Scenic Tour

After our awesome adventure to Disneyland, we upped the ante and planned our first family road trip with airplanes!

We are huge fans of Dolly Parton , and I had heard Dollywood was opening a new experience based around her fashion and history of her music career. I grew up a few hours away from Dollywood, near Chattanooga, TN, and had wanted to take my family through the hills of Georgia on a scenic tour.

When I was little, we used to take annual summer road trips from Georgia to North Carolina to visit our grandparents who lived in the Piedmont area outside Charlotte. During these long rides, we’d wind through parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway, skirting the Great Smoky Mountains. Sometimes we’d divert onto “shortcuts” that would add hours as we wound our way back through hills and valleys glimpsing the sky beneath the canopies of the tall trees. I was excited to take my kids through the hills for their own adventure. First, we had to fly there.

We’re lucky to be close to the regional airport of Sonoma County, named after the “Peanuts” author/artist Charles Schulz, who was a Sonoma County resident for many years.

“The Peanuts are on Parade” at the STS Schulz Airport!

Charlie and Linus greet you on your journey. Joe Cool is just inside the entrance.

If you’re hungry, there’s even a charcuterie vending machine. Only the best offerings from California’s Wine Country!

Look to the skies for Snoopy’s plane. Snoopy The Ace is also on call to greet you to Sonoma County. Snoopy is also found atop his dog house. While Lucy the World Traveler is at baggage claim nearby.

My partner had purchased two small personal gaming devices with cranks called Playdates. They’re small enough to fit in the back pocket of my partner’s jeans making them super convenient to tote along without any fuss. He and our kids have also designed games such as Princess Kitty Cafe over the years that use the crank and small screen for endless hours of compact entertainment.

The kids were able to read books and play games while we waited for our flights and during any delays, traffic, stuck elevators...you name it, as we made our way through the Southeast. Read more on the play.date here.

If anyone remembers the Crowdstrike failure in 2024, these devices came in very handy during a few hiccups we experienced due to the computer system outage, but luckily, it didn’t affect our overall timeline. We did end up on the tarmac for an extra hour before we were able to deplane at our final destination due to the software outage. The issue had mostly been resolved before we flew out of Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport at the finale of our scenic tour.

We arrived close to midnight, but luckily we’d chosen a hotel with a complimentary airport shuttle. Nashville Airport (BNA) has a convenient transport pickup area where we found our shuttle and headed to our first stop for an overnight rest at Cambria Nashville Airport.

When we awoke the next morning refreshed, we chose to have breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant, The Hangar Bar + Kitchen . The staff was courteous and attentive, yet we had a silly moment due to portion size. My eldest child and partner each ordered one of the “Quick Start” yogurts with accompanying fruit. I ordered a basic breakfast with eggs, potatoes. While, the other child opted for pancakes - all reasonable requests. Check out their menu here.

The server put in our order, and in a reasonable amount of time, our food came out. The yogurt portions were some of the largest bowls of single serve yogurt that I’ve ever seen. We could have fed the entire table with one of the bowls alone and we had two . Our table had a big laugh about it as each ate their fill of the plain yogurt with the accompanying fresh berries and granola topping. Our suggestion is that we could have shared one of the large portions as it is indeed quite plenty. Otherwise, the prices are reasonable, the other portions are within bounds of reality, and it's well worth a stop to fuel up before you head out to explore “Music City”.

We rode the complimentary shuttle from the hotel back to the airport to pick up our rental car for the remainder of the road trip. Then, we headed in the direction of Centennial Park.

Our eldest is in a Greek Mythology phase. So, we chose to explore the Centennial Park which houses The Parthenon, a reproduction of the famous structure in Greece.

Enduring as a remnant of the centennial celebration of Tennessee statehood in 1897. Tennessee opted to rebuild and preserve the original structure, which is the only “exact-size and detail replica” of the original in Greece. Read more on its rich history here.

The Parthenon holds art, other historic artifacts and collections such as Athena the Goddess.

Inside the Parthenon, is the largest indoor statue in the US. Athena dominates the Naos or “inner chamber” standing at an astonishing 42 feet tall.

In Athena’s powerful hand is Nike. There is a likeness of Nike on the ground floor granting a the sense of how truly grand in scale Athena. Nike is 6’4” which is taller than an average mere human.

Athena’s imposing shield depicts the head of Medusa and is incredible.

