What an amazing trip!
A few from me:
Nature:
- Fontana Lake
- Whitewater Falls
Science:
- American Museum of Science and Energy
- Mississippi Museum of Natural Science
Quirky:
- Mobile Carnival Museum
- Rusty's TV & Movie Car Museum
If you'd like the link to my map, let me know. Happy to help :)
https://preview.redd.it/kzt9ngjrza9d1.png?width=1248&format=png&auto=webp&s=984e9a442f13a7ed41a5c45e472ead037682e70c
The Blue Front Cafe in Bentonia MS. The oldest juke joint in MS.
Great burger or fried food for cheap, and $2 beers. Owned by Bluesman Jimmy “Duck” Holmes.
I was just at their festival.
Also for nature, Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park is just outside the city. I loved it there, very pretty. It was very serene when I went but I wasn't there during peak season.
I would take US 61 all the way on down to Baton Rouge and go through port Gibson (grand gulf) and Natchez. If you go I55 go to the civil rights museum in Jackson
The Vicksburg National battlefield is pretty interesting if you are at all into Civil War history. Also, this is a little off route, but I ended up on Louisiana 15 west of the Mississippi one time and that 1 hour stretch from New Roads to Natchez is pretty cool. Probably not worth a full detour but you get to drive over some of the locks keeping the Mississippi together.
Ocean Springs, MS if you like art and nature. Cute artsy downtown along the water with lots of art collaboratives and boutiques with all sorts of unique stuff.
Gulf islands state park is beautiful and right down the road.
Nashville is great. I’m actually there or here right now! Growing city, big time. Tons to do, food is excellent. Chattanooga has stuff to do.
Tennessee has Jack Daniel’s plant to see. Civil war battle sites if that interests you. Lots of history in Tennessee.
Knoxville is preferred for me. I just like it better.
Memphis is well, Memphis. Stuff to see but traffic sucks. Not always the nicest area.
Atlanta is just a crowded big city. Be careful, road rage and shootings aren’t uncommon in Atlanta, an Uber driver warned me. Was not especially impressed.
You’ll be close to Pensacola, my city. Beaches are great. Find the ones that are off the tourist areas.
https://preview.redd.it/jmxzuq4plc9d1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ecbc0b3332aec1a0f8b3e3da84e7719e1d201ea3
That sunset is one of those off the main places in Pensacola.
NOLA. Wanna do it or be done by it? NOLA is the ticket!
If you're doing the great Smoky mountains national park, you might want to stop over in Cherokee for a bit. The Oconoluftee Indian village is pretty cool, shows what life was like for the Cherokee before they were drove out of the area. Of course there's a casino, but there's plenty of other shops and things to see. You can also see some elk on the drive from GSMNP to Cherokee if you're lucky! You can hit the Blue Ridge Parkway from there for a bit if you're willing to venture past your marker, and you can end up in Asheville, a town with its own quirkiness. Hipsters, hippies, good food, good shows, lots of breweries. And you'll find plenty of hiking opportunities on the way.
More closely related to the area around GSMNP, don't bother with the Gatlinburg aquarium if you're going to the ATL one (though it is nice). Both it and Pigeon Forge are quite touristy, be especially careful you don't hit PF during one of the various car weekends; the main road through town comes to a gridlock and it can take an hour or two to go a few miles. Townsend is a quiet town outside Cade's Cove in the park, which I've heard has good restaurants (it's been too long since I camped there for me to offer recommendations).
If I think of anything else I'll add to this comment
Memphis: Civil Rights museum, Graceland,
Jackson: Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument
Mobile: Battleship USS Alabama
Atlanta: The Varsity Drive-In: "What'll ya have?"
Go check out the levees in NoLa. Peg-leg porker or Jack's Bar-B-Que in Nashville. You might be able to see the steam plume from the Watts Bar Nuclear plant when you are driving on I-40.
What an amazing trip! A few from me: Nature: - Fontana Lake - Whitewater Falls Science: - American Museum of Science and Energy - Mississippi Museum of Natural Science Quirky: - Mobile Carnival Museum - Rusty's TV & Movie Car Museum If you'd like the link to my map, let me know. Happy to help :) https://preview.redd.it/kzt9ngjrza9d1.png?width=1248&format=png&auto=webp&s=984e9a442f13a7ed41a5c45e472ead037682e70c
thank you so much!! i would absolutely love to check out your map if you don’t mind sending it :)
[https://lazytrips.com/itinerary/baton-rouge-nashville-round-trip](https://lazytrips.com/itinerary/baton-rouge-nashville-round-trip) here you go!
Loraine motel in memphis
This 100%. It’s a totally amazing place to see. There’s one thing I won’t mention but when you see it you’ll get chills.
The Blue Front Cafe in Bentonia MS. The oldest juke joint in MS. Great burger or fried food for cheap, and $2 beers. Owned by Bluesman Jimmy “Duck” Holmes. I was just at their festival.
