Where can I find this information?

[sbkline]

As many of you may know, we hope to make our first visit with the kids next year in April. It will be our son, who will be almost 4 at that time, and our daughter (if the sonogram is correct), who will be almost 10 months old at that time. I plan to make stops at most of the rest stops on the way down, so as to give everyone a chance to stretch their legs and for the 4 year old to run around a little, etc. Rather than adding even more stuff to an already full van, by trying to pack enough food for viddles at the rest stops, I thought it may be nice if we could just go through a drive through at a town really close to the rest stop exit, and then sit down at the picnic table at the rest stop and eat. Problem is, even though I've driven the route enough to know where many of the rest stops are, I can't remember if there are towns right nearby that have a fast food place. And I don't want to drive right by the town, not knowing that there is a rest stop just up the road, and then get to the rest stop, having missed the chance to pick up something to eat back at the last town. So my question is, do they make some kind of a book that tells where all the rest stops are and what the closest exits are where you can pull off and get a burger or something? In the back of my mind, I'm kind of thinking I saw a book kind of like that once, but I can't remember now what it was called, or if I may even be just imagining it.

 

[klineski96]

As many of you may know, we hope to make our first visit with the kids next year in April. It will be our son, who will be almost 4 at that time, and our daughter (if the sonogram is correct), who will be almost 10 months old at that time. I plan to make stops at most of the rest stops on the way down, so as to give everyone a chance to stretch their legs and for the 4 year old to run around a little, etc. Rather than adding even more stuff to an already full van, by trying to pack enough food for viddles at the rest stops, I thought it may be nice if we could just go through a drive through at a town really close to the rest stop exit, and then sit down at the picnic table at the rest stop and eat. Problem is, even though I've driven the route enough to know where many of the rest stops are, I can't remember if there are towns right nearby that have a fast food place. And I don't want to drive right by the town, not knowing that there is a rest stop just up the road, and then get to the rest stop, having missed the chance to pick up something to eat back at the last town. So my question is, do they make some kind of a book that tells where all the rest stops are and what the closest exits are where you can pull off and get a burger or something? In the back of my mind, I'm kind of thinking I saw a book kind of like that once, but I can't remember now what it was called, or if I may even be just imagining it.

I've seen a book that may be able to help you, at least part of the way. But not knowing the name of it, I simply went to Amazon.com, changed the search for books only and typed in "driving I 75" and a few books came up. Granted from IL to Orlando, you probably wont be on I-75 for too long, just guessing but from Chattanooga TN to Orlando.

Anyways:
1.

Parents' Survival Guide To I-75: Over 101 Fun Family Stops between Detroit & Orlando by Westfield Jacqueline (Paperback - Mar 15, 2006)
14 Used & new from $14.25
(2)

Excerpt - page 2: "... 2 Parents' Survival Guide to I-75 Getting There Who Can Benefit from This Book Whether you are driving a short distance on I-75 to visit friends or family, ..."Surprise me! See a random page in this book.




2.

Along the I-75 1997 : A Unique Driving Guide for the Interstate-75 Between Detroit and the Florida Border by Dave Hunter (Paperback - 1996)
9 Used & new from $18.14




3.

Dave Hunter's Along the I 75 1996: A Unique Driving Guide for the Interstate-75 Between Detroit and the Florida Border by Dave Hunter (Paperback - Oct 1995)
9 Used & new from $0.05

 

[LuLaSue]

Are you a Triple A (AAA) member? They often offer books and information like this.

Good Luck!

 

[sbkline]

Granted from IL to Orlando, you probably wont be on I-75 for too long, just guessing but from Chattanooga TN to Orlando.

That's still pretty close to half of the trip length, so it may help more than you think. Maybe I'll see it in a book store at some point over the next year. Like I said, I know in my mind where many of the rest stops are, such as the Georgia Welcome Center just over the state line from Tennessee, then there's another one down around Macon, I think. I just can't remember for sure if there is a drive through really close to it or not. There is a suburb of Chattanooga, called East Ridge, which is right on the state line...we've even made a couple trips specifically there, for a weekend getaway. The Georgia Welcome Center is probably only a mile or two from there. I just can't remember if there is a McDonald's or Burger King or anything like that right there, or if you have to drive back up into Chattanooga itself. I know there is a Waffle House right there in East Ridge, but I don't know about any other fast food places. :lol:

 

[tigsmom]

Do you have AAA? If not it may be worth signing up since it's a long drive and you will have kids with you, a breakdown could be tough.

