Nice playground/park in Nashville off I-65 OR I-24 and GOOD BREAKFAST PLACE VALDOSTA.

[TnTWalter]

We're heading for a LONG 15-16 hour total drive time road trip FRIDAY.

We want to stop in Chatanooga or Nashville & Atlanta.
UPDATE we decided on Nashville for the timing reason....

In Atlanta, thinking the Olympic park looks cool with the water fountains and kids play ground. And it's dog friendly [we'll have our dog]. Not sure how far off the road it is though....any other ideas if it is too far?

We stopped in Chatanooga at the Wood Carousel last trip and it was great but they don't allow dogs. Other ideas?

Or we're thinking of doing Nashville instead...Ideas there? Thanks.

We just want to be able to stretch our legs, play, maybe grab some food, use restroom, etc.

Thanks so much!!

And Valdosta a quicker stop for a nice stretch and breakfast.....
Trish

 

[~Kristina~]

There is a beautiful state park south of Atlanta, can't remember the name though. It's between Atlanta and Macon.

 

[boakl]

Take exit 269 B (Hwy 5) off I 75 towards Marietta

Follow the road for about 2.5 miles

The road will lead you directly to the square.

There is a nice, shady, grassy area for picnicking and a train themed play area.

We usually purchase pizza from the Marietta Pizza Company and spread out on the grass. I don't know their number off hand, but I am sure it's on the web somewhere. Call ahead and it will be waiting for you when you arrive!

 

[TnTWalter]

Awesome! Thanks.

Is this the train park? Sounds great!!

 

[Juliet25]

We've driven that route several times over the past 5 years or so and I'm so embarrassed to say we never really stopped anywhere. I'm taking notes for our next trip.

From our last trip in March I do recall that the rest stops in Tennessee are really nice. They're clean and one we stopped in north of Chattanooga on the way down had a dog jog area (not sure if it was fenced; I just recall the signs).

Good luck! We made this trek from St. Louis with a 10 month old and a 5 year old. We took off at midnight and drove straight through going down. That worked out really well. Coming back, we left Orlando in the morning and got caught in really bad weather. We ended up staying overnight in GA. The drive back is always the worse.

 

[TnTWalter]

Here's the place in Chatanooga we stopped. It was a highlight of the trip!

http://www.chattanooga.gov/PRAC/30_1096.htm

I'm thinking about going to Centennial park in Atlanta [where they had the 96 Olympics]. There's a shooting water fountain and playground there. Looks cool.

http://www.centennialpark.com/

 

[Reese'smom]

I live in the burbs of Atlanta and can tell you a little about the park you're talking about. It's the downtown area, so while it is pretty, you WILL see lots of homeless. Also, you will want to look over a map of the area to figure out where you can park and learn a little about the streets. There are a TON of one-way streets downtown. The park in Marietta that someone mentioned is awesome! I had my engagement pictures taken there. And even though it's not downtown, be prepared to see lots of homeless in Marietta Square park as well. I'd be happy to answer any other Atlanta questions you may have!

 

[LWatson]

In Nashville you have the bicentennial mall (park), centennial park w/ the parthenon, Opryland hotel is nice to just walk around, or you could stop in Clarksville, TN (it will be cheaper than stopping in Nashville and its only 30min diff...b4 nashville) if you are taking I24. In Clarksville (its the 5th largest city in TN) there is the Fairgrounds which has a nice size park about 15min from Exit 11, or there is the Riverwalk about 10min from exit 4 and it has a playground also. Exit 4 there has a mall, plenty of hotels and places to eat.

 

[TnTWalter]

THANKS for the great ideas!! I'll for sure look into the Riverfront in Nashville and the rest area with dog run near Chatanooga cool...

so we played with the travel plan and Nashville is our best stopping point for the long stretch.

Looking for playground, etc. with area to walk the dog...and a place to get quick good meal nearby that we can carry out because we have the dog. [love the pizza idea near Atlanta..bummer].

Then Valdosta would be a nice shorter stop for a good brekkie. Again carry out or drive through or I suppose we could split up who is with the dog...dog is starting to be a bummer. LOL.

