St. Louis, Missouri - 2 Day Trip

*This trip cost approx. $122 plus food*

This trip is planned from Jackson, TN.  It can be revised to fit your location.

Day 1:

8:00am - Leave Home

12:00pm to 3:00pm - Laumeier Sculpture Park - 12580 Rott Rd., St. Louis, MO

Hours: 8am to Sunset
Admission: Free

 

315pm - KOA St. Louis W/Historic Rt 66 ($50)
18475 Old US Hwy 66
Eureka, MO

Day 2:

9:00am - Leave Hotel

9:30am to 1:00pm - Grant's Farm - 10501 Gravois Road, St. Louis, MO

 

Hours: 9:30am to 3:30pm
Admission: $12 Car
Animal Encounter: 10:30am
Brat Haus - Lunch
         

         


1:15pm to 3:30pm - Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site - 7400 Grant Rd., St. Louis, MO

Visitor Center Hours: 9am to 5pm
Admission: Free
Junior Ranger Program
1/4 mile historic trace
White Haven's Main House

7:30pm - Arrive Jackson, TN

This trip is approx. 547 miles
($60gas)

Other Interests
St. Louis Walk of Fame

Greenville, TN - 2 Day Trip

**FREE - Everything on this adventure is FREE except the campsite**

This trip is planned from Jackson, TN.  It can be revised to fit your location.

Day 1:

7:30am - Leave Jackson, TN

11:30pm to 12:00pm - 30 Minute Pit Stop - Where Ever We Are

2:00pm - Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park - 1245 Davy Crockett Park Road, Limestone, TN

Museum Hours: Monday thru Friday 8am to 4:30pm
Cabin and Monument
Camp Office Hours: 2pm to 7pm
Camping: FCFS $25
Swimming Pool: Memorial Day thru Labor Day

Day 2:

8:30am - Leave Camp

9:00am to 3:00pm - Andrew Johnson National Historic Site - 101 N College St., Greenville, TN

Hours: 9am to 5pm Daily
Visitor Center, Early Home, The Homestead (guided tours every hour), National Cementery (monument and grave), Birthplace Replica

Statue - Corner of College and Depot Streets

Stops on the way home:

Knoxville Sunsphere/World's Fair Park

Manhattan Project National Historic Site-Oak Ridge
American Museum of Science and Energy

9:30pm - Arrive Jackson, TN

Mileage: 784 Miles
($94)

Kentucky State Parks #1

Day 1:

7:30am - Leave Home

10:30am to 12:30pm - Lost River Cave - 2818 Nashville Road, Bowling Green, KY
Visitor Center Hours: 8:30am to 6:30pm
Boat Tours: Hourly 9am to 6pm
Admission: Adults $23.95, Kids $16.95

2:00pm - My Old Kentucky Home - 501 E Stephen Foster Ave, Bardstown, KY
Campground - $60

Federal Hill Mansion Tour @ Visitor Center
9am to 5pm ET

Stephen Foster - The Musical
8:30pm ET
Reservations: 1-800-626-1563

Day 2:

9:00am - Leave Camp

10:00am to 12:00pm - Old Fort Harrod State Park - 100 S College St, Harrodsburg, KY
Grounds: 9am to Dusk
Fort, Gift Shop and Temple: Wed thru Sat 9am to 5pm, Sunday 12pm to 5pm
Museum: Fri and Sat 10am to 2pm

1:00pm to 2:00pm - Lincoln Homestead State Park - 5079 Lincoln Park Rd, Springfield, KY
Museum: Open May 1 thru September 20
Admission: Adults $2.50, Kids $2

4.5 hours to home

Gatlinburg 2-Day Trip

Day 1:

7am - Leave Home

10:00am to 10:30am - 30 Minute Pit Stop - Cookeville, TN

12:00pm to 1:00pm - Knoxville Sunsphere - 810 Clinch Ave, Knoxville, TN
Observation Deck Hours: 9am to 10pm
Admission: Free

1:00pm to 1:30pm - Knoxville Visitor Center - 301 S Gay St., Knoxville, TN
Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:30am to 5pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sunday 12pm to 4pm

