Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Day One:

7:00amCT - Leave Home (Milan, TN)

30 Minute - Bathroom Break

1:30pmET to 2:30pmET - Look Rock - Foothills Parkway (Look Rock Picnic Area Road A)
*Picnic Lunch
*Observation Deck - 1/2 Mile Hike

3:30pmET to 4:30pmET - Elkmont Campground - 434 Elkmont Road, Gatlinburg, TN
Camp - $20night (SiteG018)

4:45pmET to 7:45pmET - Laurel Falls Trailhead - Little River Road, Gatlingburg, TN
2.6 mile Round Trip - Laurel Falls

8:00pmET - camp/dinner

Day Two:

9:00amET - Leave Camp

9:30amET to 10:30am ET - Lazy Daze Campground - 8429 State Highway 73, Townsend, TN
Shower

11:30amET to 1:00pmET - Cades Cove Visitor Center & Museum - Cades Cove Loop Road
Cable Mill
Hours: Summer 9am to 7pm

1:00pmET to 1:30pmET - Picnic Lunch

3:00pmET to 4:00pmET - Sugarlands Visitor Center - 1420 Old State Hwy 73 Scenic, Gatlinburg, TN
Hours: Summer 8am to 7pm
20 Minute Film
Museum

4:15pmET to 5:00pmET - Noah "Bud" Ogle Self-Guiding Trail - Cherokee Orchard Road
Trail: 0.7 mile loop

5:00pmET to 7:00pmET - Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
*5:15pmET to 6:30pmET - Grotto Falls Trail - 2.6 mile RT

7:30pmET - Elkmont Camp/dinner

Day Three:

9:00amET - Leave camp

10:00amET to 12:00pmET - Clingman's Dome - Clingman's Dome Road

12:30pmET to 1:30pmET - Newfound Gap - Newfound Gap Road
*Picnic lunch
*Appalachian Trail
*Tennessee/North Carolina State Line

2:00pmET to 3:00pmET - Oconaluftee Visitor Center - US-441
Mountain Farm Museum
Mingus Mill

3:15pmET to 4:15pmET - Cherokee/Great Smokies KOA - 92 KOA Campground Road, Cherokee , NC
set up camp
$35 night

4:15pmET to 5:15pmET - Mingus Falls - Big Cove Road, Cherokee, NC
0.4 mile 

5:15pmET - Camp/Dinner/Shower

Day Four:

 9amET - Leave Camp

9:40amET to 11:00amET - Deep Creek Trails - W Deep Creek Road
Juneywhank Falls
Indian Creek Falls
Toms Branch Falls

 12:00pmET - 1:00pmET - Fontana Dam - Fontana Dam Road

 1:30pmET to 3:30pmET - Cherohala Skyway - US-129 & NC-143

 7:30pmCT - Home (5 hours drive)


Great Smokey Mountains National Park does not have showers at their campgrounds.  Here is a list of places that have been known to allow you to shower for a fee of $2-$5.

Alpine Campground-Pigeon Forge
Shady Oaks-Pigeon Forge
Fontana Dam TVA
Gatlinburg Community Center
Lazy Daze Campground-Townsend
Big Meadows Campground-Townsend
Ye Olde Mill Campground-Townsend
 Cherokee Campground-Cherokee
Happy Holiday RV Park-Cherokee

Other Lodging Options:

Fontana Village Resort-300 Woods Ave, Fontana Dam, NC
Honey Hill-2630 Smokey Park Hwy, Candler, NC
Mountain Bear Cabins
 

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Day 1:

7:00am - Leave Home

11:00am to 12:00pm - World's Largest Cross - W. Knagge Road, Effingham, IL
*Picnic Lunch

3:30pm -  Indiana Dune National Lakeshore
map
Dunewood Campground $25 night
Pinhook Bog Trail - Easy; 0.75 mile trail through Indiana's only "true" bog. Available by ranger-guided tour only. Tour details can be obtained at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Visitor Center at (219) 926-2255 or by calling (219) 395-1882.