The Parthenon is well worth the stop if you’re in the Nashville area to truly honor a goddess. Plan your visit here.

Centennial Park itself is home to many wonderful features, including a playground with great shade from mature trees and a bench dedicated to the musician Taylor Swift . See more about Centennial Park’s sites here.

Of the many sites at the Centennial Park, there is a plaza’s plaque and statue dedicated to Women’s Suffrage. Tennessee was the last state of the union to ratify the 19th congressional amendment granting women the right to vote. After a massive campaign and even letters from their mothers, Tennessee became the 36th, and final state necessary, to ratify this monumental right of its own citizens. We are reminded how hard the fight is for equality and its fragility.

To quench our hunger from relishing in the culture of Centennial Park, we headed to find Nashville's infamous "Hot Chicken”. One of the legends involves a jealous ex-love and her revenge, which turned into the city’s famous “Nashville Hot Chicken”. Read more on the backstory here.

Country stars of "Music City" even sang a song about the fabled fiery fowl seen here via YouTube.

It’s not considered “Hot Chicken” unless it’s from a shack without AC for its “authenticity”. We were originally going to walk a block from Centennial Park to Red’s Hot Chicken, yet they were closed for their own annual vacation.

So, we opted for Helen’s Hot Chicken. I had the Nashville Hot Catfish sandwich and did not regret it. Enough heat to make you sweat, a great fry, and quality fish making it a solid fried fish sandwich. The chicken had similar heat and a great crunchy exterior. We all enjoyed their fried okra.

The next day, we headed to the Adventure Science Center. On approach, this pyramid’s entrance was abuzz with activity for it was the start of the American Solar Challenge! As we approached each solar vehicle, driven, built, and operated by different college programs around the country as they start in Nashville and make their way across the country to their final destination in Casper, WY. Each competition takes a different path. Read up more on this thrilling scientific competition here.

Many different levels allow for full sensory experience of anything from BodyQuest and all of the human body’s systems, including simulating farts! (The kids loved this, of course) at "Down the Hatch".

A large room with a scale model of our solar system in the Solar System Survey and entire levels for youngsters to tunnel and climb, gleefully exploring the entire structure from top to bottom! Check out their exhibits, such as Adventure Tower!

After exploring Nashville, we headed toward some TN Whole Hog BBQ at Martin’s. Of the BBQ we had during this trip, Martin’s has by far the best pork overall.

Highly recommend their pork ribs. Any pork offered without sauce that can stand on its own is good barbecue to me. Martin’s is that place.

We crossed the line into Alabama to explore NASA’s Space & Rocket Center and the home of Space Camp.

Growing up in the '80s, one of my favorite movies was Spacecamp. I couldn't wait to show my kids somewhere I had once visited myself as a youngster.

Shooting for the moon was priority one for the astronauts of the past. The enormous Saturn V Hall is not to be missed!

Enjoy a stroll around the Rocket Park among these massive rocket displays which are both inspiring in their scale and also from their witnessing of the great “space race.”

Not far down the road is the original Hollywood. Hollywood, Alabama was incorporated six years before Hollywood, CA, per Alabama’s site.

We headed onward to the Scenic City! Chattanooga is home of the Chattanooga Choo Choo which has restored an historic train station and train cars into a luxurious hotel now known as the Hotel Chalet suiting more of an upscale crowd.

We took our kids by one of the only remaining Central Park Burger & Fries in the US. This small chain was once everywhere from Chattanooga to Salt Lake City. Over the years, the locations dwindled to only a few remaining precious stores with one of the best deals and fast-food burgers out there. It’s drive-thru only, so don’t go expecting to sit down anywhere! The seasoned fries are worth the trip to E 23rd St near Rossville Blvd.

Nearby is the epic Sculpture Fields at Montague Park, part of an ongoing project to revitalise and repurpose the abandoned and derelict industrial sites of the city’s past into public recreational spaces.

The Scenic City’s Riverwalk project began when I was going up in nearby Georgia. This ambitious project created miles of pedestrian walkway and parks along the banks of the Tennessee River worth exploring. See why Chattanooga was named North America's first National Park City in 2025!

The Riverwalk includes the historic Ross’s Landing. named after local Chief John Ross who served as Principal of the Cherokee People before his removal during the Trail of Tears. Many who began the long, arduous journey to the West like Ross, began steps away from the Tennessee River at what is now a permanent installation entitled The Passage .

