Montgomery or Birmingham or Atlanta?
#1
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Montgomery or Birmingham or Atlanta?
I'm planning a road trip for this August and am trying to figure out where to go...I am not a huge museum lover (though I will go to a few...I like learning about history vs. art)...and am really interested in a "southern experience" (if that exists!). Wondering if I should go to Montgomery or Birmingham or Atlanta or a combo of those? Which cities do you like best? Why? THANKS!
#2
Fly to Atlanta. See the King Center and maybe CNN and Coke. http://www.thekingcenter.org/
Take the Amtrak Crescent about 4.5 hours starting about 8:30AM to Birmingham. See what you want to see in Birmingham and then decide if you want to rent a car to go see Montgomery or anything else in Alabama.
The northbound Crescent leaves Birmingham mid-afternoon.
Fly back home from Atlanta or take the Crescent all the way to Washington DC if you like it.
Take the Amtrak Crescent about 4.5 hours starting about 8:30AM to Birmingham. See what you want to see in Birmingham and then decide if you want to rent a car to go see Montgomery or anything else in Alabama.
The northbound Crescent leaves Birmingham mid-afternoon.
Fly back home from Atlanta or take the Crescent all the way to Washington DC if you like it.
#3
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It's. ROAD trip, Tom.
Where are you from?
Why are you taking this trip?
Where else are you going?
Are you doing it alone?
We need to know this kind of thing before we can help. If you are a 36 year old South African, my recs would be very different than if you were a 19 yo Ohio State student.
None of my recs, by the way, would include Atlanta.
Where are you from?
Why are you taking this trip?
Where else are you going?
Are you doing it alone?
We need to know this kind of thing before we can help. If you are a 36 year old South African, my recs would be very different than if you were a 19 yo Ohio State student.
None of my recs, by the way, would include Atlanta.
#4
I saw that you had 3 other threads open so I'm thinking that you are coming from Vancouver BC by yourself.
Either fly to Chicago or to Atlanta and drive from there if you don't like the train option from Chicago or Atlanta.
Both cities have pretty good public transportation. Rent the car and make a big loop. If you want to get to Washington DC from Atlanta ride the Crescent so that you are not paying a drop off fee or parking charges in DC.
I think you have a couple too many cities on your list.
You will not save any money by renting a camper van for this trip.
Either fly to Chicago or to Atlanta and drive from there if you don't like the train option from Chicago or Atlanta.
Both cities have pretty good public transportation. Rent the car and make a big loop. If you want to get to Washington DC from Atlanta ride the Crescent so that you are not paying a drop off fee or parking charges in DC.
I think you have a couple too many cities on your list.
You will not save any money by renting a camper van for this trip.
#5
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Thanks you two! Yes, I am a 26 year old teacher from Vancouver, Canada. I am taking this trip purely for fun - I have wanted to see this area for a long time so am finally taking the jump! I am going solo. I have a long list of places I want to see, but have haven't decided. Right now I am thinking of starting in either Atlanta/Nashville/Washington, DC. The only MUST SEE on my list is Nashville. Everything else is up in the air!
THANKS!
THANKS!
#6
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Allie, you now have 3 or 4 threads about this trip, and have changed it pretty drastically.
Atlanta is a fine BIG city, but for a feeling of the South, it doesn't really qualify, IMO. Charleston and Savannah are wonderful southern cities, a LOT of history (without going in a museum!!) and very accessible with walking. I have always thought of Charleston as our most "European" city with reference to walkability, etc.
Birmingham (another big city) is fine, I'm sure. We went there last year specifically to eat at Frank Stitt's restaurant. Montgomery has the most poignant and beautiful monument to Civil Rights.
I suggested you start a loop in Charlotte for ease of return of a your rental car--which you also have a thread on.
That isn't the only possibility of course but it is more central than Nashville--and has more to see en route to somewhere else than Atlanta.
There's a lot of music a lot of places.
Atlanta is a fine BIG city, but for a feeling of the South, it doesn't really qualify, IMO. Charleston and Savannah are wonderful southern cities, a LOT of history (without going in a museum!!) and very accessible with walking. I have always thought of Charleston as our most "European" city with reference to walkability, etc.
Birmingham (another big city) is fine, I'm sure. We went there last year specifically to eat at Frank Stitt's restaurant. Montgomery has the most poignant and beautiful monument to Civil Rights.
I suggested you start a loop in Charlotte for ease of return of a your rental car--which you also have a thread on.
That isn't the only possibility of course but it is more central than Nashville--and has more to see en route to somewhere else than Atlanta.
There's a lot of music a lot of places.
#7
Allie, how long will this road trip be?
I drove from Washington DC to Atlanta in one (long) day. You can see a lot in a big loop if you want - including Nashville - and you can choose virtually any city in that loop.
What is it exactly you want to see? Beaches? Coastal/marshes? Do you want to hang out on a beach? Do you want to go to the mountains? Why DC? What is it that you want to see in DC?
If you start in Charlotte (and you have lots of time for your road trip, how about the following with 2 or 3 days in each place:
Fly into Charlotte
drive to Charleston - 2 nights
drive to Savannah - 2 nights
drive to Jekyll Island GA - 2 nights
drive to Madison GA - 1 night
drive to somewhere in Atlanta - 2 nights
drive to Nashville - 2 nights
drive to Asheville - 2 nights
drive back to Charlotte to fly out
You could do the same loop by flying in/out of Atlanta or Nashville too
If you really want to see Washington DC either add some more time and/or shorten your time in the above cities
I would say no to B'ham or Montgomery in your loop
I drove from Washington DC to Atlanta in one (long) day. You can see a lot in a big loop if you want - including Nashville - and you can choose virtually any city in that loop.
What is it exactly you want to see? Beaches? Coastal/marshes? Do you want to hang out on a beach? Do you want to go to the mountains? Why DC? What is it that you want to see in DC?
If you start in Charlotte (and you have lots of time for your road trip, how about the following with 2 or 3 days in each place:
Fly into Charlotte
drive to Charleston - 2 nights
drive to Savannah - 2 nights
drive to Jekyll Island GA - 2 nights
drive to Madison GA - 1 night
drive to somewhere in Atlanta - 2 nights
drive to Nashville - 2 nights
drive to Asheville - 2 nights
drive back to Charlotte to fly out
You could do the same loop by flying in/out of Atlanta or Nashville too
If you really want to see Washington DC either add some more time and/or shorten your time in the above cities
I would say no to B'ham or Montgomery in your loop
#8
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Thanks for all your responses! I am just going to be posting in this thread now:
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...here-to-go.cfm
as it was getting too confusing! Thanks!!
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...here-to-go.cfm
as it was getting too confusing! Thanks!!
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