Florida to Oak Ridge, TN...suggestions
 

We are able to grab a few days to travel to Oak Ridge. Since reading the book about the women who worked there during WWII, I've wanted to visit. Plus I like the Oak Ridge Boys. So we've scheduled a tour of the "Secret City." My question is...where else should we not miss? We probably won't be this way again. We don't want to add a lot of extra miles, but Knoxville could be added. Or???
I have enough fabric to sink my house, so no fabric stores needed...mainly we like to see historical or just interesting things. Thanks!

No suggestions! Just best wishes go out to you to enjoy your vacation! Sounds like a very nice one. :)

There are lots of great places in Chattanooga, I think you will go thru there. The Choo Choo, the Incline, Rock City, Ruby Falls, there's an Aquarium. All great stops.

Thanks! Chattanooga could work. We have been caregivers to my mom for 9 years. She passed into heaven last fall, so we are trying to take small trips and see what we can of the USA. We did that when we lived in the western part of the USA and enjoyed it tremendously.
Thanks for the Chattanooga ideas, Toverly. Such good folks here to help with any request. Gotta love quilters.

I do have enough to sink my house. There's so much in my sewing room that I can't walk through it. The local guild has a member only garage sale once a year, so some of my fabric will go there. I bought some of it before retiring...and then after retiring found more that I liked...and it just multiplies when I'm not looking! (Like hangars and plastic bags!)

I forgot to mention, if y'all take the Incline up to the top of Lookout Mountain, walk a couple of blocks and there is the Battle of Chattanooga military park. Great little film and it's wonderful looking out off the mountain. There is also a great little restaurant just a short walk off the parking lot at the bottom of the incline. The Purple Daisy Picnic Cafe. I think we heard about it on Diners Drive Ins and Dives. One of those food network shows. As you can probably tell, we spent half a week in Chattanooga about a year ago and thoroughly loved it.

You're near Smokey Mountain National Park. If you haven't been there, it's definitely worth going a little out of your way.

I totally agree that there is so much to see/do in Chattanooga. Also, you would be close enough to the Great Smoky Mountains (about 1 1/2 hours) - Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg....lots of mountain crafts, beautiful mountain scenery, various entertainment, aquarium, and lots of shops. If you have never been to the Smoky Mountains, I would suggest going. You won't be disappointed.

Thanks for the suggestions! We are looking forward to getting away. Although we think we'll make this trip once, it sounds like once won't be enough!

Stone Mountain is just outside Atlanta. Nice park

Smoky Mountains is a must!

We always loved going to Gatlinburg. If you are in the park you might stop and walk up to Clingman's Dome. You get a great view of the park

I second all the suggestions given. I had a couple of aunts that lived in Chattanooga and it has some great places to visit. You might consider Asheville, NC too. It has the Vanderbilt Mansion and a number of other places.

depending on how adventurous you are, tailofthedragon.com ; this road is very famous in the motorcycle and sports car worlds -

Thanks for all the great suggestions. They really helped us choose the best activities. We took backroads from Macon on and found the Museum of Appalachia. What a surprise and delight. There were quite a few quilts there...quite a few without any explanation. We went to Oak Ridge and the AMSE museum and had a tour of the "Secret City" of WWII. Then it was on to Gatlinburg. We drove right by Dollywood! Maybe next time! We did the loop through Cade's Cove and went to Clingman's Dome. From there it was off to Chattanooga, The Incline, the Purple Daisy Picnic Cafe (thanks, toverly), and did the park at the top of Lookout Mountain. It was a packed trip, but very pleasant! Now to get ready for the hurricane...which I hope bypasses us.

And can make one quite motion sick! Ask me how I know.

That sounds like a wonderful trip! So glad you tried the Purple Daisy. We loved it too! I'm keeping my fingers crossed it dissipates before it hits Florida too and stays out of the Gulf. Your trip to Oak Ridge sounds like great too. We may have to add that one to our next trip to the mountains.

M. Elizabeth, I'm glad we didn't attempt The Tail of the Dragon if it can make one queasy. The Incline was bad enough.
toverly, be sure to check with the National Park Service and the AMSE for tours. They are trying out new ideas for tours.
It was a good trip. Now we have to prep and plan for the hurricane as we live in a manufactured home. We, too, hope it wobbles away from the coast. It looks like it will get stronger as it moves northward, according to the news this AM.