Nearby, is the Tennessee Aquarium, one of the world’s largest freshwater aquariums. This wonderfully designed jewel by the river is both an engaging and educational aquarium. Start your journey of the Tennessee River riding an escalator up into the mountains.

Then, you wind your way through different freshwater biomes to eventually meet the Gulf of Mexico.

Our littles greatly enjoyed the river otters in the Appalachian Cove Forest exhibit.

This beloved aquarium almost doubled in size in 2005 with the opening of the Ocean Journey next door to the original museum.

The saltwater experience houses ecosystems with sharks and penguins.

There are even lemurs at Tropical Cove!

Be sure to find the Butterfly Garden reminiscent of Cal Science’s Osher Rainforest exhibit in SF’s Golden Gate Park.

Nearby, you’ll find hot dog vendors and great eats such as Mellow Mushroom, a GA-based pizza chain, and seafood with great views at Scottie’s on the River.

We did not make it to one of my favorite spots in Chattanooga this trip, Rembrandt’s Coffee House in Bluff View Art District . Home to the Hunter Art Museum and gorgeous views of the Tennessee River. It’s also the intersection to one of the world’s longest pedestrian bridges: the Walnut Street Bridge. Highly recommend grabbing a sandwich and coffee at Rembrandt’s or check out their “Cold Dessert Pastries”.

Then, stroll through the River Gallery sculpture garden and maybe venture across the bridge to the NorthShore Merchant district.

Across the river, you can access Coolidge Park and one of the more unique carousel’s I’ve visited. The 1895 Dentzel carousel was relocated to the park in the 1980s and restored with student-carved carousel horses from local artists at “Horsin’ Around”, reopening in 1999. Rides are only $1! More about Coolidge Park and the carousel here.

There is also great shopping in the area at the unique shops lining the northern shore of the Tennessee River such as All Things Groovy and Clumpie’s Ice Cream.

Another gem of the Tennessee Valley is Rock City. Atop Lookout Mountain, on the Georgia side, this outdoor destination began as a garden and has grown into one of the best roadside attraction marketing campaigns ever. Their arrangement with local farmers, emblazoning the sides of their barns with “See Rock City” which led to its enduring presence as seen above Flintstone, my hometown.

According to legend, Rock City is home to the original miniature golf course in the US: the gnomes and fairyland characters set it apart from the miniatures of golf courses that existed at the time as minigolf . Later, the garden evolved into the Rock City Gardens of today.

Slip through the Fat Man’s Squeeze to see seven states!

How many states do you see?

There is a swinging bridge open when weather is permitted. I’d rather take the alternate route to Lover’s Leap.

Count the gnome markers you may see while also observing rock formation such as Mushroom Rock.

At the peak of the journey, you can grab a snack at either two eateries. Then, grab a table outdoors or find a spot to nibble a snack before heading onward to the Fairyland Caverns.

As you make your way into the dark cavern, dioramas of black-light art based on fairytale stories greet you along your path.

The caverns are one of my favorite parts. I know I’m very partial since I grew up coming here and love anything kitsch. It may be cheesy, but it is the uniqueness of the natural surroundings and the wonder of the effect that makes Rock City at the top of my favorite road trip destinations to recommend when visiting the Tennessee Valley area.

Just down the street is the iconic Incline where you can opt to ride one of the steepest rides of track in the United States from high atop Lookout Mountain to the shops below of St. Elmo. Grab a scoop from Mr. T’s or check out one of the Hot Chocolatier’s two locations on St. Elmo Ave or Market St in Downtown Chattanooga.

A little-known playground in Collegedale, TN, will be the delight of many snack-cake lovers. You’ll find sculptures of various Little Debbie cakes at Little Debbie Park. The kids enjoyed their playground and running to each treat placed around the park. A nice stop for a picnic and photo op!

Find Maggie the Cow at the Mayfield Dairy Visitor Center where you can not only get a tour, you can also get a scoop of their ice cream!

Ask if they have a Brown Cow in the freezer. It's my favorite of their local, frozen treats.

See what scoops are available today!

Growing up near the banks of the Tennessee River, we heard of the names Chief John Ross of Ross’s Landing and namesake of Rossville, GA. We saw signs and heard stories of the Trail of Tears and Sequoyah referenced in both cities, sites and other features of the area. It took until I had moved out of the area and was researching our scenic tour that I revisited this history in order to discern what lessons or stories that I could pass on to my children as we passed through the Tennessee Valley.

