Hey guys and gals. We are taking our annual road trip August 3rd through August 11th. This year's "random tour of america" is going to cover the Appalachian Mountains area of Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. Our only pre-planned stop this year is Graceland (NOT MY IDEA ) I am looking for cool destinations, off the beaten path attractions, etc. Think Route 66 type stuff... (We did Route 66 last year with out a plan and LOVED it.) I would just like to collect a list of potential stops if we find ourselves in the area. We will try not to be on the interstate for the whole trip, but we understand, sometimes ground has to be covered quickly. Let her rip... Mike
I like the road from Gatlinburg TN to Cherokee NC ... Pretty country and not real a lot of traffic. Cherokee has a Harrahs ... but the town has a small tourist type of vibe. Travel on over to Maggie Valley ... The Blue Ridge Parkway is also nice ... and scenic. Go here for info on the Parkway .. http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/
You could stop by my place and drink a beer or 2 on your way! It's really historic and fun to drive around, and, well, no. Not really. Good luck with your road trip though!
Yes dont miss the trip from Gatlinburg to Cherokee but dont forget to get your brakes looked before the trip!!
Are you sure that you want to visit Graceland and the mountains? Memphis/Graceland is a six hour drive from the mountains. Our club, in Hendersonville Tn., in the Nashville area, sponsors a cruise in on Friday nights 6:00 PM- 9:00 PM. DJ, door prizes etc. We had 300 cars last Friday. Let me know if you are interested. Another neat trip in the Southeast is the Natchez Trace Parkway, which runs from Nashville to Natchez Mississippi. Good luck and be safe. http://www.scenictrace.com/ http://www.nps.gov/natr/ http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/EIHD/natchez.htm
Memphis has a killer zoo and the Sun Records tour, where Cash, Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis got started is a neat way to spend an hour.
I am aware of the distance. We are going to Graceland (again, not my idea) on day 2 of our 9 day trip the rest of the time is wide open. We only need one full day to boogie back to Wisconsin. If we only see a couple of states, and we have a blast, that is what our vacations are all about. I think I am going to make the Sun Records tour a 'must see' too. If she can see the "fat elvis" house then I should be able to see where "skinny elvis" came from. I will have to check out the Gatlinburg route that you guys are talking about. Sounds nice. Mike
i'm partial to the southeast. you can spend a week hanging out around tennessee, north carolina and north georgia. maggie valley, pigeon forge, gatlinburg are really nice. you can head out each day a different direction. maybe you can get the sock f'ers car club of atlanta to run up to Franklin NC for a lunch meet.
Yes, Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are big tourist traps, but fun none the less. But there are a few places to drive and stop before and after the Smokey Mountain National Park. The Dragons Tail and NC-28 (Check your brakes and don't speed) The Apple Barn Resturant Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA And remember, do not drive on the interstates while on this tour. The best and most unique scenery are all along the two lane highways. I always like driving through NE Georgia.
i believe just northeast of atlanta is a little town called helen looks like it's out of the swiss alps very nice also stone mountain is interesting and not too far away is dawsonville ga home of million dollar bill elliott
I'll second the BRP! The Power Tour last year did a good part of the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was awesome!
This time of the year stay away from Deal's Gap this time of the year, it really brings out the fruit loops. Every day seems to be a ricer car club or crotch rocket get together. It's not yourself to worry about but another yahoo... Graceland is funny if nothing more. Beale St. is a blast as well... Memphis is worth staying the night to hang on Beale St. Asheville NC has some cool stuff to see... Biltmore Estates is cool....
If you're heading through the Great Smokies, stop for lunch in Knoxville at the Downtown Brewery, then kill an hour or two at YeeHaw Industries across the street. Awesome letterpress posters. I didn't see much of Nashville, but I did make a stop at the Ernest Tubb Record Shop. Hatch Show Print is another cool old letterpress poster shop and it's about a block away. Memphis is cool, a bit run down in spots. Check out the ducks at the Peabody, wander through Lansky's (clothier to the King), tour the Gibson Guitar factory, eat some awesome BBQ and listen to good music on Beale St. (keep a hand on your wallet... and your beer, I watched a guy get his beer stolen right off the bar). Graceland is weird and cool and sad and more weird all rolled into one. After I toured Sun Studio I wondered if you work there if the goose bumps ever go away. Stax Records is definitely worthwhile. I can't compare to the Dragon's Tail, but you can't go wrong driving the North Georgia Mountains at the foot of the Apalachian Trail, right where Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina meet. Intense driving, gorgeous scenery and cool/weird roadside flea markets run by friendly folk that look like they just stepped out of Deliverance (and they might have, that's where it was filmed). Enjoy.
