OT - anybody from GA, TN, KY, NC or SC?

[DizneyDogs]

My DH and I are planning to take a trip to these states. We will be flying to Atlanta and then driving to TN, KY, NC and SC and then back to Atlanta.

We plan to go to Nashville, Memphis, Louisville and Atlanta for sure and visit Graceland, Grand Ole Opry, Coca-Cola Museum, Mammoth Caves, Churchill Downs, Louisville Slugger Museum and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

We are looking for what else we should see on our trip as we have never been to this area of the United States and are also looking for any recommendations of places to stay and eat.

 

[Maggimus]

My DH and I are planning to take a trip to these states. We will be flying to Atlanta and then driving to TN, KY, NC and SC and then back to Atlanta.

We plan to go to Nashville, Memphis, Louisville and Atlanta for sure and visit Graceland, Grand Ole Opry, Coca-Cola Museum, Mammoth Caves, Churchill Downs, Louisville Slugger Museum and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

We are looking for what else we should see on our trip as we have never been to this area of the United States and are also looking for any recommendations of places to stay and eat.

I live in TN-- if you are coming to the "great smoky mountain national park" as in Sevierville/Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge-- we have a lot of Shopping around here along with Dollywood Might check that out!

 

[nannerbadnanner]

I live in the Nashville area. I'll try to answer any questions that I can. What are you looking to do and what do you like to eat?

There are many hotels around the Grand Ole Opry including Opryland (that's a destination in itself) and the Radisson. There is also Opry Mills Mall which has a ton of stores, an IMAX, and many restaurants including Rainforest Cafe, The Aquarium, Macaroni Grill, Alabama Grill, Dave and Buster's, etc.

 

[NancyIL]

I don't live in any of those states, but drove through parts of KY, TN, NC, and SC on spring break a few weeks ago. If you happen to pass through Asheville, NC - be sure to visit the Biltmore Estate: www.biltmore.com

 

[2manypets]

I'm from Memphis, we have the Rendezvous BBQ restaurant and Graceland! If I can help, just holler.

Judie

 

[willis37862]

We plan to go to Nashville, Memphis, Louisville and Atlanta for sure and visit Graceland, Grand Ole Opry, Coca-Cola Museum, Mammoth Caves, Churchill Downs, Louisville Slugger Museum and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

We are looking for what else we should see on our trip as we have never been to this area of the United States and are also looking for any recommendations of places to stay and eat.

In Atlanta I would highly recommend the Georgia Aquarium , here is a link....its a really cool place. http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/

We liked the Coca-Cola Museum too but its a smaller attraction than the aquarium.

I live in the Sevierville area .....we look out the window and see the Great Smoky Mountains. I recommend you go into the National Park and hit the visitors center , they have a lot of info and are very helpful. Some great hikes and a drive up to Clingmans Dome is always nice.

In Gatlinburg the Ripleys Aquarium is nice but not as nice as the one in Atlanta.

Thats all I can think of right right now....there are plenty of t-shirt shops and go-kart places if you like that and also several outlet malls. Hope this helps

 

[willis37862]

I don't live in any of those states, but drove through parts of KY, TN, NC, and SC on spring break a few weeks ago. If you happen to pass through Asheville, NC - be sure to visit the Biltmore Estate: www.biltmore.com

I second that. Its a great place to visit.

 

[madge]

There's a small Coca-Cola museum in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Also in that area is the Lincoln Birthplace in Hodgenville, and My Old Kentucky Home in Bardstown. There are also a variety of bourbon distilleries open for tours, if that sort of thing interests you.

 

[willoughbyclan]

I live in Kentucky so I have been sightseeing in all of the states you have mentioned. It would be hard for me to think of everything to list off the top of my head so I'll go ahead and tell you what's pops to mind.

Memphis: Don't miss Graceland (my favorite-take ALL of the tours)
Beale street (listen to some music-eat some BBQ)
Peabody Hotel (watch the famous marching of the ducks)
Lorraine Motel/Civil Rights Museum (across street from motel)
STAX museum of soul

Tennessee: (Nashville)
Opryland Hotel
Visit the Belle Meade Plantation
Music Row (stop in to one of the clubs like WildHorse Saloon
you might just see someone famous)
Take a Star's Home tour
Eat at the Stock-Yard restaurant
(Smokey Mountains)
Clingman's Dome
Cades Cove (lovely drive and scenary)
Dollywood
Dixie Stampede Dinner Show
Comedy Barn (Love this place)
Eat at the Apple Barn
Eat a pastry from the Donut Friar (Downtown
Gatlinburg in The Village-go early, they sell out quick)
Shopping/Shopping/Shopping (Need I say more....)
Ride the Trolley at least once
Stay in a chalet on the side of the mountain
Ride the Chair lift (gorgeous view short of
taking the tram to Ober Gatlinburg)

Kentucky: ChurchHill Downs (Louisville)
Louisville Riverfront (take a dinner cruise on the Belle
of Louisville)
Eat at the Spaghetti Factory
Louisville
Stay at the Galt House (Louisville)
Carter Caves (Olive Hill)
Mammoth Caves (Cave City)
Kentucky Down Under (Cave City)
Corvette Museum (Bowling Green)
Kentucky Horsepark (Lexington)
Clermont (take a Jim Beam distillery tour)
Bardstown (take a dinner train)

North Carolina: Biltmore Estate (plan to spend all day-it is beautiful)
Maggie Valley

I'll try to think of more and come back later to add. I am jealous, you certainly picked some beautiful states to tour. I hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[jcgonczi]

In Atlanta you should go to Stone Mountain Park. It is about 1 hour outside the city, but worth it. Be sure to plan on being there are night for the laser light show. Look on their website for details.