2:00pm to 2:30pm - Hotel Check-In
Super 8 Sevierville, 1410 Winfield Dunn Parkway, Sevierville, TN

2:40pm to 3:00p, - Dolly Parton Statue - Sevier County Courthouse - 125 Court Ave, Sevierville, TN

3:30pm to 4:30pm - Cooter's Place - 542 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN
Monday thru Saturday 9am to 9pm, Sunday 9am to 7pm
Admission: Free, $5 photo w/ General Lee

4:30pm to 5:30pm - Hard Rock Cafe - 515 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN

6:00pm to 10:00pm - Wonderworks - 100 Music Road, Pigeon Forge, TN
Hours: 9am to Midnight
Admission: Combo GA & Wonders of Magic - Adults $35, Kids $27

10:15pm - Hotel

Day 2:

8:30am - Leave Hotel

Ripley Attraction Combo Tickets
Aquarium + 3 attractions
Adults $49, Kids $32

Hours: OPEN DAILY 365 Days a Year

January – February: 10am to 8pm

March – Memorial Day: 9am to 9pm

Memorial – Labor Day: 9am to 11pm

Labor Day – New Year’s Day: 9am to 9pm

 

9:00am to 11:00pm - Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies - 88 River Road, Gatlinburg, TN
Hours: see above

11:10am to 12:00pm - Log Cabin Pancake House - 327 Historic Nature Trail, Gatlinburg, TN
Hours: 7am to 2pm

12:04pm to 1:00pm - Space Needle - 115 Nature Trail (Historic), Gatlinburg, TN
Admission: Adults $8.50, Kids $4

1:00pm to 3:00pm - Ripley's Believe It or Not - 800 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN
Hours: see above

3:05pm to 5:00pm - Guiness World Records Museum - 631 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN
Hours: see above

5:00pm to 6:00pm - Sherlock Holmes Pub - 651 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN

6:00pm to 8:00pm - Marvolous Mirror Maze - 623 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN

2:00am - Home

or stay another night in the hotel and go home in the morning.

Other Interests in the area:
Old Smokey Moonshine - 903 Parkway
Skylife - 765 Parkway
Monster Truck Rides - 910 Parkway

2 National Parks, 2 Distilleries and a State Park in 2 Days

**FREE - This adventure is FREE except the campsite**

Day 1:

7am - Leave Home

9:30am to 10:30am - Stones River National Battlefield - 3501 Old Nashville Hwy, Murfreesboro, TN
Visitor Center Hours: 8am to 5pm
*Junior Ranger Program
Admission: Free
map

11:30am to 12:30pm - George Dickel Distillery - 1950 Cascade Hollow Road, Normandy, TN
Tours: 9am to 4:30pm
Admission: Free

1:00pm - Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park - 732 Stone Fort Drive, Manchester, TN
*museum 8am to 4:30pm
*1.25 mile trail - waterfalls
*Fort Enclosure Trail
park map
Camp $25 

Day 2:

9am - Leave Camp

9:30am to 12:00pm - Jack Daniels Distillery - 280 Lynchburg Hwy, Lynchburg, TN
Tours: 9am to 4:30pm
Admission: Free
*Jack Daniels Grave - Church St and Morgan St.

12:00pm to 1:00pm - Lunch in Lynchburg

2:30pm to 4:30pm - Russell Cave National Mounument - 3729 County Road 98, Bridgeport, AL
Hours: 8am to 4:30pm
Admission: Free
*Junior Ranger Program

Home is 4 Hours

Hot Springs National Park

Hot Springs National Park

Day 1:

8am - Leave Home

11:30am to 11:45am - Little Rock's Little Rock - Ottenheimer Plaza, Little Rock, AR

12pm to 12:30pm - Old Mill Park - Lakeshore Dr., N Little Rock, AR
*Picnic Lunch

1:30pm to 2:30pm - Gulpha Gorge Campground - 305 Gorge Road, Hot Springs, AR
*Check-In and Set-up camp
Camping Fee $10 primative, $24 hookups

2:35pm to 4:00pm - Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center, 369 Central Ave, Hot Springs, AR
Hours: 9am to 5pm
*Junior Ranger Program

3pm-Fordyce Bathhouse Guided Tour
    
 

