From the Pacific to the Atlantic, if you're crossing the country through the southern part of the US, you'll probably spend some time on Interstate 10. Good thing, too, since I-10 takes you through some pretty awesome landscapes-- the deserts of Southern California, Texas's Hill Country, and the Florida Panhandle are all highlighted along the way. Whether you're just hopping on for a little bit, or you're seeing this bad boy all the way through, there's tons to see and do just off the route.
6982 Integra Cove Blvd, Orlando, Florida 32821-8804 USA
Need a comfy place to spend the night? Located right in the middle of downtown Tallahassee (and conveniently near tons of restaurants, shops, and attractions) the Governors Inn is a charmingly vintage hotel that makes for a great place to stay the night after an evening of exploring the city. It's swanky, and is definitely one of the cooler hotels in Tallahassee.
Grab breakfast at the retro-tastic Coffee Cup Restaurant. It's bustling pretty much any time of the day, features an old-fashioned menu and decor, and makes an absolutely to-die-for breakfast. Order the grits and the deep-fried French toast for a delicious start to your day.
See a lesser-known side of the Sunshine State at Florida Caverns State Park. This dry cave is the only cave in any Florida state park that you can tour, and contains stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws, flowstones, and more. Plus, there's a spring for boating and fishing, a 9-hole golf course, and camping here as well.
The next major city you'll hit is Mobile, AL. Take some time to explore all that this town has to offer! The Azalea City is loaded with history (see the Oakleigh Historic Complex and Fort Conde), attractions (the Dauphin Island Sea Lab is awesome), and food (Wintzell's Oyster House is a classic, and Mama's on Dauphin serves up great Southern cookin'). Stay the night at the Battle House, Fort Conde Inn, the Malaga Inn, or one of the other hotels in Mobile.
Keep driving through Mississippi! Since the route is getting pretty close to the Gulf of Mexico here, you'll want to grab some crawfish and crab on the bayou at the Blow Fly Inn!
Right off the interstate you'll find a little Lunar Lander Exhibit. It features a 30-foot replica of the Apollo 13 lunar lander, a space boot print left by Apollo 13 astronaut and Mississippi native Fred Haise, and a little rest stop. It's a quick photo op and chance to stretch your legs!
One place you must stop off and visit along I-10 is the Abita Mystery House. This famously offbeat attraction has collections of antique oddities, folk art awesomeness, and loads more. This look inside the mind of an outsider art genius will likely be the best $3 you'll spend on the trip.
Laplace, Louisiana, United States
Dutch Town, Louisiana, United States
Step back in time on the USS Kidd, a ship that served in WWII and in the Korean War. The Fletcher-class destroyer is docked in downtown Baton Rouge, and is open as a floating museum, so you can walk the decks and see objects from the battles in which she served. Take in the views of the Mississippi from the ship, and reflect on those who lost their lives serving our country at the Memorial.
Driving through the swampy wetlands of Louisiana is an experience, but actually getting to explore out on the water is another thing entirely! On the two hour adventure at Champagnes Swamp Tour, you'll get to see all kinds of wildlife and learn about the unique ecosystem of the swamp, right in the heart of it all. It doesn't get any more Cajun than that!
If you're starting to tire of the burger-laden menus of most road food joints, make a stop at The French Press. They do a classy, French/Southern-inspired breakfast and lunch on Tuesday through Sunday, and chic dinners on Friday and Saturday nights. Think, Cajun Eggs Benedict, cream cheese and banana-stuffed French toast, and biscuit sliders stuffed with brie and bacon.
Louisiana is best known for the wild Mardi Gras celebrations that New Orleans hosts each year. The festivities, which include numerous parades, intricate costumes, and plenty of food and drink, attract tons of people each spring. In nearby Lake Charles, the Mardi Gras Museum is a great place to learn about this colorful tradition, no matter the time of year. Video footage, costumes, historical background information, and even a parade float that you can climb on give visitors a good sense of what Mardi Gras in New Orleans is like!
One of Houston's most popular attractions is the totally rad Space Center Houston. This is the official visitor center for Johnson Space Center, the home of "Mission Control" for numerous historic spaceflight programs like the Gemini, Apollo, and Space Shuttle missions. It's also where astronauts train for missions to space, and where loads of important research happens. Space Center Houston is loaded with artifacts (like moon rocks and spacesuits), educational exhibits, tours, and an epic gift shop.
I-10 passes through the city of San Antonio, and it's worth it to take a day or so to explore this Lone Star City. Home to The Alamo, the Tower of the Americas, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, The Institute of Texan Cultures, the San Antonio Zoo and Aquarium, tons of museums, incredible Mexican food, and more, it's a prime example of Texas at its finest!
Oh, and stay the night at the Menger Hotel, the Hotel Havana the Omni La Mansion del Rio, or one of the other great hotels in San Antonio!
There's tons of outdoor fun to be had at South Llano River State Park: hiking, biking, camping, canoeing, fishing, swimming, and more... but the coolest activity here is tubing down the river. The park itself rents out inner tubes so that you can lazily float down the cool, clear river!
Stretching your legs on a road trip is super important, so get out of the car and head underground to the cool Caverns of Sonora for a change of scenery. This stunning show cave offers tours of the tunnels, loaded with stunning rock formations, as well as hikes above ground, the chance to pan for gold, and homemade fudge at the ranch-style gift shop.
From the Pacific Coast to the Atlantic Ocean, a trip along the entirety of I-10 means crossing through America's deserts, hill country, swamplands, small towns, and big cities. One simple interstate can show you all different sides to America: landscapes, cultures, cuisines and attractions that are all distinct, yet distinctly American!
