Around Pennsylvania in 13 Days

*This trip is planned from Milan, TN*

Day 1:

7am - Leave Milan, TN

30 Minute Pit Stops: 10-10:30, 1:30-2, 4:30-5

+1 Hour Time Zone

7:30pm-Hotel - Morgantown, WV

Day 2:

8am - Leave Hotel

8:30am-10:30am - Friendship Hill National Historic Site
-Gallatin House -exhibits

12:30pm-2:30pm - Johnstown Incline Plane -lower station

3pm-5pm - Johnstown Flood National Memorial
-VC at Dam Site -Jr Program
-Historic Clubhouse -Van tour

5:30pm-Camp - Mirror Lake Campground

Day 3:

8:30am - Leave Camp

9am-11am - Johnstown Flood Museum

11:30am-1:30pm - Alleghany Portage Railroad National Historical Site
-VC -Jr Program
-Lemon House -Engine House 6/Skew Arch Bridge

4pm-Camp - Rickett's Glen State Park
-swim -falls -giant trees -fish -trails

Day 4:

12pm - Leave Camp/Park

1pm-4pm - Steamtown National Historical Site
-VC -Jr Program
-history museum -technology museum -roundhouse -train rides -locomotive shop

4:45pm-Camp - Hickory Run State Park

Day 5:

9am - Leave Camp

10am-2pm - Crayola Experience
-World's Largest Crayon -Modeling Madness -Rainbow Rain -Art Alive -Color Magic -Be A Star -Waterworks -Paint Palette -Doodle in the Dark -Activity Studio -Meltdown -Drip Art -Melt and Mold

3pm-5pm - Fonthill Park Castle -525 E Court St

5:30pm-Camp - Washington Crossing State Park, New Jersey

Day 6:

9:45am - Leave Camp

10am-12pm - Washington Crossing Historic Park

12:30pm-1:30pm - Elfreth's Alley

1:45pm-5pm - Edgar Allan Poe National Historical Site
-VC/Exhibits/Film -Jr Program
-historic home tour -Pose with Raven

5pm-Hotel - Philadelphia

Day 7:

7am - Leave Hotel

7:15am-Done - Independence National Historic Park
-Independence VC -Jr Program
-Free Quaker Meeting House
-National Constitution Center
-Benjamin Franklin's Grave/National Memorial/Museum
-City Tavern
-Todd House
-Carpenter's Hall
-New Hall Military Museum
-Pemberton House
-Signer's Garden
-Portrait Gallery
-Supreme Court Chamber in Old City Hall
-Independence Hall (Great Essentials)
-Congress Hall
-Tomb of the Unknown Solider
-Declaration House
-Liberty Bell Center (lights of liberty show)
-President's House
-Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial
-Gloria Dei Church National Historic Site
-Betty Ross House

Hotel - Philadelphia

Day 8:

9:30am - Leave Hotel

10am-1pm - Morris Arboretum

1:30pm-4:30pm - Valley Forge National Historical Park
-VC -Jr Program
-trolley tours -9 stop auto tour -historic structures -trails -monuments -storytelling

5:15pm-Camp - French Creek State Park

Day 9:

8:55am - Leave Camp

9am-11am - Hopewell Furnace National Historical Site
-VC/Museum/Film -Jr Program
-trails -living history -pick apples -walking tour (historic community and buildings)

12pm-1pm - Roadside America Museum -109 Roadside Drive

2pm-10pm - Hershey's Chocolate World
-Hershey's Great American Chocolate Tour
-Create Your Own Candy Bar -14.95each
-Chocolate Tasting -A10 K7
-Kisses Packaging Factory Worker ID -7.95
-Dessert Creation Studio -$varies

10pm-Hotel - Hershey, PA

Day 10:

8:45am - Leave Hotel

9am-12pm - Hershey's Story Museum

1pm-2pm - Haines Shoe House

3:15pm-4:30pm - American Civil War Museum -297 Steinwehr Ave
-wax museum

4:30pm-Camp - Gettysburg Campground

Day 11:

7:45am - Leave Camp

8am-11am - Gettysburg National Military Park
-VC/Museum/Cyclorama -Jr Program
-18 mile battlefield lore site auto tour
-Solider's National Cemetery
     -High Water Mark -Solider's National Monument

Shuttle from Gettysburg

11:30am-2:30pm - Eisenhower National Historical Site
-Jr Program
-Orientation tour -house tours -audio tour -self guided walk

