You say you want to go from Tallahassee to New Orleans but "missing the Pan Handle". I'm not sure how you would get from Point A to Point B any other way, unless you plan to fly(!).

Interstate 10 runs from Tallahassee to Louisiana along the Gulf Coast, passing through Mobile, AL. Even closer to the water, many of the small towns from Gulf Shores, AL through Bay St Louis, MS were really cute before Hurricane Katrina; from what I hear the reconstruction is going along well in these areas. The coast has always been a popular vacation destination, so there's lots of restaurants and other activities going on.

You can take Route 90 right along the water - with your interest in the Civil War, definitely make a stop at the Jefferson Davis house, where he lived I believe until his death. The stretch of Gulf Coast in MS is sometimes referred to as "the Redneck Riveria" because of all the hotels and casinos; you'd have no problem finding a range of lodging options in Biloxi or Gulfport.

I'm sure others will chime in about other parts of your itinerary!

April will be a lovely time to visit. Landing in Atlanta and going to Charleston and Savannah and Tallahassee is a good little bit of driving for that leg with not a whole lot in between. Charleston/Savannah will probably be pretty crowded perhaps with azalea/garden tour season. SueWoo can probably chime in. Your motel cost may be up==may want to look across the river in Mt.Pleasant.
South of Charleston is Huniing Island for a bird preserve.
How much time do you want to spend in each place? And then the longish better-part-of-a-day drives need to be counted in.
Even with a nice amount of time that 4 weeks is, some editing may be necessary to really enjoy some of the places.

Apologies for that. I've always thought the Panhandle was the Florida Peninsula because of its shape. I daren't tell my husband!

Thankyou Gretchen. I suspected that but we felt we couldn't miss out on Savannah. Might have to think about it.

> We are interested, particularly, in the Civil War

A book you MUST have is Alice Cromie's _Tour Guide to the Civil War_.

It explains, in a very compact and readable form (1) what happened at a specific site, (2) why it mattered, and (3) what you can see if you go there.

For CW buffs like me, there are few things worse than either (1) being close to an important CW site and missing it, simply because you didn't know it was there OR (2) going to some place that you think WAS important, but finding that nobody bothered to place anything there. I've had both happen; this book helps avoid both problems.

Well, truly for the Civil War interest you shouldn't miss charleston!! Those troublemakers got it ALL started!!
Sue, I heard Joe Riley talking about the Sesquicentennial celebration being planned and my already over the top admiration for him went up a hundred points. He is a national treasure.

Oh phew, UKLynne - as long as you knew *where* you wanted to go or not, even if you were *momentarily* confused on the nomenclature.

Here's a few thoughts on places to possibly whittle down:
- I have only been on the Natchez Trace right around Natchez, but wished I could have taken it farther. You mentioned Tupelo for being on the Trace, but you could take Natchez-Memphis, then head to Nashville on the interstate.
- Similarly, unless there's a compelling reason, you could skip Knoxville and take the interstate between Nashville and Chattanooga.
- My one brief trip to Vicksburg and Natchez had me wishing for a little more time in Natchez (we had a day and a half) and not needing any more than our one day in Vicksburg but we only went to the park there and didn't see any other sites. (Downtown Natchez was more lively than that of Vicksburg.)

You sound like seasoned travelers, so it's likely you already know of this little tip, but I'll add it just in case. Google Maps is a great tool for mapping out travel plans; if you sign up for a (free) gmail account, you can save, customize, annotate your maps. (I don't even use mine for email!) I also like that it's easy to "drag and drop" the route line and it will instantly recalculate the directions and time. (I've even discovered that it will prevent the line from being dragged onto a road closed for construction/etc.)

At any rate, I plugged in all 14 of your stops (with ATL at beginning and end) and got a clear picture of the overall loop. Very handy!

You should stop in Franklin Tennessee (right outside of Nashville) and see the Carter House and the site of the Battle of Franklin! It is a fascinating look at a place where the Confederacy lost 14 Generals - 6 or 7 killed and the others injured or captured, including the loss of perhaps the best division commander of either side, Patrick Cleburne. The tour is done very well and the site/museum is small but well preserved. Nashville is very close and there are many more activites in Nashville. Welcome to the South and I hope you have a great trip!

We took the Natchez Trace from Tupelo to Jackson on a trip that started in Memphis with a jog to Shiloh, then down to Tupelo and onto the trace and over to Vicksburg from Jackson. DH is the Civil war buff, but I found the trip quite interesting and the Trace was great. It is much more relaxing than interstate driving and we even got to see a pack of wild boars being chased across the road.

Vicksburg was quite impressive, the town and the battlefield.

Have been to some of these cities -- good choices.

My experience suggests that depending on interests 3-4 days is a good amount of time for Charleston, 2-3 for Savannah, 4-5 for Memphis, and 3-4 for Nashville. One could spend a lot of time in New Orleans (I was there a little more than a week and found plenty to do).

