Where should my Southern road trip take me?

[Radical Activist]

I'm planning to do one of my favorite things in the world, a road trip through the South. Sometime next month I'll be going down. Where should I go this time?

[Left Is Write]

1. Frankly, I loved visiting both Memphis and Nashville and would recommend both.

I spent a whole night, all night, bar hopping on Beale Street on an overnight to Memphis and had a fantastic time.

[Radical Activist]

2. They're fun towns.

I've been many times but I never mind going back.

[Left Is Write]

4. How long will your trip be?

[Radical Activist]

10. probably a week or 10 days.

It won't be the month long hegira I really want. But nothing is set in stone.

[Left Is Write]

15. So you can do a bit of meandering...what fun!

We have a road trip planned for this summer - heading to MN via the Black Hills (from Boise, ID).

[Shell Beau]

7. Beale St. can be fun!! Have you ever done New Orleans Bourban St.?

A blast times 10!!!! But there are also so many more things awesome about New Orleans.

[Left Is Write]

12. No. I'd love to visit NOLA one day.

[jobycom]

117. Next weekend would be a good time. nt

[Jamastiene]

3. Town Creek Indian Mound in Mt. Gilead, NC

Also, Uwharrie National Park is gorgeous this time of year.

http://www.nchistoricsites.org/town/town.htm

http://www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc/recreation/uwharrie/

[Radical Activist]

8. I've never been to either.

But they look like the sort of places I would like. Thanks!

[Rhythm]

17. Every time you mention a landmark, i wonder if we were neighbors...

:hi:

I used to live in Norwood NC (1992-99)...

[Jamastiene]

26. We were very very close.

Stanly County is just northwest of Richmond County where I live. It's actually attached to our upper left hand corner by just a tiny tad bit on the map.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond_County,_NC

[Rhythm]

69. I used to go through Rockingham al the time for one reason or other...

:hi:

Next time we go down there to see 'the family', i'll have to drop you a note first, so we can take you out to lunch or something!

[brandon_]

5. if i could vote

it'd be for #1

[Shell Beau]

6. Can you combine them all?

You need to see Atlanta, Dallas, Memphis, anywhere in MS ;), Galveston, the Ozarks, Chatanooga, Nashville, St. Louis, etc. I could go on and on and on!!!!

[Radical Activist]

14. Not on this trip.

I wish I had more time than I do. I've been to all of those places before though.

[Shell Beau]

20. You've been to anywhere in MS?

:P

[Radical Activist]

25. Yes, but

not in a long time. I've been to Vicksburg to see the names of my Union army ancestors on one of the monuments. The other time, I drove through at night on the way to NOLA. I'll admit to largely neglecting MS on my southern road trips.
:hide:

[Shell Beau]

34. That is ok! You did see Vicksburg. Though it isn't the main

Civil War area to see, IMO. Natchez is still full of so much history. Many of the plantation homes still exist. Raymond, a very small town outside of Jackson, still has a lot of their buildings too. We lost many since Grant burned a lot of the state.


I am happy that I went to Gettysburg. It was so neat to see and try to visualize what happened. I am so fascinated by the Civil War. I am glad the south lost, but I wish my state didn't lose so much history because of the fires.

[Radical Activist]

39. that reminds me

of a corny moment when i put the song jackson on repeat and cranked up the radio when i went through jackson.

[Shell Beau]

48. The Johnny Cash song?

[Radical Activist]

49. Yes.

With June Carter.

[Shell Beau]

52. Hell yeah!!

:thumbsup:

[Radical Activist]

53. maybe i'll take highway 61

out of memphis. i always threaten to do that but never do.

[Shell Beau]

55. The last time Bonnie Rait was in Jackson, she was so excited

because she was so close to Hwy. 61!! So much blues-y history there. If you really want to get deep, you need to go to the Crossroads where Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil!! Not much to see there, but still...

[Radical Activist]

58. yeah

it's pretty much all flat delta and cotton fields along 61 isn't it? Although I've read about a blues museum of some kind.

[Shell Beau]

62. That is all it is. There are a couple of museums.

Even one in Water Valley dedicated to Casey Jones and his train. Don't forget, though, that B. B. King and Jim Henson are from the delta. There are museums for them too. That is about it. But you can get some KICK ASS bbq and fried catfish in the delta.

