I had so much fun doing MINI Takes The States – and loads of other people did too … so much so, that there is a plan for a Florida to Maine drive next year: The Great Ice Cream Run, and I’m very tempted 🙂
How about a seven day trip from Florida up to Maine including stops at some of the best ice cream shops you’ll ever visit? Homemade ice cream!
And for the real enthusiast, how about topping off the whole trip with MINIs on Top 2007?
Check out the Great Ice Cream Run website for more info – and “watch that space” …
And for loads of fun, check out the Great Ice Cream Run movie!
M&I / GBMINI 
Ian: You really should. You could put your car on the AmTrack and drive it back if your pushed for time…
But looking at the website, AmTrack only goes from Washington, so I’d still have to drive that far … do you then ride the train with the car? That might be cool
Yes you can board the AutoTrain in Lorton VA. Just like the old Car Train from England to the ‘continent’ – you load the car, and then ride the train to the destination. They do say you have to have 4″ clearance… hmmm not sure about your GP.
Looks like a quite reasonable price.
Clearance – maybe I’d have to take GBMINI instead!
Love the idea, however as someone living in New England, why haven’t you included the two greatest places for ice cream, Herrell’s of Northampton,MA and Ben and Jerrys of Waterbury,VT and then head off to Mt Washington.
Very suprised they haven’t been included?
Plus after the coming winter I-495 will be a nightmare to drive on, it has been worked on the past few years and has suffered greatly, expect some serious potholes. Not wishing to piss on your parade, more passing on my local knowledge.
I am sure a few more locals will have something further to add concerning good road/bad road.
Ice cream is ice cream.
I say go for hot dogs…but I always say that.
Hello Jared – long time no hear! Still driving a MINI?
Dave – if you join in the NEMINI thread you could propose other Ice Cream places; but I’m not sure Ben & Jerrys qualifies (too big)
Of course…87k miles and counting. Next long trip in the MINI will be out to Chicago…but probably not before work flies me out to Vegas for a few days at the end of the month!!!
We welcome any suggestions for local ice cream shops along the route. We’ve been searching the web for locations, but the “locals” always seem to know about the best places.
If you know a place along our route, please email the name, address, and web address (if they have one) to me and I’ll add it to our list.
We are skipping Ben & Jerry’s for two reasons. One, it’s WAY off our route and two, it’s not the small, one-of-a-kind type of shop that we are trying to focus on.
Have any of you actually put a Mini Cooper on the Auto Train … we’re getting ready to go north in a few weeks and if I can’t get past the 3 7/8 clearance I measured we’ll have to take the Toyota Camry … grandson will be so disappointed!
Stock MINIs do fit on the auto train. My Amtrak contact has seen MINIs on the train before. Lowered cars or GP’s most likely will not meet the requirements.