looking for a family vacation spot in SE U.S. (not FLA)

[hmwnick]

I am looking for someplace to go for our summer vacation. We did the west coast last year (would LOVE to go back but not enough $$$). Here's a wish list:
when - June/early July (trying to excape the HOT Texas heat)

where -choices:S. Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, maybe N. Carolina
We have never traveled to any of these states.

mode of transportation- car

activities- our family loves the great outdoors (children's ages 12, 8, 6)

lodging- hotels,&/or camping

Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[nkjzmom]

May I suggest the Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge area of TN? DH and I just visited last fall and loved it.

 

[FOJMO]

Stowe (sp?) Mountain, not far from Atlanta, GA. My sister says it's terrific!

 

[Dodie]

I would second the vote for the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge areas in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee!

 

[Boots]

How about a Tennessee-North Carolina vacation? I live about 90 minutes from Gatlinburg and I love that area. In Pigeon Forge there is Dollywood and bunches of outlet malls. Gatlinburg is just Gatlinburg, a place unto itself! You have Cades Cove and Townsend. There are trails to hike and you can go white water rafting if you so desire. You are either stay in a regular room or rent a cabin in the mountains. In NC you have Cherokee and Ashville. Ashville is where Biltmore House is and it is beautiful!!! The Smokies are gorgeous!! That is my recommendation!

 

[nkjzmom]

FOJMO...could it be Stone Mountain? It is a nice place....haven't been there in years....we used to go just for the laser show on the side of the mountain.

http://www.stonemountainpark.com/newsite/default.asp

 

[Tiggeroo]

We love the Smoky Mountains, NC and Tennessee. But my family will be going to the Outer Banks NC in a couple of weeks. This is also a place we love, if you want to do beach, kayaking, fishing, etc.

 

[FOJMO]

Originally posted by nkjzmom
FOJMO...could it be Stone Mountain? It is a nice place....haven't been there in years....we used to go just for the laser show on the side of the mountain.

http://www.stonemountainpark.com/newsite/default.asp

That's it! Thanks for clarifying. My sister and her DH and DD (3) went there on Christmas and they said it was beautiful!

 

[BobBrazeal]

Nashville, TN - Knoxville, TN - Pigeon Forge, TN - Gatlinburg, TN - Ashville, NC - Franklin, NC - Highlands, NC - Bryson City, NC - Chattanooga, TN - Trenton, GA - Fort Payne, AL - Huntsville, AL - Franklin, TN - Nashville, TN

Couldn't list all the things that could be seen on this loop. Some already mentioned.

Opryland Hotel
Great Smoky Mountian National Park
Cherokee National Forest
Pisgah National Forest
Biltmore
Nantahala National Forest
Tennessee Aquarium
Cloudland Canyon State Park
Little River Canyon National Preserve
NASA / Space Museum

Incredible scenery. Wonderful camping, small towns, large towns, etc.

If you have any interest in Civil War history, this area is rich in it.

 

[ead79]

Hilton Head Island, SC--Disney has a DVC resort there that you can often get GREAT deals on (check on mousesavers and on www.dvcresorts.com to see if there are any current deals). It's very relaxing. It's in a woody area, but it's not far from some outlet malls, and the beach is about a mile away (Disney does have a beach house on the coast for their guests as well).

 

[mum4jenn]

It get dreadfully hot here in GA also!!! There is Wild Adventures in Valdosta Ga that has amusement Park and Wild Animal Park combined. It is a very nice place to visit. Also there is Callaway Gardens up around Columbus Ga. Six Flags and Stone Mt in Atlanta. There is Helen GA also that has a little town designed like an Alpine German Village and there are things like White Water rafting and tubing down the river. GA has ALOT of BEAUTIFUL state parks. They simply take my breath away. If you are trying to get away from the heat though I would go for the Mountains of Ga or like the others wrote about up at Gatlinburg area.

 

[nancyj_pa]

We love Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. There's so much to do. We took our married children and grandchildren a couple of years ago. We stayed at a hotel on the beach. The hotel had a lot of pools, a lazy river, arcades, etc. There are outlets there, and shopping centers where you can lunch and watch the alligators swim by. Mini golf for the kids everywhere and gorgeous golf courses for adults. All kinds of water sports too.

 

[mom2boys]

My suggestions have been mentioned - Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Gatlinburg....

If you aren't limited to the states mentioned, Williamsburg VA is on my wish list. There is Busch Gardens, WaterCountry USA, Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown, Jamestown, VA Beach - lots of military attractions in the area.

 

[suzannen]

My kids always adored Myrtle Beach - totally commercial so lots of miniature golf, restaurants, fairly cheap hotels, "the strand" with its great roller coaster, seafood, the beach, golf...

The Smokey Mountains are beautiful also and the Outer Banks have a lot of history.

 

[atlnewf]

If you really love the outdoors, then Gatlinburg and area or maybe Cherokee, NC. Both are great for hiking and such (they're just across the mountains from each other).

Myrtle Beach is nice, but it's VERY commercial. I'm headed to DVC's Hilton Head resort next month, I hear that's really nice as well.

I live in Atlanta, there's lots to do (both inside and out), but everything is spread out. So be prepared to drive around to get to what you want to do.

Charleston is nice as well.

Ashley

 

[ripleysmom]

I vote for Myrtle Beach. I was there about a month ago and was really impressed by the location that I stayed and the friendliness of the residents.

 

[disneyelaine]

I recommend Jekyll Island, GA. Or even St. Simons Island, GA. Jekyll Island is featured in this months "Family Fun" Magazine. That's the mag they always have in the rooms at WDW. It's a great place, has beaches, nice family friendly hotels, a great waterfront seafood restaurant. It's a pretty quiet place, but has a great bike path around the island & all the hotels rent bikes. The trees are so pretty there, with the moss hanging down. Also good golf courses. There's a water park too. And some huge mansions open for touring. The wealthy way back when used to have summer homes there. The history of the island is very interesting. Oh and there is also a pier/marina where you can go out fishing or on a dolphin cruise. JFK JR. got married on the island right south of JI.

 

[Planogirl]

I love the Smokies and some of the other areas that have been mentioned. If you don't want to go quite that far, you might want to look into the Arkansas and Missouri Ozarks. The area is gorgeous and we always have a great time.

 

[Buckalew]

Another vote for East TN. The Smokies are beautiful. There is so much to do here. Townsend is a nice quiet place to stay and you can be to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg in no time.

Good luck searching for the perfect place! Let us know what you pick.

 

[Jomrog]

We went to Myrtle Beach last year & loved it!! My kids were 7 & 8mos. We rented a house south of MB with my brother, cousin & their families.

You can sit back & enjoy the beach or you can get into the commercial stuff and go on rides, mini gold, Ripleys Aquariam. Lots of shopping.

It's reasonably priced, too.

Pigeon Forge/Gatlinbrug is a good choice too if your not a beach person.

If you like a less commercial beach, try NC outer banks or although I have never been there, I hear that Edisto Island is nice.

Lastly, I know people who absolutely love Charleston, SC.

Good luck!