Montgomery was the first capital of the Confederacy and the First White House of the Confederacy is located there, along with some worthy civil rights based attractions. You may or may not want to spend a day there.

I would not spend a day/night in Montgomery but I would go to the Southern Poverty Law Center and see Maya Lin's very wonderful and moving civil rights memorial. I can't see 3-4 days in Nashville with all the other possibilities on the list. Just my opinion.

As far as Florida goes, two sites of interest might be

Natural Bridge Battlefield State Historic Park (near Tallahassee), the site of the battle in 1865 that preserved Tallahassee as the only Confederate capital city east of the Mississippi that did not fall to the Union army

http://www.floridastateparks.org/naturalbridge/default.cfm

Fort Pickens (on Santa Rosa Island, near Pensacola Beach), one of only four forts in the South that were never occupied by Confederate troops. The National Park Service says of it "Fort Pickens was as important as Fort Sumter in Charleston, S.C., during the crisis between Abraham Lincoln's election in November 1860 and the firing on Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861."

http://www.nps.gov/guis/planyourvisit/fort-pickens.htm

For information on the mainland forts held by the Confederates, see

http://www.nps.gov/guis/planyourvisit/fort-barrancas.htm
http://www.nps.gov/guis/historyculture/advanced-redoubt.htm


Other coastal forts include Fort Morgan in Alabama (http://www.azaleacity.com/fortmorgan/information.htm)

Fort Gaines in Alabama, across the Mobile Pass from Fort Morgan and connected to it by a ferry (http://www.dauphinisland.org/index.html - there is also a bird sanctuary there)

and Fort Massachusetts, on West Ship Island off the Mississippi coast (http://www.nps.gov/guis/historyculture/fort-massachusetts.htm)

Don't miss sights in the Atlanta area (from the viewpoint of an Atlanta native):

Kennesaw Battlefield (which is north of Atlanta on I-75, you could stop on your way back into the city from Chattanooga);
Atlanta History Center;
Cyclorama at Grant Park;
Martin Luther King Center.

Thank you all for your comments - very useful! We weren't aware of the Google gmail facility, ggreen. Will try it out in a couple of days when we get back from visiting our month old (first) grandson in Liverpool. Am intrigued to know why one of the comments was removed by the moderators.

Any thoughts on visiting Lafayette or should we go straight from New Orleans to Natchez. Nice to see Gretchen still harbouring a grudge about Charleston folk after 150 years.

The Natchez Trace Parkway between Jackson, Mississippi, and Nashville, Tennessee (via connections) is an incredibly boring road, lined with trees of the same species most of the way, no vistas over the countryside, relatively low speed limits, and no connection whatsoever to the surrounding states, which, whatever their virtues and faults, are real places with real Americans living real lives.

Sorry, UK person, you missed the humor--must be a Brit thing. I LIVE in the South, but do not need to fight the Civil War over again. I DO love its history. You DO know that SC was the first to secede and it happened in Charleston Harbor, I trust.
My homage to Joe Riley (the Mayor of Charleston for 35 years and the reason Charleston is NOW what it is--he SAVED the historicity of that city) was that with his planning, they are including ALL the facets of the Civil War--not just the glory of the Confederacy but the part played by slavery. I hope you get all the background, not just the battles, plantations.

The removal could have been an advertising post or such.

This year is the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War, and many places are planning special activities. Check out http://www.nps.gov/fosu/planyourvisit/civil-war-sesquicentennial.htm for some info on those activities. Your timing is perfect for being in Charleston by April 12th.

By this time 150 years ago, in a span of 5 weeks South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, and Georgia have seceded from the Union. The next will be Louisiana on Jan 26, and Texas on Feb 1. On Feb 18th, Jefferson Davis is inaugurated as President of the Confederacy, followed by Abraham Lincoln's inauguration as president of the United States on March 4th. At 4:30 on the morning of April 12th, Charleston harbor's Fort Sumter is fired upon by the Confederates and will fall 34 hours later. The war has begun. Virginia will secede six days later. Followed by Arkansas (May 6), North Carolina (May 20), and finally, Tennessee (June 8).

Have fun. The southeast is a great place to visit, especially at that time of the year.

I didn't realize NC seceded on May 20. I believe that is Mecklenburg Declaration Day--the day that supposedly a declaration of independence from England was signed on in 1775--a year before the July 4th Declaration--here in Charlotte. A copy has never been found but references to it abound. Interesting juxtaposition.

Do not miss Vicksburg & Natchez, Mississippi and also as someone else suggested don't miss Franklin, Tennessee when you're in Nashville. And if you want to do a little reading beforehand about Franklin read The Widow of the South. Fascinating look at the battle and the widow on whose plantation all those soldiers were buried.

I saw the comment before it was deleted: it was an ad (and for Miami at that!).

Sorry Gretchen, that one comment was from my husband (he's the Civil War buff) and it was meant to be tongue in cheek. It obviously didn't come over like that. It needed a smiley face.

For Civil War history, read James McPherson's Pulitzer winner -- Battle Cry of Freedom. That could be a guidebook for you too.

