US 41 - from Chicago to Miami

[BrandonTO416]

US 41 is a roadway that goes from the extreme tip of Michigan's UP bordering Lake Superior south of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada to the southernmost portions of the continental US ending at Miami, Florida. This tour shows a little bit of of the drive down.

First in Michigan, you see the cozy looking greenery in the rural UP of Michigan.

Northern Michigan is pretty rural.

The first real city that US 41 goes through is Milwaukee, but I couldn't find any pictures. So onto Chicago we shall go, with infamous Lakeshore Drive - which is of course US 41.

What a city!

http://home.earthlink.net/~bjearnest82/us41/Chicago_Skyline_gro

[Allan]

Only one photo of the woods in the U.P.? Haha. There isn't much urbanity up there, although Houghton is a nice little town. There are some cool ghost towns up there though. I love the Keweenaw Peninsula, but I doubt I could stand it during the winter!

[Brickell]

wow, I had now idea. Thanks for the mini-tour. Unfortunately, there's no sign down here saying "houghton 1990 mi".

41 in Miami ends as Calle Ocho. It ends at Brickell Ave in the financial district and home to many new skyscrapers. As it goes west it's the heart of Little Havana. Further out it turns into Tamiami (TAmpa-MIAMIA) Trail as it cuts through the Everglades and Big Cypress national parks. It's a beautiful drive, you're guaranteed to see a few alligators and wading birds.

Here's some more Pictures I found of the Miami side.

Tamiami Trail

proposed skyway to replace the roadbed as it cuts through the everglades.

Calle Ocho festival in Little Havana

[BrandonTO416]

US 41 is a classic "scenic" route, especially since it connects Chicago and Miami.

[monsoon]

Wow, what a great photo. Miami does not get the recognition it deserves for being an urban place. Also this was a really nice thread that brings back road travel before the Eisenhour Interstate system was built.

[wolfdawg54]

Awesome tour! I never really knew how far up 41 went until now. I just thought that it died in the Chicago area, but all the way up in the Upper Peninsula. Wow! Maybe someday I will take a roadtrip.

[BrandonTO416]

BTW, if any of you want to add skyline pics to the individual cities along the way (especially since I skipped Milwaukee) feel free to!

[Urban_Legend]

Wow, that would make an awesome road trip!

[BrandonTO416]

Miami does not get the recognition it deserves for being an urban place.

A city that is a non-stop pop cultural icon, from Miami Vice to CSI Miami, to the nationally known gay community, the nationally known Cuban community, a city that is glorified in movies from True Lies to the Birdcage? A city the national media made the spotlight when Elian Gonzalez wasn't allowed to go back home. Little Havana was on every local news channel nationwide for 6 months.

I think you are underestimating how much attention Miami - a 4 million metro - actually gets in our culture.

So far as urbanity goes, no one will deny Miami has its urban flavor, but its not the biggest/most urban city in America. I would place it in the top 10 for certain.

[Brickell]

Actually 5.2 i think in the metro.

I think both of you have a point though.

Miami gets recognition, but not always as a real city.

[Chachi]

I drove US 41 from north of Metro Atlanta to almost Macon, Ga about 3 months ago. Just in the Atlanta area it is a fascinating drive. It's one of the tackiest roads in Cobb County, where it's Cobb Parkway. Lots of car dealerships. Crossing the Chatahoochee River in the City of Atlanta it changes into Northside Drive and goes through ultra-wealthy Buckhead's residential area. It passes just west of Midtown and Downtown Atlanta, when it goes by Georgia Tech and then the cluster of Black Universities near downtown. South of downtown is a lower income area. It goes right by the eastern side of Hartsfield-Jackson Airport and then onto the southern suburbs of Atlanta. I kept on it and was waiting for a sign that would point me to an interstate to get back home, but I never saw one. After driving through a couple rural counties and their county seats, I was able to find I-75 and get home. It was a neat day trip and I'd recommend it to anyone else. It doesn't have to be US41, any US highway will do. They give you a much better perspective of a city than the interstate highway.

[BrandonTO416]

The tackiest thing is the big chicken at an old KFC on Cobb Parkway. Then again it fits the area really well.

[Chachi]

The tackiest thing is the big chicken at an old KFC on Cobb Parkway. Then again it fits the area really well.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, the famous "Big Chicken." All the car dealerships on Cobb Parkway use it as a landmark on their advertisements. "Just a half-mile south of the Big Chicken on Cobb Parkway."

[Jerseyman4]

US 41 is indeed an interesting road. Ive been on a good chunk of it in FL (between Sarasota and Ft Myers) and portions of it in the Atlanta area north of downtown.

[mgk920]

Awesome tour! I never really knew how far up 41 went until now. I just thought that it died in the Chicago area, but all the way up in the Upper Peninsula. Wow! Maybe someday I will take a roadtrip.

[dtown]

This signs just outside of Copper Harbor, MI.

Begining of US-41 in Miami

[Temeteron]

Nice!!