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-   -   Deep South sept 2015 (https://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/deep-south-sept-2015-a-1035294/)

t4ffy Jan 22nd, 2015 11:11 AM

Deep South sept 2015
 
Hi everyone, myself and wife are flying into Atlanta GA on 7th sept and flying out from Atlanta on 23rd sept. Comments tips and suggestions for the following itinerary I have planned would be most welcome.

day 1 UK - Atlanta stay 1nt

day 2 - early start - pick up hire car , visit Stone Mountain ( only to view rock carvings),on to Chattanooga take walk over Walnut bridge then on to Nashville for stay 2nts.

early start - Nashville - Muscle Shoals - Tupelo then on to Memphis stay for 2nts.

Memphis - Clarksdale - Indianola - take Natchez Trace to Vicksburg stay for 1nt.

Vicksburg - Natchez - Baton Rouge - New Orleans stay for 2nts.

New Orleans to Biloxi stay for 3nts.

Biloxi - Pensacola Beach , then on to Fort Walton Beach FL stay for 2nts.

Fort Walton Beach - Selma then on to Montgomery stay for 2nts.

Montgomery to Atlanta stay for 2nts fly back to UK on 23rd.

Thanks.

starrs Jan 22nd, 2015 11:46 AM

Looks like a great trip. Three nights in Biloxi seems like a lot but I guess it's for casinos? Other than that, looks great!

Ackislander Jan 23rd, 2015 03:40 AM

I guess you are music fans!

I could quibble with a couple of things, but it's a nice trip.

Your only issue is that this is hurricane season. Hurricanes have been uncommon in recent years, but I would not book lodging that could not be cancelled without penalty. In fact, many of the places you are going won't require advance booking at all.

It is going to be hot and humid, mostly very hot and humid, so plan accordingly in the clothes you bring. Be prepared for bizarre laws on alcohol since each state, even county, has its own laws. Though you can in NO walk down the street drinking from a pint of rum punch, in others places you can only buy beer with 3.2% alcohol. Finally, there are many, many boring miles of driving ahead of you on the interstate motorways, though Chattanooga to Nashville is a happy exception.

BigRuss Jan 23rd, 2015 08:57 AM

<<pint of rum punch>>

That's the children's size in New Orleans.

Is there enough to do in Montgomery for 2 nights? I'd add a day to New Orleans or overnight somewhere on the River Road north of Red Stick just to bop around and see the plantations, civil war battlefields and/or the museum at The Farm.

Hurricanes will mean nothing north of the Gulf Coast. And the 'canes are more frequent on the Florida peninsula than the Gulf Coast, although every now and then a big one comes along (Camille, Ike, Katrina).

Dunno why you're going to Pensacola Beach. It's a beach. You'll see others. Instead, visit the Naval Air Station and its flight museum.

t4ffy Jan 23rd, 2015 09:13 AM

starrs - I do understand your comment about Biloxi, I`m not a big gambler but will have a flutter. we chose Biloxi just to chill out near the end of our adventure along with Fort Walton Beach. Thank you for your input.

Ackislander - We are music fans, great advice regarding advance bookings for lodging due to it being Hurricane season. We drove Chicago to Santa Monica ( Route 66 ) and tried our best to avoid interstate as much as possible I`m guessing Natchez trace parkway would be similar to 66 roads?
Alcohol laws seem crazy how do you get tipsy on 3.2% ha ha !
Thank you for your input

AustinTraveler Jan 23rd, 2015 09:19 AM

Why did you pick Fort Walton Beach? Personally, I would just stay on Pensacola Beach, or better yet, I would stay east of Destin.

t4ffy Jan 23rd, 2015 09:29 AM

BigRuss - Yeah I made a mistake on my first posting we are only staying 1 night in Montgomery not 2. We`re passing through Pensacola Beach as we were contemplating staying here instead of Biloxi. Regarding the Civil War sites we want to pay our respects and see as much as we can without overloading on it during our road trip. Just keep our fingers crossed there will be no Hurricanes.
Thank you for your input

starrs Jan 23rd, 2015 10:09 AM

Consider the villages of 30a if you want to be still for a few days. Gorgeous beaches, lots of restaurants, etc but no high rises.

