Community Forums

JeepTJ5 · 10-18-2010, 10:01 PM

Hi Y'all:

We're planning to go from Chicago to central Florida in mid November and I was hoping to get some ideas from you guys of interesting things to do along the way. We plan a liesurly drive and would like to see some stuff besides fast food restaurants and truck stops. ;-) We will probably take I-65 to Louisville and then to I-75 for the rest of the trip. (Not set in stone, tho) Any neet places you've been/seen along the way will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Don

Chickadee · 10-19-2010, 09:11 AM

Consider visiting Renfro Valley, Country Music venue and Hall of Fame (near Exit 62 on I-75). Stop for a night or two and take in a show. Also, think about a stop in Townsend, TN. From there, visit Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Cades Cove, drive over New Found Gap to Cherokee (see map).

Steve & Lynette

GaryKD · 10-20-2010, 07:50 AM

Hi Don,
Consider these POIs:
1. Creation Museum at Creation Museum - Creation, Evolution, Science, Dinosaurs, Family, Christian Worldview | Creation Museum
2. Kentucky Horse Park at http://www.kyhorsepark.com/
3. Side Trip to Pigeon Forge, TN at Pigeon Forge Attractions Guide - Dollywood, Splash Country & More

The above mentioned suggestions should make the drive most enjoyable and memorable. If you need CG suggestions, please post here or PM me.

JimM68 · 10-21-2010, 07:14 PM

Louisburg itself is very nice.

phays · 10-22-2010, 04:26 AM

If you were to start your trip going down I-57 and connecting to I-24, then you could stop in Metropolis, IL for the gambling boat and see Superman. In Paducah, KY, is a quilt museum that is worth seeing. Then on to Nahville on I-24 to see the Grand Ole Opry sites. From there you can get on I-40 and head to the Pigeon Forge and Gattlinburg area and if you want spend a little time in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. Then stay on I-40 and go to Ashville, NC, for sightseeing. From there, work your way over to Charleston, SC (if you do, go see the Huntly exhibit of the Confederate submarine), from there to Savannah and finally down to FL.

Personally, I don't go through Atlanta as I've been delayed 2 and 3 hours in traffic jams. It isn't bad on Sunday but I can't always plan my trips well enough to hit Atlanta on Sunday. I'm always looking for better ways to reach FL from my location in Ohio.

JeepTJ5 · 10-22-2010, 08:10 PM

Thanks to all of you that replied. I really appreciate the good ideas. I have been down the route before but we've always been a hurry. I really like Pete's idea of taking I-57 to I-24, etc. I actually went to Metropolis back in the '80s for work to do a story on the town and Superman, but I didn't take family and there was no gambling. (The wife will like that now that there is.) I don't know if I will go all the way to the eastern seaboard, but I will give it some thought. I do hate driving around Atlanta, the last time I did it we also got caught in a 2 hour delay south of town.

Best regards to all

Don