I thought that John Dunning with "The Bookman's Promise" was an intersting look into Charleston life and history. It might be an entertaining read before you go. We went to Charleston over Christmas and listened to it on the way there....very interesting.

If you are going through East Tennessee (Knoxville), plan for a day in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It will be really beautiful in the springtime. Cades Cove is a 12-mile loop driving road that takes you through one of the first settled areas (by white men) in the Appalachians. There are restored cabins, mills, and churches. If you are the outdoor sports types, the road is closed to motor vehicles on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, and you can bicycle it. I highly recommend the trip.
And for a taste of middle America on vacation, over to Pigeon Forge and/or Gatlinburg. Oy. Go with a sense of humor.
Enjoy your trip!

PLEASE do not waste your time in Pigeon Forge. And I have a sense of humor. The same is true of Gatlinburg.

If you want to try the best Clarksdale has to offer have an early lunch at Ground Zero which is owned by Morgan Freeman and two of his friends. Get a plate lunch or sandwich but eat light. The Blues Museum is next door. Before you leave Clarksdale, MS go to Hick's and get another light lunch of BBQ and tamales. This way you get the best of Clarksdale. Morgan owns Madidi's which is a fine dining restaurant a few blocks from Ground Zero if you would like to stop in for drinks and/or snacks before you leave Clarksdale, MS. It's very nice and highly recommended. The bar opens at 5 PM. There's an old neat store that sells a lot of junk across the street from Madidi's and plenty of places for the wife to purchase items to take home. I wish you could visit Oxford, MS. If not then plan 6/7 hours in Clarksdale. Have an early lunch at GZ, visit the Museum, walk around downtown and shop, get some tamales at Hick's. After lunch head back S on Sunflower by the river and stop at Hick's just to visit. Take a right on Highway 61 which is State St. Go across the river and Hick's is on the right in nice red brick building. Go in visit and get a cold drink. Talk to Eugene and look at his pictures when President Clinton visited. On your way N stop at The Ranchero and get a cold drink. Charlie Conerly who was a famous QB for the NY Giants lived in Clarksdale and there are all kinds of old sports photo's there of Conerly and some of his old buddies. It's a fun place and the food is outstanding.
I really hope you find time to visit Oxford. It's my favorite town in Mississippi. If so head N on State St. to Highway 278/6 E to Batesville/Oxford. It's about 60 miles to Oxford. You should be there around 3PM. When you get to Oxford you will come to a red light and Jackson Ave. going to the left. Go straight ahead and get off at the first Exit which is Coliseum Dr. Get off on right but turn back left and cross the highway. Take your first right by the Basketball Practice Facility on Hill Drive. You will see the football stadium straight ahead. Go to dead end at All American Drive turn right and go past N end of stadium. You will run into the Grove. Go to the left on University Ave. and you will go past the Grove on your right and run into the Circle. Go around the circle and you will see The Lyseum which is the oldest building on campus. The James Meredith riot started in the Circle. There's a monument of him behind the Lyseum. The street you came in on at The Grove is University Ave. Take it back E all the way to Lamar. Take a right on Lamar and go about 6 blocks and take a right on Old Taylor. Go about 3 blocks and you run dead into Faulkner's home. You can drive up the gravel road in front and park and go in and visit. Go back to Lamar and go N past University Ave. two blocks and park. You are now on The Square. The building on your left is Square Books which is very famous. John Grisham has a home in Oxford. You passed it on the right just before you got to town. It sits off to the right on a hill and it's easy to see. It's just before the car dealership before you get to the first red light. He's a frequent visitor to Oxford.

Park and walk around the Square. City Grocery is two doors down W of Square Books. Neilson's to your right on the Square is a nice department store. If you walk past City Grocery on the left you will see Waltz Restaurant after you pass the Pizza joint. Going around the Square you will find Ajax which is a good country food joint. There are a couple of nice ladie's shops on that side of the Square. Downtown Grill is on N side of Square. They have a nice bar upstairs. There's a Rebel junk store around on the N side if you want to buy a Rebel souvenir to take home. Go N on Lamar and Lenora's is on the left. Have dinner at City Grocery. CG has a nice bar upstairs and you can sit outside if you like. Tell Jim Weems the manager with a beard that Henry McCaslin said hello. He will take good care of you. If Jim is not there then a cute young lady named Lauren will take care of you. I hope you have a great trip.

