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

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

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

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

Tennessee to California (and back) - 14 Day Trip

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

Day 1:

7:00AM - Leave Milan, TN

11AM to 1130AM - Toad Suck, Arkansas-Toad Suck One Stop (Shell) - 4462 Hwy 60 E, Bigelow, AR
*next to Toad Suck Park
**Eat Packed Lunch

230PM to 3PM - Gas/Rest Stop

5:30PM to 6PM - Wind Turbine Blade @ Heritage Park - 522 W Rainey Ave, Weatherford, OK

845PM - Hotel in Amarillo, TX
Travelodge Amarillo West - 2035 Paramount Blvd ($46 as of 8/23/15)
Super 8 Amarillo East - 8701 I-40 East, Amarillo
Super 8 Central - 2909 I-40 East, Amarillo
Comfort Inn and Suites - 2300 Soncy Rd, Amarillo

(832miles)($100gas)($50hotel)

Day 2:

8AM - Leave Hotel

810AM to 820AM - Cadillac Ranch - I-40, Amarillo, TX
*on frontage road after Hope Road and before Dowell Road

9AM to 910AM - Route 66 Midpoint Cafe - 305 Route 66(I-40 Business West & CoRd 22), Adrian, TX
*photo not eating
Hours: 8am to 4:30pm

12:40PM to 110PM - Petroglyph Nat'l Monument Visitor Center - Western Trl NW, Albuquerque, NM
Hours: 8am to 5pm MST
Parking: $1 weekdays, $2 weekends
*Junior Ranger Program

1:15PM to 215PM - Boca Negra Canyon - Atrisco Dr. NW, Albuquerque, NM
Hours: 8am to 5pm MST
Parking $1 weekdays, $2 weekends
*allow 1 hour

2:30PM to 3:30PM - Volcanoes Day Use Area - Atrisco Vista Blvd, Albuquerque, NM
Trail Hours: 9am to 5pm MST

8:00pm - Hotel in Flagstaff, AZ
Quality Inn Flagstaff - 2500 E Lucky Lane ($31 as of 8/23/15)
Travelodge - 1560 E Route 66, Flagstaff
America's Best Value Inn - 910 South Milton Road, Flagstaff
Days Inn - 1000 West Highway 66, Flagstaff
Snow Peak Inn - 822 West Highway 66, Flagstaff

(619miles)($75gas)($40hotel)

Day 3:

7:30AM - Leave Hotel

8:00AM to 9:00AM - Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument - Fire Road 545, Flagstaff, AZ
VC Hours: 8am to 5pm MST
Free
Lava Flow Trail - 1 mile/30 minutes
*Junior Ranger Program

9:30AM to 10:30AM - Wupatki National Monument - Loop Road, Cameron, AZ
*follow loop road north for 18 miles out of Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
VC Hours: 9am to 5pm MST
Wupatki Pueblo Trail - 1/2 mile RT/45 minutes
*Junior Ranger Program

12:15PM - 7:00PM? - Grand Canyon National Park - AZ 64 & S Entrance Road, Grand Canyon, AZ
Grand Canyon Village
$30 Car
VC Hours: 9am to 5pm MST
*Junior Ranger Program

South Rim Points of Interest: map
-Mather Point(walk 0.7m to...)
-Yavapai Point and Geology Museum(8am to 8pm)
-Lookout Studio(Blue Shuttle)
-Hermit Road(Red Shuttle)
-Desert View Watch Tower(8am to 30m before sunset)

830PM - Hotel in Flagstaff, AZ

(213miles)($26gas)($40hotel)

Day 4:

7AM - Leave Hotel

10AM to 1030AM - 30 minute Pit Stop

130PM to 2PM - Gas/Rest Stop

3PM to 4PM - Check-In to Hotel in Los Angeles, CA
Howard Johnson Inn & Suites - 7432 Reseda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA ($84 as of 8/23/15)
Hawthorne Plaza Inn - 12043 Hawthorne Blvd, Hawthorne
LAX Suites - 11838 Aviation Blvd, Inglewood

440PM to 8PM - Griffith Park Observatory - 2840 E Observatory Ave, Hollywood, CA
*to view the Hollywood sign
Tues-Fri 12pm to 10pm, Sat&Sun 10am to 10pm
Free

840PM - Hotel

(525miles)($63gas)($100hotel)

Day 5:

9AM - Leave Hotel

930AM to 130PM - Hollywood & Highland Center (Visitor Center) - 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
VC 10am to 10pm
$2 Parking
*Hollywood Walk of Fame
Elvis Presley - 6777 Hollywood Blvd
Mary Tyler Moore - 7021 Hollywood Blvd
Robin Williams - 6925 Hollywood Blvd

