Any suggestions?

“There is a great place in Chi-town called Shaw's Crab House. When we ate there after a convention we saw it on ER the next week. It was excellent.

Most folks are taking you east. As you've mentioned before you can be in Dallas before the Smokies from where you live. What about a historical loop that takes in Dallas, Ft. Worth, Austin, and San Antonio? You could take in a southern return route and hit New Orleans if time permits.

My real vote is 9 days at Lulu's, but that's probably not feasibile. The beer tab would be too high.

How far are the Black Hills from you?”

“OK, everyone STEP BACK FROM THE COMPUTER SCREEN. You have someone here who, as a professional motorcoach tour planner, has the skills needed.

LOL! (but TRUE!!)

You mentioned Hannibal. Let's work from there. (Now I'm not gonna put in the full effort I did at work. You pay; you'll get it. LOL!)

Day 1: Leave Memphis. Travel up the Mississippi. Go to (drum roll) Southern Illinois.

Days 2 and 3. Show those kids your archeological dig for PIT. Go to Millstone Bluff. Go to Garden of the Gods (great fun on the those rocks) Go to the swamps of the cache river. Man, there's all kinds of stuff to do in southern Illinois!! Go to Bell Smith Springs and take swimming suits. Jump from the rocks into the pond. Climb the fire tower. You left there early and missed some cool stuff... :-)

Day 4: Go to Cahokia Mounds at St. Louis (which I didn't do and I understand can take some time.. wish I had!) Go on to the Arch in St. Louis. While there I saw their I-Max movie, which was on Lewis and Clark's journey. It was great and so timely with the 200th anniversary. (**IF** it's still showing)

Day 5: Move on north to Hannibal. If you like, stop at Cuivre River park on the way. At Hannibal, you can do Mark Twain history. See the stuff downtown. Also, go to the cave. I went a few years back and had a great guide. A lot of fun!! A good place to eat is the Cat House (I think that's it??) on the Mississippi.

Day 6: At some point, cross over into Illinois. If you go through Palmyra, you can see some tornado damage at Culver-Stockton College. Also, I think this is the town where a ferry takes cars across the Mississippi. Short trip, but fun. Head on up the river road toward Keokuk, Iowa. Head to Nauvoo, Ill.

Day 7: Hope you can stand some Latter Day Saints history. Nauvoo is superb, known as "the Williamsburg of the Midwest." They have a bunch of demonstrations and fun stuff. And don't worry, they don't try to sign you up to be Mormons. I still have a horseshoe nail ring from there, as well as a brick made at their foundry. There are cookies, too, and a pageant at night.

Day 8: If you get as far north as Dubuque (ok, maybe not quite that far... LOL!), I will meet the Chilisters. There is a new Mississippi River Museum in Dubuque. Might be part of National Park Service Miss. River corridor.

Days 9 and 10: Head for home. I found a cool spot to be Athen (AYE-thens) MO, just below Keosaqua, Iowa. It was the furthest north Civil War battle in MO.

Hit Hawn State Park for a hike along Pickle Creek on the way back. As well as other stuff.

Adapt to needs.

One more thing. There is something called the "Grand Excursion" happening on the Mississippi in 2004.

Grand Excursion

As I said, adapt to your needs.

If you want South Dakota/Nebraska, I can do that too. LOL! gonna be living that one pretty soon”

“disney dood, if you've never been, go. i thought i would hate it and i LOVED it! we stayed in the park and it was totally awesome in every way. you could do some ocean stuff while your down there.”

“Chili, If you're serious about Chicago, let me know. Been living here for the past 15+ years. Might be able to make some suggestions.

The Field Museum has 'Sue' on permanent display.

Museum of Science and Industry still has the coal mine--refurbished, added a large train area, redid and expanded the model train set up

Lots of other small "children's" museums have popped up.

Lincoln Park Zoo is being rehabbed, so not many critters there at the moment...

Much more....

Let me know if you're heading this way.

Mark”

“Stumprider, I appreciate it.

Our Corporate headquarters is in Chicago and I have been up there (actually Downers Grove) about 20 times in the last three years.

I will be there for a week next July. A TT meeting should be in order.

Dayhiker, I have been to Shaw's and found it to be pretty good. However, having grown up on the Gulf Coast, I usually don't make it a practice to eat sea food when I go north. ;-)

I will be downtown in July and should have some free time in the evenings.

Lizs. Great ideas. I am going to list all the options, let the kids begin to get information on them and just after the first of the year, we will get out the map and start planning.

My intention is to let them decide the route and stops (subject to my veto power of course).

Memphis to Huntsville to Nashville to Mammoth Cave to Southern Illinois to St Louis and back to Memphis would be an action packed adventure.

Lots of history; outdoors; education; and fun places along the way. Hopefully we can minimize the Interstate Highway and travel by US/State highway most of the way.”

“

subject to my veto power of course

I suggest that you try not to use it. Better to try to show them why some alternatives are more attractive, even if only because of time limitations. Also, when outvoted, it may be best to compremise on some of the things that you prefer to do or see. (That is, if this is a family affair.)

I think you are correct. The planning project may be more fun than the trip.”

“Good point chili. There's nothing like good ole Gulf Coast shrimp and crab claws and cold beer.

There's a local place that can give the coast a run for it's money. If you ever head through here on your way to Atlanta let me know and we can go eat some catfish or seafood and drink some cold ones. This is a place that used to be on a boat in the lake back when this was a dry county. State waterways weren't dry, so this became the local watering hole.”