Gas $9

DAY 111
58 miles to Booth bay harbor 207-633-2353 deep geography and naval activities, go here and ocean point 5 miles east on rte 96
Food $20 - Gas $19

DAY 112
30 miles to pemaquid point glacier carved rock in the seas + lighthouse $2 photography dream
Food $20 - Gas $10

DAY 113
66 miles to Camden, picture perfect image of a seaside tourist town,
100s little boats bobbing, Mt battie has modest hiking and viewing
Food $20 - Gas $22

DAY 114
25 miles to Searsport HUGE flea market district on us1, captain tinkhams emporium 207-548-6465
Searsport antique mall 207-548-2640
Food $20 - Gas $9

DAY 115
30 miles to Blue Hill Peninsula 207-374-3242 Super cool spread out area less visited by tourists, 20+ galleries, blueberry farms, 23 miles to Stonington, and 4 other cities.
Food $20 - Gas $18

DAY 116-122
58 miles to Acadia national park, 207-288-3338 during summer free shuttles, Mount Desert Island for awesome views, Bar Harbor = busy or SW harbor = quiet.
Take loop drive 29-mile scenic drive $20 7-day pass OR take free shuttle multiple days or both
Must see top of Cadillac Mountain for sunrise, very scenic coast,
See otter cliff,
Thunder hole,
Jordan pond,
Beach cliff trail,
Sergeant drive,
Bass harbor head at sunset
Food $120 - Gas $25

5 miles to Bar harbor - moose, lobsters, puffins in their summer colonies in the gulf of maine on easter egg rock, matinicus rock and machias seal island, whales can be seen primarily along the stellwagen bank in the gulf of maine.

DAY 123
50 miles to Milbridge OR drive all the way to next destination
Food $20 - Gas $17

DAY 124-125
58 miles to start the 60-mile scenic drive, Cobscook bay, Lubec visit Quoddy Head State Park $3 207-733-2400, and Eastport, Canada border 24-foot tides
Food $40 - Gas $42

DAY 126-130 if boring drive straight to Baxter OR take 3 days to get there spend 3 days there
158 miles to Baxter state park states highest peak for views, MOOSE, BEAR, DEER, with FEW visitors, huge outdoors fun private see the animals place, be careful of bears eating you and van
Food $140 - Gas $80

DAY 131
10 miles to Moosehead Lake or Lily bay state park or Greenville see Moose Alley pretty moose
Food $20 - Gas $5

DAY 132-133
123 miles to Rangeley lake state park 800+ acres $5
RANGELEY lakes region, scenic turnoff on rte 17 s of tiny Oquossoc, 5 star views of lakes here
See moose from road rte 16 going in or out of Rangeley
Food $20 - Gas $41

DAY 133-135
66 miles to Grafton Notch State Park 207-824-2912 many hikes from roadside to falls including spectacular screw augur falls
Food $60 - Gas $42

DAY 136
20 miles to Bethel all day hikes or drive rte 26 through mountains and waterfalls too, bethel commons historic buildings and galleries all day, 207-824-2908
4 miles northwest of bethel most photographed bridge in Maine from 1872
Food $20 - Gas $10

NEW HAMPSHIRE

DAY 137-138
22 miles to come in from Bethel Maine through NH via White Mountain range on rt 2
IN White Mountain range see SCENIC DRIVE BOOK page 298 starting in Gorham NH (NOT Maine)
Scenic drive 100 miles - 603-466-2713, $5 week car pass or $3 a day
Food $40 - Gas $41

DAY 139
26 miles FROM Francoina to St. Johnsbury see dog mountain gallery and scenery FREE
St Johnsbury athenaeum 802-748-8291, MUST SEE free, confirm, weird hours
Peacham is tiny but take short southern 10-mile drive for most photographed place in VT
Food $20 - Gas $12

DAY 140
30 miles to Craftsbury towns oldest and finest original Vermont living style towns, worth the drive.
Food $20 - Gas $10

DAY 141
40 miles to Graniteville rock of ages granite quarry, some parts are free, or $5
12 miles to Montpelier - See moose farm maple sugarworks 800-242-2740
La Brioche Bakery, near Main St, Montpelier, awesome breakfast and lunch from energized students
Cabot Creamery 802-229-9361 near Montpelier $2 cheese tour with great tastings
Food $20 - Gas $18

DAY 142-144
13 miles to Waterbury for Ben & Jerry's Factory Tour 802-846-1500 tour is $4 and only scratches the surface but some free samples make up for it
5 miles to Little River State Park 802-244-7103 MUST camp here, maybe few days? showers,
13 miles to Camel's Hump state Park, Barre - granite quarry
Food $60 - Gas $20

DAY 145
22 miles to Green Mountain Audubon Nature Center 802-434-3068 with 5 miles of very diversified hikes through bird country, donations accepted
Food $20 - Gas $7

DAY 146-147
20 miles to Burlington great city, see university of Vermont, bennington potters north, Vermont state craft center 802-863-6458 200 artists stuff for sale, lake Champlain chocolates factory store 800-465-5909 (NOT the same as the second store they have on church street)
MUST see farmers market seasonally open 802-310-5172 Saturdays only CALL VERIFY
Magic hat brewing company free tours and beers 802-658-2739
Firehouse art gallery 802-865-7165 free?
Farmhouse tap and grill is best upbeat dining with local cheeses and meals 802-859-0888
Food $40 - Gas $8

DAY 148-151
17 miles NORTH to Willow hill farm in Milton famous sheep cheeses
190 miles of Lake Champlain SCENIC DRIVE book pg 282
Food $80 - Gas $70

NEW YORK (sept 17th???)

