Around Alabama in 19 Days

*This trip is planned from Milan, TN*

Day 1:

7am - Leave Milan, TN

9am-9:30am - Buzzard Roast Spring - Natchez Trace Parkway MP 320.3

10am-11am - WC Handy Birthplace Museum

11am-12pm - Indian Mound and Museum

12pm-1pm - Wilson Lock and Dam

1pm-2pm - Old Railroad Bridge

2:15pm-3:30pm - Walk Through the History of Muscle Shoals
-City Hall -MthruF 8-4:30

Hotel Muscle Shoals

Day 2:

8:15am - Leave Hotel

8:30am-10:30am - Ivy Green -Helen Keller Birthplace

10:40am-11:30am - Muscle Shoals Sound Studio
-No tours -Photo and Merch M-S 10-2

11:45am-3pm - Alabama Music Hall of Fame

4pm-5pm - FAME Recording Studio

Dinner

8:45pm-9:30pm - Spring Park -Coldwater Falls
Light and Water Show 9pm

Hotel Muscle Shoals

Day 3:

10am - Leave Hotel

10:45pm-Camp - Dismal Canyon

Day 4:

9am - Leave Camp

9:30am-10am - First 911 Call -1901 11th Ave

11:15am-1pm - Ave Maria Grotto

2pm-Camp - Noccalula Falls Park
-falls -animal habitat -pioneer village -train -gardens

Day 5:

8am - Leave Camp

8:30am-9:30am - Cherokee Rock Village

Little River Canyon National Preserve
10am-12:30pm - Canyon Rim Dr./Little River Canyon Parkway
10:40-11 - Canyon View Overlook
11-11:30 - Mushroom Rock
11:35-12:30 - Little River Canyon Overlook
-boardwalk -lunch

12:45pm-1pm - Alabama Band Statues

1:30pm-2pm - Desoto Falls
-Desoto Falls Rd and Co Rd 613

2:10pm-Camp - Desoto State Park

Day 6:

8am - Leave Camp

9am-11am - Russell Cave National Monument

12pm-3pm - Alabama Constitution Village

3:15pm-4pm - Dred Scott Home Site -Oakwood College

Hotel Huntsville

Day 7:

8:45am - Leave Hotel

9am-12pm - US Space and Rocket Center
-Space Monkey grave

12:45pm-3pm - Cathedral Caverns State Park
-cave tour 1:15pm -VC

4pm-Camp - Buck's Pocket State Park
-Jim Lynn Overlook area at Point Rock

Day 8:

9am - Leave Camp

9:15am-10am - High Falls Park -Grove Oak

11:45am-1pm - Talladega Texaco Walk of Fame
-Davy Allison Memorial

1:30pm-2:30pm - International Motorsports Hall of Fame

2:30pm-3:30pm - Talladega Superspeedway
-Tour

Hotel Lincoln

Day 9:

10am - Leave Hotel

11am-12pm - Irondale Café

12:15pm-2pm - Birmingham Civil Rights Museum

2:15pm-4pm - Vulcan Park and Museum -Colossal statue

4:30pm-Camp - Oak Mountain State Park

Day 10:

9:15am - Leave Camp

10am-1pm - American Village

1:15pm-1:45pm - Center of Alabama -Reynolds Cemetery

2:45pm-3:30pm - Gravity Hill

3:40pm-4:30pm - Blue Bell Creamery

5pm-Camp - Wind Creek State Park

Day 11:

9am - Leave Camp

9:30am-11am - Horseshoe Bend National Military Park
-VC -museum -JR Program
-battlefield tour -trails

12pm-2pm - Tuskegee Airman National Historic Site
-historic site tour -vc/museum

2:10pm-4pm - Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site
-tour -carver museum

5pm-Camp - Chewacla State Park

Day 12:

9am - Leave Camp

10am-11am - Dexter Parsonage Museum

11:05am-11:15am - Hank Williams Astroturf Grave -Oakwood Cemetery

11:15am-11:30am - Hank Williams statue -N Perry St

11:30am-12:30pm - Hank Williams Museum

12:35pm-1:15pm - Dexter Ave King Memorial Baptist Church

1:15pm-2pm - Civil Rights Memorial

2pm-3:30pm - Freedom Rides Museum

3:30pm-5pm - Rosa Parks Museum

5:30pm-Camp - Gunter Hill Park

Day 13:

8am - Leave Camp

10:15am-10:30am - World's Smallest City Block
-N Apple Tree St and E Troy St, Dothan