You can get the trip books from them (just tell them where you are going and they map everything out). We take 95 down from NY most of the time and there are some nice rest stops along the way with picnic areas and places to get burgers, sandwiches and the like. I'm sure there are similar ones along your planned route. You can also get AAA discounts on any hotel rooms needed during the trip and they will even make the reservations for you.
You may want to look into their WDW package for your time frame (as it gets closer) you may want to try depending on what WDW is offering.

 

[sbkline]

No, as far as I know, I'm not a member of AAA. How much does it cost to be a member? What is the contact info if I want to look into joining?

 

[tigsmom]

No, as far as I know, I'm not a member of AAA. How much does it cost to be a member? What is the contact info if I want to look into joining?

Just fill in your zip code and they will bring you to the closest office, all the info about joining (cost, benefits, etc ) should be there. You can also call and speak to them about joining that way you have a real person answering your questions. Click Here

 

[Monty]

I can't recommend AAA membership enough. I have CAA and the discounts I get just on eyeglasses pays for my membership several times over.

All the other benefits, such as triptiks and travel services are a free bonus thereafter, to say nothing of emergency roadside assistance anywhere I need it.

You can also get great room discounts and package deals at WDW! :king:

 

[swimmom]

If I'm not mistaken, Rand Mcnally map books have the rest areas on their maps (I'm at work and can't look at my atlas). You could then see what is the closest exit before the rest area. Also (at least in IL) most often when you approach a rest area on the highway, they have a sign telling you how many miles until the next rest area. You can then look at a map to see what exits will be before that next rest area.

 

[tigsmom]

If I'm not mistaken, Rand Mcnally map books have the rest areas on their maps (I'm at work and can't look at my atlas). You could then see what is the closest exit before the rest area. Also (at least in IL) most often when you approach a rest area on the highway, they have a sign telling you how many miles until the next rest area. You can then look at a map to see what exits will be before that next rest area.

Those signs have been in every state I've traveled thru. The Trip Tiks from AAA also alert you.

 

[sbkline]

Those signs have been in every state I've traveled thru. The Trip Tiks from AAA also alert you.

Ya, I know about those signs, but the problem is that many exits are for some town a few miles down the road, with nothing on the exit itself except for a gas station or two. So that still doesn't necessarily tell me if I can expect to see the golden arches up there or not. And a map can be pretty inconvenient for my wife to try to unfold there in the van while I drive...so a book may be alot more user friendy. Rather than look up the exits on a map, and then try to find out if there is anything right there at the exit, I just thought it may be more helpful to have a handy dandy book there where I could look up the exit and have it tell me exactly what to expect to find there.

As far as AAA, I'm gonna have to call my insurance company, because I'm halfway thinking that I may be a member and not even know it. For some reason, I'm kind of thinking that AAA may either be a benefit that comes with my auto insurance, or maybe it's one of those discounted benefits that I can get through my job...I'm just thinking that I remember seeing references to it somewhere where I am either a member, or could be for a discounted rate or something. I'll have to check that out.

 

[tigsmom]

Ya, I know about those signs, but the problem is that many exits are for some town a few miles down the road, with nothing on the exit itself except for a gas station or two. So that still doesn't necessarily tell me if I can expect to see the golden arches up there or not. And a map can be pretty inconvenient for my wife to try to unfold there in the van while I drive...so a book may be alot more user friendy. Rather than look up the exits on a map, and then try to find out if there is anything right there at the exit, I just thought it may be more helpful to have a handy dandy book there where I could look up the exit and have it tell me exactly what to expect to find there.

As far as AAA, I'm gonna have to call my insurance company, because I'm halfway thinking that I may be a member and not even know it. For some reason, I'm kind of thinking that AAA may either be a benefit that comes with my auto insurance, or maybe it's one of those discounted benefits that I can get through my job...I'm just thinking that I remember seeing references to it somewhere where I am either a member, or could be for a discounted rate or something. I'll have to check that out.

If you are already a member then you would have a number and a card to keep in your car. You probably can get a discount thru work as many places offer them.

 

[sbkline]

If you are already a member then you would have a number and a card to keep in your car. You probably can get a discount thru work as many places offer them.

