Best southern cities to visit?
 

I have "narrowed" my family trip to Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga, Louisville, Savannah and Charleston. Any suggestions of which have the best combination of history, shopping, food, sites, and natural beauty?<BR><BR>I also might do 3 nights one place and 3 another, if you can recommend a "package".<BR><BR>Thanks, Tim

Stay away from Memphis and Savannah..definatly Charleston...great restaurants, clean, pretty and try ATLANTA...soo much to do.

Nashville & Louisville. They're only 180 miles apart on I-65, and much to see & do. <BR><BR>In Louisville be sure to visit Churchill Downs, the Hillerich & Bradsby museum, the science museum, and the J.B. Speed Art museum. Also, if you like authentic English antiques (old & very expensive) and great food, drive 30 minutes east to Shelbyville, home of Wakefield-Scearce Galleries and Science Hill restaurant. Louisville offers many great restaurants, particularly along eclectic Bardstown Road (Louisville's answer to Greenwich Village). <BR><BR>In Nashville, it depends on your interests. Of course you can do the whole country music thing. Or visit the Parthenon, Belle Meade Mansion, Vanderbilt University, Second Avenue restaurants, etc. <BR><BR>Enjoy!<BR>

I live between Nashville and Memphis. My advice is not to vacation in Memphis. Nashville is nice, but my personal preference would be Charleston - the food is great, tons of historical sites to see, shopping at the Market downtown is fun, and the beach is so close.

Charleston/Savannah/Hilton Head would be my choice. Beautiful and historic cities combined with HH Island!

Wakefield Scearce in Shelbyville, Kentucky is an amazing place! It's a trip back in time. Here's a link to its website:<BR><BR>http://www.wakefield-scearce.com<BR><BR>From downtown Louisville, it's about a 45 minute drive through horse country.

I live between Louisville and Nashville. I think you should do a iten. that includes Nashville, Lou, and Memphis. Despite what others have said in this thread, I think Memphis is really cool and gives you a look at "city South". Charleston would be a better trip for pure Southern intensity.<BR><BR>I'm hungry right now so I'll give you a lowdown on three good restaurants.<BR> In Louisville, have an eating experience by going to Lynn's Paradise Cafe. Kitch to the max. In Nashville, go to Demos's Steak and Spag on the corner of 3rd and Commerce. And in Memphis go to either the Rendevoux or the Blues City Cafe for true Memphian food

Hello Tim. Here's another vote for Charleston and I have visited all of the cities on your list more than once, except Louisville. Charleston has a wonderful "southern" feel to it and is close to several charming islands like<BR>Kiawah where you can rent bikes and ride on the hard sandy beaches with little development in sight. There is a<BR>great Embassy Suites that was once the home of the Citadel. My family stayed there and could walk to most everything<BR>we wanted to see. The food is good and there is shopping once you leave the old part of Charleston. I can't recommend Hilton Head, too commercial for me, but does have shopping. There are also some great plantations close to Charleston. Be sure to go before it<BR>gets hot as summers can be sweltering.

Tim,<BR><BR>Another vote for you to visit Charleston (and include Beaufort and Savannah, time permitting). Have been to all of the cities that you mentioned and feel that Chas. has all of the attributes that you mentioned -- history, shopping, GREAT food, sites, and natural beauty. In addition - beaches, polite people, the market and tour buses or carriages, etc. <BR>But, you can't go wrong with any of the cities that you mentioned in your possible itinerary!

Not sure why everyone is bashing Memphis, since I think it is hugely underrated. Memphis has the Peabody Hotel (with its famous ducks), the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River, Graceland (take it down on one knee!), Sun Studios, Beale Street (birthplace of the blues) and GREAT barbecue!<BR><BR>Charleston and Savannah are very similar, so I would suggest that you do one or the other. That being said, my ideal itinerary would be Memphis, Nashville and Charleston or Savannah. That would give you three very different cities with different sites and interests.

After four days in Nashville, my conclusions: amazingly overrated. Little to do. Bad restaurants. Small, not especially pretty. What in the world is the big deal about Nashville? Yes, I like country music too, but Nashville? Savannah, Charleston, yes. Nashville, nyet! Ciao

L -- there is plenty to do in Nashville, but perhaps it wasn't your taste. Having lived there for several years, I would *never* have recommended anyone visit for 4 days -- that was your mistake. It's a weekend or long weekend at best. Ditto with Memphis.

Lisa, it was a long weekend, very. I did locate the river and those warehouse places to eat. I walked Vanderbilt. I looked at the NFL stadium. I walked past that theater. I searched for bar-b-que. Ultimately time did pass, and one day it was time to depart for the airport. I arrived safely. Ciao

I agree with Dave....Charleston, Hilton Head Island and Savannah. If you like Tennessee try the Knoxville/Smoky Mountain National Park area....but DON'T stay in Pigeon Forge or Gaitlinburg (two of the strangest cities I've ever passed through!!)

I see a lot of comments recommending Hilton Head. Is this the best beach area in SC / NC that has a fair amount to do? Is Myrtle Beach really not worth visiting? Are there any fairly active beach areas in NC worth staying at for 2-3 days?<BR><BR>Thanks, by the way, for all the great advice so far. SC seems to be the way to go.