Atlanta also has a Six Flags and White Water if you like parks.

The Atlanta Botanical Gardens are beautiful.

The north Georgia mountains are beautiful. Check out Amicalola Falls and the City of Helen. Helen is a small German type town in the mountains. If it is warm when you come you can go tubing down the Chattahochee River (sp).

Hope this helps!

 

[jennifer293]

In Atlanta you should go to Stone Mountain Park. It is about 1 hour outside the city, but worth it. Be sure to plan on being there are night for the laser light show. Look on their website for details.

I just camped there over spring break and we had a blast..very beautiful place!! I suggest that if you can camp there to do it...Also if you are a camper you get 2 days for the price of 1 at all the attractions

I live in the Chattanooga, TN area and there is lots to do in Chattanooga as well!!!

 

[ThreeSmiths]

Definitely visit the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC and if it's in your budget, stay at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville....get a room in the historic inn...well worth the $$$! Have a great trip!

 

[madge]

One other place along I-65 in Kentucky - Bernheim Forest. It's free during the week, and inexpensive on the weekends. A beautiful place to stop and recharge after being in the car!

 

[c88fly]

Whatever you do, make SURE you visit Graceland (I know you said you planned to). I've lived in Memphis all my life and finally went 5 years ago (and have been back twice). Even I could not ever imagined how simply awesome it is!

And don't forget Beale Street. And like one of the PP's said, make sure you eat our BBQ. Simply the best!!

PM me if I can help at all.

Lori

 

[c88fly]

Whatever you do, make SURE you visit Graceland (I know you said you planned to). I've lived in Memphis all my life and finally went 5 years ago (and have been back twice). Even I could not ever imagined how simply awesome it is!

And don't forget Beale Street. And like one of the PP's said, make sure you eat our BBQ. Simply the best!! Oh and the Ducks at The Peabody are always a big hit (I know Oprah really enjoyed them when she visited here last year). Try and get a brunch in so you can see them.

PM me if I can help at all.

Lori

 

[geetey]

Don't forget the Louisville Slugger Museum in Louisville! (I had to add that to the list. )

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Another vote for Biltmore House in Asheville, NC. Be sure to check out the winery tour if you're into that sort of thing. . Take a walk downtown on a weekend night to get a real feel for the delightful alternative culture of the area.

Also in NC, take a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Stop at some of the overlooks and pulloffs. Some feature trailheads or exhibits.

Come to the Piedmot and enjoy authentic pork barbecue in Lexington. Alos tour the nearby Childress winery lmao: I'm not that big of a lush; we just have some underrated wineries in NC)

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

My DH and I are planning to take a trip to these states. We will be flying to Atlanta and then driving to TN, KY, NC and SC and then back to Atlanta.

We plan to go to Nashville, Memphis, Louisville and Atlanta for sure and visit Graceland, Grand Ole Opry, Coca-Cola Museum, Mammoth Caves, Churchill Downs, Louisville Slugger Museum and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

We are looking for what else we should see on our trip as we have never been to this area of the United States and are also looking for any recommendations of places to stay and eat.

In Tennessee, we like Fall Creek Falls state park. Fall creek falls are always running. It runs better in the spring. But some of the other falls in the area can dry up in the late summer and fall. Fall Creek Falls is the highest free fall vertical drop falls (not counting cascading) east of the Mississippi.

http://www.state.tn.us/environment/parks/FallCreekFalls/

 

[tinah159]

Some things off the top of my head

Atlanta
Stone Mountain Park Lazer Light Show

North Carolina
Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway
Biltmore Estate (The winery tour is great)
Take the Great Smokey Mtn Railway Tour (Bryson City)

Tennessee
The Old Mill Restaraunt- Pigeon Forge
Cades Cove
Opryland Hotel

Louisville
Belle of Louisville Dinner Cruise
Churchill Downs
Riverfront area
Louisville Slugger Factory
Ohio River Locks and Dam
Eat at the Spaghetti Factory
Dont forget White Castle!

Also, you can drive across the bridge from Louisville into Clarksville, Indiana and visit the Falls of the Ohio. Its about 5 minutes from downtown Louisville.

 

[tinah159]

Some things off the top of my head

Atlanta
Stone Mountain Park Lazer Light Show

North Carolina
Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway
Biltmore Estate (The winery tour is great)
Take the Great Smokey Mtn Railway Tour (Bryson City)

Tennessee
The Old Mill Restaraunt- Pigeon Forge
Cades Cove
Opryland Hotel

Louisville
Belle of Louisville Dinner Cruise
Churchill Downs
Riverfront area
Louisville Slugger Factory
Ohio River Locks and Dam
Eat at the Spaghetti Factory
Dont forget White Castle!

Also, you can drive across the bridge from Louisville into Clarksville, Indiana and visit the Falls of the Ohio. Its about 5 minutes from downtown Louisville.