Hi all! I need some help in picking a long weekend getaway (Wednesday to Sunday) for Fourth of July weekend. This will be a family gathering of my parents (early 50s but act younger) my sister (17) and me (30 yo female) Also another couple my parents age and their daughter and son in law (late 20s) We are open to anything but will be driving from differnt areas and meeting up. Atlanta is a central location for all of us (spread throughout Nashville,TN, Jacksonville, FL and Charlotte NC)however we have all "done" Atlanta. Again anything goes must it must be in that general area so that no one has a longer thatn 8 hour drive. Trying to make a decision within a week and so far the only ideas tossed out have been Gatlinburg/Smoky Mtns and Charleston/Kiwah Island. As for likea, all the women like shopping, men like golf, no "foodies" in the group. We all like history and tours but can get along just as well with mini golf and go karts (yes my 50 yo parents still enjoy this occassionally)

PLEASE HELP WITH IDEAS!

Sounds like Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge would be perfect for you. Pigeon Forge has several shopping malls. Dollywood is really a great amusement park. There's lots of golf and putt putt and go karts. Pretty much everything you've listed is there. Plus, it's up in the mountains, so somewhat cooler than Hotlanta. Do a search on Google and you will find plenty of info.

Terry

How about renting a houseboat at Cumberland State Park in Kentucky?

Hi Sunlover, How about the Virginia Beach - Williamsburg area? We spent lots of time there when the kids were really small. At the time, the beach was nice, some good accomodations, TONS of fun-touristy stuff (putt-putt etc)

Williamsburg, Jamestown and Frederickburg are all close by for historic site-seeing; shopping and golf would be good, too, along with Busch Gardens in Williamsburg. Probably enough for everyone to do their own thing, while meeting for dinner later etc...??

Have fun!

How about the Asheville area? It's a bit cooler in the mountains than elsewhere in July, and Asheville won't be near as crowded as Gatlinburg. The Blue Ridge Parkway is always beautiful as are the waterfalls of Trnsylvania County.

What about Hilton Head area or Charleston, SC? Golf &/or historic plantations & gardens.

I agree with Hilton Head or Charleston/Sullivan's Island.
Shopping, golf, history, beaches - ahhh!

I have to second the suggestion to visit Asheville, which would only be a drive of three hours or so from Atlanta. There's something here for everyone, from grandparents to young children, including museums, gardens, Biltmore Estate (sort of a museum in a garden), natural attractions such as Lake Lure, Chimney Rock Park, and the Blue Ridge Parkway, not to mention the performing arts, the architecture and public art. Surrounding the "big city" or Asheville are interesting and fun small towns with their own sets of attractions to see, including more museums, an amusement park, and some touristy areas that are so tacky they're wonderful, in places such as Maggie Valley and Bat Cave -- as opposed to a place like Gatlinburg, which is just tacky. Also, the Cherokee reservation, with its Museum of the Cherokee Indian, and authentically restored Oconaluftee Cherokee Village to see (there's also a casino).

If you're interested, there's a lot of information on this site about Asheville, because it's a popular resort city, and questions about it come up here from time to time. Perform a search and loads of info will come up for you to look through, or you can ask me anything.

Asheville's a great place for just about everyone, and offers just about everything. I think it'd be perfect for you.

Lake Cumberland is a lot of fun - especially a houseboat rental. But it can be expensive and it will probably be hard to rent one for that weekend. You could still try though. Do not go to Cumberland unless you can get a house boat though. The lake is surrounded by cliffs (with many wonderful private coves and small waterfalls) so it really can't be enjoyed from the banks. My family has had a cabin there for years, but we still rent a houseboat every couple of years.
Try a website for Lake cumberland - most of the major marinas use the same booking office.

