TEXAN HERE TAKING A TRIP TO TENNESSEE - NEED POINTERS

[powergirl]

Texan here (lonely being a dem around here - trust me). I live about 1/4 mile from "George H.W. Bush Turnpike."

Anyway, my family is travelling to Lake Cumberland Resort, Kentucky for a family ho-down. Anyway, we are making a 2 week road trip out of it. We live near Dallas Texas. Part of the time, we will be in Memphis. After that I am looking for some towns around Nashville that would be fun for the kids (ages 9,5,2) with historical stuff like battlegrounds and antique type places. Do ya'll have any suggestions?

[Kokonoe]

1. Try franklin, TN

There is all that here. You won't have enough time. 15 mi south of Nashville.

[tnlefty]

2. First, may I say that I hope that you enjoy your trip!

Are you wanting to stay close to Nashville or is 3-4 hrs. away okay?

The Chickamauga/Chattanooga National Park is close to Fort Oglethorpe, GA, (Civil War). A film used to be shown in the museum part and then you can drive around the park, get out and read the monuments, etc., you can walk thru the battlefields...just don't let anyone climb on the cannons!!!! They've really started raising hell about the over the last few years.

Red Clay Park and the surrounding area is devoted to the Cherokee Indians. It's out from Chattanooga.

Rock City, Ruby Falls, the TN Aquarium, Kids' Discovery Museum are all in Chattanooga.

The Smoky Mtn. Park is in Gatlinburg. Pigeon Forge has Dollywood and it's spinoff water park, Splash Country. Pigeon Forge has gotten rather ridiculous with all of the tourist stuff.

Knoxville Zoo.

[Claire Beth]

3. Murfreesboro, TN.......

Stones River National Battlefield in Murfreesboro, TN. Appx. 35 Miles SE of Nashville. There are also several antique shops in the Murfreesboro area. I-24 exit 78A from Nashville. 3501 Old Nashville hwy is their address. Check out this link:
http://www.nationalparks.com/stones_river_national_battlefield.htm

[peacebuzzard]

4. Natchez Trace Park....about 50 miles east of Jackson, TN

if the kids like outdoor activities, like boats and rowing. Great place for a homemade lunch. Just off of 40, the road from Memphis to Nashville.

[Blind Tiresias]

5. If you come to Memphis

Take your kids to the Memphis Zoo. A great time for the kids and the place has 2 giant pandas, and you dont get to see that everyday. You can check out graceland, but i think the Gibson guitar factory if far cooler (i guess it would be worth it if you were an Elvis fan). If you like Barbque, check out Charlie Vergos (memph famous barbque). If you like Italian check out Pete & Sams