Ya, I called my insurance company, and they told me that I have a roadside assistance benefit as part of my insurance policy. It's not AAA, but it's similar, so that's probably what I was thinking of.

 

[KC82271]

We have AAA and traveled from NJ to NH last summer with a 3 year old. I did the trip tiks myself - and they actually indicate on them F,G & L (Food, Gas and Lodging). I was able to surf the web to find some specifics and we went off the major roads a few times to eat. Give it a shot. You are going to need some time to surf the web - but it was well worth it.

 

[Disneybird]

There are many fast food restaurants at the East Ridge exit. You should find plenty to choose from. Also there is a park on the other side of the interstate called Camp Jordan, and a few exits down, right inside Ga., is one called Jack Maddox Park.

If you had time to spare, I would suggest taking a break at the Tennessee Aquarium. The kids can burn off energy, and get ice cream without going inside. Also there is a park on the other side of the river from the Aquarium called Coolidge Park.

There's a nice rest area just above Macon, Ga.. I can't remember what exits are before it but you could pick your food up about an hour below Atlanta.

 

[sbkline]

There are many fast food restaurants at the East Ridge exit. You should find plenty to choose from. Also there is a park on the other side of the interstate called Camp Jordan, and a few exits down, right inside Ga., is one called Jack Maddox Park.

If you had time to spare, I would suggest taking a break at the Tennessee Aquarium. The kids can burn off energy, and get ice cream without going inside. Also there is a park on the other side of the river from the Aquarium called Coolidge Park.

There's a nice rest area just above Macon, Ga.. I can't remember what exits are before it but you could pick your food up about an hour below Atlanta.

Ya, I've been to that aquarium before. Very nice aquarium. In between our April 2003 trip (our honeymoon) and our April 2004 trip, we did a little "mini-vacation" in October on Columbus Day weekend down to Chattanooga. I had a friend at the time who lived there who I met on another messageboard and we went down there and met him in person for the first time. We did Ruby Falls, Lookout Mountain and the aquarium. It was a nice road trip to give us our "fix" until our next big road trip to Florida 6 months later. :lol: We went walking over the river on a bridge, and there was a park, with lots of people out and about. I wonder if that's the Coolidge Park that your talking about?

I thought there was a rest stop right around Macon...and I think there's another one farther south. I can't remember the name of the rest stop, but I was thinking that one of them is named something that reminded me of the Andy Griffith Show, for some reason!:ROFLOL:

 

[Disneybird]

Check out the exit information guide. The web site is www.i75exitguide.com. It has all kinds of information including rest stops, hotels, and restaurants on the exits, etc.. I had forgottten about those until today, but you can usually find them at the welcome center in Georgia and Tennessee. Good Luck!

 

[eagles]

another vote for triple A here. although, i don't think you have to be a member to get the triptik. i know that i have pulled it up several times on the computer and have never had to put my member's number or any other info in.

so that part should be free.

but as far as being a member i would recommend it. a lot of places give discounts. no matter where you go, ASK if they have the discount. a lot of places now have triple A in their computers. so all you have to do is tell them you are a member or ask and it comes up on therir computers.

but don't forget to ask everywhere you go! i don't know how many times i have forgotten and could then kick myself in the head for that. some places will do a refund for the savings amount, but i found most will not.

 

[Phonedave]

If you want to spring for it, many GPS driving aids/maps tell you where the nearest food places are, along with rest stops, gas station, and other sundry items.

How long do you take on this drive? You must have the van packed to the gills to not be able to stick a cooler with some fruit and sandwitches in there somewhere

-dave

 

[sbkline]

If you want to spring for it, many GPS driving aids/maps tell you where the nearest food places are, along with rest stops, gas station, and other sundry items.

How long do you take on this drive? You must have the van packed to the gills to not be able to stick a cooler with some fruit and sandwitches in there somewhere

-dave

When it's just been the two of us, we've had a couple coolers in which we put snacks for the trip and for the room. Things such as sodas, bottled water, the infamous Pringles, pudding cups, Susie Q's, etc. Mainly just snack items and not real "meal" items per se, although we did use some of it as quick breakfasts before leaving the hotel room for the day's activities. I suppose we could pack some sandwiches or something for quick lunch stops. But I do know with two kids along this time and all the things pertaining to the kids, the van will be packed that much fuller...but we should still have room for the coolers. So you're suggestion is certainly a possibility.