Cades Cove is nice, if you don't get stuck in traffic. It is a pretty good distance from Pigeon Forge. I prefer staying in Pigeon Forge over Gatlinburg. There are a ton of what I call 3 star type places to stay at. All of them pretty similar. You might want to try Grotto Falls, Laurell Falls, and Clingman's Dome.

I went with my nephew there last week. Here are our pictures. The ziplines there are dirt cheap, if you like that type thing. Nephew liked the Zorb. We enjoyed our visit at Parrot Mountain. The towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are super super super touristy/hokie type of places.
I swear I counted well over 75 pancake houses. Seriously, I do not see how in the world they can support that many. I promise you there is one every half block.

Here is a link to our pictures.
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0IatW7FqybsWW1

In New Orleans, I would suggest seeing some of the plantation homes on the River Road. Here is a link to our photos from those.http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0IatW7FqybsWXC


Try eating at Prejeans in Lafayette, in route to Corpus.


If you are coming back thru Oklahoma on your way home, I can suggest several places to eat at. Nothing really to see here much though(perhaps the OKC Memorial-bombing). Arkansas has many awesome spot(don't know that I would recommend them in the summer though). Memphis and Nashville would be good options.

Thanks for sharing your photos, gives me an idea of what to expect.

Love Prejean's. I also enjoyed Breaux Bridge as well.

I'm not sure about Ft. Benning. Do you have a military ID? At most Army posts there's a main gate where you present your ID,and proof of car insurance. They usually also search your car. Call the Ft. Benning Army Community Services and ask them what the requirements are.

I would suggest spending lots of time in the park...stop at the Sugarlands Visitors center and get some brochures of the area, watch the short movie, visit the museum there, then check out some of the most popular areas, like Cades Cove, Clingsman Dome, Roaring Fork Motor trail,( imo these are "musts" maybe some short hikes, if your family is so inclined, and some of the waterfalls in the area. The aquarium is really nice, and you might enjoy Dollywood or one of the shows in Pigeon Forge,,,Dixie Stampede is very good and dinner is included. The Arts & Crafts loop in GB is great ...local artists & craftsmen have their little shops there...a wonderful pottery place is Alwine where you can watch them make and purchase their pottery. There are lots and lots of "touristy" things in both town and places to shop, but my favorite in GB is "The Villages"...an area of quaint little shops surrounding a brick patio/tables&chairs/and fountain, where you can stop and relax, grab a donut & a cappuccino and people watch, after walking the strip. Gatlinburg is a walking town..if you go to Pigeon Forge, which is only about 4 or 5 miles, you will be driving pretty much place to place as it is more spread out. There are lots of great restaurants in both places...some favorites are Best Italian, Smokey Mt. Brewery, Calhouns, Pancake Pantry, Mountain Lodge in GB...The Old Mill, Huck Finns, Bennetts in Pigeon Forge, and the Apple Farmhouse in Seiverville. Go to www.discoverthesmokies.com for a wealth on info on the area. Steve & Carolyn are locals and do a wonderful job on their sire, with visual tours of the parkway and shops along the way..some of which you can "peek into". Any questions, just ask...have fun planning !!

http://www.alpinechaletrentals.com/
http://www.yourcabin.com/default.aspx
http://www.gatlinburg.com/default.aspx

My husband and I spend lots of time in the Smokys. We try to stay as far away from the shopping and traffic as possible. Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are just magnets for outlet malls, shops, and lots of traffic. We always stay in Townsend, TN, also known as the quiet side of the Smokies. I can't say I would recommend any of the hotels, but there are lots of nice cabins in that area:

http://www.hikinginthesmokys.com/cabins_townsend.htm

Get to Cades Cove early in the morning to avoid the really bad traffic. However, on Saturdays and WEdnesdays, the road is closed to vehicles until 10AM to allow cyclists to ride the loop without any cars.

Abrams Falls is a nice hike that you can take from Cades Cove:
http://www.hikinginthesmokys.com/abrams.htm

Some other nice hikes in the park are Andrews Bald, Charles Bunion Trail, Gregory Bald (especially if the azalea are still in bloom), and if you want to be real ambitious, Mt. LeConte.
http://www.hikinginthesmokys.com/andrewsbald.htm
http://www.hikinginthesmokys.com/charliesbunion.htm
http://www.hikinginthesmokys.com/gregory_bald_trail.htm
http://www.hikinginthesmokys.com/lecontealum.htm

Since you're going to be there during a holiday, it will be crowded, especially in Gatlinburg. Whatever you do, stay away from Gatlinburg - traffic will be bumper to bumper. You can get to Pigeon Forge pretty easily from Townsend without too much traffic if you want to go there for dinner or a show.