Tabasco factory in New Iberia. Of course New Orleans.
In Memphis: Beale Street (at night), The Pink Palace Museum, Ribs at The Rendezvous
Also for nature, Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park is just outside the city. I loved it there, very pretty. It was very serene when I went but I wasn't there during peak season.
Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery
Skip the bars in Nashville and see Parthenon and world’s best museum, Lane. Also see some caves a bit north.
Eat at Loveless Cafe.
Go to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta to see the whale sharks. I also thought the Coca Cola Museum was interesting.
they have whale sharks?? i’m sold
And belugas! I knew about the whale sharks but was very surprised to see the belugas
I would take US 61 all the way on down to Baton Rouge and go through port Gibson (grand gulf) and Natchez. If you go I55 go to the civil rights museum in Jackson
Orange Beach. Rosa Parks Museum in Montgomery.
The Vicksburg National battlefield is pretty interesting if you are at all into Civil War history. Also, this is a little off route, but I ended up on Louisiana 15 west of the Mississippi one time and that 1 hour stretch from New Roads to Natchez is pretty cool. Probably not worth a full detour but you get to drive over some of the locks keeping the Mississippi together.
If you go slightly off course, you could hit Big South Fork. Get some Hot Chicken in Nashville!
Ocean Springs, MS if you like art and nature. Cute artsy downtown along the water with lots of art collaboratives and boutiques with all sorts of unique stuff. Gulf islands state park is beautiful and right down the road.
that sounds right up our alley, thanks for the recommendation!
Clermont Lounge - Atlanta
Watch some live Bluegrass music at the Station Inn in Nashville.
Stones river national battlefield outside Nashville. The marathon motors museum and Parthenon in Nashville.
I’m all for road trips . But check it out , back roads (“ cutting through the woods “) you see more and a lot more sights to see
i’m all for taking the scenic route!
I just started to plan out an identical roadtrip for next summer. I’m watching from the bleachers for things people suggest.
lots of great recommendations here :) i’m so excited
Nashville is great. I’m actually there or here right now! Growing city, big time. Tons to do, food is excellent. Chattanooga has stuff to do. Tennessee has Jack Daniel’s plant to see. Civil war battle sites if that interests you. Lots of history in Tennessee. Knoxville is preferred for me. I just like it better. Memphis is well, Memphis. Stuff to see but traffic sucks. Not always the nicest area. Atlanta is just a crowded big city. Be careful, road rage and shootings aren’t uncommon in Atlanta, an Uber driver warned me. Was not especially impressed. You’ll be close to Pensacola, my city. Beaches are great. Find the ones that are off the tourist areas. https://preview.redd.it/jmxzuq4plc9d1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ecbc0b3332aec1a0f8b3e3da84e7719e1d201ea3 That sunset is one of those off the main places in Pensacola. NOLA. Wanna do it or be done by it? NOLA is the ticket!
thanks a ton for the great recommendations and tips! i was born in pensacola and haven’t been in ages, i’d love to swing by the beach :)
Garcon Point has gorgeous sunsets. Navarre Beach. White sand!
If you're doing the great Smoky mountains national park, you might want to stop over in Cherokee for a bit. The Oconoluftee Indian village is pretty cool, shows what life was like for the Cherokee before they were drove out of the area. Of course there's a casino, but there's plenty of other shops and things to see. You can also see some elk on the drive from GSMNP to Cherokee if you're lucky! You can hit the Blue Ridge Parkway from there for a bit if you're willing to venture past your marker, and you can end up in Asheville, a town with its own quirkiness. Hipsters, hippies, good food, good shows, lots of breweries. And you'll find plenty of hiking opportunities on the way. More closely related to the area around GSMNP, don't bother with the Gatlinburg aquarium if you're going to the ATL one (though it is nice). Both it and Pigeon Forge are quite touristy, be especially careful you don't hit PF during one of the various car weekends; the main road through town comes to a gridlock and it can take an hour or two to go a few miles. Townsend is a quiet town outside Cade's Cove in the park, which I've heard has good restaurants (it's been too long since I camped there for me to offer recommendations). If I think of anything else I'll add to this comment
Northern Alabama is 1000% more interesting than southern Alabama.
National Corvette Museum, 350 Corvette Dr, Bowling Green, KY 42101. USS ALABAMA Battleship Memorial Park, 2703 Battleship Pkwy, Mobile, AL 36602.
Memphis: Civil Rights museum, Graceland, Jackson: Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument Mobile: Battleship USS Alabama Atlanta: The Varsity Drive-In: "What'll ya have?"
I really liked Oxford, MS. But then I’m a real Faulkner fan.
Go check out the levees in NoLa. Peg-leg porker or Jack's Bar-B-Que in Nashville. You might be able to see the steam plume from the Watts Bar Nuclear plant when you are driving on I-40.