Driving from Chicago, sites to see along the way?

[Pam Lau]

Call it the Clark Griswold in us, or whatever, but we actually enjoy driving down to WDW from Chicago. After hauling you know what to arrive in less than 24 hours, we decided to show the kids that there is more between Chicago and Orlando than a 4 lane highway and a few Cracker Barrrels. Last year we stopped in Mammoth Caves and went Down under for a 4 hour tour. This Thanksgiving we are stopping in Chattanooga for a tour of Ruby Falls, a ride up the incline Railway to Lookout Mtn. and we are actully going to "See Rock City!" It doesn't get much better than that. But we are welcome to ideas for future journeys. My DH wants to stop in Lynchburg,TN for what else a tour of Jack Daniels. That's right one of these times you will be able to recognize us by the Whiskey Barrel strapped to the roof.

 

[Jane E.]

Sounds like fun, Pam. I'm the same way. We visited Ruby Falls about 8 years ago on our way to Gatlinburg, TN. It was the first cave my sons had ever visited so they really enjoyed the tour. I wish that we would have taken the time for the Incline Railway & Rock City. I just figured we'd hit them on the way home,but we went a different route home. We also had lunch at some microbrewery in Chatanooga. On other trips we've hit Stone Mtn, a gold mining cave in Dahlonga, GA, and state and national parks. Its important to take time to smell the roses. I found out the hard way that sometimes you never get to make up the missed trips. We lived in CA for 9 years. When we were taking trips, we'd talk about visiting San Simeon, San Jose etc, but would always decide to do it "next time". Unfortunately, we moved unexpectedly and missed alot of interesting places. We were always in a hurry to get to our destination.

 

[Pam Lau]

We went to Stone Mtn. once wehn the kids were 3 and 1 1/2. Too young to appreciate it, but still a great place to take kids since they can run around and have fun. I would like to go back, but I have yet to figure out how to time it so that we are passing it at a good time for stopping.

 

[Thmacs]

I just saw a segment on "Food Finds" on the Food Network on Lynchburg TN. Besides tours of the distillery there are shops and resturants that make all kinds of diffrent foods with Jack Daniels. If you search www.foodTV.com for "Food Finds" then look for Jack Daniels you will be able to get the names and adresses, operating hours etc. We are from Chicago as well, never stop anywhere between. Post when you get back and tell us how your road trip went!

 

[SmileyJoyz]

Just wanted to say that I'm glad my boyfriend and I aren't the only ones crazy enough to do the drive. We enjoy the time we get to spend together talking and just taking in the scenery. We consider it to be part of the whole vacation package!