Roadtrip from SLC to New Orleans. Where to stop?

[eds325ix]

I'm taking a trip with the wife and kid across country starting in Salt Lake City and ending in New Orleans and back.
We know we want to hit Denver, San Antonio and Houston either on the way there or back doesnt matter.
We wont be making any reservations or planning anything in advance, just playing it by ear but i need your help with 'must go' or 'must see' places along the way.
We'll have 9 days total and if we dont make it to N.O. it wouldnt break our hearts. Driving the e39 540i and the 'kid' is a 2 year old boy with tons of energy so he'll be a big factor on how it goes.
Looking for awesome restaurants, museums, attractions in general, kids activities, neighborhoods to stay out of, etc.

Thanks in advance!

[Threehz]

Nine days total as in round trip?

[eds325ix]

Haha, yes. Gotto go back to work after. Not looking for a trip of a lifetime, just start driving and see how far we go and what we can see and do before its time to go back.

[flyboyx]

you have lots of options. depends on the route you travel. i assume that you have already seen arches nat'l park, slot canyon, glen canyon, monument valley because they are already in your state.



on way would be to take higway 70 into denver. grand junction is on the west side of the state ofc olorado: fort collins, a little north as is rocky mountain national park. very awesome. college town, cool bohemian downtown area, new Belgium brewing company...etc.

boulder, pretty cool i guess, but you will get sick of a bunch of assholes going around with their noses in the air because they are from boulder. i personally would skip this bullshit.

colorado springs: pikes peak of course. do this.

travel south on 87 and go through sante fe. artsy fartsy but awesome. continue south and see carlsbad caverns and the Guadalupe mountains. it is a boring drive through the desert in west texas but travel 10 east and check out san antonio and certainly austin. the music scene there is like none other. the bar scene is great too but i read that you have a two year old with you and being from salt lake, i assume you are lds and will want to skip that particular aspect.

after this go through houston on the way to new orleans. i can give you a list of at least a half dozen bad anus restaurants local to me that will knock your socks off since i live here.

[eds325ix]

Awesome, thanks! Shoot me a PM with the restaurant names and i can google the address and what not.
We're skipping Arizona all together. Whats good in Austin?
Anyone in San Antonio that can make suggestions?