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Enter Gadling's "Perfect Road Trip" Contest!
Yesterday, we announced Gadling's "Perfect Road Trip" contest, a fantabulous contest in which Gadling is partnering with Cadillac to send one lucky winner (and a friend!) on his or her perfect road trip, all expenses paid. All you have to do is describe your favorite road trip, and if you're selected as the winner, Cadillac will provide -- - airfare for you and a friend from your home(s) to the start of your road trip destination;
- a new Cadillac SRX to drive for the duration of a the road trip (sorry, you have to give it back at the end of the trip);
- money for fuel and expenses along the way (think: hotel and meals);
- airfare from the road trip's end point back to your home.
- In the comments below, leave a comment telling us about your favorite road trip. (Please: no months-long trips here; the road trip may only be two days long, but that's PLENTY of time to, say, cruise the Florida Keys.)
- You don't have to have been on the road trip before -- it can be one you're dreaming about -- but try to be specific. Make us drool over your imagined itinerary. (Hint: the prize will be available in September, so try to think of a relevant destination -- and that destination must be in the Continental US.)
- You can only leave one road trip suggestion, so choose wisely. Successive road trip ideas will remain visible on the site, however, for other people to dream about.
- All submissions must be left by July 22, 2009, at 5pm EST, in order to be considered.
- Gadling's road trip gurus will choose the 5 best road trip ideas from those left in the comments.
- We'll present Gadling's readers with the list early next week, and they'll vote on which is the best road trip -- and therefore, who should be the winner of the contest.
- Leaving a comment below constitutes having read, understood, and agreed to the complete rules (link is a PDF).
Gallery: 2010 Cadillac SRX
Filed under: North America, United States
Reader Comments (Page 4 of 4)
Kelsey Schwenk Jul 27th 2009 8:10PM
As a northerner from Minnesota, people often look at me funny when I say that I want my last meal on earth to be Barbecue Ribs. We don't have much of a reputation for it north of the Mason-Dixon line. But once I traveled south and had a taste of that sweet home cookin' when I was 7 years old, there was no going back.
Unfortunately, my choice of careers has kept me safe above the BBQ belt, leaving me to scavenge for morsels of true southern Barbecue in the form of a tourist trap or a TGIFridays.
It is my dream to drive the windy country roads, down in the states that invented coleslaw, cornbread, and baked beans, looking for roadside vendors with their own very special sauce. From Memphis, TN to Hilton Head, SC, I'd stop in every state along the way (Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia) to try their own versions of my favorite delicacy. I'd stay in local bed & breakfasts to sample the host's signature recipes, likely passed down from generation to generation.
With only 13 hours of driving, I could take my time wandering about small towns, sample the local Blues and Bluegrass music through the festivals that happen nearly every weekend, and hopefully even collect a few recipes to bring home to keep my taste buds satiated.
Please help this poor girl stuck in a northerner's body find her inner southern belle.... in the BBQ belt!
Billie Jul 22nd 2009 10:56AM
I spent some time preparing the entry below and the posted date of 7/22 for submissions was apparently incorrect. I guess we don't get this dream trip for a second time, but I wanted to share it with you anyway. I saved posting it as today is my birthday and I thought posting it today would be lucky. Guess I was wrong.
They say, in life you never get a second chance. Thanks to this contest, my husband and I may have one for our dream road trip originally planned for our 35th anniversary. Yes, you read that right; we celebrated that milestone in January 2009. The trip was inspired by 18 hours in LA with a convertible. Sunday morning riding up the Pacific Coast Highway, top down, wind blowing in our hair, somewhere around Malibu we had a brainstorm. Why not celebrate our anniversary with a coastal road trip from San Diego to Big Sur. We had this all planned and then life intervened and we had to put it on hold. We really want to win this contest and make this dream trip a reality. The wonderfully luxurious Cadillac SRX Crossover with the nifty sunroof is the perfect stand-in for our mythical convertible.