4:45pm-5pm - Gravity Hill -Bedford County

5:15pm-Camp - Shawnee State Park

Day 12:

8:30am - Leave Camp

9am-11am - Flight 93 National Memorial
-VC -Jr Program
-Memorial Plaza/Wall of Names -Impact Site -Memorial Groves/Allee/Bridge

12:15pm-2:15pm - Fort Necessity National Battlefield
-VC/Exhibits -self guided trails -living history -Braddock Grove -Jumonville Glen -Mt Washington Tavern

2:45pm-Camp - Ohiopyle State Park

Day 13:

8am - Leave Camp

30 Minute Pit Stops: 11-11:30, 2:30-3, 5-5:30

-Hour Time Zone

6:30pm - Milan, TN


Roadside Attractions:
Fountain of Youth
Board Game Art Park
Peeps Factory

Around Virginia in 14 Days

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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

Around Louisiana in 13 Days

*This trip is planned from Milan, TN*

Day 1:

7am - Leave Milan, TN

10am-10:30am - 30 Minute Pit Stop

1pm-3pm - Poverty Point World Heritage Site
-museum -trails -Native American Mounds
Poverty Point National Monument

3:30pm-Camp - Poverty Point Reservoir State Park
-VC -beach -fishing

Day 2:

8am - Leave Camp

9:30am-11am - Bonnie and Clyde Ambush Museum

11:15am-11:30am - Bonnie and Clyde Death Site

12:45pm-4pm - Gator and Friends Alligator Park

4:15pm-Camp - Shreveport/Bossier City KOA

Day 3:

8am - Leave Camp

9:15am-11:30am - Fort St Jean Baptiste State Historic Site
-museum -historic buildings -El Camino Real de los Tejas NHT

11:45pm-4:30pm - Cane River Creole National Historical Park
-JR Program
11:45-2 - Oakland Plantation and Slave/Tenants Quarters
2:15-4:30 - Magnolia Plantation

5:30pm-Camp - Indian Creek Recreation Area

Day 4:

8am - Leave Camp

9:45am-10:15am - Sam Houston Jones State Park
-drop off camper

10:45am-1pm - Creole Nature Trail Adventure Point

2pm-4pm - Little Florida Beach or Gulf Breeze Beach

5:30pm-Camp - Sam Houston Jones State Park

Day 5:

8am - Leave Camp

9:30am-10:30am - Jean Lafitte National Historical Park
-Acadian Cultural Center -Jr Program

11am-1pm - Longfellow-Evageline State Historical Site
-museum -historic buildings -trails

1:30pm-Camp - Lake Fausse Point State Park
-vc -trails -Alchafalaya Swamp -boat rentals

Rig Museum - if time

Day 6:

8am - Leave Camp

10:15am-10:45am - New Orleans KOA
-drop off camper

11:30am-1:30pm - Jean Lafitte National Historical Park
-Baratario Preserve

3pm-4pm - Fort Jackson

5:30pm-Camp - New Orleans KOA

Day 7:

8:30am - Leave Camp

9am-11am - Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World

11:30am-1pm - Jean Lafitte National Historical Park
-Chalmette Battlefield/Cemetery

1:30pm-2:30pm - French Quarter VC

2:30pm-3pm -- New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park
-New Orleans French Quarter VC -jr program

3pm-4pm - Walk...
-Louis Armstrong statue
-Sidney Bechet statue
-Congo Square
-J&M Recording Studio
Return to Car

5:15pm-Camp - New Orleans KOA

Day 8:

8am - Leave Camp

9am-9pm - New Orleans Jazz National Park VC
Walk...
9-9:30 - Café Du Monde
9:45-11:30 - Old US Mint
11:45-1 - New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum
Basin St. Station -NO Jazz NHP
1:15-1:45 - St. Louis Cemetery #1
-Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau (knock 3times and make wish)
-aboveground graves
1:45-2 - NO Jazz NHP -Tango Belt
2-3 - Musical Legends Park
3:15-3:45 - NO Jazz NHP -Canal Street Ferry
4-4:45 - NO Jazz NHP -Jazz Walk of Fame-Algiers Point
5:30-7 -Dinner -Napoleon House
7:15-8:45 - Preservation Hall -8pm show
8:45-9 - French Quarter
Return to Car

9:30pm-Camp - New Orleans KOA

Day 9:

8:30am - Leave Camp

9:30am-10am - NO Jazz NHP VC
-Jr Badge

10:45am-1:30pm - Honey Island Swamp Tour

2:30pm-4pm - Kliebert's Turtle and Alligator Farm

4:30pm - Tickfaw State Park

Day 10:

8am - Leave Camp

9am-11am - Evergreen Plantation

11:30pm-2pm - Oak Alley Plantation

2:45pm-6pm - Nottoway Plantation

6:45pm-Camp - Baton Rouge KOA

Day 11:

8am - Leave Camp

8:45am-11am - Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site

11:30am-1pm - Louisiana Old State Capitol

1pm-3pm - USS KIDD

3:30pm-Camp - Baton Rouge KOA

Day 12:

8am - Leave Camp

9:30am-12pm - Louisiana State Penitentiary

1:30pm-Camp - Natchez State Park

Day 13:

8am - Leave Camp

9am-12pm - Frogmore Cotton Plantation and Gins

3pm-3:30pm - 30 Minute Pit Stop

7pm - Milan, TN

Around Mississippi in 8 Days

*This trip is planned from Milan, TN*

Day 1:

7am - Leave Milan, TN

9:30am-11:30am - Tishomingo State Park
-swinging bridge -vc -Saddleback Ridge trail

12pm-12:30pm - Natchez Trace Parkway MP 293.2 - Tenn-Tom Waterway

12:45pm-1:30pm - Natchez Trace Parkway MP 286.7 - Pharr Mounds

1:45pm-2:15pm - Natchez Trace Parkway MP 283.3 - Donivan Slough

2:30pm-3pm - Natchez Trace Parkway MP 275.2 - Dogwood Valley

3:15pm-5pm - Brices Crossroads National Battlefield
-VC (MS's Final Stand Interpretive Center) -Jr Program -Film/Museum
-Battlefield Site (church and cemetery trail)

5:30pm-6pm - Natchez Trace Parkway MP 269.4 - Confederate Graves

6:30pm-Camp - Tombigbee State Park

Day 2:

8am - Leave Camp

8:15am-8:45am - Natchez Trace Parkway MP 266 - Tupelo VC

8:45am-9am - Tupelo Hardware -Elvis' Guitar

9:15am-10am - Tupelo National Battlefield
-battlefield

11:15am-12pm - Tennessee Williams Home and Welcome Center

1:15pm-2pm - Dunn's Falls

4:15pm-Camp - Baywood Campground

15mins to Friendship Oak

Day 3:

8:30am - Leave Camp

8:45am-10am - Biloxi Lighthouse

10:05am-12pm - Biloxi Shrimping Trip

12:15pm-2:30pm - Gulf Islands National Seashore
-Jr Program
-Davis Bayou Area -William M Comer VC

3pm-Camp - Baywood Campground

Day 4:

8am - Leave Camp

8:15am-3:30pm - Gulf Islands National Seashore -West Ship Island
-Ferry from Gulfport 9am

3:45pm-Camp - Baywood Campground

Day 5:

8:30am - Leave Camp

9am-11am - MS Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge
-vc -CL Dees Nature Trail

11:45am-1:30pm - Gulf Coast Gator Ranch and Swamp Tour
-Swamp Tour 12:30pm

2:30pm-4pm - Palestine Gardens

5pm-Camp - Paul B Johnson State Park

Day 6:

8am - Leave Camp

10:15am-11am - Canton, MS
-A Time to Kill movie tour

11:30am-12pm - Natchez Trace Parkway MP 102.4 - Parkway Info Cabin

1pm-2pm - Natchez Trace Parkway MP 54.8 - Rocky Springs

2:15pm-2:45pm - Natchez Trace Parkway MP 41.5 - Sunken Trace

3pm-Camp - Grand Gulf Military Park

Day 7:

8am - Leave Camp

8:30am-9am - Windsor Ruins

9:30am-10am - Natchez Trace Parkway MP 15.5 - Mount Locust Inn/VC

10:15am-10:30am - Natchez Trace Parkway MP 10.3 - Emerald Mound

10:30am-11:15am - Church Hill Loop

11:30am-11:45am - Natchez Trace Parkway MP 8.7 - Old Trace Exhibit Shelter

11:50am-12:15pm - Natchez Trace Parkway MP 5.1 - Elizabeth Female Academy

12:25pm-12:30pm - Natchez Trace Parkway MP 0 - Southern Terminus

12:45pm-2pm - Mammy's Cupboard
-lunch

2:15pm-5pm - Natchez National Historical Park
-VC -Melrose Estate and Gardens -Fort Rosalie - William Johnson House

