Where to stay, what to see & do for 4 weeks in the Deep South?
Sep 16th, 2012, 08:22 PM
#22
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suewoo - I know, and it makes me sad. The towns around here that can double as a tourist attraction or have a decently diverse economy are fine (I'm thinking of somewhere like Bell Buckle, TN; they host an RC Cola and Moon Pie festival every June, specifically created to boost the economy - they had no connection with either, I don't think, till they started the festival!). But so many mill towns or mine towns or factory towns are in bad shape.
Actually, OzzieTravellers, Bell Buckle could be fun for you too now that I think about it. You can walk the whole downtown in 30 minutes if you want, or shop for antiques and eat and wander around. It's also close to Lynchburg, where the Jack Daniels distillery is - you can take a free tour there. Those towns have both purposely (and smartly, I think) marketed themselves to tourists and daytrippers as quintessential Southern towns, and as far as I can tell are doing well with it.
Actually, OzzieTravellers, Bell Buckle could be fun for you too now that I think about it. You can walk the whole downtown in 30 minutes if you want, or shop for antiques and eat and wander around. It's also close to Lynchburg, where the Jack Daniels distillery is - you can take a free tour there. Those towns have both purposely (and smartly, I think) marketed themselves to tourists and daytrippers as quintessential Southern towns, and as far as I can tell are doing well with it.
Sep 17th, 2012, 03:52 AM
#23
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Ah, trust Sue to cut to the chase about the small towns. And they can be wonderful, but they can also be empty storefronts as the townspeople have fled with their buying dollars to the WalMart out on the bypass.
There are some in NC also--Hillsborough and Pittsboro, near Raleigh. The old section of Winston Salem, and actually Winston could be a good destination to see Old Salem also. We were recently driving through Alabama--and actually DH's aunt knew, and lived on the same street as Harper Lee. I don't think I could recommend a lot there, except my favorite monument to the Civil Rights movement in Montgomery.
If you think about "the old South" you about have to consider charleston as a must see--plantations, restored homes, even their beach houses in Pawley's Island.
Please do not expect Atlanta to have retained any of Scarlett's world!!
There are some in NC also--Hillsborough and Pittsboro, near Raleigh. The old section of Winston Salem, and actually Winston could be a good destination to see Old Salem also. We were recently driving through Alabama--and actually DH's aunt knew, and lived on the same street as Harper Lee. I don't think I could recommend a lot there, except my favorite monument to the Civil Rights movement in Montgomery.
If you think about "the old South" you about have to consider charleston as a must see--plantations, restored homes, even their beach houses in Pawley's Island.
Please do not expect Atlanta to have retained any of Scarlett's world!!
Sep 17th, 2012, 11:48 AM
#24
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Chattanooga would be a good city to see. I grew up in that area and now live in the Atlanta area. Chattanooga is much more "Southern" than Atlanta. Would also encourage you to visit Asheville, NC. There are so many hikes in that area. Charleston would also be a "must-see."
Sep 17th, 2012, 12:07 PM
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Hi,
I've been reading this thread with some interest because once I drove from Beckley, West Virginia to New Orleans, and I wanted to add that if you are not from the South, just driving through on many of the back roads is really pretty amazing. I remember on one stretch in Georgia counting about 40 different signs for 40 different churches in less than 45 minutes. Churches I never heard of before. We went out of our way to see some "sights" and tour some monuments and take scenic roads, but I actually was more interested in just driving around unfamous places.
I particularly liked Tennessee and Mississippi for being places that struck me as having very distinct American cultures. But I do think this road trip needs some kind of organizing idea, maybe especially because a child is coming. Like, maybe you would like to follow a "book trail" and go to the your favorite authors homes, plus visit some places they wrote about. Or maybe try to track down the places still serving the most famous pies of the South and see which is best, or set up the trip around visiting an amusement park or a state fair every 4 days for a break. I wouldn't miss that Creationism theme park!
The "south" is a big place, but if you go on a kind of "treasure hunt", you'll end up getting off the beaten track and having interesting experiences, I think.
I've been reading this thread with some interest because once I drove from Beckley, West Virginia to New Orleans, and I wanted to add that if you are not from the South, just driving through on many of the back roads is really pretty amazing. I remember on one stretch in Georgia counting about 40 different signs for 40 different churches in less than 45 minutes. Churches I never heard of before. We went out of our way to see some "sights" and tour some monuments and take scenic roads, but I actually was more interested in just driving around unfamous places.