City Grocery @ 152 Courthouse Square, Oxford, MS. 662 - 232 - 8080.
http://www.citygroceryonline.com/

If you have time stop by Greenwood, MS where you will find some outstanding casual local dining at Lusco's, Crystal Grill and Giardinia's. Giardinia's is in The Alluvian Hotel which is a 4 * hotel owned by Viking Range. The Crystal has good plate lunches, seafood and steaks. Giardinia's and Lusco's both have outstanding seafood and steaks. Lusco's is old style in a fairly rough neighborhood but safe with lots of history and famous names that have been there. Everyone dines in a booth with a curtain same as Giardinia's. Spend the night at The Alluvian and dine at Giardinia's or Lusco's for dinner.
Alluvian Hotel @ 318 Howard Street, Greenwood, MS 662 - 451 - 1500.
http://www.thealluvian.com/
Crystal Grill @ 423 Carrollton Ave.,Greenwood, MS 662 - 453 - 6530.
Giardinia's @ 314 Howard St., Greenwood, MS 662 - 455 - 4227.
http://www.thealluvian.com/restaurants.html
Lusco's @ 722 Carrollton Ave., Greenwood, MS 662 - 453 - 5365.
Stop in Greenville, MS if you have time for dinner at Doe's Eat Place. Greenville, MS is W of Greenwood, MS on Highway 82. Doe's Eat Place is not to be missed. You enter the restaurant through the kitchen where you can watch the steaks being prepared. In the center of the main dining room there are stoves at which the fries are made and salads are prepared there as well. In most cases, one steak there easily feeds two.
Doe's Eat Place @ 502 Nelson Street, Greenville, MS 662 - 334 - 3315.
http://www.doeseatplace.com/
You can head S on Highway 49 to Yazoo City and take Highway 3 to Vicksburg, MS. If you are in Greenville, MS you can go S on Highway 61 to Vicksburg, MS.

In Vicksburg you could tour the old antebellum homes and the Vicksburg National Military Park.
Have lunch/dinner @ Rusty's River Front Grill @ 901 South Washington St., Vicksburg, MS 601 - 638 -2030.
or @ Walnut Hills @ 1214 Adams Street, Vicksburg, MS 601 - 638 - 4910‎ for southern cooking.
Stop in Greenville, MS if you have time for dinner at Doe's Eat Place @ 502 Nelson Street
Greenville, MS 662 - 334 - 3315.
http://www.doeseatplace.com/

I would definitely stop in Natchez and spend a day touring the plantation homes there. Monmouth is an oustanding place for the night. The dining room there is superb. I would also check out The Carriage House Restaurant at Stanton Hall for a wonderful lunch.
http://www.stantonhall.com/
http://www.monmouthplantation.com/

Thanks BigRuss. We have Battle Cry of Freedom - great book.
Thanks 64driver for the info' on Great Smokey Mountains National Park- we are hoping to get there. After Memphis and nashville we'll be desperate for some peace and quiet. Are there any more National Parks on/near our itinary?
Littleman, you've given us a lot to think about - thanks for your time.

Oh boy I missed the fun.

Harbor a grudge for Civil War stuff? Nevah. Now I shall git the vapahs. Yes Gretchen, we love Mayor Joe.

Charleston is full of Revolutionary War history as well as Civil War history. It will cost you more to stay in the Historic District but I highly recommend it. Middleton is my favorite plantation. Take Alphonse Brown's Gullah tour.

AND learn that it is not the "Civil War". It IS "the late unpleasantness". LOL

The recent unpleasantness.

Have been looking to book 3 nights in Charleston Historic District but as you say suewoo it is very expensive, particularly as we will be there Friday and Saturday. If we try Mt Pleasant will there be convenient transport into Charleston or would we have to drive and park - would that be horrendous?

Littleman wrote: I would definitely stop in Natchez and spend a day touring the plantation homes there. Monmouth is an oustanding place for the night. The dining room there is superb. I would also check out The Carriage House Restaurant at Stanton Hall for a wonderful lunch.

UK'ers: From very personal experience I can heartily second Littleman's recommendation(s). The owners of Monmouth are my next door neighbors/good old friends, here in L.A...Ron and Lani Riches. We have been their guest at Monmouth and the extraordinary experiences linger on. They keep asking us to return. Just tell me when your going and I can guarantee a red carpet.

Their schedule includes two weeks at Monmouth (where they have a very competent staff of 40), then two weeks here...this goes on year after year. I get worn down just thinking about it when I see the airport limo show up.
On one of our stays, they were to meet us there...but Lani had an appedicitis attack the night before..Ron insisted that we go ahead...and talk aout red carpet treatment! Conde Nast has had Monument on several of its "Small Luxury Hotels" list, well deserved.

Natchez and its 30-40 ante-bellum homes is an attraction in itself. The above mentioned Carriage House resto is certainly a great choice for lunch..excellent. I sggest you can do a fairly short ride on the trace from Natchez north. You'd get all the flavor you wish from that.

The anchored river boat gambling is conveniently waiting for deep-pocket UK'ers, there on the Mississippi.

If you wish a copy of my 20-page Savannah/Charleston/Natchez itinerary I designed for some California folks a few years back, you might find it useful. I can email it to you..just write at rozstu1@aol.com and I'd be happy to send it along to you. Most everything mentioned in the itin is still intact.

stu tower

typo..."monument" = Monmouth..

Just a heads up to stu. You are a brave person to put your email address as an "@" instead of "at". A thought for another time.

Yeah, you might you some spam.

This thread is full of excellent information - thanks! Bookmarking.

