Road Trip - Southern States
 

We are a young(ish)couple in our early thirties visiting the USA in September. We are doing the Atlanta - Chattanooga - Nashville - Memphis route. I've booked the hotels but does anyone have any tips on what to see, where to go and what to eat ? Having read Seamus' earlier posting, I suppose I should also ask what to expect ! Between us we like: eating out, going to bars and clubs, sports, city sightseeing, music and shopping. We have visited NYC, LA, SF, Florida, Arizona, California and Hawaii so we are not new to America, just this part. Thankyou in advance.

If you have time, the aquarium in Chattanooga is very nice, I enjoyed it alot, and eat some BBQ when in the South too !

Thanks for the advice. I am a scuba diver so that would be an intersting visit for me.

In Atlanta, the zoo (Zoo Atlanta) is worth a couple of hours. If you get CNN where you live, you might be interested in a studio tour, also in Atlanta. It is worth it to take a trip up the incline railway on Lookout Mountain for the view - don't bother with the overtouristed Ruby Falls or Rock City Gardens though.

Sorry, I forgot to mention that Lookout Mountain is in Chattanooga.

Since you like sports, I would recommend catching a Braves baseball game:

http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/NASApp...m=9&y=2005

If you really want to enjoy that part of the U.S., you need to top in the small towns. It doesn't really matter which of the small towns you choose. Just get off the main interstate highways and drive the local roads to get a real flavor of this part of the south. The cities you mentioned will be more than enough "city life" for you.

Assuming your trip will start and end in Atlanta, here are some small towns I think you should consider visiting:
-In Georgia: Canton, Jasper, Ellija, Chatsworth.
-In Tennessee: Monteage, Mufreesboro, Camden, Milan.
-In North Mississippi, assuming you are returning to Atlanta: Oxford and Fulton.
-In north Alabama on the way back to Atlanta: Muscle Shoals, Decatur, Huntsville, Guntersville.

Enjoy your trip.

Wow, lousy typing. I meant you need to stop in small towns. And in Georgia, it's spelled Ellijay. Sorry for the typos.

Thanks to everyone for your advice. If anyone out there ever needs any advice on trips to London and the surrounding areas, I will be happy to help.

Having grown up in Chattanooga, gone to college in Memphis and currently living in Atlanta, here are my suggestions:

1. Atlanta. If you go to the Zoo also see the Cyclorama. It is a large oil painting depicting the Battle of Atlanta. Kind of cool and lots of historical information. You may also want to take in the Atlanta History Center, Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Piedmont Park, Carter Center, King Center. For eating out and shopping you could visit the Virginia Highlands area or Buckhead. On the drive from Atlanta to Chattanooga (which should only take 2 hours max) there's a neat place called Barnsley Gardens. It is located in Adairsville off of Exit 306 on I-75. It is now a resort that is located on the grounds of an early 1800's estate. The ruins of the estate house are still there with the gardens surrounding. The resort has a nice restaurant for lunch.

2. Chattanooga. Definitely see the Aquarium - they have recently added a new building. Also downtown is the Bluff View Arts District that includes museums, sculpture gardens and some good restaurants = Tony's Pasta, Back Inn Cafe and Rembrandts. The cafe inside Hunter Art Museum is operated by Rembrandts and has a balcony overlooking the TN River - very nice view - I had Father's Day lunch there with my Mom and Dad this year. While in Chattanooga try to get tickets to a Chattanooga Lookouts Baseball game. They are minor league team and the stadium is really nice. It's a smalltown feel for baseball v. big time feel for the Atlanta Braves. Definitely ride the Incline up Lookout Mountain and then walk down to Point Park - site of the Civil War's Battle Above the Clouds. Also in downtown Chattanooga pay a vist to the Chattanooga Choo Choo. The lobby and restaurant of this hotel are located in the original terminal building of Chattanooga's station. Very nice job restoration. Across the river from downtown is Coolidge Park with an antique carousel...lots of fun to ride even if you are a grown up! There are some neat shops along Frazier Avenue and some restaurants too. There are some great restaurants downtown as well within walking distance of the Aquarium.

3. Memphis. Okay, it's been a long time since I've actually been to Memphis (we won't talk about how long ago college was) but here are my thoughts - it may be hokey but you should go to see Graceland while you are there. Also - go see the ducks walk through the lobby at the Peabody Hotel. While in Memphis one must try the BBQ at The Rendezvous.

I have not been to Nashville in years, but I think you definitely ought to visit the Grand Ole Opry - even if you don't like country music it's worth it from the history perspective. An earlier poster was right about stopping off in Monteagle. It's at the top of the mountain I-24 climbs about an hour outside of Chattanooga. The University of the South is located there plus there's really good restaurant that I can't remember the name of now. Hopefully someone else will.
Hope this helps! Enjoy your Southern Trip and ya'll come back now!

Thanks very much for your extremely helpful message. We are definitely going to visit some of the places that you have told us about. This part of the US sounds great - we are really looking forward to it!

I like Wayne's suggestion visiting small towns. I would add Macon in Georgia. It is underrated and undiscovered town, yet but it has some beautiful historic big houses.
If you are to sports how about hiking in Great Smokey Mountains National Park and at least driving along Blue Ridge Parkway. It would be ashame to be in that part of our country and not take advantage of so many outdoor possibilities. Where are you staying and how long in each place?

Another vote for the Atlanta History Center, I lived in Atlanta for many years and finally went with family who was visiting and was blown away at the exhibits....if you are into history, it is very well done and engaging, not just a boring museum ...and abraves game is always fun, the stadium is very nice, enjoy !!