10:30am-10:45am - Joseph statue -Wiregrass Museum of Art

10:45am-11am - Big Gold Peanut and Art Peanuts - Dothan Area Convention and Visitors Bureau

11am-6pm - Peanuts Around Town -42 peanuts

Hotel Dothan

Day 14:

8:30am - Leave Hotel

9am-11am - US Army Aviation Musuem

2pm-Camp - Gulf State Park

Day 15:

9:30am - Leave Camp

10am-11:30am - Glass Bottom Dolphin Tour -Dolphins Down Under

12pm-2pm - Alligator Alley

2:30pm-7pm - The Wharf

7pm-Camp - Gulf State Park

Day 16:

12pm - Leave Camp
-Beach

12:15pm-1:30pm - Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
-Jeff Friend trail

2pm-3pm - Fort Morgan

3:45pm-Camp - Gulf State Park

Day 17:

9am - Leave Camp

10am-11am - Fort Gaines

11am-12pm - The Estuarium -Dauphin Island

1pm-3pm - USS Alabama

3pm-Camp - Meaher State Park

Day 18:

8am - Leave Camp

8am-9am - Gator Alley Boardwalk

9:15am-11:30am - Historic Blakely Park
-Delta Explorer

2:30pm-4:30pm - Old Cahawba -1st Capitol
-ghost town

5pm-Camp - Six Mile Creek State Park

Day 19:

8am - Leave Camp

8am-9am - Selma Interpretive Center  -Selma to Montgomery NHT

9am-11am - Brown Chapel AME Church  -Selma to Montgomery NHT
-George Washington Carver Homes
-Edmund Pettus Bridge

11am-1pm - National Voting Rights Museum

1pm-1:30pm - Selma Interpretive Center -JR Program

3pm-5pm - Moundville Archeological Park

7:30pm-8pm - 30 Minute Pit Stop

10pm - Milan, TN

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

Lookout Mountain Parkway

Lookout Mountain Parkway

Day One:

7am - Leave Home
Google Map Directions

9am to 9:30am - Natchez Trace Parkway - Buzzard Roast Spring - MP 320

11:30am to 1:00pm - Ava Maria Grotto - 1600 St. Bernard Drive, Cullman, AL
Hours: Daily 9am to 5pm
Admission: Adults $12, Children 6-12 $9
Picnic Lunch

2:00pm - Noccalula Falls Park & Campground - 1600 Noccalula Road, Gadsden, AL
Hours: Spring Hours:March 1-June 1, 2013 - 9:00-5:00pm
Summer Hours: June 2-August 10, 2012 - 9:00-7:00pm
Back to School Hours: August 11-October 11, 2013 - 9:00-5:00pm
Fall Hours: October 13 - October 30, 2013 -10:00-4:00pm
Admission:  Adults: $10, Senior Adults (55+): $8, Children (4-12): $8, Children (3 & under): Free
Camping: $65 Night - No tent camping - 3 Night Min.
*Explore: Falls, Animal Habitat, Pioneer Village, Unlimited Train Rides, Gardens


Day Two:
Google Map Directions

8am - Leave Camp

8:30am to 9:30am - Cherokee Rock Village - 2000 County Road 70, Leesburg, AL

10am - Little River Canyon National Preserve - Scenic Drive  map
*start at AL273/Blue Pond Road and County Road 275
10:45am to 11am - Stop #1 - Canyon View Overlook
11:05am to 11:30am - Stop #2 - Mushroom Rock
11:35am to 12:30pm - Stop #3 - Little River Falls *Boardwalk and Lunch

12:40pm 1:00pm - Alabama Statues - Gault Ave and 4th St, Fort Payne, AL

1:30pm to 2pm - Desoto Falls - Co Road 613 and Desoto Falls Road, Mentone, AL

3:10pm - KOA Campground - 930 Mountain Shadows Drive, Trenton, GA


Day Three:
Google Map Directions

8am - Leave Camp

9am to 11am - Chickamauga & Chattanooga Nat'l Military Park - 3370 Lafayette Road, Ft, Oglethorpe, GA
Chickamauga Battlefield Auto Tour map

11am to 2pm - Tennessee Aquarium - 1 Broad St, Chattanooga, TN
Admission: Adults $25, Kids $15
Hours: 10am to 6pm

2:10pm to 3:30pm - Incline Railway - 3917 St. Elmo Ave, Chattanooga, TN

Hours: 10am to 6pm
Admission: Round Trip - Adults $15, Kids $7














3:40pm to 6pm - Rock City Gardens - 1400 Patton Road, Lookout Mountain, GA



Hours: Varies per season
Summer Hours: 8:30am to 8pm
Admission: Adults $20, Kids $12

