I couldn't find this in searches, but when you set out for a nice 4-5 day trip, are you every afraid of the destination or where to stay for the night/s ? I asked a few years ago here where was the best place to stay in LA, and the resounding voices were to stay in Universal City, and to not venture much outside of there.

I live 15 minutes from Philadelphia, but I'll never take the Corvette into that snake pit of a parasite infested hunk of geography. If it's not the door nicks, pothole laden roads, Parking ****'s and or an outright good old fashioned Car-Jacking. It's just not worth the risk. I always carry my nice comfy Beretta with me, but who the hell wants to get in a gunfight just passing through ?

I always read how some of you take to the road and nothing bad happens, so I have to think it's in the planning or just good common sense. When you take a trip, what do you do ?

 

Uh, go somewhere civilized? Doesn't make much sense to go somewhere you don't want to be, no matter how well armed you are.

But that's just me...

 

I tend to stay away from big cities, I drive through only when I have to. I grew up in the Bay area, San Jose, and found out then that traffic ruins the fun of driving. Mountains and country destinations for me.

 

I have made many trips, with only vague plans or no reservations. And I will do more.
The modern GPS can locate any motel or restaurant, gas stations (etc) you need as you travel. Same with smart phones.
I love the freedom of not having to be at a certain place at a certain time; as in a reservation made long in advance.

I wouldn't want to stay 'downtown' of any major city; on a driving vacation. But the LA area, the Inland Empire, Orange County, the Valleys; all have wonderful scenic things to do, and places to visit, and canyon drives (for Corvettes). I feel perfectly safe (with common sense used liberally) there. Never been to Philidelphia, so I cannot comment about that.

As another member commented (and I heartily agree), I prefer the Mountain states, National Parks and Forests; more rural areas of our country for driving vacations. Less traffic is preferable, to heavy traffic, for sure. But many of our cities, have many things to see and do and places worth a visit. Traffic just is what it is, and one must deal with it; or stay home.

I recently made a 12 day trip from Illinois to California in my C5, and had no reservations at all, ahead of time. We had a wonderful trip; meeting several friendly people along the way. I was in Eastern South Dakota, and called a motel in Western South Dakota; told them I'd be there in about 6 or 8 hours, and made a reservation. No problems at all. Of course it was September, and many 'summer' vacationers were no longer competing for motel rooms. Sept and October are my favorite time to travel, in part for that reason.

I say take these amazing cars we all love out on the road, and go! Corvettes are such a hoot to drive on the open road, through mountains, our beautiful National Parks, and all the rest. Just go, if you have the time, or can 'find' the time.

 

October more than September. European tourists tend to clog up Grand Canyon and Yosemite during Aug/Sept. There are also music festivals in Monterey/Carmel and Grand Canyon in mid-Sept that definitely require prior (and early) reservations.

 

Yes, I do consider the hazards of taking the Vettes on an extended trip. Mine are garage queens, so when I plan a trip, I consider where I will stop overnight, what the parking arrangements are, and the weather as well what I'll be doing with it once I'm there. Not too **** LOL

Case in point. Last Thursday left for Ocean City, MD to close up the condo, spend a few days relaxing, and watch the Corvette parade on the Boardwalk. Because we needed to take more stuff than would fit in the Vette, we took the wife's DD instead. On the way there, a windshield wiper arm flew off the car in front of us on the PA turnpike and struck the left headlamp (no damage). Shortly after that a tire blew on a truck along side us and we wound up running over a tire gator. Then a dead animal on MD-90 results in a car ahead of us with an unattentive driver doing a sudden swerve to avoid it and then that's what we do when we see it directly ahead. Was thinking that was just not our day and maybe I should just park it for a while. Told the wife glad we left the Vette at home. Of course, the weather was beautiful the whole weekend, and while watching the parade I wished I had mine in there as well. What's one to do? Decisions, decisions.....

 

At the end of the day, common sense rules. True there are some bad areas in some cities that would make me think twice about parking there, but to rule out an entire city??
I agree with donald4972 - traveling reservation free sets you free to explore.

 

Obviously you have never been to Oakland, CA.

 

Well thank you all. I want to start on the "bucket List" and back in the nineties I drove down to the National Corvette Museum in fall, late September, But I took the Pennsylvania turnpike to 81 and stayed on 81 almost to Kentucky, but on the trip back, I stuck to the back roads, and I fell in love with Kentucky and West Virginia. Magnificent country, you start with the crest of one of the many mountains and it's 80 degrees, and you go down the 5 miles slope and it drops to 60 degrees and then once your up the mountain ahead and your back to 80 degrees. And even though I had Pennsylvania license plates, the people go out of their way to welcome you.

So I want to have the local body shop apply the 3M paint defenders system on the front of the Corvette, and head south next fall provided I'm still here. I was born in Philadelphia, but it isn't the city I grew up in. If you like to see the founding fathers places to see, come into center city, find a place to pay-to-Park lot on 5th street, or second or first street and then walk to the sights, the liberty bell, Constitution hall or the Betsy Ross house. All are within walking distance. Just don't go North of Spring Garden street, or west of broad street. South Philly is Ok, so long as it's east south Philly. I guess most big cities are getting that way, I have heard that south Chicago is a war zone. Gezzz, the way of the gun ?

But thank you, you were very helpful.