Driving from Denver to Florida in January, where should we go?

[TheDon]

I know, I know, it's poor timing. Heading down for a little work, my brother and I are making a road trip out of it.

Suggestions on where to go and what to see?

As far as the route goes we were thinking down to Albuquerque, NM then make our way towards either Arkansas or Louisiana but we are open to suggestions.

We want to hike and trail run. We will camp if it's not too cold.

[highangle]

Don't worry, it's just like Utah when you get E of Tx. 80% of the Southeast is public land, just like Utah, and there are thousands of miles of well-maintained singletracks ideal for trail running. The mountains are spectacular as well. You'll also find lots of eager trail runners in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama to hang with. It's like the regional pastime since they all gave up deer hunting from Oct to Feb!
Bring your best skis and A/T gear too, Louisiana and Florida are known for their precipitous steeps and sicksick backcountry sickness!

Here's a shot of SFB, cat-shreddin Dixie, to put a stokerocket in your pocket!

[TheDon]

Bahaha!! Sounds like we should bring skis and mountain bikes!

[skifishbum]

Don't worry, it's just like Utah when you get E of Tx. 80% of the Southeast is public land, just like Utah, and there are thousands of miles of well-maintained singletracks ideal for trail running. The mountains are spectacular as well. You'll also find lots of eager trail runners in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama to hang with. It's like the regional pastime since they all gave up deer hunting from Oct to Feb!
Bring your best skis and A/T gear too, Louisiana and Florida are known for their precipitous steeps and sicksick backcountry sickness!

Here's a shot of SFB, cat-shreddin Dixie, to put a stokerocket in your pocket!

aint me i wear the dome protector and think the pom poms are soy
looks like the roj
have to check for tailclips 2 b sure
after watchin the muscle shoals documentary
someday i'm gonna visit that musical holy ground

[highangle]

"HonkHonk"

[Rideski]

______________

[dtown]

From Albq I'd either head straight east to Arkansas and fish the White River or head down to Austin to eat, drink, listen to music. Plenty of trails in that area, San Marcos would be a good stop too.

East of there I've got nothing...

[TheDon]

From Albq I'd either head straight east to Arkansas and fish the White River or head down to Austin to eat, drink, listen to music. Plenty of trails in that area, San Marcos would be a good stop too.

East of there I've got nothing...

Austin for music and food! That's such a great idea!

[Cayuse]

If you've never been to NOLA a couple nights in the French Quarter are worth it for the music and food. Driving through the bayous is pretty cool as well.

[highangle]

Play golf?

The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail is mostly in N. Alabama, but there's Magnolia Grove and Lakewood in/near Mobile, which should be en route.

http://www.rtjgolf.com/

A lot of good golf in Texas. Then there's Florida...

[TheDon]

If you've never been to NOLA a couple nights in the French Quarter are worth it for the music and food. Driving through the bayous is pretty cool as well.

This is a must don't you think? NOLA to eat some of their real Cajun food. Makes me hungry just thinking about some Karl Malone style gumbo!

[hawkgt]

OP, where in Florida? If you pass through the panhandle, aka, hillbilly riviera, check out the State Parks along 30a.

Topsail Hill, great camping in Grayton (hike to Red Bar from beach, bring cash), Seaside to see the Truman Show and tourist shit, Camp Helen st park. all good.

[Iowagriz]

Great MTBing in Arkansas. Bentonville, Ouachita area, White River area (Syllamo). Surpisingly fun trail near Grayton beach just mentioned above. I spring break there with the family and teens, they enjoy the beach, I still get to ride some singletrack.

[highangle]

This is a must don't you think? NOLA to eat some of their real Cajun food. Makes me hungry just thinking about some Karl Malone style gumbo!

Not very outdoorsy, but...

If you want Real Cajun food, Lafayette, La is going to be easier and cheaper than Creole, classic, and nouvelle French New Orleans food.
Cajun etouffe is brown, for example, and way different than red Creole etouffe. I prefer the brown "rice en grave" to the red, but won't turn down either, ever. Come on.

Crawfish will be in season in January. So unless you keep kashrut, you'll have fucked up if you miss a 3-lb order of mudbugs before you get to The Big Easy. Don't peel crawfish. Rip and squeeze. Peeling is way too slow. Peelers can starve to death trying to eat crawfish.

Once you're in The Birthplace of Jazz, start your day with beignets and cafe au lait at Cafe Du Monde. You'll be there at the perfect time to enjoy hot French donuts and coffee. It's too hot to drink coffee without sweat trickling down your back in July, but it's perfect in January.
If you really want to throw down on breakfast, get eggs Hussarde and eggs Benedict at Brennan's. You'll never forget the taste of good marchand sauce. My mouth is watering right now...
Later, get a muffaletta at Central Grocery: The Gold Standard. You need a shrimp poboy too. Central's a good spot for them as well, but that line stretching out is for the muffalettas, so ask a loc where the best shrimp poboys are.

Speaking of coffee, South Louisiana coffee is different. It's strong and looks like mud, but it's eminently drinkable. Don't be a pussy who hails from the home of pale dishwater jack mormom coffee... Go for the gusto and thank me later.

Not as many people know it, but New Orleans has some of the best Italian food outside of New York. Spend the $$ and go to Andrea's (pronounced "Andre's") in Metarie.
It's dressy and they have a maitre d', but they don't have a coat & tie rule like Brennan's, Antoine's and Broussard's downtown. The crab ravioli and tiramisu are worth getting your kneecaps busted for.

[TheDon]

Thanks guys! Some of these ideas are solid gold!

[TheDon]

Great MTBing in Arkansas. Bentonville, Ouachita area, White River area (Syllamo). Surpisingly fun trail near Grayton beach just mentioned above. I spring break there with the family and teens, they enjoy the beach, I still get to ride some singletrack.

One of my buddies is from AR and he suggested the same thing. I just don't know if I really want to drag my bike along.