Advice for South East points of Interest

[S-n-L]

Hello everyone and thank you for reading and responding to my post.

This coming spring, we will be traveling from Austin, TX to Burlington Vermont spending a few weeks passing through the areas of the Great Smoky Mtn NP, Shenandoah NP, Blue Ridge Parkway, etc.

Our major focus going through this area will be the National Parks however I am interested in what are the other must-see attractions going through this area? We plan to stop a handful of times for a few days to tour each individual area by car.

We will be 65 feet long with the coach and car, so I know there are some areas we will need to avoid with the rig but can tour with the car. Our route will focus on Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia. We will be traveling diagonally through AL but going through either the east or west sides of most of these states.

Our interests focus on hiking, sightseeing natural places, food, Kitchi things, history and Iconic Americana places.

Thanks so much for your input,
Stuart & Leslie

[S-n-L]

Thank you all for such great suggestions. I have my hands full for checking these places out and planning our trip.

Stuart

[bucky]

The KOA in Luray VA has the sites to handle your RV and toad. It is in a beautiful area and very close to the Skyline Drive. It was formerly Country Waye.

[loggenrock]

In West Virginia - Beckley Exhibition Coal mine (and CG), Cass Scenic RR, Seneca Rocks as mentioned, Greenbrier Hotel for the Gov't Relocation Bunker Tour. We had fun seeing the dinner show (Branson-like) at the Gandy Dancer in Elkins. Lots of history in Harpers Ferry, too. ST

[CharlesinGA]

Blue ridge has low tunnels, esp the southern portion, below Ashville. BRP is much better seen from a car than MH. Find a campground off the BRP and drive sections of it in the car. Then move on.

There are lots of water falls in NC, many within a very short hike of the parking areas, there is a web site listing them and locations.

Eastern US is full of history, much of it civil war, but also the Revolution, even in the south.

Pick a route and spend time on google maps zooming in and out looking for interesting stuff, that is how I do it.

Charles

[Roadpilot]

I'll echo what many have said, Johnson Space Cent, Smokey Mt NP, Asheville, Cherokee, Blowing Rock Grandfather Mt, Blue Ridge Parkway for a bit and Luray Caverns.

Smokey MT NP has a lot to offer (the most visited NP). We stay with a 45' MH in Dandridge, TN at Anchor Down. Convenient to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge areas.

[ken56]

Coming up from Alabama you will likely go up to Chattanooga and on to the Smoky Mountain National Park area. Have you looked into Campgrounds in the area yet? There are many nice ones to choose from. The National park itself is beautiful with only a couple places to drive to. Most of it is a hikers paradise though. Cades Cove and Clingmans Dome are two that I can recommend. Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge have lots of touristy things to do. Great restaurants and dinner shows.

I will second the Biltmore Estate in Asheville. You can spend 2 full days there. Beautiful estate and the house is quite interesting.

[MDKMDK]

Terryallan wrote:

S-n-L wrote:
Hello everyone and thank you for reading and responding to my post.

This coming spring, we will be traveling from Austin, TX to Burlington Vermont spending a few weeks passing through the areas of the Great Smoky Mtn NP, Shenandoah NP, Blue Ridge Parkway, etc.

Our route will focus on Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia.

Thanks so much for your input,
Stuart & Leslie

Just so you will know. The majority of the Blue ridge Parkway is in NC. None in Tenn, or Georgia, with the slightly shorter Northern Leg in VA. Not saying the VA section isn't pretty. But you will miss the Viaduct, Cherokee, Little Switzerland, Boone, Blowing Rock, and well everything that the NC High Country has to offer.

Along this line, if you're doing the Blue Ridge Parkway, and you're in the vicinity of Asheville, NC, you might stop at the Biltmore Mansion and Estate, and any of the various satellite attractions in the area.

[wowens79]

Smoky Mtn NP is really nice.

Chattanooga has lots of Civil War History.

While not hiking, Huntsville AL, has a NASA Space Center and is interesting.

If you will be traveling through Birmingham, it has a great food scene with lots of award winning resturants.

[Dick_B]

Do a Google search for `______ tourism' and put the city, state, or area in the blank and read what the specialists recommend.

[Terryallan]

S-n-L wrote:
Hello everyone and thank you for reading and responding to my post.

This coming spring, we will be traveling from Austin, TX to Burlington Vermont spending a few weeks passing through the areas of the Great Smoky Mtn NP, Shenandoah NP, Blue Ridge Parkway, etc.

Our route will focus on Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia.

Thanks so much for your input,
Stuart & Leslie

Just so you will know. The majority of the Blue ridge Parkway is in NC. None in Tenn, or Georgia, with the slightly shorter Northern Leg in VA. Not saying the VA section isn't pretty. But you will miss the Viaduct, Cherokee, Little Switzerland, Boone, Blowing Rock, and well everything that the NC High Country has to offer.

[Halmfamily]

In Alabama I would recommend Cheaha State Park, highest point in the state and Desoto State Park, beautiful gorge with some amazing waterfalls. Both areas offer great hiking and other local attractions.

[kohldad]

Stay at Seneca Rocks, WV for some interesting hiking and exploring including Spruce Knob (WV Highest point). Drive down to Green Bank Observatory and take the tour.

[donn0128]

Starting in the deep south Civil War battlefields would be a good place to start. North east LA there is reminants of an acent indian village worth your time. Oh and dont forget the Civil War prisioner of war camps. You could visit Graceland, and spend a few hours down town and be sure to visit Mudd island.