The Perfect Road Trip
We fly into San Diego and spend the night at the Del Coronado. Ever since I heard about this Victorian gem years ago I’ve wanted to stay here.
Day one is a leisurely drive up the coast, to Santa Barbara, stopping in Malibu for lunch and a little beach time. We enjoy the scenery and stop when and wherever we want. Our final destination is the luxurious San Ysidro Ranch. We stay in a one-bedroom cottage, it’s a special occasion and we’re pampering ourselves. We dine on-grounds at the romantic Stonehouse Restaurant, a former 19th-century citrus packinghouse. After dinner, a walk and then back to our sumptuous quarters.
Day 2 begins with a leisurely breakfast and then we take to the road again. Our first stop is San Luis Obispo. We visit the historic mission and then tour the botanic gardens where Mediterranean plants flourish. They also have a sustainable design area that interests us.. After a simple and delicious lunch it’s back on the road to ooh and ah at the spectacular scenery on out way to Big Sur and the renowned Post Ranch Inn. On out way we stop at Pfeiffer-Big Sur State Park home to magnificent redwood trees and then on to the inn. Once settled in our luxurious quarters, we take a walk and enjoy the views. Next, we indulge in a couple’s massage at the spa. After, we float back to our room for showers. We opt for a romantic dinner at Sierra Mar, the inn’s restaurant. Why leave paradise? After dinner, we find a romantic spot for a renewal ritual a friend once suggested. We sit looking into each other’s eyes and each tells the other why he/she is loved. What a perfect place to reaffirm our commitment to each other.
We get up the next morning ready to surrender our fabulous Cadillac SRX and fly home refreshed and rejuvenated.
Jonathan Jul 22nd 2009 12:46PM
My dream road trip in the brand new Cadillac SRX would start at Auburn University in Alabama where I recently graduated from in 2007. We are in a very rough patch in our economy and I have been fortunate enough to be finishing up my first month in a new job dealing with steamship container deliveries. I help serve the Ports of Norfolk, VA; Wilmington, NC; Savannah, GA; and Charleston, SC. I would love to take a road trip with my best friend along the southeastern coastline and take some brief tours of these massive ports and visit family and friends along the way. I have a cousin who is a teacher in Raleigh, NC and I would love to get to see her b/c I have not been able to in quite some time. I also grew up in Hilton Head Island, SC where I still have some freinds who I'd take the time to visit and show off my great ride.
I am also dreaming of my next car and I have to dream b/c the car is not out yet. I am a fanatic for the new 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe which Bob Lutz just recenly confirmed is still in the works!! Having some time in the Cadillac SRX would keep my faith for the future and keep my mind racing with thoughts and fantasies.
So me and my bud would go from Auburn, AL through and up South Carolina and finish up in Virginia with stories galore!! Please help make this a reality! Thank you!
Cary Laurance Jul 22nd 2009 2:04PM
My ideal weekend road trip would start with my wife and myself in Portland, OR following the Columbia River out to the coast along hwy 30 through Astoria and turning south on Hwy 101. I can't imagine a better vehicle for this trip than the all new Cadillac SRX, luxury seating with a panoramic view and an open sunroof weather permitting. Hwy 101 follows the coastline through many beautiful coastal towns with stellar views of the Pacific Ocean the full length of Oregon. But road trips are all about The Drive so a quick overnite stay in Brookings,OR and then onward toward my final destination of Sausalito, CA. This section has it's own spectacular scenery, The Redwoods, quick peaks at the ocean, small towns, lots of mountain driving to test the abilities of the SRX. , then into Sausalito for a great seafood dinner with a view that includes the San Francisco skyline, Golden Gate and Bay Bridges and Alcatraz Island. Now that is a GREAT weekend road trip!
Othernel Jul 22nd 2009 1:56PM
As a kid who grew up in a family with few means early on, we didn't get to travel much growing up. But for as long as I've known my father, he's always talked about going to the west coast and driving the Pacific Coast Highway from San Fran to Los Angeles. But unfortunately, that's one trip that he's always sacrificed in order to take his family to amusement parks and visit family in the northeast.
