Family Field Trip: Southern States

Tennessee
Tennessee is a landlocked state in the south, bordered by Kentucky, North Carolina, Georgia and a few other southern states. Nashville is its capital and the heart of country music. The Nashville music scene includes famous attractions like the Grand Ole Opry, Country Music Hall of Fame, Johnny Cash Museum, Broadway and Music Row. It is also known for its honky-tonks and dance halls and attracts many new artists each year trying to make it big. There is also great history in Nashville, including their own Nashville Parthenon. Children enjoy the Adventure Science Center and Nashville Zoo at Grassmere as well as the parks, like Centennial Park and Radnor Lake State Park.

Memphis is located in the far southwest of Tennessee and is most well known for Elvis Presley’s home, Graceland. The King certainly has put Memphis tourism on the map. Children love to see the Peabody Ducks at the Memphis Peabody Hotel, march across the grand lobby at 11:00 & 5:00 pm daily. The Memphis Zoo, the Children’s Museum of Memphis and exploring the Museum of Science & History will keep the kids busy. Hang out on Beale Street for some fantastic BBQ and Blues clubs. The foodie scene in Memphis is diverse and full of festivals, including the Soulful Food Truck Fest, World Championship Hot Wing contest and Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival just to name a few. Do any of those festivals get your mouth watering?

Riverwalk in Chattanooga, Tennessee is a beautiful area over 16 miles long, down the banks of the Tennessee River with restaurants and activities for everyone regardless of the season. Take a Chattanooga trolley tour to see downtown and get the lay of the land, to make navigating the rest of your trip easier. Kids love to play at Coolidge Park, go to Creative Discovery Museum, visit Rock City Gardens and see the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. At Ruby Falls you will journey deep inside Lookout Mountain to see the tallest underwater cave waterfall, descending 260 feet by glass elevator. Those wanting an authentic experience on the river should try the Southern Belle Riverboat for a then and now comparison. I loved the feel of Chattanooga on my quick visit a few years ago, and I’ve always wanted to visit again!

Pigeon Forge is located in the Great Smoky Mountains and known for Dollywood, an Appalachian-themed park, water park and museum of Dolly Parton’s memorabilia. There is even the Dolly Parton Dixie Stampede to enjoy dinner and a show. Those who aren’t into country music might enjoy the Titanic Museum or digging at the gem mine and the Gatlinburg Scenic Overlook is popular for panoramic views of the city and mountains.

There are numerous historical destinations throughout Tennessee, from Pioneer history at the Historic Collinsville Pioneer Settlement to the Museum of Appalachia. There are also numerous Civil War and Civil Rights historical sites to see, such as:

Tipton-Haynes State Pre-Civil War Site (guided walking tour)
Shilo Military Park
Stones River National Cemetery
Underground Railroad Museum
Eastern Flank Battlefield Park
Fort Pillow State Historic Park
Historic Homes of Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk, Andrew Johnson’s Homestead and Loretta Lynn’s Ranch
Tennessee State Museum
Museum of East Tennessee History
Coolidge National Medical of Honor Heritage Center
Pink Palace Museum
Discovery Park of America
Trail of Tears National Historic Trail
Chattanooga National Cemetery
Stones River National Battlefield
Shiloh National Military Park
Fort Donelson National Battlefield
Hartsville Battlefield
Parkers Crossroads Civil War and Battlefield

Tennessee is a great state to visit to encompass many different times of history, during the State’s turbulent past. For those traveling with major history buffs, check out this link for Tennessee Road Trips for History Buffs. Visit the beauty of the Smoky Mountains that Tennessee shares with its neighbor North Carolina… where we travel to next.

North Carolina
North Carolina continues Tennessee’s love for the Smoky Mountains and reverence for Civil Rights History with the International Civil Rights Center and Museum in Greensboro. North Carolina is proud of their four National Forests including Pisgah, Nanthalaa, Uwharriet and Croatan to hike, hunt, camp, raft, fish or explore and numerous State Forests. Dark Sky attractions bring many visitors to the Bare Dark Sky Observatory or to stargaze at the beach caverns. Out on the coast at night, there is a lighthouse to climb during the full moon or hunt for ghost crabs in the moonlight. Let’s check out what the Nation’s most Military Friendly State has to offer.