Www.30a.com

t4ffy Jan 23rd, 2015 10:32 AM

Thanks stars, I`ve taken a quick look at the website and downloaded the app. Looks a stunning place - if I don`t stay in this area I`ll certainly take a drive down there.

dwdvagamundo Jan 23rd, 2015 10:41 AM

Following up on some of the above comments and adding one big concern of my own:

Big concern is that the Natchez Trace Parkway does not go anywhere near Indianola or Vicksburg so you're going way out of your way. It's nice, but it's not worth that much detouring, IMHO. So after Indianola, I'd head back over to Highway 61 and take that the rest of the way to New Orleans.

Although you can drive from Vicksburg to NOLA in one day, I'd follow Big Russ's suggestion and stop in St. Francisville, LA for one nite. Interesting town and plantations around it.

You as music fans need more time in NOLA than the one day you've got planned. I'd stay at least three and possibly four nites. There are so many music venues of various sorts that you will think you've died and gone to heaven. Take the nites from Biloxi; NOLA is (or can be) a very relaxing city--it's not called "the Big Easy" for nothing. So I'd chill there and, if you feel compelled to gamble, stop in Biloxi, have your flutter and stay one nite only.

Concur with Austin Traveller--stop your eastward run at Pensacola Beach. Pensacola does have some interesting things to do, including Fort Barrancas. Mobile also has some interesting things to do, and it will be much easier to get back on I-65 (to Montgomery) from Pensacola.

I'd stop at Tuskegee University on the way back to Atlanta. Founded by Booker T. Washington; George Washington Carver did much of his work there. If you're going to Selma, you care about African-American history and Tuskegee is as big a part of it as Selma.

Finally, I'd see Stone Mountain on your return to ATL, not on your way out. It's quite a distance from I-75, the road to Nashville.

I'll recommend a restaurant in Atlanta--The Colonnade. Founded in 1927, it's really old-time Atlanta food. You'll need to keep your car, though to visit it.

starrs Jan 23rd, 2015 12:06 PM

T4, you'll be in the general area. Just drive east from pensacola on 98 along the coast. Dip down on 30 a. The beach is gorgeous all along the way. I like the serenity of the area - and the lack of high rises.

Cranachin Jan 23rd, 2015 07:29 PM

If you really want to go along the coast from Pensacola to 30A, then you need to head to Pensacola Beach and get on 399 after you cross from Pensacola to Gulf Breeze on 98. There's a big sailfish sign pointing the way.

You will cross back to the mainland at Navarre Beach and rejoin 98. Taking 399 is slower but much more scenic if you actually want to see the coast.

t4ffy Jan 23rd, 2015 10:19 PM

Thank`s Cranachin + stars. Approx how far is it from Fort Walton Beach to 30A down 399 ??

starrs Jan 24th, 2015 07:41 PM

It's 30 miles and 55 min per my phone's app from fort Walton beach to rosemary beach on 98. Going 399 is about the same mileage (a bit more) but slower. But if you are driving the coast road, slowing down and enjoying the view is the main part of the experience.

Cranachin Jan 26th, 2015 02:18 PM

t4ffy and starrs—I am confused.

There is neither a State Road 399 nor a County Road 399 between Fort Walton Beach and Rosemary Beach; 399 is between Pensacola and Navarre, which are west of FWB. Rosemary Beach is east of FWB.

Starrs, did you mean 30A rather than 399 for the scenic coastal route?

starrs Jan 27th, 2015 02:08 AM

Cranachin is right. I originally did the Pensacola -> Rosemary Beach route on my phone and wrote my post and then re-read and saw that t4ffy asked about Fort Walton Beach to RB. I edited my post with that route time via my phone.

My point was to relay the drive times via google maps and to indicate if you drop down to drive the coast road(s) options(399 and/or 30a), the drive will take longer along the coast - but that's not a problem if you are slowing down to enjoy the view and the experience.

t4ffy Jan 28th, 2015 06:28 AM

Thank you both I will take your advice and enjoy the drive taking it easy on 30A

carolyn Jan 30th, 2015 03:50 PM

The Natchez Trace isn't like Route 66. The Trace goes through beautiful, quiet woodland with few places to stop and has a low speed limit. You don't have to drive the whole thing, though.

t4ffy Jul 25th, 2015 12:33 AM

Can anyone suggest where to stop on route from FWB(fl) to Selma(al) to grab a coffee/rest room/or a bite to eat. I know it`s only a 3-3 1/2 hrs drive just in case!! Cheers Again t4ffy.

Dianedancer Jul 25th, 2015 06:19 AM

Add on a night in New Orleans. Truly unique., And don't just see the French Quarter.


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