Stay in the FQ and walk to all the great places to visit. Stay at Bourbon Orleans, Chateau Bourbon, Le Marais, Monteleone, Provincial, St. Marie, Place D Armes, Iberville Suites , Dauphine Orleans, Prince Conti, Hotel Mazarin or Maison Dupuy.
Bourbon Orleans Hotel @ 717 Orleans Street New Orleans, LA 504 - 523 - 2222.
http://www.bourbonorleans.com/
Chateau Bourbon Hotel @ 800 Iberville Street New Orleans, LA 504 - 586 - 0800.
http://www.chateaubourbonneworleans.com/
Hotel Le Marais @ 717 Conti Street, New Orleans, LA 504 - 525 - 2300.
http://www.hotellemarais.com/
Hotel Monteleone @ 214 Royal Street, New Orleans, LA 504 - 523 - 3341.
http://hotelmonteleone.com/
Hotel Provincial @ 1024 Chartres Street, New Orleans, LA 504 - 581 - 4995.
http://www.hotelprovincial.com/
Hotel St. Marie @ 827 Toulouse Street, New Orleans, LA 504 - 561-8951.
http://www.hotelstmarie.com/
Place D'Armes Hotel @ 625 Saint Ann Street, New Orleans, LA 504 - 524 - 4531.
http://www.placedarmes.com/
Iberville Suites Hotel @ 910 Iberville St., New Orleans, LA 866 - 229 - 4351.
http://www.ibervillesuites.com/
Dauphine Orleans @ 415 Dauphine Street, New Orleans, LA 504 - 586 - 1800.
http://www.dauphineorleans.com/
Prince Conti Hotel @ 830 Conti St., New Orleans, LA 504 - 529 - 4172.
http://www.princecontihotel.com/
Hotel Mazarin @ 730 Rue Bienville New Orleans, LA 504 - 581 – 7300.
http://www.hotelmazarin.com/
Maison Dupuy Hotel @ 1001 Toulouse Street, New Orleans, LA 504 - 586 - 8000.
http://www.maisondupuy.com/