[Ava]

56. have you been to Ground Zero?

i don't know how far you are from Clarksdale, but i've wanted to check Ground Zero since i saw a documentary about it and Clarksdale a few years back

[Shell Beau]

65. My great grandparents lived in Clarksdale. We used to go every year.

It was only a couple of hours from where I lived. I haven't been recently, so I haven't been to Ground Zero. My great grandparents are dead and now if I go up to that part of MS, I just keep on going to Memphis. Or even Tunica.

[kwassa]

9. San Antonio, New Orleans, Lafayette.

places I had the most fun.

[Shell Beau]

13. Those are all nice.

I have never been to San Antone! But I have heard it is a great place to visit.

[kwassa]

37. Go to San Antonio on the 4th of July

best and biggest party I have ever been to.

[Radical Activist]

18. i just went to

san antonio for the first time on new years eve this year. I only spent two days there and I'm dying to go back.

[Shell Beau]

36. Did you see anything to do with the Alamo?

[Radical Activist]

42. Where? I don't remember.

[Shell Beau]

50. San Antonio? Off the riverwalk.

http://www.thealamo.org/

[jobycom]

103. They have a great Chilis with the best Mexican food you'll find.

:smoke:

[Radical Activist]

108. it makes me happy

that someone remembers that thread.

[jobycom]

109. There's no explaining what sticks and what doesn't.

:rofl:

[SoxFan]

72. I love San Antonio!

Houston and Dallas are basically suburbs on steroids, but San Antonio is a funky, interesting place. It doesn't have the forced modern feeling that you find in many sun belt cities (Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Charlotte).

The Riverwalk is a fun place to hang out, and the missions are a must-see for anyone interested in history, Catholicism, or architecture.

[Ava]

11. New Orleans and Savannah

[Shell Beau]

16. I have always wanted to go to Savannah!

[Ava]

21. it's very pretty

good food too! :hi:

[Radical Activist]

19. you know

i've never been to savannah and i hear all kinds of great things about it. i may have to map that out and think about it.

I went to NOLA for the first time a year before Katrina. that was the same trip when i went to U of Bama for a day/night.

[Ava]

27. it's a very pretty city, and like i said above, great food!

a radical activist at the U of Bama huh? how'd that work out? :P

I actually lived in Tuscaloosa when i was little... Alabama is a pretty campus - very greek though

[Radical Activist]

32. remember the other thread tonight

where I wrote about someone saying I look like a Democrat and his girlfriend shushed him like it was an insult? That was there.

I had fun and there were lots of cute southern girls but very conformist. Like they hadn't been exposed to the rest of the world.

[Ava]

35. i'm not surprised

and yes, it is pretty conformist among many crowds, but there are non-frat boys and sorority girls there. it's one of the most greek campuses in the country though, which is part of the cause of that conformist attitude.

[Radical Activist]

57. you know

i'm just a little disappointed you didn't put in a plug for somewhere in your home state. I've already been to Huntsville, Birmingham and Montgomery, so I don't think you could convince me. But I thought you had more state pride than that. :evilgrin:

[Ava]

64. The 'Bama gulf coast is nice

Fort Morgan is neat to check out if you are in the Mobile area. B'ham and Montgomery are nice but not road trip worthy.
'Bama is mostly woods, which is nice if that's what you like. I'm not far from Mount Cheaha, which is pretty and i like it... but again - not road trip worthy.

[Radical Activist]

66. thanks

for being honest. :) I always stop somewhere I can hike for at least a day on any road trip.

I'm going to think about an Atlanta, Savannah trip. Then I'd get at least one new city.

[Ava]

67. i love Atlanta

we are members of the aquarium there, which is awesome... and if you're a roller coaster lover(i am) six flags i great. the city is pretty awesome too ;)

Savannah is just a great southern city. lots of history there.

[alphafemale]

80. I live in the Savannah area. It's beautiful. Especially in the spring.

It is stunning. There are always plenty of interesting things to do as well. Many of them free.

Here's a link to check out.

http://www.connectsavannah.com/gyrobase/index

Another bonus is that Charleston is only about an hour and a half away. It's like a twofer.

I live just outside Savannah, btw.