5:30pm-Camp - Natchez State Park

Day 8:

8am - Leave Camp

10am-10:30am - Glenwood Cemetery -Yazoo City
-witch's grave

11:30am-12:30pm - BB King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center

2:30pm-3pm - Gateway to the Blues VC -Tunica

3:15pm-4pm - Hollywood Memorabilia -Hollywood Casino Tunica

6:45pm - Milan, TN

Natchez Trace Parkway #2 - 3 Day Trip

Natchez Trace Parkway - Mile Post 122 to Mile Post 145.1

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:

8am: Leave

12pm to 1pm - Birthplace of Kermit the Frog - S. Deer Creek Drive, Leland, MS


Hours: Winter Hours: After Labor Day, Mon-Sat 10a.m.-4p.m. Summer Hours: After Memorial Day, Mon-Sat 10a.m.-5p.m.
Admission: Free

*Kermit's house was neat.  It took us about 30 minutes to look at the things inside.  They have display cases with old school toys and other memorabilia, scrapbooks of newspaper clippings and photos relating to the Muppets.

We had a picnic lunch in the grass by the creek and took a few pictures and were on our way.  Nice stop to eat your lunch or stretch your legs.



2:30pm to 4:30pm - Mississippi Petrified Forest - 124 Forest Park Road, Flora, MS

"The Frog"

Hours: 9am to 6pm

Admission: Adults $7, Kids $6
6 Block Nature Trail
Museum

*MS Petrified Forest was a little bit of a dissapointment.  I guess for the price I was expecting a bit more than the 5 or 6 pieces of petrified wood along the trail.  There was 26 stops on the nature trail guide but even half of them had what we came to see.

"Caveman's Bench"

The gift shop was really nice...and huge...and the things weren't all that expensive either.













5pm -  Lefleur's Bluff State Park - 3315 Lakeland Terrace, Jackson, MS

Site 12

Mayes Lake Campground $18 night
This is where we will be camping.

This was a really great campsite. Our tent was about 12 feet from the edge of the lake and about the bathhouse was close enough but far enough.  It was perfect.

After sundown the first night we saw an alligator in the water...it was really neat to see.



Day Two:

8:30am - 9:00am - Follow Purple, Red and Yellow Trail to Mississippi Museum of Natural Science

Purple Trail - 0.49 mile
Red Trail - 0.32 mile
Yellow Trail - 0.16 mile

The trail to the museum was a little over a mile and it had A LOT of spider webs but otherwise it was a nice trail.  It was mostly flat and not strenuous at all.





9:00am to 12:00pm - Mississippi Museum of Natural Science - 2148 Riverside Drive, Jackson, MS

Two-Headed Snake

Admission: Adults $6, Kids $4
Hours: Monday thru Friday 8am to 5pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm and Sunday 1pm to 5pm

We went for the Special Exhibit: "Reptiles: The Beautiful and the Deadly"

The museum was good but it wouldn't have been much with out the special exhibit...which was awesome.

Ari made friends with a 20 foot Reticulated Python.

We saw a cobra, alligator, crocodile, lots of different snakes, geckos, chameleon, gila monster, a bearded dragon and a snake-necked turtle.

12:00pm to 12:30pm - Blue Trail and Yellow Trail

12:30pm to 1:00pm - Follow Red and Purple Trails back to Camp

1:00pm to 2:00pm - *Have Lunch

2:30pm - 4:00pm - Cypress Swamp - MP 122 on Natchez Trace Parkway

We saw 3 alligators here and it was AWESOME!


4:30pm - Camp

Day Three:

8:00am - Leave Camp

9:00am to 1:30pm - Vicksburg National Military Park - 3201 Clay Street, Vicksburg, MS

Illinois Monument

Hours: Daily 8am to 5pm
Admission: $8 Car
Allow 2 hours Driving Tour and Extra time for gift shop and museum.

This was a really nice military park...it was huge.  It took us about 3 hours to drive the whole park.

The Illinois Monument was our favoite.  It was absolutely beautiful, inside and out.

USS Cairo Exhibit and Museum, Hours: 930am to 5pm

The USS Cairo was really cool.  The museum had a lot of information and the actually ship was fun to get on and imagine what it would have been like before it was sunk.






