[2KIRKS]

i leave friday (1/15) for a 10 day road trip. i will be traveling as far south as gulf state park (gulf shores, alabama). here are the state parks i'm staying at...

cave-in-rock (IL)
crowley's ridge (AR)
petit jean (AR)
lake bistineau (LA)
chicot (LA)
gulf (AL)
red top mountain (GA)
pickett (TN)
spring mill (IN)

if all goes according to plan, i have about 6 hours worth of driving per day. i hope to be able to travel on local highways through many of the national forests i'll be traveling near. if the roads are bad due to poor weather conditions i'll simply stay on the interstates & main highways.

i'm staying one night at each state park in some sort of cabin. i wanted to stay at the campgrounds in the element, however due to the recent cold weather i didn't want to risk it so i rented the cabins.

any suggestions on local attractions would be appreciated. i've searched the internet for interesting places to visit, but if you are from these areas please let me know if there's a good spot worth stopping by. i'm up for whatever... i plan on taking easy the entire trip and enjoying myself and sights i see!

i'll do my best to take lots of pics.

total miles driven should be around 2791.

 

[hiker chick]

I don't know those areas well but just wanted to say it sounds like a great trip.

Have fun!

 

[2KIRKS]

here is my path... (i hope i add the map correctly)

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=101692037117753655911.00047cfba949944ef664d&ll=34.125448,-95.625&spn=17.963169,59.853516&z=5

 

[buttermilk]

The Museum of Appalachia is north of Knoxville and just off I-75. If you like primitive stuff, you might want to check it out.

http://www.museumofappalachia.org/

Might want to check out Sterns Kentucky too while you're in the area.

 

[EOnTheBay]

Sounds like a great trip!

I live about 35 miles from Gulf Shores. It is a great place but there may not be too much to do in the winter. It normally doesn't get too cold down here but it has been below freezing every night for the last week and a half. I think it is supposed to warm back up so it should be good weather for your stay. I would recommend visiting Lamberts (great vegetables and they throw rolls at you), LuLu's (Jimmy Buffet's sister's restaurant), and Shakes (amazing milkshakes). Of course sitting on the beach should be entertainment enough if you are only staying for a day.

Have fun and be safe!

 

[tkobrian]

any suggestions on local attractions would be appreciated. i've searched the internet for interesting places to visit, but if you are from these areas please let me know if there's a good spot worth stopping by. i'm up for whatever... i plan on taking easy the entire trip and enjoying myself and sights i see!

i'll do my best to take lots of pics.

total miles driven should be around 2791.

In LA, you could visit the Tabasco factory on Avery Island. It's just south of Lafayette off I-49. If you want REAL cajun cooking, just west of Lafayette on I-10 is a small town called Henderson. Skip the stuff along the access rd and go to Pat's or at night Robin's (Row-ban's), great stuff. On the west bank of the Mississippi about 15 mi S of Baton Rouge is Nottoway, the largest Antebellum home still in existence. Go visit Mike the tiger at LSU. ;-) Or visit the state capital in B.R. and see the holes in the wall where Huey P Long got gunned down. :shock:

If you like history, from Gulf Shores you can go West to the old Fort at the tip of Mobile Bay called Fort Morgan. I used to know a couple of great hole in the wall bars down there, but I have no idea if this wacky ******* place on the back bay called the keg survived all the hurricanes. It's the ultimate ******* bar, front looks like a gigantic beer keg. :lol:

 

[2KIRKS]

i just clicked on the map link i posted earlier and it obviously didn't work! all it showed was a small portion of the trip. i'm having a hard time figuring out google maps!

i've been getting the E loaded and cleaned up for my departure tomorrow morning. i'm looking forward to having a fun & relaxing time.

i'm taking my laptop with... if i can find any wi-fi spots i'll try uploading some pics.

 

[the_gees]

Holy crap!

So sorry we never replied to your comment on our thread! Haven't really gotten on much lately... Hope you have an excellent trip. Drive safe and have fun!!!

 

[2KIRKS]

i'm on the second day of the trip. the cabin i'm staying in tonight has wi-fi so i've begun uploading photos. i'll put some on here soon, however i have put some from yesterday at...


www.photobucket.com/timkirk