Community Forums

J.S.Eddy · 04-01-2010, 10:56 AM

Picking up two of our grandchildren end of June. First stop will be Blanchard Caverns in Arkansas. From there we will be heading towards the NE corner of Georgia. Actually, Toccoa Falls where we will have our family get-together for our bi-annual family reunion.
We will have about 10 days for our "adventure" trip, and intend to make Andersonville Civil War towards the end of out trip. Between Arkansas and Toccoa Falls, are there some other Civil War sites to visit?
My grand kids arer 13 and 14; one male and one female. Both looking forward to this trip.

This is something we've done with other grandkids in the past. That trip was up the weswt coast from San Francisco to Mt. St. Helens. That was with the older siblings of this pair of teenagers. Wish us luck, and post any suggestions you may have for our trip.

Jim & Sandra
2003 Alpine Coach, 38' FDTS, toa is 2000 Saturn Wagon

RVThere · 04-01-2010, 11:54 AM

Jim,

Get the grandkids involved in picking the sites to visit. They may quickly tell you that more than ONE Civil War site will 'suck'! (although personally, I would love an all Civil War trip...). After traveling with my 3 teenagers in our coach for many years, I've had many stops that I thought were great but the kids definitely brought me down to earth.

Chattanooga has bunch of cool things to do including Ruby Falls, Rock City and the incline railway. My boys also liked the Biltmore Estate in Asheville and Smokey Mts. National Park. Gatlineburg TN has a TON of things to do for teenagers.

And if you want adventure, do some whitewater rafting too.

Good luck!

PS - My wife is chiming in to advise that you skip ALL Civil War sites... I think I have saturated her over the years!

GaryKD · 04-01-2010, 02:47 PM

Hi Jim,
I'm not sure what is left from the 10 days, but consider keeping the trip travel to a minimum and local activities to a maximum. I echo RVthere's recommendation on the Sevierville/Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg tri city area. This is a mini Branson, MO. There are many CGs to choose from and many shows/activities to do. All "G" rated. With kids, one can't go wrong.

As a last stop, one could consider digging for diamonds in Arkansas. This would be at Crater of Diamonds State Park off I30, exit 46.

I promised my G'kids I would show them the USA before they go to college (did the same thing with my kids). This takes 10 years. We are working our way through it now. I get them (3) for two months every summer.

Chuck 1935 · 04-01-2010, 04:52 PM

Another great trip for teenagers is the Mule trip down the Grand Canyon. It's a trip the will NEVER forget.

JoeandMarcia · 04-01-2010, 05:39 PM

One in GA just south of Chattanooga, another big one in TN. (my history eludes me) and if you want to go a little north there is the Cumberland Gap NP, lots of civil war stuff there plus a very nice CG.
But for me 10 days with 2 teens would be terrible.

tedward1555 · 04-01-2010, 06:21 PM

My parents took us to the Shiloh Museum north of Corinth Mississippi when we were young and I loved it.
Here is a link:
Shiloh National Military Park (U.S. National Park Service)

Chuck 1935 · 04-02-2010, 03:40 PM

Took a teenage girl from Caifornia to New Mexico with her parents. She texted all the way and when we stopped for the night she used her cell phone because of the lower rates. When we got to our destination I asked her how she liked the scenery ? Green, was the one word reply.
I traveled with my folks when I was a kid and learned how much fun it was seeing all the interesting things and places out there. My kids now all have RV's and they enjoy traveling.