TRIED AND TESTED USA
FESTIVAL ROAD TRIPS
April time
If
you are lucky you can catch 2 great sun-drenched festivals in
Florida from the beginning of April –the free “Springing the Blues
Festival” in Jacksonville on the east coast at the beginning of
April and a week later “Tampa Bay Blues Festival” on the west coast
at St Petersburg (dates may vary). Check out their websites for the
line-ups and you’ll be impressed! Just buy some cheap camping chairs
and bottles of water from one of the big stores such as Walgreens,
CVC Pharmacies or Walmart and you are set –the food stalls are
brilliant! If you decide to go book accommodation early as the
nearest hotels go very quickly. Fly drive is best and ideal places
to visit are St Augustine and Cape Canaveral on the east whilst Fort
Myers, St Pete’s Beach are lovely beach spots on the west. We’ve
also driven up the scenic east coast to Savannah Georgia one year, a
picturesque city full of character –but don’t forget some midges
spray!
June time
Around the beginning of June is the fantastic free “Chicago Blues
Festival” -5 main stages and a couple of side stages with top class
acts set in a large park by the lake front. However, food, drink and
accommodation is not cheap! A week later is the smaller “W.C. Handy
Barbeque and Blues Festival” in Henderson Kentucky. What a lovely
setting on a tree-lined park by the Ohio River- well-priced food and
drinks and very friendly people. Again, an impressive line-up for a
free festival –check their web page and don’t forget to buy camping
chairs and bottles of water! Break up the journey to Henderson by
visiting Pontiac with its Route 66 Museum and stop at St Louis to
travel up the famous arch or visit the new interactive Blues Museum
there. For a stopover night back to Chicago you can’t beat Champaign
–a friendly place with lots of bars serving craft ales (especially
around the Hyatt Hotel).
August time
Fly
drive from Boston in time to get to “Rhode Island Rhythm and Roots
Festival” in Charlestown on Labor Day Weekend (dates vary from end
of August to beginning Sept) for something a little different! 2
stages and a large dance marquee with a laid floor for some serious
zydeco and Cajun dancing! Visit the wonderful Niagara Falls and
explore the surrounding New York State –we enjoyed the Finger Lakes
area although there is the Adirondacks with Lake Placid as an
alternative. Don’t forget to call in at Albany (the state capitol).
Paul
& Cathy
June 2016