Ideas would be great. THAnks!!

 

[Cibahwewah]

On our way back from Atlanta, (to Memphis), we took it slow to let the kids out of the car/take a break from the interstate. Chickamauga is a beautiful park (near Chattanooga), and Lynchburg (home to Jack Daniels) was a beautiful place to visit too.

 

[srwarden1928]

We have made the trip many times. The Shoneys in Tifton, GA that is next door to the Ramada Inn is for some reason the best Shoneys breakfast we have ever experienced. We eat Shoneys breakfast at night a couple of times a month at home. The one in Tifton puts it to shame. We go out of our way to eat breakfast there at least one way and sometimes both ways on Florida trips. Tifton is one county north of Valdosta. I am at work and dont have my travel books, but I think it is around Exit 62. (There may not actually be a 62, but the number is close to that.)

 

[TnTWalter]

Shoney's sounds perfect! Thanks!

Trish

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

We're heading for a LONG 15-16 hour total drive time road trip FRIDAY.

We want to stop in Chatanooga or Nashville & Atlanta.
UPDATE we decided on Nashville for the timing reason....

In Atlanta, thinking the Olympic park looks cool with the water fountains and kids play ground. And it's dog friendly [we'll have our dog]. Not sure how far off the road it is though....any other ideas if it is too far?

We stopped in Chatanooga at the Wood Carousel last trip and it was great but they don't allow dogs. Other ideas?

Or we're thinking of doing Nashville instead...Ideas there? Thanks.

We just want to be able to stretch our legs, play, maybe grab some food, use restroom, etc.

Thanks so much!!

And Valdosta a quicker stop for a nice stretch and breakfast.....
Trish

I live near Atlanta, and I wouldn't recommend the water fountain at Centennial park. It's challenging to get over there off the highway, and you have to pay for a parking deck, and frankly it's not an area of town I would feel comfortable leaving my fully loaded minivan sitting in. There also isn't a good place to eat or to stretch your legs.

If you're looking to spend 3 or 4 hours relaxing, look at Stone Mountain Park, it's not on the direct route to fla, you'd come in 75, take 285 east down to 78 east, and Stone Mountain is right there. To continue on to florida you'd get back on 78 west, take 285 south, hook back up with 75 south and continue on your way.

We tend to just grab and go for food on the way down with one stop in valdosta for food and gas, I would say Cracker Barrels are reliably good, there should be one in Valdosta.

Remember to look at the new 429 toll road off the turnpike in florida, we chopped an entire half hour off of our trip time this last trip by using it-no traffic AT ALL and it was spring break! Just watch out for the fuzz-a few speed traps after the toll booth and before the entrance to Disney...

 

[TnTWalter]

We ended up doing the Centennial park in Nashville. It was wonderful!!

The pretty lake to walk around, playground, cool train to look at and planes. Thanks so much. We saw a couple of weddings. Cool.

What a cool fun town. We tried to park downtown and go to a cool looking taco place [recommended by yahoo search] but couldn't find parking close enough [dog with us...]. Bummer. So we hit Jack in the Box. We don't have those near us and I used to love them when I lived in Cali....what happened to the secret sauce? LOL. Kids love getting burgers and fries so all is good.

We did stop at a Shoney's in Tifton but didn't remember what to look for. It was ok. Kids enjoyed getting multiple trips to pick things. DH and I made our own omelets...they were delicious.

Thanks so much all!

Trish

 

[TnTWalter]

Take exit 269 B (Hwy 5) off I 75 towards Marietta

Follow the road for about 2.5 miles

The road will lead you directly to the square.

There is a nice, shady, grassy area for picnicking and a train themed play area.

We usually purchase pizza from the Marietta Pizza Company and spread out on the grass. I don't know their number off hand, but I am sure it's on the web somewhere. Call ahead and it will be waiting for you when you arrive!

We stopped here on our way back!

FANTASTIC.

We grabbed pizzas and sat at a table outside across the street [with the dog] and then played and played. What a charming little town. We also walked around and saw the train depot...they were giving haunted tours [obviously not good for our kids] but interesting to walk around.

Thanks!!!