tips for driving from New York to Birmingham

Liz-- It might help if you let us know which route you're taking. Straight
interstate, or do you have time to wander on back roads? There are lots of
nice B&Bs in the area around the Smokies (look up Townsend or Wear Valley,
Tennessee, or areas around Asheville). *There are caverns throughout
Kentucky, and SW Virginia, too, if I remember right (but I'm blanking on
names). But those aren't on your way, unless you have detour time.

Sarah

Good point, Sarah. We haven't decided yet. I haven't taken the days
off yet - so if sounds appealing, we might drive longer. My boyfriend
is the one who wants to drive and I guess we're balancing the tension
between not taking forever and not spending 16 hours on an interstate.

Liz

John,

The Luray Caverns sound perfect. And thanks for the link. This is
great info.

Liz


Luray Caverns would be the obvious choice--largest cavern in the east,
quite pretty, and it's a mile off of the fastest route from NYC to
Birmingham. *If you like Neil Gaiman or tourist traps, you should
probably see Rock City in Chattanooga--it's also very close to the
fastest route, but it's not really much of a cave. *Mammoth Cave will
take you about 300 miles off the route--it's the _longest_ known cave
in the world.

Beyond that, here's a list of commercialized caverns in Virginahttp://www.virginia.org/site/features.asp?featureid=30.

If you're experienced cavers/climbers (and have a quarter mile or so
of rope and a good set of ascenders) then you might also want to check
out Ellison's Cave in Armuchee, GA, which would take you about 60
miles off your route--has two different 400+ foot pits among other
things--no guided tours though--it's in a state wildlife management
area and you're pretty much on your own.

--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

"Liz" wrote in message
...
John,

The Luray Caverns sound perfect. And thanks for the link. This is
great info.

Liz

Some of the lesser known caves are great--the ones where you have to supply
your own lighting. Turn off the light and have some great sex....before
someone else comes along. We were almost caught in the Lassen one, in
California.






Luray Caverns would be the obvious choice--largest cavern in the east,
quite pretty, and it's a mile off of the fastest route from NYC to
Birmingham. If you like Neil Gaiman or tourist traps, you should
probably see Rock City in Chattanooga--it's also very close to the
fastest route, but it's not really much of a cave. Mammoth Cave will
take you about 300 miles off the route--it's the _longest_ known cave
in the world.

Beyond that, here's a list of commercialized caverns in
Virginahttp://www.virginia.org/site/features.asp?featureid=30.

If you're experienced cavers/climbers (and have a quarter mile or so
of rope and a good set of ascenders) then you might also want to check
out Ellison's Cave in Armuchee, GA, which would take you about 60
miles off your route--has two different 400+ foot pits among other
things--no guided tours though--it's in a state wildlife management
area and you're pretty much on your own.

--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)