Asheville has always been my favorite area of North Carolina and have visited it at least three times, plus fled a hurricane there once! While living in Florida, we typically would ride storms out and only packed up the house and left once, with 3 kids and 2 dogs. When dealing with hurricanes, you only have so much time to shutter your house and get out. We inched our way to Asheville, where North Carolina welcomed us with emergency hotel rates and discounts on activities and attractions for two weeks, before we made our way back home. I’ve never forgotten that generosity and distraction for my kids, while we nervously worried about our friends, family and our home. The kids look back with fond memories of time off school for a fun vacation in the mountains. Asheville is in the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains and is known for its arts scene. The Downtown Arts District is filled with galleries and museums and factory buildings that house the artists’ studios. The Art Museum has been renovated and showcases artists from western North Carolina, Southern Appalachia and even the Cherokee Nation. Kids love the Asheville Museum of Science where its visitors explore geology, topography and paleontology.

The Biltmore estate is a 19th-century building that is a destination in itself, especially during the holidays when it is decorated and lit to perfection. The Biltmore Estate is an American fairy tale in the style of a French Renaissance castle with panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. George Vanderbilt started to build the 250 room private house in 1895 and it has remained preserved by the family ever since. Touring the estate shows the original furnishings, art and artifacts. There are displays of artwork by Renoir, Sargent and Whistler as well as 5 priceless Flemish tapestries on display. Be sure to try the Biltmore winery before you leave or check out Biltmore Park. There is a great Hilton we’ve stayed at and a village-like square with restaurants, bars and shops. We love Hickory Tavern and Leo’s Italian Social for date nights. Check out the North Carolina Arboretum, Chimney Rock, ride a train through the Great Smoky Mountains and stop in Little Switzerland to look for gems that glow in the dark before leaving the mountains.

Charlotte was first known as a railroad junction, then as a cotton mill hub. Today it is a major commercial center of North Carolina. Uptown is home to the Levine Museum of the New South (post-Civil War history in the South) and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. There are hands-on Science displays and activities at Discovery Place Science and similar at Discovery Place Nature for kids to ignite their imagine. Another educational spot not to miss is the Carolina Raptor center, where they conserve and rehabilitate birds of prey like eagles, hawks, owls, falcons and vultures. You can also pan for gold at Reed Gold Mine for a shiny prize. When leaving Charlotte, headed to Raleigh, you will find the North Carolina Zoo which is another must visit during nice weather.

Raleigh is the capital city of North Carolina where people say “Raleigh has a big city feel with Southern charm.” The yummiest attraction in Raleigh is Videri Chocolate Factory, where they teach you the process and give out samples. My childhood best friend lives in Raleigh, I’ll have to ask her which experience is better, Videri or Hershey Park? The Warehouse District has galleries, art studios, restaurants and shops to explore. The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and North Carolina Museum of Art are full of learning experiences and the Marbles Kid Museum has interactive events to trigger kids’ imaginations. The oldest amusement park in the country, Pullen Park was built in 1887. Today, it still has a carousel, miniature train, pedal boats plus sports and arts venues. In a mix of old and new, the James B. Hunt Library is said to be the most advanced library in the world. Opened in 2013, it sounded like many libraries I’ve visited lately with interactive displays, technology & printing labs and touch screens to check out books. Then I heard it has a subterranean robot program to fetch books from the 1.5 million books housed underground. I thought my local library in Denver was cool with a sun terrace to read on in the summer, that’s nothing now!

Starting north from Duck and Corolla beaches on the coast to Wilmington, North Carolina has 300 miles of Coastline. Feral horses are found in Corolla and wildlife tours and safaris are popular in this region. The long stretch of barrier islands is where the Wright Brothers National Memorial is found, near Kitty Hawk at the start of their infamous flight. Nags Head and Forest Jockey’s Ridge State Park is located in this stretch of islands as well. This island area known as the Outer Banks is 200 miles long and 3 miles wide, including Roanoke Island, Avon, Rodanthe and down to Cape Hatteras, where the LightHouses and National Seashore ends this region. Wilmington is a southern coastal town in North Carolina where the Battleship North Carolina and history tours are popular, so book before you go.

A few other historical locations to add to your North Carolina itinerary is Castle McCulloch, built in 1832 with medieval elements such as a great hall, crystal gardens, moat and overwater bridge. Another location with lots of photo opportunities is the Executive Mansion, where the governor calls home. This Victorian-style mansion built in 1891 is especially beautiful during the Holidays with its Christmas tree decorations, bringing cheer to Raleigh. The Smithmore Castle is the only 5-star castle hotel in America and looks like you’re stepping out of a fairytale, especially with a winter dusting of snow. Meals are served in the royal dining room, consisting of 3-course, gourmet meals included in your stay at the castle. Also included are cooking classes, medieval archery and a hike to cave Bruce. Finally, visit Tryon Palace in New Bern. These grounds served as the first permanent capital of North Carolina where you can see 14 acres of period gardens, living history programs and craft demonstrations as well as visit the North Carolina History Center. All this talk of North Carolina makes me want to plan a trip out there soon, but I’m not sure if we should see new locations or go back to some of our favorites from the past.

