Do not miss Vicksburg & Natchez, Mississippi and also as someone else suggested don't miss Franklin, Tennessee when you're in Nashville. And if you want to do a little reading beforehand about Franklin read The Widow of the South. Fascinating look at the battle and the widow on whose plantation all those soldiers were buried.

I saw the comment before it was deleted: it was an ad (and for Miami at that!).

Sorry Gretchen, that one comment was from my husband (he's the Civil War buff) and it was meant to be tongue in cheek. It obviously didn't come over like that. It needed a smiley face.

For Civil War history, read James McPherson's Pulitzer winner -- Battle Cry of Freedom. That could be a guidebook for you too.

I thought that John Dunning with "The Bookman's Promise" was an intersting look into Charleston life and history. It might be an entertaining read before you go. We went to Charleston over Christmas and listened to it on the way there....very interesting.

If you are going through East Tennessee (Knoxville), plan for a day in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It will be really beautiful in the springtime. Cades Cove is a 12-mile loop driving road that takes you through one of the first settled areas (by white men) in the Appalachians. There are restored cabins, mills, and churches. If you are the outdoor sports types, the road is closed to motor vehicles on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, and you can bicycle it. I highly recommend the trip.
And for a taste of middle America on vacation, over to Pigeon Forge and/or Gatlinburg. Oy. Go with a sense of humor.
Enjoy your trip!

PLEASE do not waste your time in Pigeon Forge. And I have a sense of humor. The same is true of Gatlinburg.

If you want to try the best Clarksdale has to offer have an early lunch at Ground Zero which is owned by Morgan Freeman and two of his friends. Get a plate lunch or sandwich but eat light. The Blues Museum is next door. Before you leave Clarksdale, MS go to Hick's and get another light lunch of BBQ and tamales. This way you get the best of Clarksdale. Morgan owns Madidi's which is a fine dining restaurant a few blocks from Ground Zero if you would like to stop in for drinks and/or snacks before you leave Clarksdale, MS. It's very nice and highly recommended. The bar opens at 5 PM. There's an old neat store that sells a lot of junk across the street from Madidi's and plenty of places for the wife to purchase items to take home. I wish you could visit Oxford, MS. If not then plan 6/7 hours in Clarksdale. Have an early lunch at GZ, visit the Museum, walk around downtown and shop, get some tamales at Hick's. After lunch head back S on Sunflower by the river and stop at Hick's just to visit. Take a right on Highway 61 which is State St. Go across the river and Hick's is on the right in nice red brick building. Go in visit and get a cold drink. Talk to Eugene and look at his pictures when President Clinton visited. On your way N stop at The Ranchero and get a cold drink. Charlie Conerly who was a famous QB for the NY Giants lived in Clarksdale and there are all kinds of old sports photo's there of Conerly and some of his old buddies. It's a fun place and the food is outstanding.
I really hope you find time to visit Oxford. It's my favorite town in Mississippi. If so head N on State St. to Highway 278/6 E to Batesville/Oxford. It's about 60 miles to Oxford. You should be there around 3PM. When you get to Oxford you will come to a red light and Jackson Ave. going to the left. Go straight ahead and get off at the first Exit which is Coliseum Dr. Get off on right but turn back left and cross the highway. Take your first right by the Basketball Practice Facility on Hill Drive. You will see the football stadium straight ahead. Go to dead end at All American Drive turn right and go past N end of stadium. You will run into the Grove. Go to the left on University Ave. and you will go past the Grove on your right and run into the Circle. Go around the circle and you will see The Lyseum which is the oldest building on campus. The James Meredith riot started in the Circle. There's a monument of him behind the Lyseum. The street you came in on at The Grove is University Ave. Take it back E all the way to Lamar. Take a right on Lamar and go about 6 blocks and take a right on Old Taylor. Go about 3 blocks and you run dead into Faulkner's home. You can drive up the gravel road in front and park and go in and visit. Go back to Lamar and go N past University Ave. two blocks and park. You are now on The Square. The building on your left is Square Books which is very famous. John Grisham has a home in Oxford. You passed it on the right just before you got to town. It sits off to the right on a hill and it's easy to see. It's just before the car dealership before you get to the first red light. He's a frequent visitor to Oxford.

Park and walk around the Square. City Grocery is two doors down W of Square Books. Neilson's to your right on the Square is a nice department store. If you walk past City Grocery on the left you will see Waltz Restaurant after you pass the Pizza joint. Going around the Square you will find Ajax which is a good country food joint. There are a couple of nice ladie's shops on that side of the Square. Downtown Grill is on N side of Square. They have a nice bar upstairs. There's a Rebel junk store around on the N side if you want to buy a Rebel souvenir to take home. Go N on Lamar and Lenora's is on the left. Have dinner at City Grocery. CG has a nice bar upstairs and you can sit outside if you like. Tell Jim Weems the manager with a beard that Henry McCaslin said hello. He will take good care of you. If Jim is not there then a cute young lady named Lauren will take care of you. I hope you have a great trip.