10pm - Home

Lookout Mountain, TN/GA - 3 Day Trip

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

Day 1:

7:30am - Leave Jackson, TN

10:30am to 11:00am - Center of Tennessee - Old Lascassas Rd & Greenland Dr., Murfreesboro, TN
The sign is located at the street edge of the parking lot of the Dean A Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium of the Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN
Historical Marker

11:15pm to 12pm - Stones River National Battlefield - 3501 Old Nashville Hwy, Murfreesboro, TN
Hours: 8am to 5pm Daily
Admission: Free

12:30pm - Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park - 732 Stone Fort Dr, Manchester, TN
Hours: 8am to 4:30pm
Admission: Free
Camping: $18-$20
Museum and 1 1/4 mile trail to waterfalls

Day 2:

8:00am - Leave Camp

9:00am to 12:00pm - Russell Cave National Mounument - 3729 County Road 98, Bridgeport, AL
Hours: 8am to 4:30pm
Admission: Free
Guided Cave Shelter Tours: 11:00am
Museum, Trails, Junior Ranger Program

1:00pm to 4:00pm - Rock City Gardens - 1400 Patten Road, Lookout Mountain, GA
Hours: 8:30am to 6pm ET
Admission (w/o combo tickets): Adults $18.95, Kids $10.95
Allow 1.5 to 2 hours

Mushroom Rock, Goblin's Underpass and Lover's Leap
    
 Swinging Bridge - Grandma and the kiddos...and my favorite the Rainbow Hall

See Rock City offers Double Play and Triple Play Combo Tickets
*Double Play - Rock City Gardens and Ruby Falls - Audlts $33.90, Kids $18.90
*Triple Play - Rock City Gardens, Ruby Falls and Incline Railway - Adults $45.90, Kids $23.90

4:30pm - KOA Lookout Mountain/Chattanooga South Campground - 199 KOA Blvd, Ringgold, GA
Camping: $41

Day 3:

9:00am - Leave Camp

9:15am to 11:00am - Chickamauga Battlefield - 3370 Lafayette Road, Fort Oglethorpe, GA
Visitor Center Hours: 8:30am to 5pm ET
Admission: Free

11:15am to 12:15pm - Mr. T's Pizza & Ice Cream - 3924 Tennessee Ave, Chattanooga, TN
The pizza is delicious and the prices are even better!
And sitting in their dining room you can watch the Incline Railway go up and come down.

12:30pm to 1:00pm - Incline Railway - 3917 St. Elmo Ave, Chattanooga, TN
Hours: 10am to 6pm
Admission (w/o combo tickets): Adults $14, Kids $7 Round Trip
30 Minute Round Trip
(You are taking the rail down...exploring CNMP...then taking rail back to your car)

                                      
1:00pm to 1:30pm - Chattanooga Nat'l Military Park - 110 Point Park Road, Lookout Mountain, TN
Lookout Mountain Battlefield
Visitor Center Hours: 9am to 5pm ET
Admission: Adults $3, Kids Free

1:30pm to 2:00pm - Incline Railway - 827 East Brow Road, Lookout Mountain, TN

2:15pm to 4:00pm - Ruby Falls - 1720 S Scenic Hwy, Lookout Mountain, TN
Hours: 8am to 8pm ET Daily
Admission (w/o combo tickets): Adults $17.95, Kids $9.95
Allow 2 hours

8:30pm - Arrive Jackson, TN

This trip is approx. 585 miles

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

Natchez Trace Parkway #3 - 3 Day Trip

*Total Cost $96 for 2 adults, 2 teens, 1 child and 2 nights camp**packed food plus gas*

Natchez Trace Parkway - Mile Post 180 to Mile Post 330.2

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

For this trip it is imperative that you get yourself a Natchez Trace Parkway brochure/map.

One you learn how to navigate it, this is a really helpful site: Natchez Trace Travel

Day One:

7am - Leave Jackson, TN

9:30am to 10:30am - Rock Spring - MP 330.2
Nature Trail: 20 min walk one way

11:00am to 11:30am - WC Handy Birthplace Museum - 620 West College St, Florence, AL
Hours: Tuesday thru Saturday 10am to 4pm
Admission: Adults $2, Kids $0.50

11:35am to 12pm - Indian Mound and Museum - 1028 South Court St, Florence, AL
Hours: Tuesday thru Saturday 10am to 4pm
Admission: Adults $2, Kids $0.50

12:15pm to 1:45pm - Helen Keller Birthplace - 300 North Commons St W, Tuscumbia, AL
Hours: Monday thru Saturday 8:30am to 4pm
Admission: Adults $6, Kids $2