3:30pm to 4:00pm - Kosciusko Museum and Visitor Center - Exit 160 on Natchez Trace Parkway

4:10pm to 4:30pm - Redbud Springs Park - approx. 207 S Natchez St, Kosciusko, MS

Tadeusz Kosciuszko statue

4:40pm to 5:00pm -  Buffalo United Methodist Church - Mississippi 12, Kosciusko, MS

Oprah Winfrey's First Church

About 2 blocks up the road, Oprah Winfrey Road, it a big white sign that marks the site of Oprah's First Home.  There isn't anything there but the sign and a woodsy area.









9:00pm - Home

We had a really fun time.  And we would have been home right on time...except that the headlights on our car stopped working and we ended up having to stay in a hotel in Senatobia, MS for the night.

 or Alternative 2-Day Trip:

Day One:

7am - Leave Jackson, TN

12:00pm to 1:30pm - Lefleur's Bluff State Park - 3315 Lakeland Terrace, Jackson, MS
Mayes Lake Campground $18 night
This is where we will be camping.  The plan is to set up our tent and have some lunch.

1:30pm to 2:00pm - Follow Purple, Red and Yellow Trail to Mississippii Museum of Natural Science

Purple Trail - 0.49 mile
Red Trail - 0.32 mile
Yellow Trail - 0.16 mile

2:00pm to 4:30pm - Mississippi Museum of Natural Science - 2148 Riverside Drive, Jackson, MS
Admission: Adults $6, Kids $4
Hours: Monday thru Friday 8am to 5pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm and Sunday 1pm to 5pm

4:30pm to 5:00pm - Blue Trail

5:00pm to 5:30pm - Follow Red and Purple Trails back to Camp

Day Two:

8:30am - Leave Camp

9:00am to 12:00pm - Mississippi Petrified Forest - 124 Forest Park Road, Flora, MS

Hours: 9am to 6pm

Admission: Adults $7, Kids $6
6 Block Nature Trail
Museum
Gem Mining - $4 per person
 

1:30pm to 2:30pm - Cypress Swamp - MP 122

1/2 mile Trail

3:30pm to 4:15pm - Kosciusko Museum and Visitor Center - Exit 160 on Natchez Trace Parkway
Hours: Daily 9am to 5pm
Free

4:30pm to 4:45pm - Redbud Springs Park - approx. 207 S Natchez St, Kosciusko, MS
Tadeusz Kosciuszko statue

5:00pm to 5:15pm - Buffalo United Methodist Church - Mississippi 12, Kosciusko, MS
Oprah Winfrey's First Church

9pm - Arrive Jackson, TN

If you would like to make it a longer trip, Holly Springs National Forest isn't far.

Abraham Lincoln - 2 Day Trip - Springfield, Illinios

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

Day 1:

7:30am - Leave Jackson, TN

11:30am to 12:00pm - 30 minute Pit Stop

1:30pm to 2:00pm - Union Station Visitor Center - 500 E Madison St., Springfield, IL
Hours: Daily 9am to 5pm
Admission: Free

2:05pm to 5:00pm - Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum - Library is 112 N 6th St and Museum is212 N 6th St., Springfield, IL
Hours: Daily 9am to 5pm
Admission: Adults $15, Seniors or Students $12, Military or Kids $10

Library is free

5:00pm to 6:00pm - Union Square Park - 212 N 6th St., Springfield, IL
Hours: Daily 8am to 10pm
Admission: Free

6:10pm - Cozy Dog Drive-In - 2935 S 6th St, Springfield, IL
Hours: Monday thru Saturday 8am to 8pm

After Dinner - Hotel in Springfield
Super 8, 1330 S Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, IL
(343 Miles)

Day 2:

8:15am - Leave Hotel

8:30am to 10:00am - Lincoln Home National Historic Site - 426 S 7th St., Springfield, IL
Visitor Center Hours: Daily 8:30am to 5pm
Admission: Free
*need ticket for tour*

10:10am to 11:00am - Lincoln Depot - 930 E Monroe, Springfield, IL
Hours: May thru August 10am to 4pm
Admission: Free

11:10am to 11:30am - Lincoln Family Pew @ 1st Presbyterian Church - 321 S 7th St., Springfield, IL
Hours: June thru Aug - Monday thru Friday 10am to 4pm, Sept - Monday thru Friday 11am to 2pm
Admission: Free