South Carolina
Charleston might not be the capital city of South Carolina, but it is the heart of South Carolina and most historically significant. See Charleston’s historic district by planning a harbor tour, sunset cruise or dinner cruise, or even a dolphin cruise on a schooner. Skip the horse and carriage rides on land, they seem iconic, but don’t provide a positive work environment for the horses. Instead, take the kids to the South Carolina Aquarium that has exhibits showing aquatic animals and birds from the local landscape. There are animals from the mountain forest, Piedmont, coastal plain, Saltmarsh aviary, the coast and ocean. There is also a kids coast and touch tank for a hands on experience and the Zucker Family Sea Turtle recovery center where injured and sick turtles get another chance at life. The Charleston City Market is the oldest public market in the country and has been open from the 1790’s. Head down to Folly Beach County Park on the barrier islands, just south of Charleston, for a fun day in the Atlantic Ocean and sand.

For more historical experiences, spend some time at the Charles Towne Landing State Historical Site to see where Charleston all began, with a group of English settlers off the Ashley River in 1670. This area became the birthplace of the Carolina Colony, but today has a visitors center, a self-guided history trail and a 22-acre natural habitat zoo with animals that inhabited during the colonial time period. Just across the bridge, the USS Yorktown is a museum and aircraft carrier from WWII. Another great military spot to visit is the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum. Just south of downtown Charleston, the Charleston Tea garden on Wadmalaw Island offers complimentary tea tours to see its 127 acres, growing 320 black and green tea varieties. The Angel Oak tree is located on John’s Island and is estimated to be between 300-400 years old. Imagine all the history and conflict this tree has seen and adapted to over the years.

There are two main plantations that are run as tourist attractions and educational centers in South Carolina. Boone Hall Plantation is a large tour that you will need to carve out a bit of time to see completely. At Boone Hall, visitors are able to explore the Gullah Culture, a culture that was adapted by African slaves. This is a unique presentation where descendants share the history of their culture through storytelling, song and dance that is both educational and entertaining. Be sure to go on the house tour, the plantation tractor tour, Black history in America exhibit, the slave history presentation and the garden tour to see the tropic conservatory. For a quicker visit, Magnolia Plantation & Gardens is where you can learn about the horticulture and animals that have been thriving in the Low-country for the past 350 years. Learn about the Europeans that colonized the Carolinas, the Drayton family that still owns it and the enslaved people who worked the gardens and rice fields. The most popular spot is called the Romantic Garden and was designed by Rev. John Gimle to showcase the azalea and camellia flowers and is the most popular place to have a wedding ceremony on the property today.

Fort Sumter National Monument is easily visible in the Charleston harbor and tickets include a short ferry ride and audio tour to tell the story of the pivotal first battleground of the Civil War on April 12, 1861. The Confederate army (southern) fired the first shots of the Civil War at the Federal troops (northern) in the early morning hours. Fort Sumter surrendered 34 hours later, but continued to play an important role throughout the war, as Union forces tried to take it back for the next four years. As the director of The Civil War, PBS series Ken Burns said, “The Civil War was the greatest event in American history, where, paradoxically, in order to become one, we had to tear ourselves in two.” This sounds eerily familiar still today, both here in the states and internationally.

Myrtle Beach has 60 miles of family friendly beach and a well known boardwalk to fish and take part in a wide variety of water sports. The beach often has live music, thousands of restaurants, an amusement park and aquarium to keep everyone in the family engaged. There are 14 unique communities and 90 golf courses, including the prestigious Dunes golf & beach club. There are numerous beaches that are often referred to as Myrtle Beach, but really the area with the boardwalk and sky-wheel is Myrtle Beach proper. Enjoy an ocean view meal at Sea Captain’s House or Inlet Prohibition Company and don’t miss the penguins at the Ripley’s Aquarium. There are other beaches such as North Myrtle Beach, Atlantic Beach, Surfside Beach, Garden City Beach and Litchfield Beach that all fall in the Grand Strand. There are two beaches that are accessible by state park, Huntington Beach State Park (known for coastal bird watchers and the Atalaya Castle) and Myrtle Beach State Park.

