We will be driving to Fort Lauderdale in Feb for our cruise.
I'm in Canada (about 100 miles north of Syracuse).

Since you guys live all over the place, does anyone have any suggestions for some interesting stops along the way? Any "MUST SEE" attraction?

The cruise is 10 days, and we're going for 3 weeks.

I'm thinking about driving til Charlotte on day one.
Any good suggestions for a reasonable priced motel around there?

When we hit Florida, will we see the ocean for most of the drive down?
This will be the first time driving, so we're really lookong forward to it.

Has anyone ever parked their vehicle at the cruise ship terminal in Port Everglades? I'm hoping it's still there when we return from the cruise, lol

I wasn't planning to drive, but now that gas is on the cheap, we'll make a nice road trip out of it.

I'm thinking on the way back maybe stop in Orlando for a few days, so if anyone has any good references about where to stay, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks
Habibi

Here's our route:

 

If you are going to take the route you have mapped, be careful about what time you are on 95 from Philly to DC, that traffic can be a nightmare. last year, in February, I hit Baltimore at 2:45, didn't get to Richmond until 9:00, that's normally a two hour ride. you may want to consider 81, to 77 to 26 to 95, much better traffic. There isn't much to see on 95 anyhow, unless you are into rest areas.

 

I never really 'understood' the rest area thing until watching the movie "something about Mary"


That was pretty funny.

 

At the rest stop be sure and don't lose your keys, and keep your not so tidy whiteys from the pooch.

 

You still have that image imbedded in your melon as well, eh?

 

That was a classic f150online moment. Maybe I should make it a sticky?

 

LOL!

It was already sticky enough!

 

No way! The dog ate the evidence!

 

First of all i hope you enjoy your trip. Now as far as seeing the ocean while your driving down...No. Unless you get off somewhere since you will probabaly be taking either the Turnpike or I95. If you want history and beauty i suggest St. Augustine. As far as Port Everglades being safe. I would say yes. When you arrive they have a check point where they check ID's and such by armed guards. They dont just let anyone into the port. Port of Miami is nicer though compared to Port Evergaldes, yet they are equally safe.Let me know if you got anymore questions about Miami/Ft.Lauderdale areas.

 

Thanks man, I will.

 

Does Google earth have the "strip clubs" toggle yet?

 

Habibi, your route doesn't look too good.
Too many tolls and very bad traffic that way.

I have driven to Watertown many times.
Stay on I-81 South.
I exit onto Route 17South at (Winchester VA) and take that down to I-95 South at (Fredricksburg VA).

However, you mentioned (Charlotte NC)
for Charlotte stay on I-81 South all the way down to (Wytheville VA) then take I-77 South into Charlottte.
(All you need from Watertown to Charlotte is I-81 and I-77)

Odin can help you through the Carolinas back over to I-95 South.
I'm sketchy on that terrain.

 

If you have never seen it before, you might stop at South of the Border.

 

Best route:

I-81 to I-77 to Charlotte.
I-77 to I-26 to I-95.

Cheapest livable motels are Motel 6, stay at one at an Interstate exit away from big cities, the ones in cities are considerably more expensive and can be in shady parts of town.

According to M$ S&T, Canadian border to Ft. Lauderdale via this route is 1535 miles, estimated about 25 hours. Charlotte is just past the halfway point.

There's a Motel 6 in Statesville, NC (almost the exact halfway point), standard room rate for 2 people is $46.99 plus taxes weekdays, $50.99 weekends. It's right at the I-77 exit for US-70.

 

You can pretty much take 95 to 595 and head east too