Gretchen and Suewoo...thank you for caring...but I've been posting for nearly 6 years, using my email address where appropriate..and I expect to continue to do so. Spam? Ooh-ooh-ooh ...I get spam anyway, just like all of us... At my octogenarian age, I let it all hang out (but it aint pretty no mo'), nothing to hide and really don't give a fiddler's hoot anymore.

By the way, several dozen posters give out their email addresses on their profile pages. I correspond with many Fodorites and enjoy it very much.I can be seen on google, too. I have pics(scanned and digital) from more than 70 countries to which I've traveled during the past 65 years. and I love to share those with whomever wishes to take a peek. What the hell, why not?

But again, ladies, sincere thanks for your concern. Love ya both.
stu

Good for you!

That's great. A profile page is different from this where the spam spiders collect addresses which was our concern.

There is nothing in Tallahasse or Chatanooga (sp?) IMHO to use your valuable time on.

I believe there is a wonderful aquarium in Chattanooga. Also a pretty good Civil War site that I cannot call the name of.

Keep in mind "crowded in Savannah" is not the same as saying "crowded in NYC" or "crowded in DC". It's still a pretty small town. You aren't planning to visit over St Patrick's Day so you should be fine.

"Have been looking to book 3 nights in Charleston Historic District but as you say suewoo it is very expensive, particularly as we will be there Friday and Saturday."

If you find that staying in the historic district is too expensive, I have a good alternative for you: The Residence Inn Charleston Downtown/Riverview http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/chsri-residence-inn-charleston-downtown-riverview/

Here is why it is a good value. They have suites and offer much more room than a traditional hotel "room", Free wi-fi, free parking, free hot breakfasts and even a free (modest) dinner + adult beverages on weekdays. They also offer a complimentary evening shuttle service to the historic district. Oh yes, senior citizen rates too.

_____________________________________________
Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

With apologies to the OP for getting off-track...

A profile page is different from this where the spam spiders collect addresses which was our concern.

I hate to say it, but you're overly optimistic in thinking you can prevent spam in the ways you've described. Web spiders crawl the *whole site* - any public-facing pages will get crawled for information, so profile pages aren't exempt unless Random House has some way (and reason) for blocking those pages. Also, spammers are savvy enough to search on for example AT in addition to @, so any attempts we make (myself included) are fairly useless...

FWIW, my personal solution is to have multiple email addresses - my Yahoo account makes this very easy with their Address Guard - and use one for online communication such as here, another for ecommerce purchases (and all the resultant "spam" from their catalogs!), etc. Then I can easily tell the "real" people my more closely guarded address in the subsequent email communication.

Thanks Orando_Vic. Like the look of Riverview. It's a bit further out than we would have liked but more like our price bracket esp with the Senior rate. Do you know if there is public transport to the Historic District in the daytime?

No replies yet to my husband's query about Lafayette - anyone out there got a view?

IMHO???

Thanks Orando_Vic. Like the look of Riverview. It's a bit further out than we would have liked but more like our price bracket esp with the Senior rate. Do you know if there is public transport to the Historic District in the daytime?

No replies yet to my husband's query about Lafayette - anyone out there got a view?

IMHO???

Public transportation in Charleston in unreliable. You might see if Riverview has a shuttle, or take a taxi if you decide to stay outside the HD.

We stayed at the ________across from the Visitor's Center. There is a trolley that runs from there to the HD. Sue, does it "run around" the HD, and would that be any help?

"Thanks Orando_Vic. Like the look of Riverview. It's a bit further out than we would have liked but more like our price bracket esp with the Senior rate. Do you know if there is public transport to the Historic District in the daytime?"

There is no daytime transport, only evening. However, this is nice if you want to return to your hotel before going out to dinner in the historic district. I think their shuttle runs once an hour, 6 pm - 11 pm. They are located 2 miles from the historic district. I will be honest with you. Their location can be tricky to find the first time, but the many positives of this place outweigh their odd location. We were there in November and would return without hesitation.


_____________________________________________
Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

Yay, i love the southeast, i live here and have several favorite places along your route, some touristy but it's because they are interesting places:
Atlanta: Stone Mt, world of coke, buford highway international restuarants; cyclorama
savannah - hunting island, has wild looking beach with large pre-historic looking vegetation
Tallahassee - st mark's wildlife refuge (has lots of birds and alligators and marshland with 7 mile road to gulf)
Alabama Gulf Coast - to see white sandy beaches (and lots of condos but there is a state park beach that is natural)
Fort Morgan AL - has fort but the best thing to do is watch the bird banding apr 2-14 (http://www.hummingbirdsplus.org/CalendarOfEvents.html), then ride the ferry to dauphin island
Dauphin Island, AL - has everything you are looking for, a fort and plenty of birds and trails plus a small aquarium and pretty beach on far west side; it's a quirky little place that the condo developers didn't ruin
New Orleans - french qtr and swamp tour
Chattanooga - Rock City; lots of civil war sites; downtown pleasant for tourists
Smoky mts - Cades Cove; chimney tops hike; some roads around there are very windy (ie, one called the dragon's tail), ask a local for best route from point A to B
Asheville - this is a cool/hip town with artsy stuff; it may be out of your way but if you go take the Lazoom comedy tour; you can see elk at cataloochee cove in smoky mts near asheville;
email me if you need more detail: carlasimpson@aol.com

Many years ago we stayed overnight at one of the plantations outside of New Orleans. It was really fun, staying in the mansion overnight.