3:30pm to 4:00pm - Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center -Munson Rd (Indiana 49 & Highway 20)

4:10pm - Indiana Dunes State Park - 1600 N 25 East, Chesterton, IN park map
Nature Center
Bird Observation Platform
Devil's Slide?
Trails
Camping $50 a night (Site 138)

Day 2:

9:00am - Leave Camp

9:20am to 10:15am - Heron Rookery Trail - N. County Road 600 E. Michigan City, IN

10:30am to 11:30am - Great Marsh Trail - 500 S Broadway, Beverly Shores, IN

11:35am to 12:30pm - Dune Ridge Trail

12:45pm to 2:00pm - Old Lighthouse Museum - 1 Washington Street, Michigan City, IN
*Picnic Lunch before tour

2:05pm to 3:05pm - Mount Baldy Trail

3:10pm to 4:00pm - Central Beach

4:20pm - Back at Camp
Dinner and explore park

Day 3:

9:00am - Leave Camp

9:10am to 11:00am - Bailly Chellberg Visitor Center
Chellberg Farm and Bailly Homestead

11:10am to 12:00pm - Calumet Dunes Trail

12:10pm to 12:30pm - Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center
Turn in JR Booklets

12:50pm to 3:00pm - West Beach Visitor Center
West Beach
*picnic lunch

5:30pm - Hotel around Indianapolis, IN

Day 4:

9:00am to 12:00pm - Indianapolis Speedway Hall of Fame Museum - 4790 West 16th Street, Indianapolis, IN
Adult Museum Admission $25.00
Senior (55 and over) Museum Admission$23.00,Military (Former and Active) Museum Admission $18

6 Hours from Home

Other activites in the area:

Washington Park Zoo - 115 Lakeshore Drive, Michigan City, IN

Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad

Tennessee to Minnesota...and Back - 4+ Day Trip

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

Day 1:

7:00am - Leave Home

11:30am to 12:30pm - Nuclear Waste Adventure Trail & Museum - 7295 Old Hwy 94, Weldon Springs, MO

 It's a little bit of a climb to reach the top...but once you get there the view is worth it.



Hours: Monday thru Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturday 10am to 4pm, Sunday 12pm to 4pm
Admission: Free

3:30pm to 4:00pm - Snake Alley - N 6th St between Washington & Columbus Streets, Burlington, IA
"The Crookedest Street in the World"

5pm to 5:30pm - Lover's Leap Swinging Bridge - 3rd St.(2blks S of Hwy 92), Columbus Junction, IA

8:30pm - Hotel in Prairie Du Chien, WI
Super 8, 1930 S Marquette Rd, Prairie Du Chien, WI

Day 2:

7:45am - Leave Hotel

8:00am to 10:00am - Effigy Mounds National Monument - 151 Highway 76, Harper's Ferry, IA
Visitor Center Hours: 8am to 5pm
Admission: Free
Five Points Trail Guide - 2 miles/1hour

11:00am to 12:00pm - Ice Cave - Ice Cave Rd (near Dunnings Spring Park), Decorah, IA

1:00pm - Niagara Cave - 29842 County Road 30, Harmony, MN
Tours: 1:30pm, 3pm and 4:30pm
Admission: Adults $12, Kids $7

2.5 hours to St. Paul, MN

Day 3 and 4:  I plan to spend these 2 days with my family...