With his recent retirement, I figured we go see the Golden Gate bridge via seaplane before heading down to Monterey to settle in for some dinner on the beach and a hotel near the surf spots. Then the next day we can head out and hit up San Luis Obisbo and Morro Bay while eating lunch straight from the sea before finally heading down to Los Angeles and catching a game at Dodger Stadium, which has been on both of our lists since my grandfather was a farmhand for the Dodgers when they were still in Brooklyn.
It would be a dream trip if it could happen. :-)
Zach Jul 22nd 2009 2:56PM
For the four years I've known my wife, Margaret, she's been craving Tuna-Que from Pigman's Bar-B-Que on North Carolina's Outer Banks. She ate the barbecued fish on a family vacation 8 years ago and has never been able to find it elsewhere. Her efforts to have it shipped to our house have been thwarted, because, well, Pigman's is unable to ship fish.
Now that she's pregnant, her hankering for Tuna-Que has intensified. Please help!
We'd fly from our home in Louisville, Ky., to one of the airports in the Norfolk, Va., area, arriving in the morning. There we'd pick up the Cadillac SRX and drive two hours south along the Currituck Sound to the Sanderling Resort & Spa in Duck, N.C., which bills itself as "the Outer Banks only true resort."
After unpacking the SRX and checking in, we'd head deep sea fishing on a charter boat we booked in advance--both of us enjoy the open ocean and sportfishing. After a half-day of trying to catch blue and white marlin, which run through September, we'd return to the Sanderling. My wife would have the mother-to-be massage in the spa while I get the Sanderling Facial & Pedicure. Or, more likely, I'd blog about our trip so far and then head to the Swan Bar and Lounge for a few Guinness (weather and parings be darned: it's my dream road trip and I'll drink Guinness when I please).
Dinner that night would be in the Wine Room at the Sanderling's Lifesaving Station Restaurant. Don't worry though, despite being a wine connoisseur, Margaret wouldn't do more than sniff the wine that I have with my local fish for dinner.
The next morning we'd get up early--or at least try to--and drive down the coast, using the Cadillac SRX to head out on some trails and look for the wild horses. (The Outer Banks is one of the last places in the United States where wild mustangs still roam free). After getting our fill of the ponies, we'd head to, yes, Pigman's in Kill Devil Hills and feast on Tuna-Que while watching the hang gliders and kites on the dunes of Jockey's Ridge State Park. Most likely I'd make a crack about the Tuna-Que being good but not living up to the billing, get glared at by Margaret and then quickly apologize.
After lunch we'd get back in the SRX and drive along Highway 12, with Pamlico Sound on our right and the Atlantic Ocean on our left, to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. We'd stop near its iconic lighthouse and picnic with fruits, crackers and (pasteurized) cheeses we'd picked up along the way as we watch the sunset over the sound. We'd then drive down the Ocracoke Island, NC, where we'd spend the night in one of the village's quaint bed and breakfasts and enjoy local music at the Deepwater Theater & Music Hall.
The next morning it'd be up early again and off to either the Raleigh or Wilmington, N.C., airport to drop off the SRX and fly back to Louisville. Exhausted, we'd fall asleep on the plane before returning home and having to turn our attention to decorating a nursery, finding daycare, and taking classes to find out what this whole parenting thing will entail, but thrilled that we had one last trip alone together.
DEBBIE YUTZY Jul 22nd 2009 3:25PM
I wouold like to start my trip in Bar Harbor Maine. Then follow the coast north. In September, maybe an early fall so we can see the leaves change colors. Take the winding mountain/coast roads towards Bangor, Maine. I haven't been there in 20 years or so and my husband has never been there! We can't afford a vacation of any kind and this would be a good "quickie" so to speak:) A Cadillac SRX would be sooo comfy on this 48 hr. run! Maybe a good nights rest at a good B&B and up for a blueberry pancake breakfast and off and running!! Thanks for the chance, we love the idea!