I think it was Nottoway Plantation.

Hi TG2/..how's my favorite traveling family?!

Carla...as a newbie (Feb)you have made a great initial contribution. That's the way it's done! Thank you and welcome to Fodors...you'll fit like a glove! Your comment on Asheville is right on...cool and hip.


stu tower

Savannah and Charleston are definitely worth the effort to visit. Beautiful small cities with lots of charm. Especially for Charleston, try to take a walking tour as its a great way to see a lot of the city.

Hi Stu. We are in the midst of the college application process, so our next trip is to California to visit a college or two. The kids grow up so fast! Hope all is well with you and your lovely wife. Love, TG2

Still working on the trip and finding your answers very helpful. Still no answers relating to the question of including Lafayette, LA. I would quite like to see Cajun country and the Bayous? as I suspect it will be very different from anything we have seen before. Where best to stop between NO and Natchez in order to do this. Lafayette?

Also, any advice on where to stay in Nashville or would it be best to stay nearby considering we also want to visit the Civil War sites at Franklin.

I've been to Lafayette. it's OK. I liked Breaux Bridge better. I also had a great stay in Thibodaux at Naquins' Bed and Breakfast. Real Cajun people who make you real Cajun breakfast!
http://www.naquinsbb.com/

If you go tell Joyce and Frank I said hey.

Thank you suewoo. I have sent Joyce and Frank an email with further enquiries. Do you think it would be possible to use their place as a base for New Orleans as well? It would be good to stay in the one place, say for 4/5 nights, instead of splitting it into 2 stays of 2/3 nights.

You could. Thib is a small town about 90 miles from NO. I guess it depends on your preference. Get your bearings, though-Bayou dark at night!

Thanks suewoo. We have booked 2 nights in New Orleans and 3 nights at Naquins.

I just saw this thread. Nothing against Thib but what are planning to do in the area that merits three nights? I'd at least switch it to 3 nights in NOLA and 2 at Naquins. My apologies if I missed an earlier discussion that explains that much time in Thib.


A funny story - I was traveling near Cape Breton NP in Nova Scotia and drove through a small town with a lot of businesses with the same surname. I stopped at the post office and mailed a postcard to a former work associate in Thibodaux. I told her that if she's never been there, she needed to come because there was a big collection of her cousins living there Brought the Cajun - Acadian connection to life.

California to visit a college or two

TG@...UKLynne is a lovely person from the north of England,, so this short hijack shouldn't be too bothersome..if you're going to be anywhere in the gigantic L.A. area, please write and we can meet for coffee or lunch. I'd be happy to give you and the boys a tour of the city (Beverly Hills, Hollywood, the beaches, etc.). T'wopuld be my pleasure.
Stu
rozstu1@aol.com

Tell them I said hey.

Well, I think that if you are in to history and the civil war you would be making a mistake not to hit NE Florida, both Fernandina Beach which boasts a beautiful Civil War Fort, Fort Clinch http://www.floridastateparks.org/fortclinch/ and also St. Augustine, FL which is the oldest European city in the continental US. It doesn't have a lot of Civil War history but it sure has a lot of history, two forts and many very old and beautiful buildings. I've stayed there a couple of times and you mentioned liking bed and breakfasts so I will recommend the Kenwood Inn at http://www.thekenwoodinn.com

I would recommend staying in St. Martinville or nearby and then exploring Cajun Country from there. It is a cute picturesque town with nearby plantations and it is centrally located near Lafayette, Breaux Bridge, as well as the Tabasco Factory and Jungle Gardens.

Oak Alley, Laura, and Nottoway are must plantation visits. Madewood and San Francisco should also be considered. I would include a swamp tour as well. I'd recommend something deep in the Atchafalaya to see the real swamp.

Thought the posts had died out and not been on Fodor for a few days. Been busy booking some more stops, Natchez, Vicksburg and Memphis.

Starrs, the reason for Thib is that suewoo recommended Naquins and it looks like a good, down to earth B&B and what's more, very reasonably priced. It will help to balance the budget and we will use it as a base for exploring the area. We can't afford the time (or the money) to really get into NOLA so we are just going for a taster.

Thanks for your comments too GeorgeTravel but, again, we don't have the time to 'hit NE Florida'. Maybe another trip when we can include some golf as well.

Thanks to you too, bkluvsNola, but, as I said we are already committed to Thib. We are hoping to get to Breaux Bridge etc. I know it might seem like a lot of travelling but that's what we love about the States, just getting into an SUV and seeing where it takes us. What may seem mundane to you can be really interesting to us because it is so different to what we are used to in the UK.