In my research, I came across the book Cherokee Heritage Trails Guidebook which was useful in highlighting historical sites of the area. Not only was I able to explore the history, but also to visit sites of the Cherokee people of today.

Chief John Ross was the first Postmaster of the city with the John Ross House serving as the Post Office. He served as the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation from 1828 until his death in Oklahoma in 1866. He oversaw the removal of his own people, including his own family in 1838-1839. After Cherokee removal, Ross’s Landing was renamed Chattanooga. Later, the John Ross House served as a hospital for both the Union and the Confederacy during the Civil War. Today, it stands as the oldest remaining structure in northwest Georgia.

I had hoped to drive my family by the old Duck Pond, now known as the John Ross Commons, and John Ross House in Rossville. Sadly, I discovered the Chief John Ross House is fenced and unreachable to the public. When I was younger, you were able to walk around and explore the property. I performed both in choirs and waving flags of the colorguard with the local high school’s marching band as we paraded in front of this historic structure, now lost to time.

You’re unable to visit the actual site for the name of Tennessee, Tanasi, since it was flooded back in the 1970s by TVA. There is a marker denoting the site near the shore of Tellico lake. Learn more here.

Nearby in Vonore is the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, We were lucky the only museum in Tennessee run by the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians was on the route we were looking to take through the foothills.

Sequoyah was an innovator of his time. He set out to create a written alphabet for the Cherokee language. It took many years of trial and error, losing much of his research at one point to his wife burning his materials before the Cherokee adopted the language in 1815. This museum explores both Sequoyah’s life and the impact his breakthrough had on the Cherokee people.

Walk to the back of the museum and follow the path to a mound. Per The Cherokee Heritage Trails Guidebook, here lies:

“a mausoleum for the remains of Cherokees exhumed from the town sites excavated for Tellico Lake; visitors may pay their respects to generations of Cherokees who lived and died in the lower Little Tennessee River Valley.”

After our stop at the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, we turned onto the Foothills Parkway West heading toward Pigeon Forge. We intersected US-129 further down from the area known as Deal’s Gap and the “Tail of the Dragon”. This curvy path will definitely have you whipped as you wind your way around the folds of the Appalachian hills. Be sure to stop at the Tail of the Dragon store with the giant dragon!

As the rain picked up, we stopped for gorgeous views along the picturesque Foothills Parkway. Travelling with ease and little passersby, this is a great option for a road less traveled, if that’s your cup of tea.

This quiet stretch of highway doesn’t see much traffic considering the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited of all the NPS’s National Park sites. It makes the park on the southern end accessible. Due to excessive rains, we had opted to skip this area and travel the Newfound Gap (US 441) after we visited Dollywood of Pigeon Forge.

We wound our way to Sevierville, the birthplace of Dolly Parton. Before the drops fell too large, we hopped out for a quick photo with the iconic legend who is honored with a statue in the town square.

For our Dollywood experience, we opted to stay on Parkway which is the main thoroughfare of Pigeon Forge that intersects Dollywood Ln.

After getting settled and taking a dip in the hotel’s pool, we rested up for our big day at Dollywood!

With barely a 10 minute drive from our accommodations on Parkway, we made our way to Dollywood the next morning! There is an option to ride the local trolley from Patriot Park, for a convenient alternative.

We greatly enjoyed the Dolly Parton Experience, which debuted and coincided with Dollywood’s gorgeous Summer Festival.

Between the live music, thrilling rides, and gorgeous sunny weather, there’s quite a bit to unpack on what makes Dollywood so beloved. It’s well-earned, from what we can see!

By the time we woke up after our Dollywood adventure, the rain was coming down. So, we grabbed some breakfast at a local breakfast chain near our hotel before heading on down the Newfound Gap. Not long after our visit, Dollywood experienced historical flash flooding.

We meandered through historic Gatlinburg on our way to Newfound Gap. Like stepping back in time, Gatlinburg offers visitors warm cozy shops, breweries, and pancake houses. The walkability of this area makes it convenient to spend a day or two especially around the holidays.

Known as US 441, the road through Newfound Gap grants access to the most visited national park in the country. This corridor connects Tennessee to North Carolina between steep inclines and mystical hills of the Great Smoky Mountains.

In the heavy rains during our trip, we worked our way down the Newfound Gap to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center conveniently located off US 441.

Our national parks are the backbone of my itineraries. I love the hands-on education and ability to immerse oneself in nature all for a reasonable entry fee available to anyone. Also, most of them have availability to restrooms without having to commit to a purchase at every stop.

