I am planning a drive from New York to Memphis TN in late February 2018. 3 nights in each direction. Can anyone recommend nice, fun, unique, interesting or scenic stops along the way? I want to avoid intense urban environments (I have a Special Needs son) but we do like neat, funky, cool places and nice friendly people. Thanks for any suggestions!
Memphis (Tennessee) Blacksburg (Virginia) Charlottesville (Virginia)
if you follow the earlier suggestion and head up through Kentucky and towards Bardstown, you will most likely go up from Memphis through Nashville and take I-65 north until you get to the Bluegrass Parkway. This will take you right by Mammoth Cave National Parkwhich is a great place to visit. It is the world's longest mapped cave at 400+ miles mapped, has a variety of tours, hiking, camping and is easy to access from the Interstate. There are three exits from the Interstate to the park. Also, Bardstown is not far from Lexington; the Kentucky Horse Park is a great place to visit. Bowling Green (Kentucky), visit the National Corvette Museum and have some good barbecue at
Mentioned in this answer:
Sorry, but forget Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge..tourist traps!
From New York City there are some nice small towns in Pennsylvania, but most of them are too close for a stop on the first day. You might try Lexington (Virginia) which is a nice little town, and then someplace like Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg on the way to Memphis Gatlinburg is right next to the Great Smoky Mountains. Then on the way back Bardstown (which has the Steven Foster park) and Morgantown
Mentioned in this answer:
New York City to Cleveland. Stay and go to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum or anywhere else. Then go to Louisville, beautiful fun city. Stay in Louisville. Go to Nashville, then Memphis. Stay at Gold Strike Casino Resort in Tunica, 20 min South of Memphis.
Mentioned in this answer:
RosalieAnn
Franklin
Hazel
Jim