1:50pm to 3pm - Spring Park - Spring Park Rd, Tuscumbia, AL
Have lunch and watch the Cold Water Falls

3:25pm to 4:15pm - Buzzard Roost Spring - MP 320.3
Short Trail

4:30pm to 5pm - Cave Spring - MP 308.4

5:20pm - Tishmingo State Park -105 State Park Road, Tishmingo, MS
Camping: $13-$18

Day 2:

8:00am - Leave Camp

8:30am to 9am - Tenn-Tom Waterway - MP 293.2
VC - 82 Bay Springs Resource Rd

9:10am to 9:20am - Pharr Mounds - MP 286.7

9:25am to 10:00am - Donivan Slough - MP 283.3
Trail: 20 minute one way

10:10am to 10:40am - Dogwood Valley - MP 275.2
Trail: 15 minute one way

11:00am to 11:20am - Brices Crossroads Visitor Center - 607 Grisham St, Baldwyn, MS
Hours: Tuesday thru Saturday 9am to 5pm
Admission: Small fee

11:30am to 12pm - Brices Crossroads National Historic Site - Hwy 370/Bethany Road, Baldwyn, MS

12:30pm to 12:45pm - Confederate Graves - MP 269.4

12:55pm to 1:30pm - Natchez Trace Pkwy Visitor Center - 2680 Natchez Trace Parkway, Tupelo, MS
Hours: 8am to 5pm

1:45pm to 2:15pm - Tupelo National Battlefield - Monument Dr & Hwy 6, Tupelo, MS

2:50pm to 3:15pm - Tupelo Hardware - 114 W Main St, Tupelo, MS
Hours: Monday thru Friday 7am to 5:30pm, Saturday 7am to 12pm
See Elvis' first guitar

3:45pm - Tombigbee State Park - 264 Cabin Drive, Tupelo, MS
Camping: $20

Day 3:

8:00am - Leave Camp

8:45am to 9:00am- Owl Creek Mounds - MP 243

Tombigbee National Forest

9:20am to 9:40am - Witch Dance - MP 233.2

9:40am to 10:15am - Byrum Mounds - MP 232.4
6 mounds and interactive exhibits

11:30.am to 2:30pm - French Camp - MP 180.7
Gift Shop and Museum Hours: Monday thru Saturday 9am to 4pm
Cafe Hours: 10:30am to 7:00pm
Info Station and Huffman Log Cabin

8:30pm - Jackson, TN

Natchez Trace Parkway #4 - 2 Day Trip

**FREE - Everything on this adventure is FREE**
*Packed food plus gas*

Natchez Trace Parkway - Mile Post 341.8 to Mile Post 444

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

For this trip it is imperative that you get yourself a Natchez Trace Parkway brochure/map.

One you learn how to navigate it, this is a really helpful site: Natchez Trace Travel

Day One:

7am - Leave Jackson, TN

9:30am to 10:30am - Wichahpi Commemorative Stone Wall - County Road 8, Lauderdale, AL

Hours: No hours are listed but this is on private property (Tom leaves on the property). I imagine it's a 7am to Sundown timeframe. We got there at about a quarter after 9am and he was out there working on the wall.

Admission: Free but donations are greatly appreciated.  All he really wants is your respect and time.

This memorial is really worth the trip.  It's not just bricks and stones, it is truely a piece of art.

On this trip, we started a new family adventure of Geocaching...this was our first find ever...

Micro Cache

The stops from here on do not have any hours or admission unless otherwise stated...however, most are trails are varying distance into wooded areas and wouldn't be much to see in the dark.

These stops all have turn offs or parking areas so you are not stopping in the road to see the attractions closer.

10:35am to 10:40am - Alabama-Tennessee State Line - MP 341.8

September 2 2012

There are a few other stops along the way that we chose to past for lack of time and interest. I will add those stops throughout this post in RED.

Mile Post 343. 5 - Cypress Creek

Mile Post 346.2 - Holly

Mile Post 350.5 - Sunken Trace

Mile Post 352.9 - McGlamery Stand

11:00am to 11:30am - Wayne County Visitor Center - 219 East Broadway St, Collinwood, TN

11:45am to 12:15pm - Sweetwater Branch - MP 363

We ate a packed lunch in the parking area before heading out on this trail.

The kids had a great time playing in this little creek and then we walked the short trail reading all the signs as we went.

12:20pm to 12:35pm - Glenrock Branch - MP 264.5

The photos of all these places don't really do justice to the surroundings.

