I'm thinking of celebrating my 50th birthday with a girl's road trip with my sister, daughter, and mom through some of the southern states - starting near Birmingham, Alabama. Would love to stay in B&B's, visit tearooms, and see scenic/historic places - any input from those who have been there?

I cannot give you any advice on tearooms or B&B, but I can tell you that my sister in law, her husband, and grown son just got back from trip to Natchez and Vicksburg. They all enjoyed Natchez very much, and would return again.

Are you Birimgham locals/natives? If so, this may be a well-travelled path for you. If not, then it could be a great trip.

Take the Rainbow Drive, US 411, north taking in Noccalula Falls Park and other points of interest in the area. From there, visit Ft Payne and stop to see DeSoto State Park and the Little River Canyon National Preserve. From there you can journey over Lookout Mt to Chattanooga, TN. In Chattanooga, spend a couple of nights at the Stone Fort Inn, and take time to see the sights and experience Chattanooga.

How many days will you be traveling? If you have more time, then you could go up the scenic east side of the Smokies and meet the Blue Ridge Parkway. I have further suggestions, but not sure if you' be interested. If you'd like more on this journey, please ask.

My sister just moved to Alabama, I am from San Diego, and my mom is from Ohio, so it will be new territory for us all to discover - would love to hear your input, BayouGal! We will be gone 7-10 days.

bayou, are you are an expert on every place? no, al, ak and many more?

No, I'm VERY old and have traveled all my life. LoL

Blessed, have you had a chance to look at a map, check out some travel guides, and/or search online to see if any of these suggestions fit your travel needs?

Blessed,

I live about 2 hours southwest of Birmingham near the Mississippi line, and my suggestion would be:

Go to Natchez and see the many beautiful old homes. There are lots of charming B&Bs and tearooms!

Then go to New Orleans - still a fastastic destination. For more information, check out some of the NO postings here, or ask BayouGal for help!

Byrd

Hi, blessed!

I live just south of Birmingham, and though I'm no expert on B&Bs or tearooms, perhaps have some info of use to you.

When do you plan to come? If it's in the fall, then BayouGal's idea of heading up toward the mountains (Smokies/Blue Ridge) sounds very good! It's also a scenic drive in the summer (though not as much), and you could start by staying in a B&B about an hour out of B'ham (I've never stayed at the Victoria Inn in Anniston, but have heard of it for many years).

If it's more of an "antebellum" historic experience you seek, then your best bet may be to head south and west toward Mississippi--as gracie mentions, Natchez and Vicksburg are real destinations for that sort of travel.

Alabama doesn't have as much antebellum architecture--there are some fine houses in the southern part of the state, but mostly not the big ol' plantation homes. B'ham does have a fine 19th-c. Greek Revival big house (Arlington), and you can get lunch there, though not every day, I think (you can tour there Tues.-Sun.).

While in B'ham, you might well enjoy seeing our art museum--it is a fine one--and the Civil Rights Institute nearby. There are some tearooms in the city and environs, but I know of none in any sort of historic setting. The best one I've been to is in a strip mall! If you'd like, I can try to meet you one afternoon at Miss Rosemarie's Special Teas.

In short, for a road trip out of B'ham, you could head south toward the beach, east toward Atlanta, north toward Nashville (and some antebellum and Civil War sites in middle Tennessee), northeast toward the mountains, northwest toward the Missippi Delta (and Memphis), or west toward Mississippi. For what you express interest in, your best bets are probably to drive west or northeast.

Have a great trip!

Byrd is right--a road trip to New Orleans is a lot of fun. At least it used to be--I haven't thought about it for a while. But I should...

Blessed take Interstate 59 to New Orleans and stay at The Windsor Court near the MS River. They have some great rates now and NO needs tourism. Have dinner at Emeril's, Galatoire's, Bayona, Peristyle, Gautreau's or August. Let me know if you go to NO and I can help you with reservations. The WC is one of the finest hotels in the U. S. and has great rates now. From NO travel north to Natchez and stay at Monmouth. Ask for one of the newer rooms out back and not a room in the old house. Be sure to eat dinner there. Monmouth is highly rated as one of the top small hotels in the U. S.

http://www.monmouthplantation.com/

Go tour Stanton Hall and have lunch/dinner at The Carriage House. Check out Fat Moma's Tamales down by the river for lunch also. Tour Dunleith and have lunch/dinner at Castle Restaurant.

http://www.dunleith.com/

You will have just about done Natchez then so go to Vicksburg and stay at
Anchuca or Cedar Grove Inn.

http://www.cedargroveinn.com/

http://www.anchuca.com/

Eat at Andre's at Cedar Grove or Borrello's down by the river on Washington St.


http://www.borrellos.com/

Tour the old homes, museums and Vicksburg National Park.

http://www.vicksburgcvb.org/

Head north on 61 through Greenville, MS or better yet Greenwood, MS, cotton capital of the world and home of Viking Range. Stay at The Alluvian Hotel in GW which is as fine a hotel as I ever stayed anywhere including NYC, SF, NO, Dallas, Atlanta, LA, Boston, Vancouver, et al.

http://www.thealluvian.com/alluvian.html

You can eat at Giardinia's in the lobby of the hotel or Lusco's, Crystal Grill which are both just down the street. Sign up for a Viking Cooking School.

http://www.vikinghomechef.com/ret-cg...mpl=index.html

Be sure to reserve a massage at their world class spa just across the street. If you get to go through Greenville be sure to visit Doe's Restaurant on Nelson St. Don't stay in Greenville though eat at Does try their steaks and tamales then head to
GW.