Here's some joints to stop and rest for lunch on your way from FL to LA.
The best seafood in Mobile, AL is at Wintzell's Oyster House. Get off I 10 at Exit 26 A and go W on Canal Steet. Go .4 mile and turn right on S Washington Avenue. Turn right and go .3 mile to Dauphine Street. Take a right and Wintzell's will be on your right. The best BBQ in the area is at Brick Pit. Get off I 10 at Exit 15B and go N on Highway 90 for 3 miles to Demetropolis Road. Take a left and continue on Demetropolis Road which becomes S University Boulevard. Go about 5 miles from the left you took on Demetropolis to Old Shell Road. Take a right and go to Brick Pit for outstanding BBQ. For fine po boy's and fresh seafood get off I 10 at Exit 15A and go N on Government Boulevard to Hall's Mill Road just past the shopping center on the right. Take a right and go to the Boiling Point.
Wintzell's Oyster House @ 605 Dauphin St., Mobile, AL 251 - 432 - 4605.
http://www.wintzellsoysterhouse.com/
The Brick Pit @ 5456 Old Shell Rd., Mobile, AL 251 - 343 - 0001.
http://brickpit.com/
The Boiling Pot @ Suite G, 5300 Halls Mill Road, Mobile, AL 251 - 602 - 8405.
http://www.theboilingpotllc.com/
For fine southern comfort food get off I 10 at Exit 68 at Moss Point, MS and go N on Highway 613 to Tugus restaurant. Stay on Highway 90 going E from Ocean Springs, MS. Go to Market Street and take a right. Go to Ingall's Avenue and take a left. Go 3 or 4 blocks to Bozo's Grocery for fine po boy's. Go to Tay’s for the best BBQ on the coast.
For good BBQ and fun times get off I 10 at Exit 57 and go N on Highway 57 to The Shed for lunch or dinner. For fine country food for breakfast or lunch go E on Highway 90 to Ocean Springs, MS and turn right on Washington Avenue. Take your first left on Robinson Street and go to Bayview Gourmet. Fayard's has good BBQ. Ward's has good seafood and steaks. Phoenicia has good breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Tugus Restaurant @ 6909 Highway 613, Moss Point, MS 228 - 474 - 9910.
Bozo's Grocery @ 2012 Ingalls Ave., Pascagoula, MS 228 - 762 - 3322.
Tay’s BBQ @ 3602 Ingalls Avenue Pascagoula, MS 228 – 205 - 2167.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tays-BBQ/183971898302626?sk=info
The Shed BBQ and Blues Joint @ 7501 Hwy. 57, Ocean Springs, MS. 228 - 875 - 9590.
http://www.theshedbbq.com/ordereze/intro.html
Bayview Gourmet @ 1010 Robinson St., Ocean Springs, MS. 228 - 875 - 4252.
Fayard's BP @ 6905 Washington Ave, Ocean Springs, MS. 228 - 875 - 1020.
Kenny Ward's @ 1504 Government St., Ocean Springs, MS. 228 - 818 - 4505.
Phoenicia Gourmet Cuisine @ 123 Government St., Ocean Springs, MS. 228 - 875 - 0603.
Continue on Highway 90 to Highway 49 N in Gulfport, MS. Take a left and go one block to 13th Street and turn left to Half Shell Oyster House for fine fresh seafood for lunch or dinner. Or continue on Highway 90 to Cowan Road which is E of Highway 49 in Gulfport, MS between Gulfport, MS and Biloxi, MS. Go N on Cowan Road to W Pine Street. Turn left and go 3 blocks to Washington Street, Turn right and go to Blow Fly Inn where the local's dine on fresh seafood for lunch or dinner. Continue E on Highway 90 to Caillavet Street just E of I 110. Turn left and go N to Howard. Turn right and go one block to Old Biloxi Schooner for good po boy's. For fine fresh oysters and good seafood continue E on Howard to Fillin Station for lunch or dinner. White Cap has some fine seafood too.
Half Shell Oyster House @ FL 1st, 2500 13th St., Gulfport, MS 228 - 867 - 7001.
http://halfshelloysterhouse.com/
Blow Fly Inn @ 1201 Washington Ave., Gulfport, MS 228 - 896 - 9812.
http://www.blowflyinn.com/
Ole Biloxi Schooner @ 871 Howard Ave., Biloxi, MS 228 - 435 - 8071.
Fillin Station @ 692 Howard Ave., Biloxi, MS 228 - 432 - 5565.
http://www.fillinstationbiloxi.com/
White Cap Seafood Restaurant @ 560 Beach Drive, Gulfport, MS 228 - 604 - 4444.
http://www.coastseafood.com/whitecap.html
Continue on Highway 90 to Darwell's Cafe in Long Beach, MS for good lunch or dinner. Darwell's was featured on Diners, Drive In's and Dives. Continue on Highway 90 to Shaggy's Harbor Bar and Grill across from the Pass Christian Yacht Club for good fresh seafood, cold drinks and nice music. Get off I 10 at Exit 2 at Bay St. Louis, MS and go E on Scenic Highway 90 to Trapani's for fine fresh seafood for lunch or dinner.
Darwells Cafe @ 127 East 1st St., Long Beach, MS. 228 - 868 - 8946.
http://www.darwellscafe.co
Shaggy's Harbor Bar and Grill @ 120 S. Hiern Ave., Pass Harbor, Pass Christian, MS. 228 - 452 - 9939.
http://www.shaggys.biz/
Trapani's @ 116 N Beach Boulevard, Bay St. Louis, MS 228 – 467 – 8570.
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/159/951055/restaurant/Gulfport/Trapanis-Eatery-Bay-St-Louis
Or get off I 12 at Exit 65 and go S on Highway 59 to Lakeshore Drive. Turn left and go to The Beach House for great fresh seafood overlooking Lake Pontchatrain. The Barley Oak is outstanding also. Get off I 12 at Exit 63A in Covington, LA and go N on Highway 190 to Acme Oyster House for fresh seafood for lunch or dinner. Get off I 12 at Exit 63A and go S on Highway 190 to Bear's Grill and Spirit's for outstanding po boys and sandwiches.
The Beach House @ 124 Girod Street, Mandeville, LA 985 – 624 – 9331.
http://www.thebeachhousemandeville.com/
The Barley Oak @ 2101 Lakeshore Drive, Mandeville, LA 985 – 727 – 7420.
http://www.thebarleyoak.com
Bear's Grill and Spirit's @ 1809 North Causeway Boulevard, Mandeville, LA 985 - 674 - 9090.
http://www.bearsgrillandspirits.com/
Acme Oyster House @ 1202 N Highway 190, Covington, LA 985 - 246 - 6155.
www.acmeoyster.com/index.php…
Get off I 12 in Hammond, LA @ Exit 38B and go N for 2 miles on I55 to Exit 31 for Highway 190 and go E. Turn right on Highway 190 after .2 mile for W Thomas Street. Go 1.2 miles and Voo Doo BBQ will be on your left.
Voo Doo BBQ & Grill @ 2108 W. Thomas St., Hammond, LA. 985 - 345 - 1131.
http://www.voodoobbqandgrill.com/
If you want great fresh seafood and an outstanding view of Lake Pontchartrain get off I 10 at Exit 209 and go N on Highway 51 one mile to Peavine Road. Take a right and go another mile to Frenier Landing Restaurant. The Crab Trap is also a great place for fresh seafood next door to Frenier Landing. CT is only open Thursday/Friday/Saturday for dinnner.
Frenier Landing Restaurant @ Peavine Road, LaPlace, LA 985 - 224 - 2178.
http://www.frenierlanding.com/
Crab Trap @ 100 Peavine Road, Laplace, LA 985 - 651 - 4150.
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/57/1430476/restaurant/New-Orleans/La-Place/Crab-Trap-Laplace
Get off I 10 at Exit 10 and go to Randazzo’s for good road food.
Randazzo’s @ 240 Capitol Street, Denham Springs, LA 225 - 667 - 4557.