Hilton Head Island is often thought of as a more luxurious and relaxing beach area in South Carolina with lots of golf courses in the area. The island isn’t just for romantic getaways, it is also a great family destination. Take the kids to get dressed up as pirates and search for buried treasure at Pirates of Hilton Head. The Coastal Discovery Museum is also a fan favorite in the area to learn about natural history. Every age loves to bike around the island and tour the trails at the Palmetto Dunes. There are tours you can check out including Noble Jones, Heyward House Museum and Kelley tours gray line or charter a yacht for the luxary Hilton Head experience.

Some other great natural spots to check out on your South Carolina itinerary should be the Blue Ridge Mountains, where Sassafras mountain sits 3,560 feet at its highest point and named for the sassafras trees on the lower incline. Cherokee Foothills National Park has a 100 mile scenic highway that runs through eight State Parks. Congaree National Park is a diverse ecosystem in the broadleaf floodplain forest, with 25 miles of trails and a 2.4 mile elevated boardwalk. Finally, stop to see Table Rock State Park to visit Carrick Creek falls.

Georgia
When I was still teaching, I took a group of Sophomore and Juniors to Savannah to visit the Savannah Historic District and do a campus tour of SCAD (Savannah College of Art & Design) and I quickly fell in love with the town. Sprawling beaches, a thriving artists community and the largest National Historic Landmark district in the U.S. Savannah attracts more than just students! Take a trolley tour or riverboat cruise to see the main attractions of Savannah. See the Cathedral Basilica of John the Baptist, Olde Pink House, Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters, Bonaventure Cemetery and Old Fort Jackson fort. Historical walking tours, pub crawl, foodie tour or ghost tour are a great way to spend the night. When I took the students, we had the best tour guides at all of the locations we went to, something about Savannah’s Southern hospitality. Be sure to spend some time in Forsyth Park, famously known for its park fountain with oaks surrounding it. Kids will want to visit the 2 playgrounds and splash pad on the North side of the park. There is accessible playground equipment, bathrooms and it’s busy with kids most of the time. You will see people who bring chairs, blankets and even hammocks to spend the whole day in the park and even take a nap in warm weather. The park has walking/running paths and bike trails or bring a volleyball or lawn games to play with friends and family. A Farmers Market is held here Saturday morning and is often the background for proposals and wedding photos.

Located less than a 30 minute drive north is the National Museum of the Mighty 8th Air Force in Pooler, Georgia. This museum tells the story and honors the heroes of the 8th Air Force. A group of 350,000 young Air Force members joined the English allies fighting the Nazi’s in the sky. You can watch a short video on their website about the significance of the museum before your visit. Another 20 minute drive east takes you to Tybee Island where you can see the lighthouse museum and take a ride on Captain Derek’s Dolphin Adventure. Tybee Island doesn’t have chain hotels and prides itself on authentic beach fun with local flair. There are 5 beaches, Tybee’s wide beach, North Beach, Mid beach, South beach, and Back River beach, all with their own personalities. Be sure to check out the pier and pavilion, visit the Marine Science Center and go fossil hunting on this barrier island oasis.

Jekyll Island is located halfway between Jacksonville and Savannah, about a 90 minute drive. The State limits the amount of acres allowed to be developed, so the natural beauty, sand dunes and magnificent oak trees won’t be spoiled. Check out the beautiful driftwood monuments at Driftwood Beach or have a picnic at Great Dunes Beach Park with sandwiches from Boardwalk Deli. The island’s small size makes renting a bike to explore the trails and ride under the oak trees and past the historical homes. Two other spots not to miss with children are the Summer Waves Water Park and the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. Take a guided tour in the sea turtle hospital to meet some of its patients. You can catch healthy nesting Loggerhead sea turtles on the island from May to August.

Inland, Atlanta is the capital of Georgia as well as being known as the “Hollywood of the South” or “Hotlanta” in the summer. The Georgia Aquarium has always been our favorite attraction in Atlanta and I remember taking my boys there on our first family field trip when they were probably 4 & 6 years old. Getting to see African penguins, beluga whales, sea lions, bottlenose dolphins, tiger sharks and whale sharks amazed the kids and we still have the penguin and whale shark stuffed animals from the gift shop. Visit Ponce City Market with its historic food halls and shops for some lunch. The Atlanta Botanical Garden and the World of Coca Cola are two other popular destinations to visit with kids. My favorite educational spot in Atlanta is the Ron Clark Academy and teacher education center where educators from all over the world learn the secrets of famed educators and teacher of the year award recipients. If you are a teacher, there is no better place to learn the secrets to capturing students’ attention and expanding their minds.