:hi:

[Ava]

81. can i come and live with you?

it would just be until the fall when i leave for school.. please? :rofl:

:P i love savannah

[alphafemale]

85. Depends. Would you squeegee down the shower when you were done?

http://savannah.locale.com/media/galleries/savannah+ga/area+info/financial+overview+taxes/savannah_forsyth_park_dscf8610.jpg

[Ava]

86. i don't shower, so that shouldn't be a problem

:P :rofl:

[Radical Activist]

94. thanks for the link.

That's tempting. I went to Charleston once years ago so going again would be fun.

[conscious evolution]

98. You can see every thing

there is to see there in two days.

My suggestion-L5P. Google it.

[Robeson]

22. If you make it to Nashville, let me know...

...Mrs Robeson and I would love to treat you to a drink!

[Radical Activist]

28. awesome

thanks!

[begin_within]

23. Shenandoah National Park

[enigmatic]

24. Athens, GA

You can't go wrong..

[Ava]

29. we once went through athens on a road trip

and could not get out of the city.. we somehow managed to keep missing the interstate over and over :rofl:

[enigmatic]

41. ha!

That's how they get you :D

I lived there in the late 80's for a couple of years and it's probably the only city I'd live if Iever came back to the US. Like any good college town, it's it's own universe.

[Ava]

45. i'm sad we didn't get a chance to actually check out the city much

we were just passing through. i don't make it to that part of GA very often since it's about 3 & 1/2 hours from us

[Radical Activist]

30. you know

for all the times I've gone through Georgia I never went to Athens. Maybe now is the time.

[enigmatic]

46. you need to go

You might stay there forever; I almost did...

[mitchum]

73. It is a sad sad pathetic shadow of its former self...

been here 7 years and I have watched it continue to decline

[enigmatic]

83. Really?

Oh man, I hate to hear that; what happened?

[mitchum]

84. Several factors...

no tax base (churches and university property take up so much of the potentially taxable land in the town)

Hope Scholarship inspired all of "Marietta's Finest" and "Sons of Dunwoody" (middle class suburban rednecks) to go "major in bidness at UGA"

The cultural cheerleaders like to champion the glories of the past (remtones and Pylon from 25 and 30 years ago and the Elephant 6 trust fund twits from 15 years ago)

It really is a seedy small town with a huge poverty problem

[enigmatic]

87. Ugh

Ity really pains me to hear this. I had some great times in Athens from 88-91...

[Ava]

31. oh, god how could i forget.. you MUST visit

Dollywood - the redneck sixflags




:rofl:

[Radical Activist]

33. been there many times.

Have you seen dixie stampede with the ostrich cavalry?

[Ava]

40. i've been once

and no. i spent my time there going back and forth between the whopping three roller coasters :P

[alphafemale]

88. oh.my.gawd.

I was feeling kind of bummed that our family reunion was there this year.

(by default. That's where my oldest sisters nursing school reunion will be held.)

Last year's was at Cocoa Beach FL and we saw a shuttle launch, but that has nothing on an ostrich cavalry.

:rofl:

[Radical Activist]

90. It's all the great

white trash spectacle you could hope for and more. Plus, the Smoky Mountains are right there if you get tired of the factory mall crap in Pigeon Forge.

[JVS]

38. You have to visit Elvis' grave!

[Ava]

43. it's similar to visiting the vatican

people passing out, crying, and generally acting absurd :rofl:

[Radical Activist]

47. Of course!

I've been to Memphis at least a dozen times but I always miss out on Graceland.

[abq e streeter]

70. Been there once ( Graceland)

I could live without seeing it again, but I AM glad I went that one time. Saw that you've been to Memphis lots of times, and done Beale street etc..... I'm guessing you've been to Sun Studio; if not, you gotta ( or not; maybe not your thing) . But I was in awe ...I didn't get to the Stax museum, the Rock and Soul Museum( our tour guide at Sun said its really good) or the Civil Rights Museum, which also comes highly recommended, on my only time in Memphis, but will make sure to hit all of those next time. And a couple of friends ( who are both phenomenal singers themselves) went to services at Al Green's church, and Rev. Green was there, conducting the service, and they said that was an incredible experience too.

[SoxFan]

44. Louisiana!

New Orleans and Lafayette, especially. Baton Rouge is kind of blah, except for the bullet holes in the walls of the State Capitol.