DAY 152
66 miles to Hogansburg After going ALL the way around the Lake Champlain loop (retracing a portion of it) THEN from Champlain NY go to Hogansburg
Food $20 - Gas $22

DAY 152-156
285 miles of Sea Way Trail SCENIC DRIVE book pg 272
ends in Niagara Falls free entrance open 24hrs, parking $8, botanical gardens free parking = $5, Prospect Point Observation Tower = $1 (716) 278-1762, Robert Moses Hydro Electric Power Station (716) 286-6661 Free?,
Food $100 - Gas $95, fees at least $20

OHIO

DAY 157-160
222* miles to Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Food $80 - Gas $75

MICHIGAN

DAY 161-163
172* miles to Ann Arbor
Food $60 - Gas $60

DAY 164-166
188* miles to Huron -Manistee National Forest (straight up)
Food $60 - Gas $62

DAY 167-169
133 miles to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Food $60 - Gas $44

DAY 170
138 miles to St. Ignace
Food $20 - Gas $44

DAY 171-173
123 miles to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Food $60 - Gas $44

WISCONSIN

DAY 174-176
Cheese FIND Places on the way down
Milwaukee Art Museum 700 N. Art Museum Drive 414-224-3200 Free first Thursday of each month or $15 pp Open Tuesday-Sunday, 10 AM-5 PM and Thursday until 8 PM

ILLINOIS

DAY 177-184
114* miles to Chicago - Helene/Max
Park at Campbells ride train to Chicago, stay with Helen, then go back?

Museum of Science and Industry, Shedd Aquarium, Willis Tower, Pizzeria Due, The Magnificent Mile, The Old Water Tower (not Water Tower Place), Al's Beef, Hot Doug's, Rent a bike and bike alongside Lake Michigan, Go to Ravinia (lawn tickets are ten bucks
Maple Park - see Campbells

Buy a "visitors pass for unlimited rides on the EL train as long as you take 3 rides per day for a small fee. 7 day unlimited pass is $23

City parking lots cost HALF as much as private ones.

Millennium Park - see giant chrome bean and hear stunning concerts free.

Eat Chicago style deep-dish pizza and Italian beef sandwich before leaving

FREE - call each and confirm free issue, parking price, and hours
Lincoln park zoo and conservatory
City Gallery 312-742-0808
Chicago cultural center 312-744-6630
Navy pier wed and sat nights free fireworks
Second city comedy troupe last set of each night free except Fri
Jane addams hull house museum
Museum of contemporary photography
National museum of Mexican art
Oriental institute museum
Smart museum of art
Museum of contemporary art - TUESDAY
Swedish American museum center SECOND TUESDAY each month
Art institute of Chicago FIRST AND SECOND WEDNESDAYS
From navy Pier walk the lakefront path
Ukrainian institute of modern art WED - SUN 12-4
Graceland cemetery has cool designed crypts
free concert or outdoor movie in either Millennium Park or Grant Park
see buckingham fountain

FREE commercial galleries of art for sale - confirm if free, parking price, hours
Douglas Dawson gallery 312-226-7975
GR N'Namdi gallery 312-563-9240
Mars gallery 312-226-7808
Parker schupf gallery 312-226-2307
Robert wayner/blackwalnut gallery 312-286-2307 FIRST CHOICE
Joel oppenhiemer 312-642-5300
Richard gray gallery 312-642-8877
RS Johnson fine art 312-943-1661

Oak Park hit the visitors center in the park first - 10-5 708-848-1500
Consider driving the outskirts of Chicago for architecture and light sightseeing

http://www.factorytoursusa.com
http://www.explorechicago.org
SHOPPING
Magnificent mile
Fulton market
Lincoln park shop armitage ave, Division Street, Milwaukee ave, damen ave
Green city market
Block 37 312-220-0037
900 n Michigan shops 312-915-3916

Beaches open around 10 am ones WITH showers shown here - PARKING $?
Foster Beach
Montrose Beach
Osterman
South shore country club
N avenue beach - BEST ONE
12th street beach

END OF SAMPLE PRELIMNARY ITENERARY

This is part of an 18 week, 7,532 mile, Vanabode road trip detailed in the book from Amazon
titled Big City Wild Country East Coast Road Trip on $20 a Day for just $2.99
See East Coast Road Trip for more pictures, itinerary, maps and trip overview.

 




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