Here's a website about MS Delta restaurants including tamales, GW et al.

http://www.southernfoodways.com/prj_index.shtml


Leave GW and head north on # 49 to Clarksdale, MS. Visit Morgan Freeman's Ground Zero and Madidi's fine dining restaurant.

http://www.groundzerobluesclub.com/home.php

http://www.madidires.com/


You might get a chance to speak to Morgan. Don't ask for an autograph just take your camera. He doesn't mind pictures. His partner Bill Luckett the tall local lawyer may be around. The local place to stay in Clarksdale is The Big Pink Guest House but I would opt for Bonne Terre at Nesbitt, MS.

http://www.clarksdaleconcepts.com/bigpinkguesthouse/


Visit GZ have a drink at the bar at Madidi's and head to BT for dinner.
It's about 60/90 minutes north on 61. If you have time then stay in CD but stay a night at BT too. U would like to add one of my favorites, Oxford, MS. Don't stay in CD leave Madidi's after dinner and visiting GZ and drive east on # 6 about 50 minutes to Oxford, MS. Stay at The Hampton Inn just off Jackson Ave. as you come into town. You must turn off the by pass at the first light and go left on Jackson about a mile or so just past Wal Mart. Have dinner at City Grocery and walk around the Square downtown. Eat lunch at Ajax on the Square. Visit Square Books on the corner of the square, visit William Faulkner's home Rowan Oak, and please visit the beautiful University of Mississippi campus west on University Ave. Be sure to check out The Grove too.

http://www.bonneterre.com/

The food is great, it's quiet, the rooms are nice and it's peaceful. Head to Memphis up 55 the next morning after your free breakfast. Best restaurant in Memphis is Erling Jensen's.

http://www.ejensen.com/index.html

If you decide to eat there there's a nice Hampton Inn just off Poplar on Shady Grove a few blocks from EJ's.

http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/h...tyhocn=MEMSGHX

Try to get some of the famous Memphis BBQ from BBQ Shop, Interstate, Corky's, Central BBQ, Rendevous or Germantown Commisary. GC is my choice as you can shop at the nice shopping centers in Germantown including a new one near there with a Parisian store called The Avenue Carriago Crossing. Good shopping also at Oak Court Mall area on Poplar and Saddle Creek Mall in Germantown.

http://www.theavenuealist.com/tn_acc...e_crossing.asp

When you leave Memphis head out on # 78 through Tupelo, MS and visit Elvis's birthplace and don't forget about Graceland in Memphis. You could spend 2/3 nights in NO, 1 in Natchez, 1 in Vicksburg, 1 in GW, 1 in Oxford,1 at BT then 2 in Memphis and maybe a night on the road from Memphis to BHam. I would drive straight through from M/Bham and spend another night/two along the way probably two in Natchez. I love that town. I love Oxford also. 3 nights in NO, 1 in Natchez, 1 in VB, 1 in GW, 1 in Oxford, 1 at BT, 1/2 in Memphis and head home.

http://www.oxfordms.com/

http://www.squarebooks.com/


208 S. Lamar, Taylor Grocery, Old Venice Pizza and Downtown Grill are good places to eat too.

Have a great trip. Email me at tripperattecinfodotcom if you need help. I know folks in NO, GW, BT, and Oxford. Good luck and Bon Appetit.





http://www.oxfordms.com/

Blessed here's link to Windsor Court Hotel. If you go to NO let me help you with dinner reservations there. I don't mind at all.

http://www.windsorcourthotel.com/web...r_a2a_home.jsp

Blessed,

If you do decide to head south on I-59/20 from Birmingham on your way to New Orleans or Natchez, you could make a 25-mile detour off the Union exit to Demopolis, my hometown, where we have several lovely antebellum homes.

I'll be glad to serve as tour guide and show off our town!

Byrd

Wow, what wonderful ideas and offers have you received, Blessed! If you decide to head to the Big Easy, I'll be happy to help too, but it looks like Ike has given you a great start with the research!

And Bryd, I may just have to take a trip over there myself since I might get my own personal tour, too! ;-)

Folks, please go to tinyurl.com to reduce the size of the long url's before you post on Fodor's . . . that way the thread won't spread out across the page. I just recently learned this trick myself.

Wow, I am simply overwhelmed by all your great ideas, detailed input, and kind offers to help! Thank you so much! You have been so helpful! Now I need to roll up my shirt sleeves and get to work researching and thinking through just what I want to do. Since the area is unknown to me, I have a general idea, no specifics. The trip isn't until next spring, so I have a bit of time. Thanks again for taking the time to share your expertise. I am deeply grateful!

Spring? Definitely add N.O. to your road trip then, and I'd add St. Francisville and Natchez, too, you'll have time with 7 - 10 days. The flowers will be in bloom and you might even be at one the areas during their spring pilgrimages.

Come on up, BayouGal!

We're just far enough off the interstate to still be "country."

Byrd