Day 5:

8:00am - Leave St. Paul, MN

12:00pm to 1:00pm - Otis Redding Crash Site@Monona Terrece - One John Molan Dr., Madison, WI
William T Evjue Rooftop Garden
Hours: Sunday thru Thursday 8am to 10pm, Friday and Saturday 8am to 12am
Admission: Free

2:00pm to 2:30pm - Rock Men - 1401 N 2nd St., Rockford, IL
Rock River Recreation Path @ Sinnissippi Park

2:45pm to 4:00pm - Midway Village Museum - 6799 Guilford Rd., Rockford, IL
Hours: Tuesday thru Friday 10am to 4pm, Saturday 10:30am to 4pm
Admission: Adults $7, Kids $5
Sock Monkey Exhibit

4:30pm - Hotel in Rockford, IL
Super 8, 7646 Colosseum Dr, Rockford, IL

Sock Monkeys around Town
Rockford Airport
Stockholm Inn
Swedish American Hospital
Rockford College
Midway Village Museum (4)
Nelson School - 623 15th Street
1111 Alpine S, Suite 200
Rockford Register Star - 99 E State Street
Stewart Square - 115 S Main Street
Rockford Day Nursery - 2323 S 6th Street
Rockford Speedway
Project First Rate - 223 E State Street
Rockford Area CVB - 102 N Main Street
Stillman Bank - 8492 E State Street

Day 6:

8:30am - Leave Hotel

9:30am to 9:45am - Horsey Ronald Reagan - 106 W River Street, Dixon, IL

10:00am to 11:00am - Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home - 816 S Hennepin Ave, Dixon, IL
Hours: Monday thru Saturday 10am to 4pm, Sunday 1pm to 4pm
Admission: $5

12:00pm to 12:30pm - Ronald Reagan Birthplace - 111 S Main Street, Tampico, IL
Hours: Monday thru Saturday 10am to 4pm, Sunday 1pm to 4pm
Admission: Free

9:00pm - Arrive Jackson, TN

Gulf Shores - 4 Day Trip

*This adventure cost approx. $225 plus packed food and gas($115)*

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

Day 1:

7:00am - Leave Jackson, TN

12:00pm to 1:00pm - Famous Red Water Artesian Well - Station St., Shubuta, MS

3:00pm - Meaher State Park - 5200 Battleship Parkway, Spanish Fort, AL
Hours: 7am to Sunset
Admission: $3 person
Camping: $45 *2 Night min on weekends and holidays
Reservations: 251-626-5529

Day 2:

8:20am - Leave Camp

8:30am to 9:30am - Gator Alley @ D'Olive Boardwalk Park - N Main St.(near Exxon), Daphne, A
Hours: None Admission: Free

10:00am to 1:00pm - Alligator Alley - 19500 Highway 71, Summerdale, AL
Hours: Thursday thru Tuesday 10am to 5pm
Admission: Adults $12, Kids $10 ($58)
Feedings: 11am, 1pm and 4pm

1:45pm - Gulf State Park - 20115 State Highway 135, Gulf Shores, AL
Hours: 7am to Sundown
Camping: $60-115 night, 2 night minimum
Reservations: 1-800-ALA-PARK or 251-948-7275
Beaches: Florida Point, Pavilion Area, Cotton Bayou, Romar Beach
Pool, Trails, Pier

Other Information:
Alabama Gulf Coast Welcome Centers
3150 Gulf Shores Parkway, Gulf Shores, AL
23685 Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange Beach, AL

Day 3:

Things to do today:

Gulf State Park Trails and Beaches

Bon Secour National Refuge - 12295 State Highway 180. Gulf Shores, AL
Dynamic Dunes Beach Tour - 1mile/1.5 hours

Day 4:

8:30am - Leave Camp

9:00am to 11:00am - Fort Morgan Historic Site - 51 Highway 180 W, Gulf Shores, AL
Hours: 9am to 4:30pm Daily
Admission: Adults $7, Kids $4, Family $21

11:45am to 12:30pm - Mobile Bay Ferry -
Fee: One Way - $21 one driver + $6 each passenger

12:30pm to 1:00pm - Fort Gaines Historic Site - 51 Bienville Blvd, Dauphin Island, AL

5:30pm to 6:00pm - Birthplace of Tennessee Williams - 300 Main St., Columbus, MS
Hours: 8:30am to 5pm
Admission: Free

This trip is approx. 958 miles.

