Southern US

TobyRyan

Hi there

I am planning on a road trip for 3 weeks covering most of the southern Antebellum states, starting in Atlanta Georgia, New Orleans, Birmingham Alabama, Nashville, Charlton, Savannah maybe Jacksonville Florida (this is a a rough plan) a Sort of anti-clocwise returning back to Atlanta in the end.

Found a very good website roadtrippers.com. Its a bit daunting trying to plan it all, any hints or tips regarding travelling in America would be helpful, or must sees for that part of the US.

dave2pvd

Birmingham, AL? And Jacksonville? Were they random picks or is there something specific you want to see?

On the ATL-NOLA leg, you could stop off at one of the nicer Gulf Coast locations. How about Cape San Blas? That way, you get to claim FL without having to go to Jacksonville.

Since you're stretching it all the way to Charleston, stop in Asheville for a night or 2. The Appalachians/Blueridge is a beautiful place.

If you truly want to stop in AL, Huntsville is worth seeing.

ProudDUB

On the way to/from New Orleans, spend some time at one of the Gulf Coast beaches in Alabama or Mississippi. They are GORGEOUS !!! Check out the casinos in Biloxi. They are a wee bit tacky, but they are also a slice of Southern Americana that you won't get anywhere else. I'd give Birmingham a miss, unless there is something in particular that you want to see there. If antebellum architecture and plantation stuff is your thing, do a detour to Natchez, Mississippi. It is well worth a detour.

Jacksonville is okish. It has a nice marina, but that is about it. The Amelia Island and St Augustine areas (just north and south of Jax) of are much more worthy of your time imo. If you have time, check out the Golden Isles. They are a string of barrier islands off the Georgia coast. Most of them are part of a national park, so they are gloriously scenic but relatively unspoilt.

TobyRyan

Thanks you guys some good tips there. The cities I mentioned are just cut off points in terms of driving. We may not exactly go to them.

Yes St Augustine is in the cards for sure rather than Jacksonville, and I am hoping to do more of the Carolinas rather than just driving straight from Nashville to Charlston.

To go from New Orleans to Memphis we need to a stop off point so Jackson makes sense, for now.

I really want to make the most of the Gulf Coast on the way to New Orleans.

Might hit Trail Finders and see what they can offer.

InTheTrees

TobyRyan wrote: »

To go from New Orleans to Memphis we need to a stop off point so Jackson makes sense, for now.

When you're on the freeways you'll be assaulted by the billboards and advertising for Motels/hotels and every variation of.