Lauradublin

Hi,

I am planning the following trip - Atlanta - Nashville - Smokey Mountains - Charleston - Savannah and flying out again from Atlanta. We have only booked our accommodation in Nashville and will decide as we go along where we will stop and stay but the main highlights are as mentionned. Any advice on what not to miss? We leave on May 17.

Thanks, Laura

Kay2

What are your interests--Civil War, country music, NASCAR, hiking, historic home tours, beaches, art, theater, outlet shopping? Just adults or also children? Lots to do in those places and along the way if we had a better idea of what you're interested in

Lauradublin

Hi Kay,

Yes, I guess I should have been more specific! We are two adults interested in country music, walking, historic home tours, beaches, outlet shopping, and good food. But we are also on a moderate bugdet.

Thanks for any help you can give me!

Laura

Lauradublin

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mahoneycutt

You'll most likely take I40 east out
of Nashville. If you follow it to Knoxville, you'll be in the neighborhood of Pigeon Forge (shopping). Head north east to Bristol (birth of country music). Wind down through Asheville (Smokies, walking, Biltmore House), then on to Charleston and Savannah (homes, etc.).

Mike Honeycutt

Connie

Don't miss going on into Gatlinburg and the national park. Gatlinburg is a MUCH nicer town to visit than Pigeon Forge. The park has lots of beautiful trails to walk ranging from easy to difficult.

Lauradublin

Thanks for the advice!

Kay2

There are two small outlet malls between Atlanta and Chattanooga on I-75. If you like moderate hikes, we like Ga's Cloudland Canyon State Park near Chattanooga. If you haven't been to the Smokies before, most folks like to visit Cade's Code with history and moderate walks. Biltmore in Asheville is a great mansion tour. A drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway will take you to a crafts store, pretty vistas, and more walks. I prefer Charleston to Savannah. The historic district is packed with lovely homes and gardens. You can do a walking tour of the district with a guidebook. Used to be a small low country music and legends show there, but I don't know if it is still around. The baskets are the highlight of shopping along the sidewalks or in the market. You can also tour some of the nearby plantation houses and grounds. I also like Beaufort, SC for historic homes in a smaller town setting.

robertw

If you're interested in historic homes, make sure to see Kensington Mansion near Columbia, SC. (You'll have to pass through Columbia at least once to/from Charleston). Kensignton has been restored in the past decade and is located about a half hour south of Cola. Kensignton is unique in that it was not burned by Sherman's troops when he torched Columbia during the Civil War. Kensington has a different feel and history compared to the Charleston / Lowcountry plantations. Kensington is less touristed and less well known but just as interesting as other more famous plantations and would be a nice way to break up some lengthy trips on area interstates.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Lauradublin

Thanks for all the advice - you have all given me lots of food for thought!

ejcrowe

When you're in Savannah and Charleston, you must stay in a bed and breakfast in the historic districts. Cheese grits, homemade biscuits, fresh preserves, pancakes, blintzes, fritattas--you name it, you can get it. I get hungry just thinking about them!

The Smokey Mountains are lovely, truly they are, but I find that both Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are tacky-touristy beyond belief. WHich is not to say I don't enjoy them from time to time--nothing wrong with theme park miniature golf every now and again--but don't go expecting a classy setting.
Have a great time!

Litespeed_Chick

The Smokies are beautiful, stay clear of Gatlinburg, Cherokee etc. Asheville is a great town, it is actually in the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are east of the Smokies. Biltmore HOuse is unfortunately rather expensive. $36 each for adult tickets. But the hiking in Pisgah Nat'l forest (formerly owned by George VAnderbilt) is free!

muglich

We're going to be in Savannah for 3 days in May. Is there a particular B&B you would recommend?

Brutforce

You may want to add in Asheville for Nashville. It is quite far from where the rest of your trip is taking place. Also, how long do you have ? I'm thinking you'll need 2 weeks minimum just to scratch the surface.

Lauradublin

Thanks for all the replies! We are going for 2 weeks but don't plan on actually staying in Atlanta. We'll go straight to Nashville - with an overnight stop before we get there as I'm not sure how long I will want to drive after an 8 hour flight.

Three nights in Nashville then over to the Smokies - Not sure how long we will spend there, but will also stay in Ashville before heading to Charleston. Depending on how much time we have left we will either just visit Savannah for 1 day or we may overnight there. Only 4 weeks to go now and I am so excited about the trip!!

Thanks! Laura

Lauradublin

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jaspertl

We stayed at the Foley House B&B on the square where "Forrest Gump" was filmed. It's a really charming place with period furnishings...
Go to any web browser and type in Foley House Savannah and it'll come up.
I'ts a wonderful place with great food. The owner would play his baby grand piano in the evening by the fire with wine and cheese served. The breakfasts are served indoors or out on the patio...
We've stayed in lots of B&B's and this is at the top of the list.

GeorgiaT

Re outlet shopping: right off of I-75 in Dalton, the same exit as the huge Dalton Carpet and home furnishings outlet is a little known Waverly fabric and home decor outlet that truly has great prices or second runs and overstocks.
Re road trips, dig out your atlas and check out US64 that pulls off I-75 east of Chattanooga and connects to US441 and then the Great Smoky Mt espressway, on to I40 that will take you into Asheville. This drive, however, will bypass both Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Cherokee. The portion of 64 along the Ocoee river is very pretty passing by the site a 1996 Olympic site.
The downside of taking this trip is that you would miss the views on 441 as it leave Gatlinburg and heads south across the top of the Smokies at Newfound Gap. A suggested route from Chattanooga to catch those areas would be I75 towards Knoxvile, at some point swinging over to catch US411 to Maryville and then on to Townsend, where you can enjoy the serenity of a presevered mountain settlement in Cade's Cove. The drive from Cade's Cove to 441 is very pretty also, following the edge of the river much of the way. At 441 you can turn north to catch the tourist sites at Gatlinburg or head south across the Smokies and then on to Asheville, via the aforementioned Great Smoky MT expressway, or the slower and much more scenic Parkway that starts in Cherokee. Lots more to see and do. Have a great trip.