http://www.randazzositalianmarket.com/
Get off I 10 at Exit 157A in Baton Rouge, LA to Perkins Road and take a right to Parrain's for outstanding fresh seafood for lunch or dinner. Or get off I 10 at Exit 157A in Baton Rouge, La to Perkins Road. Take a left and Acme Oyster House is on your left open for lunch or dinner serving outstanding fresh seafood.
Parrain's Seafood Restaurant @ 3225 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA 225 - 381 - 9922.
http://www.parrains.com/
Acme Oyster House @ 3535 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA 225 - 906 - 2372.
http://www.acmeoyster.com/
Get off I 10 at Exit 115 in Henderson, LA and go E on Highway 352 to Henderson Levee Road to Pat's Fisherman's Wharf for good cajun food. Go to Whiskey River Landing for good music and cold drinks. Robin's has good crawfish. Pat's Fisherman's Wharf @ 1008 Henderson Levee Rd., Henderson, LA 337 - 228 - 7512.
http://www.patsfishermanswharf.com/
Whiskey River Landing @ 1365 Henderson Levee Road, Breaux Bridge, LA 337 - 228 - 2277.
http://www.whiskeyriverlanding.net/
Robin's Restaurant @ 1409 Henderson Hwy., Henderson, LA 337 - 228 - 7594. LD. ***
http://www.roadfood.com/Restaurant/Reviews/1897/robins
Get off I 10 at Exit 109 in Breaux Bridge and go S on Rees Street or Highway 328 and go to Le Cafe for outstanding Po Boys. Or get Off I 10 at Exit 109 and go N on Highway 328 which is Anse Broussard Highway also to Poche Bridge Road. Go N to Main Highway and Poche Market and Restaurant for good Cajun cuisine for lunch. This is a buffet so you might really like it if you are in a hurry. Cafe Des Amis has outstanding food and music on Wednesday nights. There's also Zydeco breakfasts on Saturday morning at 8:30.
Le Cafe @ 124 Rees St., Breaux Bridge, LA 337 - 332 - 2500.
Poche's Market and Restaurant @ 3015 Main Hwy., Breaux Bridge, LA. 337 - 332 - 2108.
http://www.pochesmarket.com/
Cafe De Amis @ 140 East Bridge Street, Breaux Bridge, LA 337 - 332 - 5273.
http://www.cafedesamis.com/
Get off I 10 at Exit 101 in Lafayette, LA then go S on Hwy. 182 which is N University. Go less than a mile to Creole Cafe for good country breakfast or plate lunch.
Creole Cafe @ 1227 N. University Ave., Lafayette, LA 337 - 266 - 4648.
Or get off I 10 at Exit 101 in Lafayette, LA and go S on Hwy. 182 which is N University. Go S on University and it becomes W University. Take a right on Johsnton St. and go three blocks and take a right on W St. Mary Blvd.then go one block where you will find Old Thyme Grocery for good road food and the best po boys in LA.
Old Tyme Grocery @ 218 West Saint Mary Blvd., Lafayette, LA 337 - 235 - 8165.
Or get off I 10 in Lafayette, LA at Exit 101 and go S on Hwy. 182 which is N University. Go S on University and it becomes W University then it becomes E University. Go to Pinhook and take a right then go about 6 blocks to Blue Dog Cafe for great road food.
Blue Dog Cafe @ 1211 West Pinhook Road, Lafayette, LA 337 - 237 - 0005.
http://www.bluedogcafe.com/
Get off I 10 at Exit 82 and go N to Hawk's for fresh crawfish. Get off at Exit 87 and go to Chef Roy’s.
Chef Roy’s @ 1131 Church Point Highway, Rayne, LA 337 - 334 – 7913.

http://www.chefroy.com/
Hawk's Crawfish @ 415 Hawks Road, Rayne, LA 337 - 788 - 3266.
http://hawkscrawfish.com/home.htm
Get off I 10 @ Exit 64 in Jennings, LA and go S on Highway 26 to Frey's Crawfish House for good cajun food for lunch or dinner. They only serve dinner on T/F/S. Be sure to check their hours.
Frey's Crawfish House @ 919A North Lake Arthur Ave., Jennings, LA 337 - 246 - 5023.
http://freyscrawfish.com/