Other lodging options if not interested in camping:

Best Western on the Beach - 337 E Beach Blvd., Gulf Shores, AL
Holiday Inn Express - 24700 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach, AL
Perdido Beach Resort - 27200 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach, AL


If you have more time on your hands:

Dauphin Island Visitor Center - 1201 Beinville Blvd., Dauphin Island, AL
Hours: Monday thru Saturday 10am to 2pm

Surf's Up Dolphin Cruises - 5749 Bay La Launch Ave., Orange Beach, AL
$10-20

National Naval Aviation Museum - 1750 Radford Blvd., Pensacoula, FL
Hours: 9am to 5pm
Admission: Free

USS Alabama Battleship - 2703 Battleship Parkway, Mobile, AL
Hours: 8am to 6pm
Admission: Adults $18, Kids $6

Historic Blakely State Park - 34745 Stae Hwy 225, Spanish Fort, AL
Admission: $3
Delta Explorer Admission: Adults $25, Kids $15

Memphis to Dallas - 4 Days of Fun

**FREE - Everything on this adventure was FREE except the hotel**
*packed food plus gas*

This trip is planned from about an hour north of Memphis, TN but it can be tweaked to work from other locations. If you want help with that, let me know. I find a lot of my fun places along the way at RoadsideAmerica.com

Day One:

7am - Leave Point A

11am - Old Mill Park - 3800 Lakeshore Dr, North Little Rock, AR more information
Hours are Sunrise to Sunset.  This attraction is Free.
I have allowed 2 hours to enjoy a packed lunch and time to stretch our legs while exploring this replica of an old water-powered grist mill dedicated to the memory of Arkansas' pioneers.  The park is decorated with sculptures of toadstools, tree stumps and has a tree entwined wooden bridge that takes you across the water to the mill.

Old Mill Park - November 1 2012

330pm - Half & Half Post Office - 500 Woods St., Texarkana, AR more information
The Post Office is Open Monday thru Friday 830am to 430pm.  However, you don't need it to be open to have a photo-op at the Arkansas/Texas State Line. This attraction is Free.
This is the only US Post Office that sits in 2 states.

Half & Half Post Office - November 1 2012

730pm - Entering Dallas/Fort Worth, TX

Lodging Options
Hotel - Priceline.com
Cedar Hill State Park Campground website
Camping - TexasOutside.com
Bed and Breakfast Inns - BedandBreakfast.com

We stayed at Super 8 Farmers Branch - 14040 North Stemmons Freeway, Farmers Branch, TX
It wasn't the best but it wasn't bad either.  We didn't spend much time at the hotel so it suited or needs.  And I only paid just over $160 for 3 nights.

Day Two:

Free Things to See/Do in Dallas/Ft. Worth Area:
Mustangs of Las Colinas - 5205 North O Connor Blvd #155  Irving, TX
Chromosaurs - 601 East Palace Parkway, Grand Prairie, TX
US Bureau of Engraving and Printing - 9000 Blue Mound Road, Fort Worth, TX

November 2 2012 - You can not bring cameras (and many other things) in the building so this is the only picture we got.  The BEP is really worth the visit, it was really interesting to watch the money making process.

Fire Station No. 1 - 203 Commerce St, Fort Worth, TX
Heritage Trails Walking Tour - Map available at 508 Main St, Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Water Gardens - 1502 Commerce Street, Fort Worth, TX
Public ArtWalk Dallas - Starts at Nasher Sculpture Center, 2001 Flora St., Dallas, TX
Adrian E Flatt Hand Exhibit - Baylor University Medical Center, Truett Building(1st Fl), 3500 Gaston Ave, Dallas, TX
Mary Kay Cosmetics Museum - 16251 N Dallas Parkway, Dallas, TX
Founder's Plaza Observation Area - Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), E Airfield Dr, Grapevine, TX
The African-American Museum - 3536 Grand Ave, Dallas, TX 
Cedar Ridge Park Reserve - 7171 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, TX
Fort Worth Botanical Garden - 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd, Fort Worth, TX