Trannie Harmon Jul 22nd 2009 3:44PM
Our roadtrip would begin by my husband and I flying into Portland, Maine. We have never been there and believe it would begin right along the coast with awesome views of the Atlantic Ocean. Stops would be made at the beach to walk hand-in-hand and barefoot to the ocean water. Then back to the car to move on to a fabulous restaurant to experience the delicious aromas and taste of fresh seafood. That night would be spent in a hotel right on the beach and the patio doors would be left ajar to sleep to the sound of the crashing surf.
The following day, we would travel inland to view the wonderful sights of fall, ie. leaves turning beautiful shades and animals preparing for hibernation. Once again we would stop along our journey to walk hand-in-hand into a beautiful park to take in the sights, smells and sounds of the land changing to prepare for the cold winter weather.
This trip would prepare my husband and I for our return to Tucson, Arizona minus the green grass, ocean breezes and winter weather.
Ed Simon Jul 22nd 2009 3:43PM
The perfect road trip for me would be to travel to the uppermost corner of East Texas, from Dallas, Texas. My first stop would be in Greenville, Texas to buy gas and cruisng through the downtown area looking for the perfect antique shop to browse. After leaving there, I would travel to through the pine forest of east texas along a 2-lane highway to Mineola, Texas. On the way, I would tstop at several fruit and vegetable stands set up on the side of the highway. The second leg of the trip I would make a stop at Sid Farm where a picturesque farm with fields of fresh fruit, such a blackberries, to pick you own.; stay the night in one of the cabins on the property; fish in the pond facing the cabins; and end the evening by watching the sun set on the front porch of the cabin.
JR Jul 22nd 2009 4:20PM
This is a Cadillac we're talking about. An American icon, immortalized in songs like Vince Taylor's rockabilly classic “Brand New Cadillac”.
So when my baby drives up in a brand new Cadillac, there is only one perfect drive: Nashville to New Orleans. How Cadillac is that? For any Cadillac, this road trip would be a rite of passage; for a brand-new one like our SRX, it's a baptism of the highest order.
Starting in Nashville, Tennessee, the capital of country music, we'll drive south and west via the Natchez Trace Parkway and old Highway 64 to Memphis, birthplace of the blues. First on our Memphis agenda: Graceland, home of the King, Elvis Presley, who was also the King of Cadillacs (he owned over one hundred Caddies). Then on to Sun Studio and Beale Street before arriving at the Lorraine Motel to pay respects to another fine Cadillac man, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Who doesn't remember the iconic photo of the Lorraine Motel with Dr. King's white Cadillac parked out front and the memorial wreath on the balcony?
After some heart-stopping Memphis barbecue, it'll be time to make like Bob Dylan and head out on Highway 61. We'll travel south along the Mississippi Blues Trail, keeping a lookout at the crossroads for Robert Johnson's soul, visiting the old Dockery Plantation (home to many blues legends), making a pilgrimage at the birthplace of Muddy Waters and, as always, continuing to conduct our exhaustive research into local cuisine.
Driving down into Louisiana, we'll eschew the impersonal interstate for the Great River Road, winding our way along the Mississippi to Baton Rouge, passing through a mix of the old (plantations) and new (petrochemical plants) South, until we cruise the causeway over Lake Pontchartrain and reach our final destination, New Orleans. In the French Quarter, we'll park our Caddy in a shady spot, make a beeline to Central Grocery for a muffuletta and laissez les bon temps rouler for what's left of our perfect weekend.
And y'all can come with – before we go, we'll be taking requests for our Nashville-to-Memphis-to-New-Orleans and Songs About Cadillacs playlists. Along the way, expect Tweets from the road, pics and videos uploaded at truckstops and blog posts written in the wee hours, ideally with the assistance of strong coffee and fresh beignets from Cafe du Monde.