I particularly liked Tennessee and Mississippi for being places that struck me as having very distinct American cultures. But I do think this road trip needs some kind of organizing idea, maybe especially because a child is coming. Like, maybe you would like to follow a "book trail" and go to the your favorite authors homes, plus visit some places they wrote about. Or maybe try to track down the places still serving the most famous pies of the South and see which is best, or set up the trip around visiting an amusement park or a state fair every 4 days for a break. I wouldn't miss that Creationism theme park!
The "south" is a big place, but if you go on a kind of "treasure hunt", you'll end up getting off the beaten track and having interesting experiences, I think.
Sep 17th, 2012, 12:09 PM
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Sep 17th, 2012, 12:10 PM
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Ozzie, if you do go to The Jack Daniels Distillery(which is a fabulous, free tour even if you don't drink), you might go to Miss Mary Bobo's for lunch. Typical southern cooking, served homestyle!
Sep 17th, 2012, 12:24 PM
#28
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If you really want marching bands, go to the Prairie View-Grambling football game in the first weekend of October in Dallas - it's THE battle of the bands game and the display puts just about every college football band to shame, including the Pride of the Southland Marching Band at Tennessee. You should try to figure out, next year, what possible SEC football games you can see - conference games only (start googling) - because each one is full of enough disdain to be a Sydney-Melbourne type rivalry.
There's a large physical, historical and even cultural distinction from one end of the South to the other. The Confederate States of America was larger than Queensland, and that's not counting the semi-Southern border states like Kentucky or Missouri.
Your current itinerary avoids the whole Gulf region, which you may want to reconsider, and the River Road in Louisiana and Mississippi. You also have to decide some sort of WHAT you're really looking for. The South is not monolithic - South Carolina is very different from Louisiana, Texas is a whole other country, Tennessee is different from Gulf States, etc.
There's a large physical, historical and even cultural distinction from one end of the South to the other. The Confederate States of America was larger than Queensland, and that's not counting the semi-Southern border states like Kentucky or Missouri.
Your current itinerary avoids the whole Gulf region, which you may want to reconsider, and the River Road in Louisiana and Mississippi. You also have to decide some sort of WHAT you're really looking for. The South is not monolithic - South Carolina is very different from Louisiana, Texas is a whole other country, Tennessee is different from Gulf States, etc.
Sep 17th, 2012, 01:54 PM
#29
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This is fun website that gives you suggestions for road trips. With 4 weeks, you could do more than one, or slow them down.
http://www.takemytrip.com/09southeast/index.htm
http://www.takemytrip.com/09southeast/index.htm
Sep 24th, 2012, 08:56 PM
#30
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Thanks everyone.
You have given me some exceptional ideas on where to go and what to see. I've got a long list, so will have my work cut out planning this trip.
A special thanks to pizzocchieri - my boys loved the idea of a road trip trying to track down the best pies in the South
. I might even start a new topic with this heading if anyone has any suggestions on this.
Once again, thanks everyone. Really appreciate it.
Cheers.
You have given me some exceptional ideas on where to go and what to see. I've got a long list, so will have my work cut out planning this trip.
A special thanks to pizzocchieri - my boys loved the idea of a road trip trying to track down the best pies in the South
. I might even start a new topic with this heading if anyone has any suggestions on this. Once again, thanks everyone. Really appreciate it.
Cheers.
Sep 25th, 2012, 01:10 AM
#31
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I might also add Beaufort, SC (not NC) to your visit to Savannah, GA and Charleston, SC area. It is a beautiful smaller town with an historic downtown area. It is also adjacent to the largest US Marines training facility in the east (Parris Island) which has helped to grow the town - but which also hahas graduating classes of Marines every weekend - so for a more authentic feel and much lower hotel rates (families attend these weekly ceremonies), try to fit this town in at the beginning of a week. There is a Best Western hotel in town that I stayed at about a year ago which has a non-chain hotel feel (and a nice outdoor swimming pool your son might like).
Much of the areas you wish to visit are inland, but just be aware that this is hurricane season in the US and every few years a part of the south gets hit with rain/wind for a day or so - and every decade or so a really big storm. This should not effect your travels and certainly would not change my time of visit - but while you are here just pay some attention to weather reports and alter your itinerary if necessary.
Much of the areas you wish to visit are inland, but just be aware that this is hurricane season in the US and every few years a part of the south gets hit with rain/wind for a day or so - and every decade or so a really big storm. This should not effect your travels and certainly would not change my time of visit - but while you are here just pay some attention to weather reports and alter your itinerary if necessary.