My kids love the National Parks Junior Ranger program. Each national park has activities for your child to complete either during your potty break or work on at home to mail in later. Each national park has their own individual programs, so they are all unique to each park. The rangers love interacting with the kids whether or not they participate. If you complete the activities and get the sign off from a park ranger, you’ll receive a neat badge unique to the national park. Some families collect badges across the NPS system . We love how junior ranger programs engage our kids with relatable, practical education.

Read more about National Parks’ Junior Ranger program.

Our children enjoyed stretching their legs and wandering around the visitor center to complete their own junior ranger activities for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

After their junior ranger ceremony with the rangers, we made our way further into North Carolina toward Cherokee, home to the Eastern Band of the Cherokee People.

Although the museum is small, it’s worth a stop at the Museum of the Cherokee People to speak with the volunteers and walk the area. We enjoyed watching the demonstrations by local artists. Exploring a culture older than the Declaration of Independence is worth your time to slow down and honor those who inhabited the lands long before us and who remain here still despite past efforts to remove them from their ancestral lands.

Bears adorn the area and near the museum is a bear the children recognized as Sequoyah from our earlier visit to Sequoyah’s birthplace in Tennessee.

Note: the only public restrooms are located down the street at the Cherokee Visitor Center.

We made the short walk for a pit stop after we had grabbed coffees. At the corner is a local shop, Sugarbear’s. They also have ice cream options to cool you down on those humid summer afternoons!

If you’re able to stay overnight, consider experiencing “Unto These Hills”. An outdoor production, this drama tells the tragic story of the Trail of Tears and the revered Tsali.

From The Cherokee Trails Heritage Guidebook:

“ The Eternal Flame burns at the entrance to the Mountainside Theater. The Cherokees believe that as long as the fire burns, they will survive as a people. This flame, which was originally kept in the old villages of the Cherokee homeland-Kituhwa, Tugaloo, and Echota-was carried to Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears, and was brought back here from Oklahoma in 1951. It is still burning.”

The enduring spirit of the ancestors of the land lives on. Consider also stopping by the Qualla Co-Op Gallery for art, jewelry and crafts by local artists.

Since we were intending to drive part of the Blue Ridge Parkway, I scoured my local library while I had been planning. I ran across a handy guide by Moon. Its densely-packed facts come in such a compact size, I brought this one along on the trip.

The BRP Road Trip book states that Asheville, NC, is home to “the largest concentration of art deco buildings on the scale of Miami Beach.” Asheville has an Architectural Trail. Maps and more are found here.

I was very excited to explore more of the architecture of Asheville as well as the highly recommended Asheville Pinball Museum.

Putting all of these ideas together, I decided to book us a night at the Hotel Cambria Downtown due to its great reviews as well as its proximity to the Asheville Pinball Museum.

The weather had cleared once we rolled into Asheville. At Cambria, our valet assisted us to the front desk and whisked our car away. We were checked in by friendly staff and made our way our room with a view of the Asheville skyline.

After getting settled, we walked a few blocks to the Asheville Pinball Museum. Since it was already afternoon, they were open. By working on a first-come, first-served policy, they were already full, which is expected for a rainy Friday afternoon. We put our names on the list for them to call once space opened up enough for our party.

During that time, we were able to make our way over to the Woolworth Walk and Soda Fountain . This iconic working museum is indeed home to a soda fountain where the staff can concoct all sorts of nostalgic treats from malts to a real Cherry Coke, my personal favorite.

The North Carolina Woolworth counters that remain stand as reminders of the once segregated South and those who conducted peaceful protest through sit-ins to fight for all to access spaces equitably. At this Woolworth counter, African Americans as well as all kinds of travelers and locals alike are served at this joyful counter.

Local artists’ stalls line the remaining floor space in a gallery space to entice your creativity in how exactly flexible your packing abilities truly are. Luckily most artists have QR codes and other info for online shops and contact info. See more about the artists’ gallery here.

One of our favorite shops during this trip was Madam Clutterbuckets Neurodiverse Universe. We came through a few weeks before Hurricane Helene swept through this area. Madam Clutterbuckets threw open their doors for their community members, employees and customers to charge their devices, wheelchairs, whatever they could manage. They banded together, as did this beautiful community, to begin the long road of recovery long after the floods receded. Even more than their unique fidget items and fun socks, we love their focus on equitable workplaces for all. To find out more about this world-class place, check out their site here.

