Cross Country Road Trip Days 9 & 10

Baltimore, Maryland to Long Island, New York

Day 9: Fun in Baltimore
Day 10: Go home

Highlights:
1. Maryland Crab Cakes from Jerry D's Seafood. It's a local place, far away from the tourist traps. It's awesome. Go there, thank me later.
2. A trip to the National Aquarium in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. They have some great exhibits & a fun dolphin show.
3. Food, particularly desserts from Vaccaro's Pasticeria. Unfortunately I didn't get a shot of my dessert because we took it to go. But it was AMAZING. This is one of the few places in Baltimore's Little Italy that keeps late hours (from a New Yorker's perspective) so it does get crowded, but it's worth it. The Mufalato, marinated artichokes & lemon drop martini I had was great too!
4. Charm City Cupcakes in Inner Harbor. Maybe you've noticed a theme, but I was basically taking a food tour of Baltimore . Drinks, shrimp & a funny wait staff at Dick's Last Resort was fun too.
5. Last bit of hang out time with my friend Michelle, who invited me on this once I. A lifetime trip... And some last quality time with her adorable cat & dog.

Reality check: After seeing so much variety, so many colorful people & having such a great time I've confirmed / learned that I am an East Coast gal 100%, I miss having pets, I drive better in cities than I ever gave myself credit for & I really want my own house. That last bit may sound weird, but seeing so much gives one a great appreciation for home.

Playlist:
1. A Brighter Day by The Doobie Brothers
2. What's The Rumpus? By Gaelic Storm
3. Where I Sleep by Emeli Sande
4. Comin' Home by Lynyrd Skynyrd
5. The Once And Future Carpenter by The Avett Brothers

Cross Country Road Trip Days 7 & 8

St. Louis, Missouri to Baltimore, Maryland

After spending extra time in St. Louis & in an effort to gain some extra time in Baltimore we pulled another all nighter. There are pros & cons to this plan. On the downside fun side stops and sights are closed. On the bonus the roads are often clear. If you're attempting such a trip I recommend working within your personal limits. Here we have two people who work overnight shifts and are often wide awake in the middle of the night, so we used that to our advantage.

Highlights:
1. Going out to dinner & shopping in Inner Harbor in Baltimore. We scoped out the sights, took it easy & made plans for the next day.
2. We stopped in Indianapolis for Sushi. My travel mate was in the mood for sushi so we put Yelp to the test & found a winner.
3. Relaxing once we got to our final destination. My friend's new apartment was ready & waiting. After an overnight drive a shower, a nap & painting out nails put us on the right foot before going out.
4. Healthier options at chain restaurants. I try not to splurge calorie wise on every meal. Surprisingly Cheesecake Factory had some lighter options that tasted great.
5. Sleep. A good nights sleep helps reset for the next days activities.

Reality check: Overnight drives don't eliminate your need for sleep, they just help you get to a specific sleep destination.

Playlist:
1. Black Water by the Doobie Brothers
2. Oh Hey by the Lumineers
3. Drops of Jupiter by Train
4. Daylight by Maroon 5
5. Good Morning Baltimore from the Hairspray Soundtrack

Cross Country Road Trip Day 6

Kansas City, Missouri to St. Louis, Missouri

Highlights:
1. Feeding the fish at the marina at Longview Lake in Lee's Summit with my friends from the area.
2. Getting to St. Louis early enough to enjoy the evening. I particularly liked the Drury Hotel we stayed at. It was a 15 minute walk from both the stadium & the Arch. Plus they have a free happy hour & breakfast.
3. Going to a baseball game at Busch Stadium! Beer, cotton candy
4. Roadside stop at Nostalgiaville, USA... It's a great kitschy little shop & it breaks up the monotony of the usual stops.
5. Grabbing drinks after the baseball game at The Outfield bar. Great drinks, atmosphere, city view & music.

Reality check: We originally planned on only stopping for lunch in St. Louis. The game changed our minds... And breaking up really long driving days with fun days makes for a great pace. Flexibility makes a trip like this work.

Playlist:
1. Drive by Incubus
2. Starlight by Muse
3. Steady As She Goes by the Raconteurs
4. When I Come Around by Green Day
5. Open Your Eyes by Snow Patrol