4:00pm - Back to camp - Dinner

Day 2:
for additional information about the routes taken on this day refer to Hot Springs National Park map or Bathhouse Row map

9am - Leave Camp

9:05am - Parking Garage @ Exchange St.
-Walk S to Court/Reserve St & Central Ave

9:07am to 9:15am - Thermal Jug Fountain (There are 3 located on corner of Reserve and Central)
-Walk up the west side of Central to Lamar Bathhouse

9:17am to 9:45am - Lamar Bathhouse Bookstore/Gift Shop
Hours 9am to 5pm
-Walk back to corner of Central and Reserve to Grand Promenade (path located behind Bathhouse Row)

9:47am to 10:15am - Grand Promenade
-Visit Thermal Jug Fountains and Open Hot Springs along the way
-Walk to Arlington Lawn

Location: Behind Fordyce Bathhouse

10:15am to 11:15am - Arlington Lawn - located at the corner of Central Ave and Fountain Street
-Tufa Rock
-Hot Water Cascade

-Heat Exchanges
 *Picnic Lunch
-Walk south on Central Ave (down Bathhouse Row)

11:30am to 11:45pm - Fordyce Bathhouse
*turn in your Junior Ranger Books and get your badge and certificate for all your hard work
-Walk south on Central Ave to Arkansas Walk of Fame

11:50am to 12:00pm - Arkansas Walk of Fame - 619 Central Ave
-Walk back to car @ Exchange St.

12:10pm to 12:20pm - Happy Hollow Spring - Fountain St/Hot Springs Mountain Drive

12:25pm to 1:00pm - Hot Springs Mountain Tower - 401 Hot Springs Mountain Dr, Hot Springs, AR
Admission: Adults $7, Kids $4
Hours: 9am to closing time varies per season (5pm to 9pm)
.
1:30pm to 4:30pm - Garvan Woodland Gardens - 550 Arkridge Road, Hot Springs, AR
Hours: 9am to 6pm
Admission: Adults $10, Kids $5

5:30pm-6:30pm - Stop in Little Rock for Dinner

10pm - Home

John James Audubon and Jefferson Davis

Day 1:

7:30am - Leave Home

11am - John James Audubon State Park - 3100 US Hwy 41 N, Henderson, KY

Museum, Nature Center, Gift Shop, Trails
* Woodpecker Trail
Camp (Site 64) $34.50

Inside the museum/nature center is a art gallery showcasing many of John James Audubon's works. About halfway through the gallery is a door that takes you up to what was his studio which is located at the top of the tower. There is a fee to enter the gallery but the rest of the nature center is free. 

The nature center has a small theater to watch a short film about John James Audubon, a hands on education room and a wildlife observation room which has binoculars and guides available to use so you know what you are looking at.  We really enjoyed watching the different birds. Infact so much so that when we got home we set up our own little bird sanctuary.

Behind the nature center is a bench were you can see what you were looking at through the glass in the observation room. Be very quiet...you never know what you might see.

Dante was so excited that he scared the fox away before we could get a good picture. 

There are many different trails to take. Long ones and short ones. The took the museum trail that takes you on a short loop behind the museum. We saw a few snails but not much else. 

We also took woodpecker trail...we didn't see anything except a deer but we did hear some woodpeckers.

It rained just about the while time we were there but we had fun despite. The campground was nice and we chose a great spot next to the playground and near the bathhouse but the campground was located too close to the main highway for my taste. You could hear the traffic all night.

We had a very friendly set of squirrels that visited us at our campsite. We fed them some bread and enjoyed watching them.

Day 2:

9am - Leave Camp

10:30am to 1pm - Jefferson Davis Historic Site - 258 Pembroke-Fairview Road, Fairview, KY

Museum and Monument Combo - Adults $5, Kids $3
Hours: 9am to 5pm
The museum was informative but not real exciting. It's basically just a way to pass the time until it's time to go up to the top of the monument. 

We went to the top in an elevator with a few other families. At the top is a little room with 3 windows that look out for miles and miles.

Lunch

1:15pm to 1:45pm - Trail of Tears Commemorative Park - 100 E 9th St, Hopkinsville, KY
 We did stop here but there was nothing to see and the building was closed.