Holy cow guys! Thanks for all the ideas... it sounds like there is a lot to do in TN. We might have to spend a few days wandering around the state. As for Maryville, it is a town in consideration for an eventual "transplantation" of me and the GF. We hate WI winter and want to move somewhere warmer... Thanks again... (and ideas will continue to be accepted ) Mike
Roanoke VA has this: http://www.vmt.org/, and this near by: http://www.linkmuseum.org/. There is shopping, eating, and lodging all with in walking distance. Mt. Airy NC, home of Andy Griffth. Nice downtown area. http://www.visitmayberry.com/ Asheville NC has tha Biltmore Estate. http://www.biltmore.com/discover/summer_getaways.html?CMP=KNC-Google&HBX_PK=biltmore&HBX_OU=50 Never been to the Biltmore, but I have been to the others. Roanoke being the best. Mt. Airy has a great festival in the fall, too late for you. The blue Ridge Parkway has been mentioned and is very nice. If you want to stay in a interesting place, check out this: http://www.cabins.com/usa/va/va_fancygap_003/va_fancygap_gcc_003.html This is on the Parkway and are very nice. At the time I was there, it was lodging only, no meals. But they have fridges and microwaves. Dining near by. Have a safe and wonderfil trip.
If you get close to Greenville, SC give us a shout and we'll meet if we can. Asheville is cool for shops & local artists. When in the area try WNCW 88.7 for some tunes. Great music. Helen, GA is cool too. Pretty good food. Don Garlits' museum in Ocala, Florida
Loads of great ideas so far, but for my money, the best idea is to postpone your trip until November when it will be much, much cooler with less humidity in the south!
Slick 50... thanks for the offer, we will see where the wind blows us... If we get to your area, we will definately look you up... Flat Ernie... unfortunately, in my profession, I have to take my vacations around everyone else on my staff. So this was the ONLY week I could go. The humidity is the only down side that I can think of on this trip. But if we are having fun, who cares... right? Mike
you'll be in the mountains, humidity is not a problem, you'll find it cool at night and jacket weather when you get above 5000 ft.
Mt. Airy is not only the original Mayberry RFD, it's also the home to Hot Heads, the early Hemi guys. Bob Walker and his wife are great people. August 5 is my First Sunday swap meet in NE Georgia...it's about 50 minutes from the S. Carolina border, straight down I-85. Usually has a decent number of HAMBers. About half an hour into S. Carolina is the Carolina Rod Shop. Friendly guys, and they usually let you come in and BS with 'em. YearOne is also in NE Georgia, same exit as my swap meet (Exit 137 on I-85). Come in and I'll give you the nickle tour. -Brad
OK guys... We leave Friday night (from northern Wisconsin) and hope to make Memphis by Saturday late afternoon. Sunday will be spent at Graceland and then we are WIDE open until Friday. For those of you who PM'd me with offers of meet and greets, I will be printing the info out and taking it along. If we land in your neck of the woods, I will give you a call. (PM me your phone numbers ) Later! Mike
if you end up in charlotte,nc be sure to eat at The Penguin. hot springs,nc is really nice and about 30 miles north of asheville. though we've only done fall/winter months there. but if you decide to go i'd recommend Treehouse Cabins(don't remember teh exact wesite addy). we've stayed there 4 times. last time sitting in the hot tub on the deck over looking the valley below(it's up on a peak)while a foot+ of snow fell. cabin 3 used to be the best as it was the far end cabin and no one came by. they were building #4 last we were there if it's ready it'd the the one to get. and everyone is right. you could spend weeks running around west carolinas/ north ga/ east tenn and still miss alot of cool stuff. but if you wanna venture further charleston,sc is great to. lots of good seafood. Hyamns and/or Hanks both rock...ken...
Wow... The whirlwind tour of America's Southeast is over... So much to see so little time! We just rolled in late last night after an all day marathon of interstate driving (Yuck!)... Thanks Ken and Vicki! It was great to meet you and see your Cadi. That is truly one of the nicest I have ever seen! I have to unpack now... I think I need a vacation after my vacation. (14 states in 9 days) Thanks again for all the suggestions. We actually saw quite a few of the things on this thread. Mike
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