Other Cool Southern Places:

Eureka Springs, AR: Branson's weird, hippie cousin
Fayetteville, AR: Some good restaurants, beautiful scenery, Razorback football
Gulf Shores, AL: Beautiful beaches, less hectic and cheesy than Destin and Panama City
Memphis: Kind of a dump, but it has personality, blues, and the Peabody ducks

[Ava]

51. if in gulf shores

the Flora-Bama is a must.. it's not far from gulf shores at all

[jobycom]

105. Don't forget Lambert's cafe, home of the throwed rolls and the dumbest, worst

redneck dad I've ever seen.

[Shell Beau]

54. And if you are a newbie to Memphis, you have to see Graceland!

I have seen it so many times that it has lost its appeal, but if you may never get back this way, it is a must see!

[susanna]

59. The Smokies are amazing.

I go there over and over and over again. They're just comforting to me, not sure why. :hi:

[Radical Activist]

61. yes.

they are very comforting to me too. i've been there many times and will be there many times more.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

60. Go someplace in the south that you have never been before..

How much time are you taking off? ROAD TRIP :bounce:

[Radical Activist]

63. probably

a week to 10 days. So not a huge amount of rambling time that I would like but it's enough to go somewhere.

i've been to many places in the south but I got a few good suggestions of new ones.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

68. alrighty then

have a good trip.

me? I just point the car South and go ;)

http://www.youtube.com/v/t7ruuydWOY4&hl=en&fs=1

I didn't say we wouldn't hurt anymore
That's how you learn, you just get burned
But we don't have to feel like dirt anymore
Though love's not earned, Baby it's our turn
We were always looking for true north
With our heads in the clouds, just a little off course
I left the motor running, now if you're feeling down and out

Come on Baby drive south, with the one you love
Come on Baby drive south, with the one you love

I'm not talkin' 'bout retreatin' little girl
Gonna take our stand, in this Chevy van
Windows open on the rest of the world
Holdin' hands, all the way to Dixieland
We've been tryin' to turn our lives around
Since we were little kids, it's been wearin' us down
Don't turn away now darlin' lets fire it up and wind it out

Come on Baby drive south, with the one you love
Come on Baby drive south, with the one you love

I heard your mama callin'
I think she was just stallin'
Don't know who she was talkin' to
Baby me and you
We could go down with a smile on
Don't bother to pack your nylons
Just keep them pretty legs showin'
You know it gets hot down where we're goin'

We were always looking for true north
With our heads in the clouds, just a little off course
But I left that motor running, so if you're feeling down and out
Come on baby drive, come on baby drive south, come on baby drive south

Come on Baby drive south, with the one you love
Come on Baby drive south, with the one you love

[old mark]

71. Georgia. Anywhere but Lanta. I lived in Augusta for a while

and it's a beautiful area.

mark

[datasuspect]

74. mississippi, louisiana, and texas

mostly texas

[Bertha Venation]

75. Do not miss the Smokys if you have a chance to go through there.

Glorious.

[Radical Activist]

91. Yes.

I rarely miss the chance.

[TBF]

76. Go through the mountains - so pretty by Knoxville... n/t

[EastTennesseeDem]

77. Come to Knoxville!!

That would make two Democrats.

Oh, and it is pretty gorgeous too.

[Radical Activist]

92. I love Knoxville.

And it's not that Republican. They had a big anti-war protest before the invasion. There were something like 800 people.

[EastTennesseeDem]

101. Admittedly I wasn't here then

And it's not as bad as I say. But for the first time in my life, I'm definitely in the political minority. Maybe that's why it seems more pronounced than it really is.

[MilesColtrane]

78. Shiloh National Military Park

It's about 80 miles east of Memphis along the western bank of the Tennessee river.

It's one of the most pristine of the major Civil War battlefields, and the landscape is just beautiful.

[Radical Activist]

93. Good suggestion.

I've been there before, but since it has been so long, I may go again. I don't think the friend I'm traveling with has been.

[yvr girl]

79. Charlestown, SC

Is beautiful. Lots of history. Beaches. Great food.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

99. Do you, by chance, mean Charleston, SC? I am not familiar with a

Charlestown, SC

http://www.charlestoncity.info/home/default.aspx

[yvr girl]

100. You are so right

Chalk it up to not paying attention while posting.