November 3 2012

Day Three:

Stockyards Station - 130 East Exchange Ave, Fort Worth, TX more information

November 2 2012

Historic Walking Tours more information
Hours: Monday thru Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sunday 11am to 5pm
$12 per family to rent GPS Ranger

Rodeo Zone more information
Hours: Monday-Thurs 10am to 6pm, Friday-Saturday 10am to 8pm, Sunday 1230pm to 6pm
$6 per ride

Fort Worth Herd more information
1130am and 430pm Daily, weather permitting
Free

November 2 2012

Cowtown Cattlepen Maze more information
Hours: Open Daily
$5 per person

Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame more information
Hours: Monday-Thurs 10am to 6pm, Friday-Saturday 10am to 7pm, Sunday 11am to 5pm
Family Package $15 for 2 adults and 4 children
Adults $5, Children(4-12) $3, Children 13-17 and Seniors $4, Military Free

Texas Trail of Fame more information
No Hours
Free

November 2 2012

Stockyard Stables and Horseback Riding more information
Hours: Open Daily 1030am to 530pm
Arena Rides $20 for 15 minutes  All Ages
Trail Rides $30 for 30 minutes, $50 for 60 minutes  Must be 12 or Older

Jersey Lilly Photo Parlor more information
Hours: Monday-Thurs 10am to 5pm, Friday-Saturday 10am to 6pm, Sunday 11am to 4pm
Basic Picture Package is $27.95 plus tax-One Person.  Each additional person is $5.95
Additional photo prints and CDs cost extra.
Photo slots fill up fast so book in advance.

Grapevine Vintage Railroad more information
February-May, September-November Train runs Saturday and Sunday Only
June-August Train runs Friday-Sunday
Train Departs from Grapevine Station at 1pm arriving at Stockyards Station at 215pm
Train Departs from Stockyards Station at 415pm arriving at Grapevine Station at 545pm
Round Trip $28 adults, $26 Seniors, $18 Children
One Way $20 adults, $18 Seniors, $13 Children
Trinity River Run - 1 hour round trip - Departs Stockyards at 245pm and returns at 345pm

Billy Bob's Texas - The World's Largest Honky Tonk more information
2520 Rodeo Plaza, Fort Worth, TX 76164-8208
Restaurant Hours: Monday-Wednesday 11am to 9pm, Thursday 11-10pm, Friday and Saturday 11am to 1am, Sunday 12pm to 9pm Closed on Friday and Saturday 5pm-6pm
Concert Ticket Prices Vary By Performer
Rodeo Every Friday and Saturday Night 9pm and 10pm $3

Day Four:

8am - Leave Lodging Option

930am to 10am - Audie Murphy Statue - America's Most Dedicated Solider
600 Interstate 30 East, Greenville, TX
The statue is located outside the Audie Murphy American Cotton Museum.  I chose not to go the museum in lieu of another destination but feel free to if you are interested.
The Museum is open Tuesday - Saturday 10am to 5pm
Admission is $6 adults, $4 Seniors, Veterans, Students, $2 Ages 6-18, Free Under 6

November 4 2012

1230pm to 1pm - President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace - 117 S Hervey St., Hope, AR
Hours: 9am to 430pm
Admission: Free

Standing in President Clinton's living room - November 4 2012

330pm to 4pm - Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site - 2120 Daisy L Gatson Bates Dr., Little Rock, AR
Visitor Center Hours: 9am to 430pm
Admission: Free

November 4 2012

4pm to 530pm - Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum - 120 Riverfront Park Drive, North Little Rock, AR
Hours Wednesday-Saturday 10am to 6pm, Sunday 1pm to 6pm
Admission: $6 adults, $4 Children, Seniors, Military

Inside the submarine - November 4 2012

4pm - Head for Point A