MP 367.3 - Dogwood Mudhole

12:50pm to 1:00pm - Old Trace Drive - MP 375.8

This is a 2.5 mile drive on the original route.  The ride is a bit rough but the view is beautiful.

It was a bit rainy and dreary out today.

1:05pm to 1:20pm - Jacks Branch - MP 377.8

This place was really pretty and a great place to take pictures.

 

Mile Post 381.8 - Napier Mine

1:35pm to 2:30pm - Metal Ford and Buffalo River - MP 382.8

McLish Stand Exhibit and Steele's Iron Works

  

The kids could have stayed at this stop all day...because we had never been to any of the places on our trip I wasn't sure of the time to allow so we only stayed an hour but the kids were mad when I pulled them out.

This location also had a little trail but we didn't take it.  We got out of the car and they saw the water and were gone.  By the time they got out, they were too cold to walk a trail and there shoes were all wet anyway.













2:45pm - Meriwether Lewis National Monument - MP 385.9
Visitor Center Hours: Wednesday thru Friday 1pm to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am to 5pm
Admission: Free

This is the actual gravesite of Meriwether Lewis of Lewis and Clark.

Meriwether Lewis Campground - Free - First Come First Serve
This was our first time ever camping. I was all kinds of prepared though...even with the weather calling for a crazy storm coming.  I had a list of hotels that were within 30 minutes and another campground in case this one was full.  We were also only about 2 hours from home at this point so we weren't worried.

We set up our campsite, had dinner...


Then we headed out on what we thought was going to be a short hike...
 
But we let the 7 year old be in charge of the map and lead the way, then it started to rain and our map was virtually unreadable...and we ended up getting lost and it ended up to be a bit longer than we thought.  It was really only about an hour but an hour seems like a lot longer when you are lost in the woods in the rain and it's starting to get dark out.  But we soon found the road and walked back to our campsite to roast marshmallows and make S'mores.

Other Lodging Options:
Fall Hollow Village Campground -MP 391 - privately owned - 931-796-1480

Day 2:

8:00am - Leave Campground

8:05am to 8:20am - Phosphate Mine - MP 390.7

8:30am to 9:30am - Fall Hollow Waterfall - MP 391.9
There are actually more than one waterfalls here...2 bigger ones and a couple small ones.  The kids had a super fun time getting all wet right away in the morning.
 
Parts of the trail are sheets of limestone you have to walk on and limestone 'stairs'...some of which are really slippery so use caution.

MP 392.5 - Swan View Overlook
MP 394 - Devil's Backbone State Natural Area
MP 397.4 - Old Trace
MP 400.2 - Sheboss Stand

9:40am to 9:50am - Tobacco Farm - MP 401.4

  This is an currently working tobacco farm.  There is a small patch of tobacco plant growing and a barn used to dry out the tobacco once it is harvested.  There is also a 2 mile Old Trace Drive but we did not take it.

MP 403.7 - Old Trace Walk

10:00am to 11:00am - Jackson Falls - MP 404.7

This was our favorite stop of the weekend...at least it was mine.  It was way better than I imagines.  We would have stayed longer but a man came down with camera equipment and the kids kept getting in his way and we'd been there an hour already so we decided to continue on our adventures.

   

MP 405.1 - Baker Bluff Overlook

11:10am to 11:40am - Gordon House and Duck River Ferry Site - MP 407.7


You can't go in the Gordon House...this is all there is. A short walk will take you to the Duck River Ferry Site...where we learned to skip rocks.

MP 411.8 - Water Valley Overlook
MP 423.9 - Tennessee Valley Divide
MP 425.4 - Burns Branch

12:05pm to 2:00pm - Old Trace - MP 426.3

September 3 2012

Here we had a packed lunch in the parking area before heading out on the trail.  This trail seemed longer than I had anticipated and there is no maps to follow so we weren't real sure we were going the right way.  There is a worn patch but as it crosses under the road and through a stream, it was hard to be sure we were still on the path.  We ended up at Garrison Creek (MP 427.6) and walked the parkway back to our car (almost 2 miles).  By the end the kids were pretty tired and miserable but this was our 2nd to last stop anyway so it turned out fine.



2:20pm to 2:30pm - Birdsong Hollow and Highway 96 Double-Arched Bridge - MP 438

MP 444  - Northern Terminus

This was the end of our trip. We had originally planned on stopping at the Loveless Cafe (8400 TN Hwy 100, Nashville, TN) but we had not planned on it raining all weekend and being as wet and dirty as we were. So we went to McDonalds instead...then headed the 2 hours home.