11:40am to 12:25pm - Jimmy John's - Lunch - 219 S 6th St., Springfield, IL

12:30pm to 1:15pm - Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices - 6th and Adams, Springfield, IL
Hours: Tuesday thru Saturday 9am to 4pm
Admission: Donation

1:20pm to 1:45pm - Lincoln Ledger @ Chase Bank - 1 E Old State Capitol Plaza
Hours: Monday thru Friday 9am to 5:30pm, Saturday 8am to 12pm
Admission: Free

1:50pm to 3:00pm - Old State Capitol - 1 Old State Capitol Plaza
Admission: Tuesday thru Saturday 9am to 5pm
Admission: Donation

3:30pm to 4:30pm - Lincoln's Tomb @ Oak Ridge Cemetery - 1500 Monument Ave, Springfield, IL
Hours: Tuesday thru Saturday 9am to 5pm
Admission: Free

10:30pm - Arrive Jackson, TN
(342 Miles)

Total Miles: 685 Miles


Other Places of Interest:

Lincoln Memorial Garden - 2301 E Lake Dr, Springfiels, IL
Hours: Tuesday thru Saturday 10am to 4pm, Sunday 1pm to 4pm
Admission: Free

Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site - 15588 History Lane, Petersburg, IL
Hours: Wednesday thru Sunday 9am to 5pm
Camp: $10B, $20A, $30H
Admission: Donation

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 #1 - 3 Day Trip

*Total Cost $106 for 2 adults, 1 kid, 2 nights camping*
*packed food plus gas($90)*

Natchez Trace Parkway - Mile Post 0 to Mile Post 107.9

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

All places are open Dawn to Dusk and Free unless otherwise noted.

Day One:

7am - Leave Jackson, TN

30 minute Gas/ Rest Stop

1:00pm to 230pm - Bob M Dearing Natchez State Park - 230 B Wickcliff Road, Natchez, MS
Tent Camping - $40 night

$81 2 nights

245pm to 3pm - Old Trace Exhibit - MP 8.7

305pm to 315pm - - Elizabeth Female Academy Site - MP 5.1

320pm to 330pm - Southern Terminus - MP 0

340pm - back to camp

Day Two:

830am - Leave camp

9am to 11am - Natchez National Historical Park - 1 Melrose-Montebello Parkway, Natchez, MS
Visitor Center Hours: 9am to 4pm
Melrose Estate - Admission: Adults $10, Kids $5
Melrose Gardens - Hours 8:30am to 5pm, FREE
William Johnson House, 210 State St., Natchez, MS
Hours: 9am to 5pm, FREE
$25 2 adults, 1 kid

If you haven't already gotten a Natchez Trace Parkway brochure/map, you can obtain one at the:
Natchez Visitor Center
640 S Canal Street, Natchez, MS

12:00pm to 12:30pm - Emerald Mound - MP 10.3
Allow 30 Minutes

1245pm to 130pm - Church Hill Loop, refer to your Natchez Trace Parkway map
Allow 45 Minutes
*Springfield Plantation
*Christ Church
*Wagners Grocery

215pm to 3pm - Windsor Ruins Loop, 15095 Rodney Road, Port Gibson, MS
Hours: Daily Dawn - Dusk
Admission: Free
Allow 45 Minutes
*A.K. Shaifer House - N of Windsor

340pm - back to camp

Day 3:

9am - Leave Camp

915am to 10am - Mount Locust Inn/Visitor Center - MP 15.5, Ranger Road
Hours: 9am to 4:30pm

10:40am to 11:00am - Sunken Trace - MP 41.5

11:15am to 11:45am - Owens Creek Waterfall - MP 52.4

12:15am to 1:00pm - Dean Stand Site - MP 73.5

1:15pm to 2:00pm - Raymond Military Park - Hwy 18 & Old Port Gibson Rd, Raymond, MS-MP78.3

2:20pm to 2:40pm - Cowles Mead Cementery - MP 88.1

3:05pm to 3:20pm - Parkway Info Cabin - MP 102.4, Ridgeland, MS
Wed-Sun 9-430
or
Clinton Visitor Center - 1300 Pinehaven Road, Clinton, MS
M-Sat 9-5, Sun 1-5

3:30pm to 4pm - West Florida Boundary - MP 107.9
Nature Trail: short loop

420pm to 445pm - Cypress Swamp - MP 122

Home - 4.5 hours away - one 30 minute pit stop

9:45pm - Jackson, TN

This trip is approx.965 miles

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.