4pm - Home

Mammoth Cave National Park - 2 Day Trip

This trip is planned from Jackson, TN.  It can be revised to fit your location.

*Because of delays in our plans caused by our car getting broken into at the Narrows of the Harpeth State Park, We did not get to do a few things on our schedule. (Cedar Sink Trail, River Styx Spring Trail, Junior Ranger Track)

Day 1:

7:00am - Leave Home

9:00am to 9:30am - Narrows of the Harpeth - Narrows of the Harpeth Rd, Kingston Springs, TN

11:30pm - Mammoth Cave National Park - 1 Mammoth Cave Parkway, Mammoth Cave, KY

Visitor Center Hours: 8am to 6:30pm
Camping: Mammoth Cave Campground $17-20 night

Site #3

 Reservations: 270-758-2424
Cave Tour: Historic Tour - 2:45pm - 4:45pm
 Cave Tour Admission: Adults $10, Kids $8

Fat Man's Misery

Preventing the spread of White-Nose Syndrome

Junior Ranger Program

Junior Ranger Oath

11:30am to 12:00pm - Cedar Sink Trail
12:05pm to 12:30pm - Sloans Crossing Pond

12:40pm to 1:45pm - Mammoth Cave Campground - Check-In, Lunch, Set-Up
1:50pm to 2:45pm - Visitor Center
2:45pm to 4:45pm - Historic Tour
5:00pm - 5:15pm - Sand Cave Trail

5:30pm  - Mammoth Cave Campground - Dinner

Day 2:

9:25am - Leave Camp

9:30am to 10:00am - River Styx Spring Trail

10:30am to 11:15am - Junior Ranger Track

11:30am to 12:30pm - Big Mike's Rock Museum & Gift Shop - 566 Old Mammoth Cave Rd., Cave City, KY

Ari is searching for the perfect rock

Hours: Monday thru Sunday 9am to 8pm
Mystery House Admission: $1

Notice the front legs are in the air

Kerry aka Superman

*The kids and Kerry proclaimed this the highlight of the trip.  It really was a cool place, it was well worth more than we paid to get in.

He really can climb the walls!

1:30pmCT/2:30pmET - 3:30pmET - Abraham Lincoln Boyhood Home at Knob Creek
7120 Bardstown Rd, Hodgenville, KY
Hours: 8:30am - 4:30pm ET
Admission: Free




3:45pmET - 4:45pmET - Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park - 2995 Lincoln Farm Rd, Hodgenville, KY
Hours: 8am to 6:45pm ET
Admission: Free

Lincoln Memorial

 Sinking Spring

Junior Ranger Program

My Junior Rangers

9:00pm CT - Home


Secondary Plan:

Day 1:

8:00am - Leave Home

10:00am to 10:30am - Worst Train Wreck in US History - White Bridge Rd., Nashville, TN

12:00pm - Mammoth Cave National Park - 1 Mammoth Cave Parkway, Mammoth Cave, KY
Visitor Center Hours: 8am to 6:30pm
Camping: Mammoth Cave Campground $17-20 night
Reservations: 270-758-2424
Cave Tour: Frozen Niagara Tour - 1pm, 3:15pm and 4:15pm
Cave Tour Admission: Adults $10, Kids $8

Junior Ranger Program

Trails: Cedar Sink Trail - 0.8 mile
River Styx Spring Trail - 0.6 mile
Sloans Crossing Pond - 0.4 mile
Sand Cave Trail - 0.1 mile

Day 2:

8:45am - Leave Camp

9am to 10am - Big Mike's Rock Museum & Gift Shop - 566 Old Mammoth Cave Rd., Cave City, KY
Hours: Monday thru Sunday 9am to 8pm
Mystery House Admission: $1

10:15am to 3:00pm - Kentucky Down Under - 3700 L and N Turnpike Rd., Horse Cave, KY
Hours: 9am to 4pm
Admission: Adults $22, Kids $13
Outback Cafe

6:30pm - Home

Other lodging options:

Wigwam Village Motel - 601 N Dixie Hwy, Cave City, KY - $50-$70 night