After we had strolled down the blocks of Asheville, I received a call from the Asheville Pinball Museum they had room for our group! We hustled the few blocks where they welcomed us inside and the barkeep informed us of the policies, rules and answered any questions. Yes: there are snacks and restrooms. They even have stools for the kids to reach the machines properly.

Be aware some of the machines are for your eyes only as it is a working museum. However, there are plenty of operating machines and even an arcade in the back! The restrooms are themed and decorated over every square inch. This place really is a gem.

The kids enjoyed the Taxi pinball machine from 1988. I preferred the Happy Days’ Fonzie/billiards-themed “Eight Ball” machine nearby. Everyone loved KISS pinball and the arcade games like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Ms. Pacman. Obviously, there’s much to explore with over 40 pinball machines alone.

We enjoyed spending the remaining hours manipulating flippers and enjoying the sounds of pure fun! All ages will enjoy this stop across the street from the stunning, historic Grove Arcade.

Grove Arcade today houses shops, apartments and was initially the nation's first indoor shopping mall.

Built in 1928, this iconic building in the Neo-Gothic style continues to house merchants and delight travelers over a century later! Read more on this gorgeous building’s history here.

If we hadn’t played the night away at the Pinball Museum, I was hoping to check out the local eats which all come highly recommended:

• Tupelo Honey
• Biscuit Heads
• Chai Pani

The next morning, we bebopped over to Bebette’s for some of the best beignets outside NOLA.

I loved the Food of the Gods beverage: coffee with extra spices to wake up your senses as well as your digestive tract!

We made a pit stop over in Biltmore Village’s fancy McDonalds where I had stopped on a road trip many years before on a visit to the Biltmore House. Next, we filled up on gas before making our way to the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center (MP 384) nearby.

When Hurricane Helene came through, Biltmore Village was hit particularly hard by the subsequent flooding. The Village was built by railroad magnate George Vanderbilt to support his expansive property, the largest private residence in the nation. Other residents and business owners have struggled with rebuilding in the aftermath of the historic flooding in the shadow of this Gilded Age mansion. Read more about the area’s rebuilding efforts here.

We began our path along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway by stopping at the Visitor Center (MP 384). Technically, this is the end of the parkway.

The real end of the line is at mile marker 469.1 near Cherokee, NC.

This lovely road runs between the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park. No large trucks or billboards are allowed and the speed limit keeps to approximately 45MPH. We only intended to traverse the parkway to “The Lump” (MP 264.4) before our descent into the piedmont region of North Carolina.

Be sure to keep tabs on the Blue Ridge Parkway’s conditions. This road is only open to non-commercial traffic and is often blanketed in fog. The rangers are helpful and happy to point you in the right direction with their updated info.

During our trip, we had intermittent rainstorms. We were advised by park rangers that the parkway may be closed just north of our final destination which we planned to reach the next day.

For now, we were headed to Boone, near the mysterious natural feature, Blowing Rock, for the night.

We wound through the lovely flower-filled nooks and crannies of the Blue Ridge Parkway making stops at the Craggy Garden (MP 364.4) and taking in the views of the Craggy Dome (MP 364.2). A visitor center is open seasonally. For information on hours of operation at seasonal visitor centers, see more here.

Winding every higher, we climbed our way to the highest point east of the Mississippi River: Mt. Mitchell (MP 350).

Located in North Carolina’s first state park, the summit is located at the end of a fairly short trail. Be warned it’s quite steep!

We made the short trek and enjoyed the gorgeous views from the observation deck.

As we made our way down, we stopped by the concession stand to grab a ready-made sandwich to tide us over on the last leg of the day progressing on down the Blue Ridge Parkway. There is also a seasonal restaurant, if you wish for prepared foods vs. concession-style dining.

For an authentic mining experience, stop by one of the only places to find emeralds in the country: Emerald Village! We bought one bucket of dirt at the Gemstone Mine, and it was plenty for our two kids to sift and clean at their stations complete with running water. We also enjoyed touring the historical mine and buildings on the surrounding properties.

They’re currently working to rebuild the area of Little Switzerland after the historic flooding of Hurricane Helene. Check for updates here.

A great stop for more about geology is the Museum of NC Minerals (MP 331). This free museum is open for all to learn about the rich gems found in the area.

