Family getaway in Tennessee
Oct 7th, 2017, 06:26 AM
#1
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Family getaway in Tennessee
Hi guys
Planning a road trip in first week of November, we are traveling frm New Jersey and wanted to make 2 day stop over in tennesse, our end destination on New Orleans, my question is where should we stay while in Tennessee ( gaitlinburg/ chattanagooga/Knoxville) and what activities we can do as family (kids 7 and 5) during that time of year, thank you so much
Planning a road trip in first week of November, we are traveling frm New Jersey and wanted to make 2 day stop over in tennesse, our end destination on New Orleans, my question is where should we stay while in Tennessee ( gaitlinburg/ chattanagooga/Knoxville) and what activities we can do as family (kids 7 and 5) during that time of year, thank you so much
Oct 8th, 2017, 05:22 AM
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The Smokey Mountains National Park near Gatlinburg is gorgeous and there are lots if activities for children.
Check www.nps.gov for details.
Check www.nps.gov for details.
Oct 8th, 2017, 06:30 AM
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Personally, IMHO, early November is the least attractive time in that area. All green is gone, yet no snow, just brown, twiggy and barren.
IMHO, that is a really long time in the car with kids, for a day or two somewhere like Gatlinburg.
Have you checked driving time? Can't give an accurate estimate without knowing exactly where you are coming from, but will throw out 20 hours, non-stop, each way, so minimum 40 hours. That is at least 4 very long days of driving out of your 7 days, leaving no more than 3 days to see or do anything.
With two small kids, I would look at cheap SW tickets and fly somewhere for two or three days of actual vacation rather than four days or more in the car, coming and going. Difference in cost? Yes, but you would save cost of 4 nights in a hotel and cost of gas.
Other suggestions for good places with kids in November.
Williamsburg, VA
Washington, DC
Luray Caverns in Virginia
Fly to other places.
If driving all that way is a must, Mammoth cave in Kentucky might be interesting for the kids.
Asheville, NC is also interesting.
IMHO, that is a really long time in the car with kids, for a day or two somewhere like Gatlinburg.
Have you checked driving time? Can't give an accurate estimate without knowing exactly where you are coming from, but will throw out 20 hours, non-stop, each way, so minimum 40 hours. That is at least 4 very long days of driving out of your 7 days, leaving no more than 3 days to see or do anything.
With two small kids, I would look at cheap SW tickets and fly somewhere for two or three days of actual vacation rather than four days or more in the car, coming and going. Difference in cost? Yes, but you would save cost of 4 nights in a hotel and cost of gas.
Other suggestions for good places with kids in November.
Williamsburg, VA
Washington, DC
Luray Caverns in Virginia
Fly to other places.
If driving all that way is a must, Mammoth cave in Kentucky might be interesting for the kids.
Asheville, NC is also interesting.
Oct 8th, 2017, 10:36 AM
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Hi thanks for reverting back,
I know November can be tricky month, kids are off for 10 days and
We wanted to avoid Christmas time,
We as a family like road trips, last year we did frm New Jersey to Orlando, offcourse we took breaks ....as in 7 hr drive a day max,
So this time we want to explore tennesse and than New Orleans and than back to nj
I know November can be tricky month, kids are off for 10 days and
We wanted to avoid Christmas time,
We as a family like road trips, last year we did frm New Jersey to Orlando, offcourse we took breaks ....as in 7 hr drive a day max,
So this time we want to explore tennesse and than New Orleans and than back to nj
Oct 8th, 2017, 03:27 PM
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Do you realize this is now your 7th post about this trip?
You got some solid info about driving times on one of your other posts.
One thing you wrote that caught my attention. You said you will drive 8 hours, then stop someplace interesting to explore. In November, it is dark early. Even with an early start, by time you add in time for two or three bathroom breaks, there will be no time for exploring, and it will be too dark to explore in the mountains anyway.
I know I am being very negative, and hope I am wrong, but your trip does not sound as if it will actually be very good.
You got some solid info about driving times on one of your other posts.
One thing you wrote that caught my attention. You said you will drive 8 hours, then stop someplace interesting to explore. In November, it is dark early. Even with an early start, by time you add in time for two or three bathroom breaks, there will be no time for exploring, and it will be too dark to explore in the mountains anyway.
I know I am being very negative, and hope I am wrong, but your trip does not sound as if it will actually be very good.
Oct 9th, 2017, 02:03 AM
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I think NOLA is too far if you are going to make stops. I think it is a long 2 day drive just to get there from NJ so that is 4 days gone. You say "a week".
You want to stop 2 days in the Smokies. This really just doesn't work out to really see anything anywhere any time.
I asked somewhere in one of your threads if you had been to Winston Salem to see the Old Salem village there. If not, going to the Smokies for a couple of days and returning through Winston for a day would make a week's trip where something actually got seen and enjoyed.
You want to stop 2 days in the Smokies. This really just doesn't work out to really see anything anywhere any time.
I asked somewhere in one of your threads if you had been to Winston Salem to see the Old Salem village there. If not, going to the Smokies for a couple of days and returning through Winston for a day would make a week's trip where something actually got seen and enjoyed.
