cbnz

I have booked tickets for myself, wife and 10 year old daughter to visit SE USA in September/October this year. Will fly in to and out of Charlotte NC, as I want to go to the Nascar race there on October 11. We plan to drive in a rough loop Charlotte, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Nashville, Memphis, New Orleans, Tallahassee, Miami, Key West, Orlanda, Jacksonville, Charlotte. Wonder if anyone can advise on things that I shouldn't miss in this general area (not too much car stuff!) as well as where should I buy tickets for the Nascar race (what stand etc).

Thanks in advance, Craig.

RonCT

No idea about Nascar - never seen a race, but have spent plenty of time on the track :-)

Some of my favorite / interesting places down there:

Amelia Island, stay at the Omni and enjoying the grounds (nature trails, beach, kayaking, restaurants, shops, etc.), but also walking old town center and enjoying the local restaurants. Figure several days in true "Old Florida".

Charleston, SC and then Kiawah Island in SC - amazing place to relax, though expensive.

Cape Canaveral - Space Center.

Tail of The Dragon http://tailofthedragon.com/dragon.html

Places I've been and wouldn't return to: Miami and Jacksonville.

Have a safe trip!

TMc993

The Petit LeMans is at Road Atlanta October 4...Also, don't ignore the west/northwest coast of Florida...Northwest: Seagrove, Grayton Beach, Cape San Blas and Indian Pass areas are beautiful that time of year....Southwest: The Dali Museum in St Pete is awesome...also Amelia Island, Sarasota (The Ringling home and Museum are amazing), Captiva Island, and the Collier Auto Museum in Naples....If you're along Alligator Alley, check out Clyde Butcher's photo gallery,some of the best Everglades photography ever made...Also, get into the Everglades and take an airboat ride. It's not eco-tourism, but it's great fun...If you're going to Jacksonville, Savannah/Jeckyl Island is on the way from there to Charleston...You can't see it all, but have fun whatever you do.

EDIT: I agree with RonCT about Miami and Jacksonville

kjr914

A random selection of things...some of which are great, some much less so. Sort of a "list of things you'll pass on the way that you might want to google first". You're navigating with a 10yo kid in tow, so I'm not the best judge for what is "great" in a 10yo's mind. In rough order of your trip:

Ashville, NC - Biltmore mansion (this is a good one)

Blue Ridge Parkway

Gatlinburg TN - tourist trap from what I know. Dollywood themepark with rides and attractions might be kid friendly.

Memphis - Beale Street or Graceland. When I had an afternoon, I chose the former for blues. Found 3 old blues guys JAMMIN in the park. A 10 yo might not find it as interesting.

Atlanta - The World of Coke...for an interesting take on the soft drink empire. And sampling all the weird flavors from around the world. Something for the 10 yo. I think they have a good science center in Atlanta as well. Underground Atlanta used to be something worth seeing, but I think it went down hill....its a section of the old town that was built over to put new roads in, and later uncovered, so an entire old city block is underground.

Savannah GA - very old south feel
Charleston, SC - very old south feel

Myrtle Beach, SC - beach, amusment parks, shopping outlets, golf, putt-putt golf, water parks, might be a hit with the kid.

Wherever you are, eat lots of barbecue...you're going to the South! Except for New Orleans...eat Cajun anything there!

vincer77

There is a good contingent of 993 Rlrs here in Nashville. If you have time for a beer...

Opryland hotel in Nashville is fun to visit. Catch a show at the Grand Ole Opry too. Downtown Nashville has a fun nightlife. See if you can get tickets to the Bluebird Cafe.

Neun 11

In Chattanooga, we ask you to See Rock City, a great aquarium, and a fun downtown with parks and custom carousel.

The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is very good--only US place to see whale sharks. I second World of Coke there, and Opryland in Nashville. If you like unusual cars "from a to z," including wind-powered and amphibious, check out Lane Motor Museum in Nashville also. Another fun thing in Nashville is Nash Trash Tours for an unusual and "inside" look at country music.

You might check the local PCA regions and hit some meetings in different areas to get a good flavor of good people in the Southeast and their Porsches. Your whole family would certainly be welcome.

Ya'll come see us.

skywachr

Do not miss the GA Aquarium in ATL. I have seen aquariums all over the world. To me, it has no equal.

therossinator

Between NOLA and Tallahassee stop by McGuires Irish Pub in Pensacola or Destin. They are an absolute staples here on the gulf coast and not to be missed. Plus I don't think you can't get a 16oz USDA prime steak dinner with all the trimmings for $30 anywhere else. The free naval aviation museum at Pensacola NAS is definitely worth the trip off I-10 if you're into airplanes at all.

randytrish

While you're in Orlando I would recommend going to Universal Studios and if your family likes amusement parks like that then you may also want to check out Busch Gardens in Tampa. If you're going to the ocean while in Florida I like the Gulf Coast side better than the Atlantic.
October is great time to go to Charlotte. Most of the teams are based in the Charlotte area and offer tours of their facilities. It's a week long of activities when they race in Charlotte. You may want to look into ticket packages that offer more than just the race.

TMc993

+1 on Keith's recommendation regarding barbeque...Every southern state has its definition of good BBQ...You should try them all...Twice

NC TRACKRAT

+1 for The Biltmore Mansion in Asheville, NC. It's the largest private mansion in the U.S. and it will take a full day to tour. The grounds are magnificent. Nearby Black Mountain and Hendersonville are quaint little towns with lots of nice shops. Although somewhat "tourista", suggest Cherokee, NC for an educational look at the history and crafts of the Cherokee Indians and, of course, Harrah's Casino. From the mountains to the East Coast, North Carolina offers so much, you could spend the rest of your life here and not see it all. Don't forget to visit some of the race shops near the track, in Mooresville, NC and Welcome, NC. You will be amazed at the technology they employ.

cbnz

Just having a read, thanks so much for all the comments and recommendations, keep them coming! I have lived when much younger for 2 years in Colorado and have done a total of 50,000 mls of travelling, so really enjoy what the USA has to offer.

3healey

Sep/Oct = perfect time of the year to visit. If you have some time in Memphis, I would recommend Graceland (unless you don't like Elvis), the Rock and Soul Museum and the Gibson guitar factory. The latter 2 are downtown and can be done on the same day.
While you're downtown, have dinner at the Rendezvous. The ribs are unique and fantastic, and the BBQ chicken sandwich is a local favorite.
PM me when you're in Memphis...