Forgot to ask! I have been looking at hotels in Nashville but, unfortunately, we want 3 nights, Thurs, Fri, Sat and hotels in the Downtown area are either not available or go sky high Fri and Sat. The Hampton Inn & Suites, Nashville@Opryland aren't too badly priced but I don't know how convenient a location this is.

We want to visit Franklin while we are there so I'm now thinking of stopping outside Nashville at Franklin, Brentwood etc. Would we be able to get into Nashville without a car or if we go by car what's is parking like?

Any suggestions for accommodation?

Well, if you like to use a base and drive around I certainly understand that. I do that too. Just didn't know what you wanted to see around Thib. If you're not concerned about the Thib-NOLA drive, then you may want to head in the other direction too and go to Avery Island.

http://www.tabasco.com/tabasco_history/visit_avery_island.cfm#targ

The Tabasco "factory" is there and the "island" is actually a salt dome but the area is very interesting. It's one of my favorite "off the beaten path" locations ever. So, if you have that much time to drive around Thib, consider heading that way one day. And of course, visit one of the plantations. I liked Oak Alley

http://www.oakalleyplantation.com/

Re Nashville, either that Hampton Inn or something in Franklin would work, but you'd want your car to drive in /around Nashville.

Hi UKLynne,

I live in the Nashville area and can tell you that getting around with a car is the only way. Parking downtown is very easy, lots of pay lots. You will save money by staying in the Opryland area, airport or down in Franklin.

Some don't miss sights are the Country Music Hall of Fame, 2nd Avenue and Broadway for the honky tonks, Belle Mead Plantation or The Hermitage (home of President Andrew Jackson), Carnton Plantation and the Battle of Franklin site. I haven't played tourist in a long time but those are some of my favorites.

If you really want to be outdoors then Radnor Lake, Cheekwood Botanical Gardens or Percy Warner Park would fit the bill. All very beautiful with nice walking areas.

Thanks for the useful advice starrs and trvlgirlmq. I'm off to bed. It's getting late here.

I spent several days as a tourist in Nashville and got around just fine without a car. If you are staying downtown, the central bus hub terminal is only a block or two from the capitol building.

A large number of attractions can be easily reached by bus or on foot if you stay downtown. Gray Line Tours does a perfectly good half-day tour to The Hermitage and Belle Meade Plantation, which can't be reached this way. You do need a car if you want to go to things further out, such as Cheekwood, Stones River Battlefield Site, and Carnton Plantation. But it's not necessary otherwise, and I can vouch for that.

See also this thread:

http://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/nashville-to-rent-a-car-or-not.cfm

Here's some joints to stop and rest along the way from Mobile 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.
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.
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.
McElroy's on the Bayou @ 705 Bienville Blvd. 228 - 818 - 4600.
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.
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/
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 @ 833 Highway 90 # 3, Bay St. Louis, MS 228 - 467 - 8570.
Or get off I 12 at Exit 65 and go S on Highway 59 to Lakeshore Drive. Turn left and go to Rip's for great fresh seafood overlooking Lake Pontchartain. 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.
Rip's on the Lake @ 1917 Lakeshore Drive, Mandeville, LA 985 - 727 - 2829.
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/
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.
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/
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.
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/
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.
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/

I know you want to visit Memphis for some BBQ and sightseeing. Walk around Beale St. and visit the joints. Go in B B King's and Dyer's Burgers. Walk around inside The Peabody Hotel for a drink maybe and then The Rendevous for some BBQ across the street from The PB. There are some nice restaurants in the area including Felicia Suzanne's for fine dining at dinner, McEwen's for fine dining, Restaurant Iris for fine dining at dinner only, Automatic Slims for drinks and bar food, Gus' World Famous Fried Chicken and South of Beale for good bar dining.

Felicia Suzzane's @ 80 Monroe Ave., Memphis, TN 901 - 523 - 0877.
http://www.feliciasuzanne.com/
McEwen's on Monroe @ 122 Monroe Ave., Memphis, TN 901 - 527 - 7085.
http://www.mcewensonmonroe.com/
Restaurant Iris @ 2146 Monroe Ave., Memphis, TN 901 - 590 - 2828. * FD/DINNER.
http://www.restaurantiris.com/
Automatic Slim's @ 83 South 2nd St., Memphis, TN 901 - 525 - 7948.
http://www.automaticslimsmemphis.com/
Gus' World Famous Fried Chicken @ 310 South Front St., Memphis, TN 901 - 527 - 4877.
South of Beale @ 361 South Main St., Memphis, TN 901 - 526 - 0388.
http://www.southofbeale.com/


I know you are interested in trying good Memphis BBQ. Here are the top choices.