430PM to 5PM - Gas/Rest Stop

730PM - Hotel in San Francisco, CA
Super 8 San Francisco/Union Square Area - 415 Ofarrell St, San Francisco
Union Square Plaza Hotel - 432 Geary Street, San Francisco
Herbert Hotel - 161 Powell Street, San Francisco
Pacifica Motor Inn - 200 Rockaway Beach Ave, Pacifica
Days Inn San Francisco South/Oyster Point Airport - 1113 Airport Blvd, South San Francisco
America's Best Value Inn - 701 Airport Blvd, South San Francisco

(392miles)($47gas)($100hotel)

Day 6, 7 & 8:

San Francisco Day 1:

San Francisco Transit

9:00am to 12:00pm - Alcatraz Island - Alcatraz Island Cruises, Pier 33, Hornblower Landing
Early Bird Tour: 9:10am
Admission: 12+ $28, Under 12 $17
Allow 2.5 hours
*Junior Ranger Program

12:00pm to 1:00pm - Hard Rock Cafe - Pier 39, Concourse #256
Hours: 11am to 10pm

2:00pm to 3:30pm - Ride the Ducks - 2766 Taylor Street
90 Minute Ride Hourly
Admission: Adults $29-34, Kids $22-25

3:30pm to 5pm - San Francisco Maritime Nat'l Historic Park - Aquatic Park Cove, 499 Jefferson St
Hours: 9:30pm to 5pm
Admission: $5 person
Balclutha Ship Tour
*Junior Ranger Program

5:00pm to 8:00pm - Fisherman's Wharf - Pier 39
Shopping - Gift Shops

Magowan's Infinate Mirror Maze - Building O, Level 2
Hours: 10am to 8pm
Admission: $5 person

Lombard Street

San Francisco Day 2:

9:00am - 9:30am - Golden Gate Park - McLaren Lodge Visitor Center - 501 Stanyan Street
Start here and get a map...

10:05am - 12:00pm - San Francisco Botanic Garden - Golden Gate Park
Hours: 9am to 5pm
Admission: Adults $7, Kids $5, Family $15
Lunch

12:06pm - 1:00pm - Japanese Tea Garden - Golden Gate Park
Hours: 9am to 6pm
Admission: Adults $7, Kids $5

1:05pm - 1:30pm - de Young Museum - Golden Gate Park
9th Floor Observatory is free and has a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge

1:40pm to 2:00pm - Pioneer Log Cabin - Golden Gate Park

2:20pm to 2:30pm - Stow Lake Bridge - Golden Gate Park

2:50pm to 3:00pm - Rainbow Falls - Golden Gate Park

3:25p to 3:30pm - Bison Paddock - Golden Gate Park

3:45pm to 4:00pm - Dutch Windmill - Golden Gate Park

4:15pm to 5:00pm - Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Lands End Lookout Visitor Center - 680 Point Lobos Avenue
Hours: 9am to 5pm
cafe and gift shop

5:00pm to 5:30pm - Sutro Baths Ruins - Lands End Lookout

5:45pm 6:30pm - Ocean Beach - Across Highway from Golden Gate Park

San Francisco Day 3:

8:00am - Leave Hotel

8:45am - 11:00am - Muir Woods National Monument - Muir Woods Road, Mill Valley, CA
Hours: Visitor Center 9am to 7:30pm, Park 8am to 8pm
Admission: Adults $7, Kids Free
Red Trail - 1 mile/1 hour
*Junior Ranger Program

11:10am to 12:30pm - Muir Beach Overlook - Seascape Drive, Muir Beach, CA
Overlook and Picnic Lunch

1:00pm to 1:30pm - Marin Headlands Visitor Center - 948 Fort Barry, Sausalito, CA
Hours: 9:30am to 4:30pm
*Junior Ranger Program

1:30pm to 3:00pm - Point Bonita Lighthouse - 948 Fort Barry, Sausalito, CA
Hours: Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays 12:30pm to 3:30pm

3:00pm  to 3:30pm - Nike Missle Site - 948 Fort Barry, Sausalito, CA
Hours: Wednesday thru Friday and First Saturday of the month, 12:30pm to 3:30pm

3:45pm to 5:00pm - Fort Point National Historic Site - end of Marine Drive, San Francisco, CA
Hours: Friday thru Sunday, 10am to 5pm

5:15pm - Let's Be Frank Hot Dog Cart - Crissy Field, San Francisco, CA

Day 9:

7AM - Leave Hotel

11AM to 2PM - Yosemite National Park - Yosemite Valley - El Portal Rd, Yosemite Valley, CA
Valley Visitor Center
Yosemite Museum
Museum Hours: 10am to 4pm
*Junior Ranger Program

Things to See:
Waterfalls
Horsetail Fall - El Capitan Picnic Area
Bridalveil Fall - 1/2 mile round trip trail - Tunnel View Area
Yosemite Falls - 1 mile loop trail - Yosemite Chapel Area
Rock Formations
Sentinel Rock - Lower Yosemite Fall Area
El Capitan - El Capitan Meadow
Cathedral Rocks - El Capitan Meadow
Three Brothers - Cathedral Beach Picnic Area
Viewpoints
Sentinel Bridge
Tunnel View