[Mudoria]

82. Asheville and the Boone area are worth the trip..

[yellowdogintexas]

89. if you are going in late March, the redbud will have started blooming in Memphis

and the dogwood follows. Forsythia and azaleas come first.

So Tennessee would be great fun. Dogwoods in the Smokey Mountains are amazing.

http://www.dogwoodarts.com/

http://www.terragalleria.com/pictures-subjects/dogwood-blossoms/

Stop at Mammoth Cave KY if it is on your route (only 1 1/2 hrs north of Nashville, straight up I-65.

Now the other thing is this: in March, the bluebonnets and other wild flowers are in full swing down here in Tejas. They move up from San Antonio through the Hill Country and into our area in majestic waves of blue, and are a sight to behold. And our weather is really nice in March and April ..it is not too hot then.

http://www.highlandlakes.com/wildflowers/

http://www.dannyburk.com/texas%20landscapes.htm

[Taverner]

95. Do the Smoky/Blue Ridge Mountains!

Trust me, I thought these were amazing

Sure, they don't have the jaw dropping nature of the Sierras and Rockies, but damn if the Appalachians aren't some of the most beautiful scenery I saw in my lifetime.

I had to drive from Charleston, WV to DC one day, and man, every inch of that highway made me want to stop the car, get out and just LOOK.

[Taverner]

96. Oh and one thing - don't be afraid to be a Democrat

I was surprised at how many hated Bush out in WV.

Especially the families of Coal Miners.

[Radical Activist]

110. oh no

If I end up renting a car I'll be sure to get some temporary Obama swag for it.

[MajorChode]

97. Don't go to Texas, whatever you do

It's not that there aren't interesting things to see in Texas, because there certainly are, but you'll spend a heap of time driving through very un-scenic territory to get anywhere.

I would recommend the Virginia, North/South Carolina, Georgia, Florida route going along the coast on the way down and coming back up through Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia.

[wartrace]

102. Don't leave out Chattanooga!

Go up on signal mountain, it is spectacular. I wouldn't pay for Rock city unless you really want to see a tourist trap. The civil war battle site on the other side is just as good without the high cost of admission. The aquarium is good too!

In Nashville you have to eat at the Loveless Cafe. You need to drive down the Natchez trace parkway, maybe take a side trip to the battle of Shiloh site. There are so many treasures right in Tennessee that you could spend your whole trip here and miss a lot of things.

[leftyclimber]

104. As you're heading south,

take 1-79 down through West Virginia, break off onto 19 southbound, and cross the New River Gorge bridge (longest single-span arch bridge in the western hemisphere). As you continue down toward North Carolina, stop by Tamarack, which features work from artisans from all over the state. Lovely furniture, hand-blown glass, quilting, and food.

If you'd like a more detailed WV itinerary, I can give you a route southward that will take you through some stunning scenic areas on some windy little back highways.

Also, if you come through at a time when I have a couple days off, I'd be more than happy to show you around. It's a beautiful place.

[jobycom]

106. Okay, all the people who mentioned Lafayette need to explain themselves.

I've been passing through Lafayette for years, and the faster I get through it, the happier I am. What's going on there that I don't know about?

[Radical Activist]

111. yeah

Don't they have casinos? That doesn't appeal to me.

[jobycom]

114. Not any major ones I've seen. Lake Charles and Coushatta are nearby

so I doubt Lafayette would have anything on them.

[Radical Activist]

115. hmmmm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv7tRX6nCkU

[jobycom]

116. She just seems to drive I-10 writing songs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tzlt9vbS2yc&feature=related

[mwooldri]

107. If you go the Memphis->Asheville route, then...

... do NOT just go Interstate 40 from Knoxville to Asheville.

Ah but then you did say you wanted the Great Smoky Mountains.

Knoxville -> US 441 to Cherokee, then either hit Blue Ridge Parkway all the way to Asheville or if you want IMO more challenging driving take US 19 and then pick up the Blue Ridge Parkway once you get to the top of the mountain.

If it were May or later I'd say try the NC Outer Banks. Ocracoke is the perfect place to do nothing.

Mark.

[AwakeAtLast]

112. Mr. AAL and I went to Asheville last year and LOVED it!

We said we would definitely go back someday - we even mentioned that we would love to retire there!

[spindrifter]

113. Louisiana!

[jobycom]

118. Just take I-10 from San Antonio to Jacksonville. Start at Austin.