A & R Bar B Que @ 1802 Elvis Presley Blvd., Memphis, TN. 901 - 774 - 7444.
http://www.aandrbbq.com/
BBQ Shop @ 1782 Madison Ave., Memphis, TN. 901 - 272 - 1277.
http://www.dancingpigs.com/
Central BBQ @ 2249 Central Ave., Memphis, TN. 901 - 272 - 9377.
Charlie Vergo's Rendezvous @ 52 S. Second St., Memphis, TN. 901 - 523 - 2746.
http://www.hogsfly.com/
Cozy Corner @ 745 N. Parkway, Memphis, TN. 901 - 527 - 9158.
http://www.cozycornerbbq.com/
Interstate BBQ @ 2265 S. Third St., Memphis, TN. 901 - 775 - 2304.
http://www.interstatebarbecue.com/
Neely's BBQ @ 670 Jefferson St., Memphis, TN. 901 - 521 - 9798.
http://www.neelysbbq.com/
One and Only BBQ @ 1779 Kirby Pkwy., Memphis, TN 901 - 751 - 3615.
http://www.oneandonlybbq.com/
Paynes BBQ @ 1762 Lamar Ave., Memphis, TN. 901 - 272 - 1523.

The BBQ Shop and One and Only are my favorites but Payne's is famous for their pulled pork sandwich

"The best seafood in Mobile, AL is at Wintzell's Oyster House."

Can't speak to whether that is true, but ate at Wintzell's in Pensacola and was quite disappointed, especially after all the hype I had heard about it (it is their first location outside Alabama).

I don't know what you have decided about driving on part of the Natchez Trace. We drove on a short portion of it outside Natchez and found both the Emerald Mound and the Mt. Locust (old home/inn) very interesting.

In LA, the Acadian village in Lafayette is also a good open air historic museum.

Thank you all. Bachslunch - the thing is we will have a hire car for the whole of our trip so we are just trying to decide how easy it will be to drive into Downtown Nashville and park, if we decide to stay somewhere like Franklin.

Where is Opreyland? Would it be any more convenient than Franklin or would we still need the car to get into Downtown?

Vttraveler - we will be doing the same bit of the Trace so thanks for that. Will also keep the Acadian Village in mind.

Littleman - I feel very, very full already!

Wow, Littleman's list is so comprehensive!

I'd add to it that if you're passing through Long Beach, MS, the best coffee on the coast is at Bankhouse Coffee. They don't have a website but do have a Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pages/Bankhouse-Coffee/117203777424. Or try the Yelp listing: www.yelp.com/biz/bank-house-coffee-long-beach. It's in a 100-plus year old bank building that was one of the few structures right there to survive Hurricane Katrina. (The storm surge came barreling up Jeff Davis Ave, then hit the embankment of the railroad tracks adjacent to the coffee house which finally broke its impact...)

...If you don't know about Yelp, it can be a godsend for finding restaurants and other venues as you're traveling about. Even better with a gps-enabled smartphone, as it can show you listings in your immediate vicinity.

Here's a report I did on Memphis restaurants I patronized on a trip there, including many BBQ joints:

http://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/memphis-food-experience.cfm

Wow, Littleman's list is so comprehensive!

GG...don't you wonder what he/she does in order to write the most extensive suggestions I have ever seen in 6 years on this forum??? Littleman...seems like you would have to eat 10 meals a day for a year to come up with these suggestions.

C'mon, please tell us what your day job is?? and of course, everyone with an interest in this kind of information thanks you profusely! I find it all quite wondrous...and amusing.
stu

To the OP - hope you have an amazing vacation. I'm quite sure you will
Please don't miss Drayton Hall when you're in Charleston.
http://www.draytonhall.org/ It always impresses me.
A preserved, rather than restored, piece of plantation history.

So true, Stu! The only poster I've seen come close to that kind of extensive suggestions is Cicerone. I love that Littleman's lists are so detailed, down to which turns to take to get there. My kind of recommendations! ...And if it is a day job that takes Littleman to all these places, would that it were mine!!

Our telephone line has been down for a couple of days so just catching up. Thanks for the good wishes lantana - like the idea of Drayton Hall.

I'm now looking at our final destination, Chattanooga. Everything else booked more or less. Felt with this trip we needed to be a little more organised than usual. Didn't fancy arriving in some of these big cities with no reservations.

We're going straight from Nashville to Chattanooga. Had to give the Smokey Mountains a miss - just not enough time.

Bookmarking. Thanks!

UKLynne...here it is October...pray tell, how did everything work for you..just a little post trip report, please. A paragraph would be most welcome.

stu

Here ya go, tower -
http://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/trip-report-touring-south-east-usa.cfm

Thanks, Starrs...guess I missed it. A nice, concise trip report..sounds like they had an enoyable time. How could you not? If UKLynne reads this, thanks to you two, also. Happy ti went well.
Thanks again for the heads up, Starrs.

Stu in L.A. (but a big fan of Sav and Ch'ston)

You asked about Charleston accomodations downtown during a weekend. Of all the cities you mentioned, Charleston and Savannah probablly have the highest premium on weekend rooms. Weekdays you can save half on the historic district especially during that time of year.

bookmarking