Heavens

Going to Nashville soon. Was thinking about getting open jaw ticket and flying in to another city and driving and flying out of Nashville. Will have two teen daughters with me, and would like them to see more of the south then just Nashville.

I was thinking Montgomery AL, or New Orleans, or ...the options are endless. What I would love to do is fly into another southern town, stay a night, enjoy some southern comfort food, then mosey, yes, I said mosey, our way to Nashville seeing a few plantations and maybe a battle field or two along the way. And enjoy some good southern cooking.

What is the city that I am looking for? Any ideas? HELP, Foderites.

TKT

I love Charleston, SC.
The food, the walks along the water, the slow pace. The food isn't really heavey fried, much more based on flavor, you don't have to sleep right after. None of the wild night life of New Orleans, most social like revolves around cafes. Stay downtown and you don't need a car.

BKelly

Charleston, SC; Asheville, NC; Oxford, MS and Athens, GA are four of my favorites. Charleston for the history and architectural beauty. Asheville for the mountains. Oxford is what I picture when I think of a small southern town and Ole Miss has a beautiful campus. Athens because I went to UGA and I'm biased.....

highnote

Heavens, I agree with TKT, Charleston is great. I'm in Montgomery, so I think it's great, too. If you come to MGM during the summer, take the kids to a baseball game - we have a beautiful new stadium. Hubby and I enjoy dinner at The Vintage Year and Dawson's at Rose Hill, though I don't know if teens would like them. There were battles nearby in Selma and Tallassee but you'll need to check into that - I don't have info. Hurricane Dennis just went through the area but it was a fairly light hit, so there should be no problems. Check out www.visitingmontgomery.com. Something else you might think about... have you considered flying into Mississippi and driving part of the Natchez Trace? It goes from Natchez to Nashville, and, if I remember correctly, a new section of it has just been opened. It's beautiful, has lots of history, and goes past several neat southern towns. Check out www.natchezms.com and www.scenictrace.com. Enjoy your trip!

atlswan

Heavens, with your avid love of barbecue, I look forward to reading your trip report! It's going to be a good one.

When I went to college at UGA in Athens, I vaguely remember a place in town that made goat barbecue once every few weeks that attracted many fans. I was never brave enough to try it!

While my heart (and home) is in Atlanta, Charleston has to be one of the classiest Southern cities I've ever visited. They have all the good food, ocean views, history and plantations you could ask for. I think they have a new home for the Hunley, the Confederate submarine unearthed from the ocean some years ago. The history behind it is fascinating.

JJ5

I don't have a fav yet, as I need to get to many more of these mentioned above first.

Everyone I have been to so far, I have liked and appreciated. These have been generally overlooked in my USA travels because of time spent in more Northern or coastal cities- so I tend to make the inland and small or mid Southern cities almost tops on my roaming plans now.

ausc59

If you fly into Mont. you can tour the Capital Building which has antibellum ties, drive up to B'ham and tour Arlington Plantation, even check out the Civil Rights Museum to round out the picture, and then head up to Nashville and visit the Hermitage there. Mont is probably as far south as you would want to start if you are taking only one day to drive. It would be appox. 6 hours via interstates. If you wanted to check out BBQ, there is Golden Rule in B'ham and someplace out towards Tuscaloosa (Dreamland?). You can always tack on Huntsville and visit the space center there, too.

jimmyk64

New Orleans to Nashville is approximately 460 miles, Heavens, a "good" day's drive with some heavy traffic along the way. If you're willing, I'd suggest the Crescent City, especially if you've never visited before. NO will steal your heart.

Your teens(and you, of course)can hear both contemporary music and classic jazz and brass band; simply delightful foods from southern fried, to cajun or creole. History, social drama, unique architecture, NO is unique among America's great cities.

Sunshinesue

Three of my favorites are Savannah, Charleston, and New Orleans. But as the mother of teens, I think they would enjoy New Orleans the most due to the uniqueness and excitment of the city and the variety of things to do and see. They will probably love the French Quarter but make sure you get out of it and really see the whole area.

Why don't you make this into a little geography lesson. Give them a few cities to research and let them decide which one they want to see. Of course mom and dad would have veto power!

sbc98grad

I love Charleson, but that isn't really close to Nashville! As a high school teacher, I have traveled through Atlanta, GA and Montgomery, Selma and Birmingham, AL with teenagers studying the civil rights movement. You might find they are interested in it since they seldom have time to study it in school.