One of the last areas to connect this easy-going parkway as the Linn-Cove Viaduct (MP 304). This architectural marvel is best viewed from below at the Visitor Center.

The conditions were rainy and we had our eye on ribs and sweet tea from the Pedalin’ Pig. So, we opted to skip this viewing and head on for barbecue. We highly recommend their fried okra, ribs, and sweet tea!

Once we’d filled our bellies, we stopped for the night at a fabulous motel new on the hospitality scene: Rhodes Motor Lodge & Cantina. They treated us well at this adorable spot in the hills. We enjoyed the games and beverages available downstairs near the cozy lobby.

There is also a restaurant onsite. We advise you to check the hours and their seasonal menu here The staff are friendly and hospitable. They’re very helpful if you have any questions about the local area or need ideas!

Waking refreshed from our room with a view of the hills, we made our way toward “The Lump” (MP 264.4). However, we noticed the morning’s weather proved foggy: too foggy for viewing this feature of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

As we progressed into the valley below, departing the parkway, the fog began to dissipate. A gorgeous sunny afternoon opened up for us as we approached lunch.

We made a quick stop for authentic Moravian cookies from Mrs. Hanes Moravian Cookies.

I highly recommend the ginger cookies. The kids preferred the lemon. These special cookies continue to be hand-cut and finish super-thin and crispy to this day. Order online here!

Being big barbecue fans, we were excited to stop at Lexington #1 for Piedmont-style pork. We were in and out in less than an hour, full of pig and Cheerwine. This place originates the fast-food formula and sticks to a smaller menu to execute with precision.

Stopping in Salisbury, we located the historic origins of the local soda, Cheerwine. Next, we opted to stop at a local laundromat for our last road trip laundry session. Another handy Buzzfeed article pointed me to these small, handy laundry detergent packs. Compact, they’re great for airline travel and are great for one decently-sized load of laundry.

After a short time, we made our way to a local grocery store chain, Food Lion, to locate a Cheerwine colab with Charlotte’s own NODA Brewing: Cheerwine Ale.

After a quick overnight at a local chain motel in Kannapolis near I-85, biscuits were on the menu for breakfast! Any good road trip through the south is never complete without a fast-food chicken biscuit. NC-based Bojangle’s cajun biscuits and sweet tea hit the spot for our last glimpse of the Tarheel state before crossing into South Carolina.

Not long after we crossed the state lines did we see everyone’s favorite water tower, the Peachoid. Spot this roadside beauty near Gaffney, SC.

On a hunt for a lunch spot, I found Grits and Grocery, a quant farm to table establishment However, they’re closed on Sundays which happens to be the day we were passing through the area. Their giant chicken was a huge reason for the draw on top of how tasty the menu sounds. Follow their social media to see what’s on the menu if you’re in their neck of the woods!

Instead, we opted for some down home South Carolina-style pig by stopping outside Anderson at the Pompous Pig. After filling up on mustard barbecue sauce drizzled over luscious pulled pork and their fabulously fried okra, we made our way onward to the Peach state: Georgia!

Our trip had been inundated with storms throughout our time in the southeast, and this day’s travel was no different. The weather picked up after lunch and by the time we reached Athens, GA, it had already progressed from a drizzle to light rain.

While on a pit stop in Athens, we stopped by the historic North Campus of the University of Georgia, one of the country’s first public universities. Read more about UGA’s North Campus and history here.

Around town, you can find statues of their famous mascot: the Bulldog. Find more here!

To cap off the culture part of our trip, we visited a second Athena statue. This iconic lady is standing in front of The Classic Center on N. Thomas St.

We enjoyed a scoop of ice cream at the local Ben & Jerry’s.

Then, we browsed the eclectic accessories of Junkman’s Daughter’s Brother at Celie’s. I found a pair of fabulous sunglasses during our stop. There is a Junkman’s Daughter in Atlanta, but they’re closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Either location has unique and varied knickknacks to suit any taste.

Last, before the bottom fell out from above, we climbed the steps to the world of Bizarro Wuxtry for comics and other nostalgic fare. There’s a great record store downstairs, Wuxtry Records, if you’re a vinyl fan. With Athens’ rich music history, any fan should consider browsing these local haunts.

By now, the rain was so thick that our visibility was next to nothing. We opted to blare the B52s classic “Love Shack” as we drove down the Atlanta Highway as the wipers swished furiously in time.

At long last, we made it to our final destination: Atlanta!