Have you thought about Calloway Gardens? This is one of the premiere golf courses in the southeast so I am told. ( I don't play golf) They have various lodging in the gardens including condominiums and hotels. Check it out on the internet. Awesome bike riding trails that go on for miles. Its located about 70 miles south of Atlanta off I-85. This is in the community of Pine Mountain Ga. Not the greatest shopping mecca but certainly beautiful, quaint and relaxing. There are many chalets in the Pine Mountain community if you chose not to stay in Calloway. I would recommend the Mountain Top Inn & Resort, particularly their log cabins which is on top of Pine Mountain and right near the entrance to the FDR National Forest. Warm springs Ga. is just a short drive away which is where Roosevelt spent much of his time durng his presidency. I'm sure Calloway will have a fireworks show. Good luck

Thanks all for the suggestions. Ashville is something I hadn't thought about and I suggested that to the group. Biltmore estate, toursity things to do a swell as history inthe area and I am sure they have golf for the guys! Just what we were looking for. williamsburg would be nice but too far of a drive (I would be driving from Jacksonville, FL and remember we want nno more thanan eight hour drive. As for the houseboat thing, tht's not really us. We like to be active and shop etc. Most of us girls are very girly and like to visit the spa at least once onthe trip as well. Not to mention we like to stay at pretty upscale hotels and be waited on (after all it is vacation!)

Sunlover, Asheville has you covered if you want golf, a spa, and upscale lodging.

You can pick up a guide to public golf courses in NC from any visitors center, like those maintained at the state borders along the interstates, or at visitors centers/chambers of commerce like you'd find on Haywood Street in downtown Asheville. As an aside, were you to stay at the Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa, an historic grand hotel on a mountainside overlooking downtown Asheville, you'd not only have a top-rated spa to visit, but the hotel has its own historic golf course. The hotel itself is an architectural masterpiece... might be worth looking into!

As for shopping, which is something you mentioned that you'd like to do, you can't go wrong in Asheville. Die-hard shoppers say that Asheville is not the best place for clothes shopping, but for everything else, especially when it comes to unique jewelry, antiques, housewares, art, wine, books, or most anything else, the city is a first class marketplace. Of course, I think the clothes shopping isn't too shabby, expecially downtown, but then again... I'm a guy -- what would I know about fashion?

NEW ORLEANS! This is easy -- shooping is fabulous here and the guys can golf at English Turn, which is a pro course. And you don't have to be a foodie to enjoy all the treats here either. You also said you like tours and history, well, New Orleans has 300 years of history and tons of tours to choose from. Go to the Cabildo and Presbetyre, see the original LA Purchase. Take a cemetery tour, ours are not like anywhere else in the USA that I know of. (I'm an ex-military brat, so I lived a lot of places.) Also, we have nice fireworks over the River on July 4.

Let me throw this one at you sunlover. There is a town in western NC called Franklin. It is exactly a short 2 hours from spaghetti junction in Atlanta. July 4th gonna be busy, busy in all the places aforementioned. Franklin is a small mountain town, but there you have a great golf course (Mill Creek). I play there on the weekends and no crowds! Beautiful grounds. You have several flea markets and the Whistle Stop "Mall". There are crafts, antiques, clothes, furniture, etc. Great place to see old and interesting wares. You have The Factory. A huge warehouse with video games, indoor/outdoor mini-golf, and yes go-carts! Your are 40 minutes from Cherokee/casino/Great Smoky Mtns Park. You are 20 minutes from Great Smoky Mtn Railway. (Great place to eat/Jarrett House). You are just minutes from some of the most spectacular waterfalls this side of the Missasip. On Saturdays you have "pickin on the Square", (local music talent). Back to the ole days when I am in Franklin! And best of all sunlover you are "away" from traffic jams and crowds. There are several mountain cabins/chalets to rent. Have fun wherever you go!

I would avoid Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg at all costs unless you love crowded cheesy touristy places. However, the Great Smokey National Park which is right next to both is very nice--beautiful scenery and also outdoors activities like fishing, hiking, tubing.
Another vote is for Charleston--it's beautiful with lots of stuff to do: beaches, historical homes/buildings, great food. You can't beat the ambience! I have been many times and stayed at the beach and in the historic area; both are great. There is good golf I hear, although I am not a golfer. Lots of interesting art, historical tours and shopping also.

I would also suggest Charleston except for the heat in July it is a wonderful place to visit. However being from the souteast the heat may not be a problem for you. There are several nice beaches in the area along with wonderful upscale lodging downtown and lots to do on land and water. It reamins one of my favorite places to visit