About an hour drive from Atlanta, the Chateau Elan Winery in Braselton is the perfect romantic getaway to enjoy food, wine, spa and golfing all on one property. I came here in my twenties when a friend of mine planned a bachelorette trip to drink wine and hang in the spa together. It was a wonderful time and I’ve always wanted to go back with my own love some day. The rooms at the Chateau can be booked at the inn, spa or villas with 7 restaurants to eat a variety of cuisine on property.

Marc Restaurant- upscale chop house
Versailles Restaurant- premium casual breakfast, brunch, lunch, happy hour or dinner
Louis’ House of Bourbon- Southern Gastro pub
Fleur De Lis- mindful cuisine
Paddy’s Irish Pub- authentic alehouse
Sarazen’s Bar & Grill- casual gold club setting
Le Petit Cafe- coffee and pastries
Le Soleil- Poolside bar and snack

The Chateau produces 30 different wines at the vineyard and has guided tours, a free tasting room or an elevated experience in the new Bordeaux tasting room. Golf is one of the most popular reasons people come to Chateau Elan with its two 18-hole golf courses and its Par 3 executive course. There are stay and play packages that include 2 rounds of golf, cart rental, range balls and practice facilities. Another big attraction at the Chateau Elan is the spa, you can even book a spa suite to focus on relaxation. The spa facility has a tea bar with fruit infused water, complimentary robe & sandals, pool with resistance jets & spa whirlpool, dry Finnish Sauna, wet eucalyptus steam room and fitness classes with a full gym. The Chateau Elan is the perfect place to spend an anniversary or book a fun, friends golf getaway.

The Blue Ridge Mountains span a few states in the south and continue into North Georgia. Take the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway for a leisurely ride in the North Georgia Mountains. Take your kids apple picking at Mercier Orchards in Blue Ridge for a traditional orchard experience. Check out the (arguably) most beautiful waterfalls in all of Georgia at Rock City Gardens at Lookout Mountain before checking out some of the small mountain towns in the area.

Hiawasse’s name is derived from the Cherokee word for meadow, and is a local combination of lake shores and mountain beauty. Lake Chatuge has 100 miles of shoreline for boating, swimming, fishing, water skiing and camping. Check out High Shoals Falls to see waterfalls made of 5 in 1 and a 300 foot drop. Access the falls by High Shoals trail, which is only a 1.2 miles hike. The highest peak in Georgia is Brasstown Bald at 4,000 feet high, you can see four states on a clear day. Just a 30 minute drive south you come across the most visited town in the mountains, Helen.

Helen is surprisingly in Northern Georgia…not Bavaria. This alpine village with the mountains, forests and river banks could easily be mistaken for Bamberg, Germany, especially when the aromas of German bakery and brats fills the air. The buildings are traditional Bavarian ski lodges with murals painted on the side and streets that feel like you’ve been transported into a fairy tale. Some of the best German restaurants this side of the Atlantic are in Helen, so say PROST! at one of these traditional restaurants:

Bodensee Restaurant (fine German food)
Cafe International for signature sandwiches and German favorites
Chattahoochee Dog Haus Restaurant
Hofbrauhaus Restaurant and GI Germany Pub
The Heidelberg German Restaurant (1st restaurant in town)

Hiking and river tubing are great activities in these mountains, in addition to visiting as many waterfalls as possible, including: Anna Ruby Falls, Dukes Creek Falls, Horse Trough Falls and Raven Cliff Falls. On land, the Chattahoochee stables are great for riding horses on beautiful trails, visit Dukes Creek Mines and go panning for gold & gems at the Outpost. Ride the Alpine Express, the Georgia mountain coaster or visit the Babyland General Hospital for cabbage patch kids with your youngest travelers.

The American South certainly has a historically difficult past and has seen its years of turmoil, but is a great location for warm weather, variety between the rugged mountains and coastal beauty and known for its outdoor activities, as well as a Civil War historian’s dream. Today, the south cherishes Southern Hospitality, displaying tradition and caring for others both friends and strangers. More than just manners and politeness, Southerners are known for creating an inviting and welcoming atmosphere and using an exorbitant amount of butter in their cooking!

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