City Grocery @ 152 Courthouse Square, Oxford, MS. 662 - 232 - 8080.
http://www.citygroceryonline.com/

If you have time stop by Greenwood, MS where you will find some outstanding casual local dining at Lusco's, Crystal Grill and Giardinia's. Giardinia's is in The Alluvian Hotel which is a 4 * hotel owned by Viking Range. The Crystal has good plate lunches, seafood and steaks. Giardinia's and Lusco's both have outstanding seafood and steaks. Lusco's is old style in a fairly rough neighborhood but safe with lots of history and famous names that have been there. Everyone dines in a booth with a curtain same as Giardinia's. Spend the night at The Alluvian and dine at Giardinia's or Lusco's for dinner.
Alluvian Hotel @ 318 Howard Street, Greenwood, MS 662 - 451 - 1500.
http://www.thealluvian.com/
Crystal Grill @ 423 Carrollton Ave.,Greenwood, MS 662 - 453 - 6530.
Giardinia's @ 314 Howard St., Greenwood, MS 662 - 455 - 4227.
http://www.thealluvian.com/restaurants.html
Lusco's @ 722 Carrollton Ave., Greenwood, MS 662 - 453 - 5365.
Stop in Greenville, MS if you have time for dinner at Doe's Eat Place. Greenville, MS is W of Greenwood, MS on Highway 82. Doe's Eat Place is not to be missed. You enter the restaurant through the kitchen where you can watch the steaks being prepared. In the center of the main dining room there are stoves at which the fries are made and salads are prepared there as well. In most cases, one steak there easily feeds two.
Doe's Eat Place @ 502 Nelson Street, Greenville, MS 662 - 334 - 3315.
http://www.doeseatplace.com/
You can head S on Highway 49 to Yazoo City and take Highway 3 to Vicksburg, MS. If you are in Greenville, MS you can go S on Highway 61 to Vicksburg, MS.

In Vicksburg you could tour the old antebellum homes and the Vicksburg National Military Park.
Have lunch/dinner @ Rusty's River Front Grill @ 901 South Washington St., Vicksburg, MS 601 - 638 -2030.
or @ Walnut Hills @ 1214 Adams Street, Vicksburg, MS 601 - 638 - 4910‎ for southern cooking.
Stop in Greenville, MS if you have time for dinner at Doe's Eat Place @ 502 Nelson Street
Greenville, MS 662 - 334 - 3315.
http://www.doeseatplace.com/

I would definitely stop in Natchez and spend a day touring the plantation homes there. Monmouth is an oustanding place for the night. The dining room there is superb. I would also check out The Carriage House Restaurant at Stanton Hall for a wonderful lunch.
http://www.stantonhall.com/
http://www.monmouthplantation.com/

Thanks BigRuss. We have Battle Cry of Freedom - great book.
Thanks 64driver for the info' on Great Smokey Mountains National Park- we are hoping to get there. After Memphis and nashville we'll be desperate for some peace and quiet. Are there any more National Parks on/near our itinary?
Littleman, you've given us a lot to think about - thanks for your time.

Oh boy I missed the fun.

Harbor a grudge for Civil War stuff? Nevah. Now I shall git the vapahs. Yes Gretchen, we love Mayor Joe.

Charleston is full of Revolutionary War history as well as Civil War history. It will cost you more to stay in the Historic District but I highly recommend it. Middleton is my favorite plantation. Take Alphonse Brown's Gullah tour.

AND learn that it is not the "Civil War". It IS "the late unpleasantness". LOL

The recent unpleasantness.

Have been looking to book 3 nights in Charleston Historic District but as you say suewoo it is very expensive, particularly as we will be there Friday and Saturday. If we try Mt Pleasant will there be convenient transport into Charleston or would we have to drive and park - would that be horrendous?

Littleman wrote: <i>I would definitely stop in Natchez and spend a day touring the plantation homes there. Monmouth is an oustanding place for the night. The dining room there is superb. I would also check out The Carriage House Restaurant at Stanton Hall for a wonderful lunch.</i>

UK'ers: From very personal experience I can heartily second Littleman's recommendation(s). The owners of Monmouth are my next door neighbors/good old friends, here in L.A...Ron and Lani Riches. We have been their guest at Monmouth and the extraordinary experiences linger on. They keep asking us to return. Just tell me when your going and I can guarantee a red carpet.

Their schedule includes two weeks at Monmouth (where they have a very competent staff of 40), then two weeks here...this goes on year after year. I get worn down just thinking about it when I see the airport limo show up.
On one of our stays, they were to meet us there...but Lani had an appedicitis attack the night before..Ron insisted that we go ahead...and talk aout red carpet treatment! Conde Nast has had Monument on several of its "Small Luxury Hotels" list, well deserved.

Natchez and its 30-40 ante-bellum homes is an attraction in itself. The above mentioned Carriage House resto is certainly a great choice for lunch..excellent. I sggest you can do a fairly short ride on the trace from Natchez north. You'd get all the flavor you wish from that.

The anchored river boat gambling is conveniently waiting for deep-pocket UK'ers, there on the Mississippi.

If you wish a copy of my 20-page Savannah/Charleston/Natchez itinerary I designed for some California folks a few years back, you might find it useful. I can email it to you..just write at [email protected] and I'd be happy to send it along to you. Most everything mentioned in the itin is still intact.

stu tower

typo..."monument" = Monmouth..

Just a heads up to stu. You are a brave person to put your email address as an "@" instead of "at". A thought for another time.

Yeah, you might you some spam.

This thread is full of excellent information - thanks! Bookmarking.

Gretchen and Suewoo...thank you for caring...but I've been posting for nearly 6 years, using my email address where appropriate..and I expect to continue to do so. Spam? Ooh-ooh-ooh ...I get spam anyway, just like all of us... At my octogenarian age, I let it all hang out (but it aint pretty no mo'), nothing to hide and really don't give a fiddler's hoot anymore.

By the way, several dozen posters give out their email addresses on their profile pages. I correspond with many Fodorites and enjoy it very much.I can be seen on google, too. I have pics(scanned and digital) from more than 70 countries to which I've traveled during the past 65 years. and I love to share those with whomever wishes to take a peek. What the hell, why not?

But again, ladies, sincere thanks for your concern. Love ya both.
stu

Good for you!