Driving Down - Interesting Stops?

[MultiMut]

My first post to DIS boards. We're a family of four (kids are 9 and 10).

Will drive from Toronto using the I-75 route late-December, and already picked-up Dave Hunter's book.

If we go for the two-day/one-night drive, I think I'm pretty much set with other threads here, and the book.

But I'm also considering a more leisurely pace on the Southbound trip to see some sites.

The ones that seem interesting include: USAF Museum in Ohio, Toyota Factory in Tennesse, and the Kennesaw Museum in Georgia. I won't do all three, but hope to fit in one or two.

Has anyone visited these places, and would you recommend them? I've also wondering about itineraries (i.e. how to fit in, and best places to stop for the night if visiting one or more of the above).

Finally, are any of the outlet malls along the way particularily good for deals!

Thanks!

 

[Cruisin]

MultiMut

Sorry I can't help you with any of your questions. We too have driven to Florida many, many times using the I75 route but we have never done any of those things.
Are you planning on crossing the border in Niagara Falls or Windsor?

I just wanted to be the first one to Welcome you to the DISboards. Any questions you have, this is the place to find the answers.

Have a good trip!

 

[bunnyfoo]

I haven't been on the I-75 in years but I wanted to welcome you to DIS! One of my favourite outlets on the way down to Florida is on the I-95 ...I think it's called the Potomac Outlets, it's huge!

 

[cdnmickeylover]

If you are driving down during the week I would suggest a stop at the Plastics Factory that Dave Hunter mentions in his book. I think it's at exit 127 in Ohio. We finally managed to stop there this strip and it was amazing. It's huge and full of everything you could think of made of plastic. The store is only open m-f though so if you're driving on the weekend it's not open.

Welcome to the boards!

 

[TimNDansMom]

Hi Multimut! WELCOME to the Canadian DIS Boards!

We don't stop on the way down either as we are always in such a rush to get there. And then we only allow enough time to get back, so no time to stop then either. Having said that, we did once stop for a short time to go into the Kentucky Horse Park as I wanted to see the Man O' War statue and memorial gravesite, which I hadn't seen since I was a kid. If you have any horse lovers in the family, you might want to consider visiting there. At the time, it was early in the morning and since we only wanted to see the statue near the entrance, we didn't have to pay. One of these days I'd like to do the whole tour of the park. Dave Hunter talks about it in his book.

Have fun planning your trip!

 

[disneykins]

Welcome to the Dis, MultiMut,
Dont know about stops since we drive like mad to get there, too. LOL.
I dont know where the Toyota factory is but I know the Ford factory in St. Thomas (which makes a far superior product IMHO) doesn't allow outsiders to tour. Only family members over 18 and with an appointment. Security reasons.

Enjoy your trip

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

If you are driving through Atlanta (remember - don't go on the Atlanta I-285 bi-pass - drive right through the city.....even during peak times it's much faster to go through Atlanta using the HOV lane (the commuter lane) There is much more big truck traffic on I-285 than through the city, and greater risk for accidents)
Anyway, now that you are driving through the city, one of the best tourist stops we have found is The World of Coke. Atlanta is the world headquarters for Coke and it was invented here.
The museum is very interesting and hands on for your 9/10 yr olds. At the end of the tour you get all the free samples of coke products, plus ones from around the world, that you can drink. This is the part the kids would like, I'm sure
We've been 4 times with Canadian relatives who come down visiting.
From I-75 Northbound: Exit 246A (central Ave/Ga. Dome/Downtown) & go 1/2 mile to MLK Jr. Drive.
website: www.woccatlanta.com
Worth a stop.

 

[Cruisin]

Another possible place to stop for a short visit, might be in Corbin Kentucky at the first KFC restaurant and museum. You can eat there if you want, but it is kind of interesting to have a look at the various artifacts. It doesn't need to take long maybe 1/2 hour and it is not far off the I75.
Also at Sweetwater Tennessee, there is the Lost Sea, which is an underground lake. You tour the caves and then get a boat ride on the lake. The kids might think that is neat.

 

[dsneygirl]

We stopped at the KFC in Corbin, KY. It's only about 10 minutes off the highway and if it's lunch time anyway a good place to stop.

We also did the World of Coke on our drive down in October. WARNING: Directions to this place are not well marked and on one we asked on the street new where it is. Also every other street in downtown Atlanta is Peach Tree, Peach Blossom, Peach Fuzz (kidding). But it was kind of neat to see. Check the hours before you go, we got there on Sat afternoon and it was only open until 5.

 

[MultiMut]

Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome! I'm big on "planning", so I love these types of boards.

I called the Toyota factory visitor center in Kentucky (I said Tennesse in my original note by mistake) closes for a two week Christmas shutdown on December 23rd. So that one is out [I'm planning to start the drive on Dec 25th].

Some of the other suggestions sound great. I'll have to look into them, along with the "Along Interstate 75" book.

 

[abbyndrewmom]

When we lived in Georgia we did a really neat drive that was parrell to I-75 and stopped at all kinds of civil war battle sites and graveyards. We started just South of the Tenesse border and took this road up to Atlanta. We were just out for a leisurely afternoon drive so no rush, I probably wouldn't want to do it on the way to WDW but might be neat on the way back if you have any civil war buffs in the car.