Southern Byways

Road Trippin’: 4 Great Weekend Getaways

by Apryl on April 16th, 2008

Does the warm Spring weather have you itching to get out and explore? If you are thinking “road trip,” here are a few destinations to get you started:

Chattanooga, Tennessee

If you think Chattanooga is all about Rock City, Ruby Falls, and the Choo-Choo, then you haven’t been here lately.

Chattanooga Choo-Choo/photo courtesy of Chattanooga CVB.

While those three attractions are still important to the city, there is much more to do. One of the South’s more eclectic destinations, Chattanooga is a mix of culture, history, and nature. Where else could you go hang gliding off Lookout Mountain (or for the semi-daring types, take the Incline Railway that travels up the side of the mountain) mid-morning, and then spend the afternoon exploring Bluff View Arts District, a funky art neighborhood.

Hang Gliding (left) and Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge (below)/both photos courtesy of Chattanooga CVB.

Your visit is not complete without a stop in the Tennessee Aquarium, the world’s largest freshwater aquarium. From here, you can take the Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge, the largest bridge of this type, and the oldest truss bridge in the South, to Coolidge Park, home to the antique carousel with hand-carved horses.

 Drive a Little Further: Go west to Nashville, a two-hour drive on I-24 West from the city. Home to the Grand Ole Opry and Ryman Auditorium, Nashville is the undisputed Country Music Capital of the World. In addition to visiting country music’s most sacred buildings, you can also tour RCA Studio B, where many famous singers recorded their albums, or preview an up and coming country music acts at Legends Corner Music Bar.

Florida’s Scenic Byway A1A

If Route 66 is the Mother Road, then A1A has to be one of her sisters. This state road runs from Fernandina Beach to Key West, passing through some of Florida’s most popular oceanfront destinations. A section of this famed state road extending from Ponte Verde Beach to Flagler Beach has been designated as the A1A Scenic and Historical Coastal Byway. 

Historic St. Augustine is the oldest city in the United States. Settled by Spanish explorers, this is the city where Ponce de Leon discovered the Fountain of Youth. And you can discover its history by exploring the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park. The city of St. Augustine has around 60 historical sites within 144 blocks, making it easy to explore on foot.                    

Around this area, you will find the Oldest House, Castillo de San Marcos and St. Augustine Lighthouse.

Oldest House (above) and Castillo de San Marcos (left)/both photos courtesy of Visit Florida.

Flagler Beach is home to Marineland, billed as the world’s first oceanarium. Opened in 1938, it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The oceanarium cares for the oldest known bottlenose dolphin, Nellie, who is 55-years-old. Recently renovated, Marineland allows for you to pet, feed, and swim with the dolphins.  

The natural beauty of this area is found in its parks. The most interesting one is the Princess Place Preserve, currently the site of the oldest standing structure in the county. The building started out as a hunting lodge, and then became a home to a Russian Prince. Today, it is 1,500 acres of pure untouched nature.

Nearby Drives: About an hour south on I-95 from Flagler Beach, is Florida’s Space Coast, made up of Cocoa Beach, Titusville, Cape Canaveral and Port Canaveral. The Space Coast area is not only home to seventy-two miles of Atlantic Coast beaches and the Kennedy Space Center, but it is also rich with wildlife. In Titusville, you will find the 140,000-acre Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, and the Canaveral National Seashore.

Colonial Parkway: Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown Virginia

A part of Virginia’s historic triangle, Williamsburg is located on the 23-mile Colonial Parkway. The city is best known for Colonial Williamsburg, the largest outdoor living history museum. Many visitors agree that you can learn more American history during your visit here than in history class. Encompassing over 173- acres, this replica of the colony of Virginia takes you back in time as period-dressed actors reenact the everyday life of the residents of this former state capital.

About 15 minutes from Williamsburg, is Jamestown Settlement, a living history museum near the site of Jamestown, the first settlement. The museum details the story of the settlement and residents through exhibits and tours.  

Jamestown Settlement/photo courtesy of Visit Williamsburg.

The Yorktown Victory Center (Yorktown was the final battle in the Revolutionary War) highlights the birth of our nation with indoor and outdoor exhibits. You can learn about soliders’ lives during the War, and lives of residents during this time as well. The Victory Center is located near Yorktown Battlefield and Visitors Center.

Continue Your History Lesson: Your American history lesson doesn’t end along the Colonial Parkway. Washington D.C. happens to be less than two and a half hours from Williamsburg. From the Capitol to Smithsonian Institution to a quick train ride to Arlington, Va., plan to spend at least a day or two exploring all of the sites.

The Outer Banks, North Carolina

The Outer Banks is roughly around 130-miles of coastline extending from North Carolina to Virginia. Over 400 years old, these rugged barrier islands are rich in history, nature, and lore; a combination that plays to the uniqueness of the area. For instance, the Wright brother took their first flight from the Northern Outer Bank, Kitty Hawk. Nags Head is the oldest resort community in the area. Its beaches are as varied as the visitors who travel area each year. Aside from the beaches, there are six parks and wildlife preserves here, including the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, located on the Charles Kuralt Trail. Another distinct feature is the four historic lighthouses that still function. The most popular one is located on Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Others are found on Bodie Island, Ocracoke and Currituck Beach.

Stop In: Fayetteville, N.C., located in the Cape Fear Region, is a little over four hours The Outer Banks. The city is filled with a number of historic sites like Liberty Point, where patriots signed a document stating their independence from Great Britain in 1755, known as the Liberty Point Reserves. However, what’s more fascinating about Fayetteville is their claims of “first”; for instance, Babe Ruth’s hit his first homerun here during an exposition game.

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POSTED IN: Cities of the South, Things to See in DC, Things to See in Florida, Things to See in North Carolina, Things to See in Tennessee, Things to See in Virginia, Vacation, Weekend Trip, road trip