We were excited to explore the Fernbank Museum and its adjacent forest. According to the site: “Fernbank Forest is the largest old-growth urban Piedmont Forest in the country.”

We lucked out that the next day’s weather proved sunny, although accompanied by the classic southern summertime humidity. Cool under the canopy of Fernbank Forest, the winding walkways are accompanied by varied art exhibits of WildWoods.

Once inside, gaze in wonder at the giant Argentinosaurus among the Giants of the Mesozioc.

The kids enjoyed the World of Shells where colors, maps and tiny underwater critters collide!

You’ll enjoy gazing at the heavens at Star Gallery located outside the 3D Giant Theater. We caught a short film about the body that was both beautiful and inspirational. See what’s playing today!

For the littles, step into the kid-friendly NatureQuest, an immersive indoor playground giving you big outdoor feels!

We highly recommend taking some time to dig into all that the Fernbank campus offers. Explore other exhibits during your visit here.

If you’re hungry in Atlanta, Fox Brothers is worth your time. For Texas-style barbecue and other local fixings that hit the spot, check out their tasty menu. My personal recommendation is to start with the fried jalapenos. They do offer the option to split 50/50 with fried pickles, if you so prefer.

Savage Pizza is a unique pizza spot with a comic book theme. This X-Men fan loved the mutant mural. The kids enjoyed pizza and video games at this hidden gem, tucked away in Avondale Estates.

Waking up the next morning, we headed to the Georgia-based Waffle House in Centennial Park. These beloved diners opened in 1955 in nearby Avondale Estates where a museum still operates. Grab an All Star! breakfast, coffee to put a pep in your step, or hashbrowns topped any way you wish. As you can tell, I’m a big fan of Waffle House.

Atlanta was home of the 1996 Olympic Games. Making our way through the Centennial Olympic Park near our hotel, we admired the many plaques and markers memorializing athletes and participants over the many years of the international tournament.

On a quiet morning, the park was perfect for a stroll in one of the largest cities in the country. After being scattered, smothered and covered in our breakfast, one of the world’s largest aquariums was next.

Early attendees to the grand Georgia Aquarium are welcomed with the chill silence of the sensory hour. We enjoyed the low music, lighting and calm manner as we observed our aquatic friends at each exhibit.

Per the Georgia Aquarium’s site, “This time consists of low lighting, no music, and limited microphone use to help all guests enjoy the Aquarium every day.”

Once the music and lighting came up, this aquarium did give the essence of a mall. Mainly due to the large nature of each gallery off the grand hall. There are some standouts that may explain why this aquarium boasts over a million visitors per year!

The tunnel under Ocean Voyager is truly incredible. Some of the largest aquatic creatures on earth roam above you while you can stand on the moving walkway.

Definitely catch the otters at play at River Scout, the aquarium's "only freshwater gallery."

The children always love penguins. These active groups are in the Cold Water Quest gallery.

Jaws abound in the exhibit Sharks! Predators of the Sea. These giants will awe you with their size and grace.

We headed across the plaza to the World of Coca-Cola, our last stop on our scenic tour! We arrived just in time to meet the Polar Bear and have our pictures taken as a souvenir!

The museum is home to both nostalgia and displays how the iconic soft drink maker is moving into the future. Scent Discovery is immersive for your senses and you can actually delve into the flavor profiles for some of the company’s most popular international products.

The kids favorite exhibit was obviously "Taste It! One kiddo did not enjoy Beverly. The other didn’t mind it. Try it for yourself!

I enjoyed the Bonbon Anglais from Madagascar.

According to the scent chart at the Scent Discovery, it’s obvious why I was drawn to it.

Before heading out of town, be sure to step over to the Georgia Tech Campus to visit the free museum on paper and paper technology.

Between the thrills of Dollywood to the tastes of North Carolina’s Piedmont, we thoroughly enjoyed our scenic tour through the South. Meandering down parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway took us miles away from the busy streets of Atlanta where the largest aquarium dazzled us and the last adventure, our flight home, arrived to ferry us away back to the San Francisco Bay.

From the Tennessee Valley’s own Rock City to the shining Athena of Nashville’s Parthenon, our exploration of things both kitsch and cultural proved worth every stop we were able to make!

Sharing the history of the Trail of Tears and viewing one of the oldest rivers in the world, the French Broad River from the hills of Appalachia. These deep and mysterious lands hold both wonder and ancient stories, too many areas to be explored within one road trip. That’s for another time!

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