Javier Jul 22nd 2009 4:52PM
Well I come from a small south Texas town and currently drove up to Baltimore, MD and I have to say it was one of the best experiences I've had. I grew up in a small town with a constant temperature of 98 degrees Fahrenheit, surrounded by mesquite trees and very humid air. I have flown up North only twice in my life, but driving up was a whole different experience. Leaving the flat arid area and entering a vast land full of towering trees. Even though I travelled during the winter season and majority of the plant life was dead, it was still an amazing sight. Even living up here, seeing the environment change during the season was amazing. That experience introduced me to a whole different environment in American. I've never been the type to travel and visit monuments, but after seeing the beauty of nature that American provides has made me want to drive and see what else I can find.
My Ideal road trip would begin at Mount Rushmore in Keystone, South Dakota. I think it’s a great place to start off with, admiring what the country has to offer and the beauty it holds within. After visiting Mount Rushmore, I would head out West and visit Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. It would be great to drive and see trees towering past you as you drive. Although some people do not enjoy driving, it is a peaceful yet exciting experience. Driving for hours trying to absorb as much of the environment as possible. Trying to make sure what you saw was permanently etched in your mind. It's great being anxious and excited as you drive until you finally see in large letters "Yellowstone National Park". Arriving to a destination and seeing it in person is completely different compared to only seeing it in pictures. Yellowstone National Park would be a perfect destination to admire nature beauty.
The final journey after Yellowstone Park would lead me to the south; leaving the large towering trees and entering a very different but alive habitat. Looking side by side only seeing giant rock hills, as the landscape begins to fade from green to orange. As if you have entered an entirely different world; observing the vast hot land heading to my final destination, the Grand Canyon. This would be a great conclusion to my ideal road trip. The Grand Canyon is a symbol of the beauty and age that this planet holds. Larger and more vast than any of man's creation. The Grand Canyon is the perfect illustration of a land that can never be changed.
I think traveling by vehicle is an experience many people take for granted. This is a country full of life and beauty and you miss it every time you travel by plane. You do not need to fly a across the globe to witness beauty in nature, when all it takes is the turn of a key and the sound of an engine.
Sylvan Hoover Jul 22nd 2009 5:36PM
The trip starts in San Francisco. Head over the Golden Gate bridge to get a spectacular view of the Marin headlands. Continue along Hwy 1. As you descend to the coast, the road hugs the the hills and affords a spectacular view of the Pacific.
Continue to Point Reyes Station. Cowgirl Creamery is headquartered here, and they run a small cantina. Stop for some of their spectacular Clabbered Cottage Cheese and Red Hawk cheese. There are a couple small bakeries lining the main strip in the town; stop in to grab some scones to accompany your Cowgirl goodies.
North of Point Reyes, Hwy 1 mostly follows the shoreline.This is a classic road tripping road; roll down the windows, open up the sunroof, and enjoy the sea air and the tree crown tunnels.
Stop for lunch in Fort Bragg, home to North Coast Brewing. Here they run a small tap room where they pair local food with some of the best ales in the country.
Take local roads once Hwy 1 heads inland. This area is known as the Lost Coast. The roadways are narrow and mountain hugging, a perfect transition from the cruising nature of Hwy 1. Continue till you reach Ferndale.
Ferndale is a classic victorian California town with numerous cafes and small shops. Spend the night in Ferndale.
From Ferndale head through the California Coastal Range. You’ll take Hwy 36 as it snakes adjacent to torrid creeks through the valleys of the range. The road descends into the Central Valley of California.
Head south on Hwy 99 passing through small towns till you see the the road heading to Vina. Vina’s the home of New Clairvaux Vineyards. The vineyard is run by a community of extremely friendly and welcoming Trappist monks, but it was originally founded by Leland Stanford. The buildings that Stanford built for his winery remain along with an ancient Spanish monastery shipped to California by William Randolph Hearst.