Tandoori_Girl

If you're already headed to Nashville then why not make the trip to Memphis (be sure to drive across the muddy mississippi -- and go downtown Nashville to the Black Bottom area, try to take one of the locals history walking tours). Both are very different -- Memphis seems more southern IMO. Full of surprises.

bamakelly

I sincerely apologize to the Montgomerians, but I wouldn't pick that one if I were you. Huntsville is not far from Nashville, but it's small-ish. If I were you, I'd just hit Huntsville on the way up to Nashville and stop off for an hour or two (but not the space museum--try the Burritt Museum or even better the downtown museums to get full southern flavor). The downtown museums are only a couple of blocks away from the plantation homes and historic church buildings.

BTW--Dreamland is THE best BBQ in the south, and there is one in Huntsville, Birmingham, and outside Tuscaloosa.

Tuscaloosa would give you a great college town feel, but there's no good airport there. However, if you're coming over from Mississippi, you could stop off in Tuscaloosa, head to Bham and spend hours, and head on up to Nashville (via Huntsville of course).

So much to do in Bham!

Here's my disclaimer: I always like to sell Alabama, but I do have to admit, I think if I were totally honest, I'd pick Charleston or Savannah.

Wayne

Thinking realistically and taking into account your possible desire to see a few sights as you "mosey" from your destination back to Nashville, I would suggest Asheville, Chattanooga, Huntsville, or Birmingham. Anything much farther away might make your moseying time too great. Good luck.

rutheye

I think that I would nix New Orleans. Not really teen material.

Charleston is my fav...near the beach for a diversion. Savannah next.

You might consider Jacksonville, FL. A big river scene and ocean is there also. There is a very upscale resort south of Jacksonville in Ponte Vedra that would be fun if you have the means.

http://www.pvresorts.com/

It seems that my teens just want to be near the beach...you could also do Myrtle Beach. Not my cup of tea, but the kids love Broadway on the Beach.

Cben

I'm biased, only 1 1/2hrs by car south of Nashville, is awesome Chattanooga. Come see us! Excellent safe/walking city. See a minor league baseball game( Chatt. Lookouts) Stay in a train car( Chatt. Choo choo) Take a water taxi for fun. New addition to the aquarium just finished downtown right on the Tenn. River. Great eating( BBQ, microbrewery,tapas, southern, etc) And then all the older tourist things
( Rock city, Incline railroad, ruby falls) Just a hint at what we have.

Heavens

Thanks you all for all of the great suggestions. We are thinking them all over. I would love to go to each and every place that you have suggested.

We actually have friend in Demopolis Al, and was considering that area. Chatanooga sounds great also. And, would love to hear more about Chatanooga. We could easily do that.

Charleston, we feel, is a great getaway for H and I, when the climate is a little more friendly. Savannah too.

Would love to do the trace. That is also on my list of must do's on a future trip.

We may not be able to jiggle our schedule to get the extra day to see the area, which is too bad. On further reading, seems there is quite a bit to do in Nashville. And with two lazy teen girls, the schedule will more than likely, not be rigorous. So we will see the Hermitage, eat BBQ, Belle Meade, and shop a little. And maybe sneak down to Chatanooga.

Thanks again for all of your wonderful posts. Hope others got some ideas as well. Sounds like we need a few weeks in this region...some day.

buongiorno

I've been to a number of Southern towns and my favorite for a number of reasons is Memphis, I'll be there next weekend. IMO, Memphis has the absolute best BBQ on the planet...chopped pork shoulder and ribs, you can't beat it!!

KE1TH

The Muscle Shoals area has several attractions to offer: The Alabama Music Hall of Fame in Tuscumbia; Helen Keller's Birthplace, Ivy Green, with the famous water pump also in Tuscumbia; FAME studios, where many famous hits ("Respect" by Aretha, "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd to name two) were recorded in Muscle Shoals; Two TVA dams (Wilson and Wheeler) and other TVA properties in the area along the Tennessee; the only Frank Lloyd Wright home in Alabama is in Florence; Shiloh Battlefield is about 45-50 miles west northwest near Savannah, TN; Natchez Trace passes through the area. If in Hunstville, take US72 west about 60 miles or so.

ilovetulips

I just love the Blowing Rock-Boone North Carolina area. I have family in nearby Bristol. They always like to go to Pigeon Forge, too commercial and touristy. Blowing Rock is so beautiful and it is usually at least 5-10 degrees cooler than other areas in the Blue Ridge. It is just gorgeous and so relaxing. I would love to go again one day.

Byrd

Heavens,

I am so excited to see you mention Demopolis, Alabama!

We live in Demopolis, and I certainly recommend the area! If you are interested in antebellum homes, we have several here that are open to the public.

We also have the Tombigbee and Black Warrior Rivers.

I'm sure your friends here have told you all about our little town. If you do come here, come to see us, too!

Byrd