3PM to 6PM - Yosemite Nat'l Park - Mariposa Grove - Mariposa Grove Road, Fish Camp, CA
0.8 mile trail to Grizzly Giant and California Tunnel Tree

630PM - Hotel
America's Best Value Inn

48800 Royal Oaks Drive

Oakhurst, CA 93644

Day 10:

7AM - Leave Hotel

9AM to 10:30AM - King's Canyon Nat'l Park - Hwy 180, Grants Grove Village

Visitor Center: Open daily 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. through May 23, 2013, then 8 a.m.-5 p.m

 -General Giant Tree Trail - 1/3 mile

*Junior Ranger Program

11:30AM to 1:30PM - Sequoia National Park - Hwy 198(Generals Hwy), Giant Forest

Giant Forest Museum:  Opens May 11-24, 2013, 9 a.m..-5 p.m, Starting May 25, 9 a.m.-6 p.m and Closes October 15, 2013.

-General Sherman Tree Trail - 1/2 mile

8:30PM - Hotel

Travelodge Yucca Valley Inn and Suites

7500 Camino Del Cielo Trail

Yucca Valley, CA 92284

Day 11:

8:00AM - Leave Hotel

8:30AM to 9:00AM - Joshua Tree National Park - 6554 Park Blvd, Joshua Tree, CA

Visitor Center: 8am to 5pm

Admission: $15 car

*Junior Ranger Program

9:15AM to 10:00AM - Black Rock Nature Center - 9800 Black Rock Canyon Road, Yucca Valley, CA
Hours: 8am to 4pm

10:30AM to 11:30AM - Hidden Valley Picnic Area - see Joshua Tree National Park map

12:00PM to 12:30PM - Cholla Cactus Garden - see Joshua Tree National Park map

1:00PM to 1:30PM - Cottonwood Visitor Center - see Joshua Tree National Park map
Hours: Monday through Friday 9 am to 4 pm, Saturday and Sunday 8 am to 4 pm

7:30PM - Hotel in Flagstaff, AZ

Day 12:

7:00AM - Leave Hotel

9:00AM to  10:00AM - Petrified Forest National Park - 6492 Petrified Forest Road, Holbrook, AZ
Road Hours: 7am to 7pm
Admission: $10 car
*Junior Ranger Program
Rainbow Forest Museum - 6618 Petrified Forest Road, Holbrook, AZ 86025
Hours: Through Sept 7, 2013: 8am-6pm, After Sept 7, 2013: 8am-5pm
* Giant Logs Trail - 0.4 mile loop

10:30AM - 11:30AM - Blue Mesa Trail - see Petrified Forest National Park map
*1 mile loop

12:00PM to 1:00PM - Painted Desert Rim Trail - see Petrified Forest National Park map
 *1 mile round trip
*Kachina Point
 *Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark

1:15PM to 1:45PM - Painted Desert Visitor Center - 1 Park Road, Petrified Forest, AZ
Hours: Through Sept 7, 2013: 8am-6pm, After Sept 7, 2013: 8am-5pm

4:00PM - 5:00PM - El Morro National Monument - off Hwy 53, Ramah, NM
Visitor Center Hours: Vary per season
Admission: Free
*Inscription Rock Trail - 0.5 mile loop
*Junior Ranger Program

7:00PM - Hotel in Albuquerque, NM

Day 13:

7:00AM - Leave Hotel

8:15AM to 10:30AM - Pecos National Historic Park - off New Mexico Hwy 63, Glorieta, NM
Visitor Center Hours: Summer 8am to 6pm, Winter 8am to 4:30pm
Admission: Ages 16 and older $3, Free under 16
*Pueblo and Mission Ruins Trail - 1.25 mile
*Junior Ranger Program

7:30PM - Hotel in Oklahoma City, OK
Travel time includes 1.5 hours of pit stops

Day 14: 

9:00AM - Leave Hotel

9:00AM to 11AM - Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum - 620 N. Harvey, Oklahoma City, OK
Hours: 9am to 5:30pm - hours vary per season
Admission: Free
*Junior Ranger Program

2PM to 5:00PM - Fort Smith National Historic Site - 301 Parker Ave  Fort Smith, AR
Visitor Center Hours: 9am to 5pm
Admission: 16 and over $4, Free under 16
*Tour the building, which includes:Two Jails, Judge Parker's Court Room, Exhibits on the U.S. Deputy Marshals, the Military, Outlaws, and Trail of Tears.
*Visit the Gallows.
*Junior Ranger Program

8PM to 830PM - Gas/ Rest Stop

1115PM - Home

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.