Nearby is Chico, home to Sierra Nevada Brewery. Their tap room is now copper-clad, and a marvel. In their tap room they pour a selection of beers only available on-site in addition to their well known ales. Grab a hamburger made with beef from the local teaching farm as you sip of the their velvety brews.
After heading up to Paradise (yes, it’s the name of the town). From Paradise head south to Oroville, with largest earth dam in the US. The drive across the top of the dam provides views of the valley that are unrivaled.
From Oroville head south-west through the flatlands of the California central valley. Here you’ll pass through the rice patties and corn fields that the valley is so well known for.
En-route back to the San Francisco have dinner at Buckhorn Steakhouse in Winters. At Buckhorn they perfectly age their locally raised beef, and serve it simple and unadorned to allow the best of the meat to come through.
The perfect two day road-trip is through a section of California not always thought along the lines of Napa, San Francisco, or Los Angeles, but manages to deliver a California that is all the more beautiful for its position in the shadows.
Arti K Jul 22nd 2009 4:58PM
This road trip starts in Spokane, WA, goes to Glacier National Park, through the Going To The Sun road, and back to Spokane, WA the next day.
Why Spokane, WA? Because, between Washington and Montana, on highway 90, lies the perfect stretch of mountainous driving in the great state of Idaho. 80 miles an hour (or more) smooth sailing driving through mountains, up, down, inclines from 2% to 6% and beautiful scenery every now and then makes for the best high speed drive ever.
Then you get to Glacier National Park, and there's Going To The Sun road - that road trip pilgrimage that most people ought to make at least once. Crisp, beautiful mountains, mouth-watering turns, heart-stopping views. I haven't, and I missed out on it only because it wasn't summer yet. I hope I get to go this time.
Back to Spokane, another go at the beautiful roads in Idaho, and that's my perfect-est road trip!!
R. Sharon Mc Govern Jul 22nd 2009 5:19PM
My favorite road trip started in San Francisco and went into Marin county on Rt 101. I don't remember the highway at this moment but I traveled through "The Valley of the Moons" on my way to Napa Valley and points north from there. I never stopped to view "Crystal Lake" but would like to do so. It is reported to be so clear you can see to the bottom. There is also a ghyser in Napa Valley that would be of interest. I remember driving through clouds north of Lodi. What a dreamy experience that was! On my way back to San Francisco, I visited St Thomas Bay and dinned on fresh caught seafood . I have never eaten such good fare since. California provided such a wonderland of landscapes. It was almost spiritual.
Rachel Taylor Jul 22nd 2009 5:41PM
I am a traveler with a love for traveling through America by car. My husband is a foodie with a particular affection for places with BBQ, Neon signs or both. Needless to say, we have been on quite a few road trips. I don't know that I can put any one trip at the top. So, I will tell you about a trip we have been talking about for a while, but haven't been able to take... yet. The focus of this trip is long-lost friends, road food and out of the way sites. In Texas.
We would fly into El Paso and visit a good friend from college that we haven't seen in years. We'd have to stop at Smitty's for a taste of West Texas barbecue. Then we would start driving East, stopping at The Caverns of Sonora and Fredericksburg before heading into Austin to see a couple more friends, one that I haven't seen since high school and one who moved a few months ago.. In Austin we have to go to The Salt Lick for some BBQ and try our best to score tickets to a taping of Austin City Limits.
On the way to San Antonio to visit another high school friend, we'll be stopping at Kreuz Market in Lockhart. In San Antonio we will definitely be making a stop at Casa Rio for a little taste of history and great TexMex. It's on the Riverwalk and was founded in 1949.
Then it's off to Galveston and Gilhooley's Restaurant for perfect, fresh oysters and cold beer in a great outdoor setting. There's not much we want to do in Houston, except see a friend, but he likes Galveston better too!
Eventually we will make it back to Houston and fly home.
alison bloye Jul 22nd 2009 7:02PM
2 stay at 5 star hotels on the way and go to disneyworld.