Gimme help with What To See, plz

**Mr. Dan** · 07-09-2017, 10:03 PM

Let's say the ol' boy plans to tow from the Ohatchee/Gadsden, AL area up through Chattanooga through Knoxville and Lexington, KY... up through Cincinnati to the Ft. Wayne, IN area...............
what are the "do not miss"/"you gotta see this" sights? I haven't been up in there in 30 or so years and I'm looking for some sight-seeing advice.

Thank you kindly for your help.
Dan

rsdata · 07-09-2017, 10:25 PM

(EDIT) thought you mentioned coming up thru Nashville... SORRY, but you can easily get to Woodford and Buffalo Trace from I-75 Lexington exits which is not too far off I-75

From I-65 near Elizabethtown, KY take the Bluegrass Parkway, 4 lane divided highway to Lexington. As you near the end of the parkway, (exit to US 60) find either of two distilleries in the area, road signage will help... Buffalo Trace in Frankfort, or Woodford in Versailles. Woodford is buried deep along country roads. Buffalo Trace just outside city limits. Both beautiful destinations that offer one hour long tours and samples. Reservations are not needed but you may want to call ahead the day of the tour. Ample parking for campers at both places. Beautiful grounds and informational tours. Woodford sometimes also offers lunch at it's facility but will require a reservation. Easy to get back to I-75 north to Cincinnati. You can find tour information at websites for both.

Of course all through central Kentucky find your favorite bourbon distilleries like Jim Beam, Four Roses, Heaven Hill (Elijah Craig and others), Makers Mark, Wild Turkey, along with Woodford and Buffalo Trace. Bourbon tours have become big in the state in the past 5-6 years and ALL of the distilleries have spent millions in building big, beautiful facilities to facilitate the touring public. You will find all of these distilleries generally within a triangle from Elizabethtown, to Louisville, to Lexington.

**F.R.O.G.** · 07-09-2017, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Dan

Let's say the ol' boy plans to tow from the Ohatchee/Gadsden, AL area up through Chattanooga through Knoxville and Lexington, KY... up through Cincinnati to the Ft. Wayne, IN area...............
what are the "do not miss"/"you gotta see this" sights? I haven't been up in there in 30 or so years and I'm looking for some sight-seeing advice.

Thank you kindly for your help.
Dan

- Chattanooga & Chickamauga National Park / Civil War Battlefields
- Cog Railway to the top of Lookout Mountain, site of the Battle Above the Clouds
- National Tow Truck Museum (might be called something else now)
- Tennessee Aquarium
- As all of the barns used to say (unless they said "Chew Mail Pouch"), "See Seven States from Rock City"
Chattanooga Choo-Choo

And those are some suggestions right in and around town.

**Mr. Dan** · 07-09-2017, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsdata

(EDIT) thought you mentioned coming up thru Nashville...

Actually, I plan to go home through Nashville where we will pick up the Natchez Trace down to the Vicksburg area... so I'll consider your inputs for the return trip. Thanks.

**Mr. Dan** · 07-10-2017, 11:14 AM

Here are more suggestions I received by PM... posting here to keep it all in one place. Thanks.

ALSO... off I-75 near Dry Ridge south of Cin but north of Lexington is the Ark Encounter which is celebrating 1 year anniversary...

https://arkencounter.com/

not well known but a million visitors in one year. according to local news sources that just covered the anniversary...

a nice place to camp just north of Lexington is Kentucky Horse Park... reservation recommended...

Vince and Charlette · 07-10-2017, 12:42 PM

X2 on Ark Encounter in Williamstown, KY. An hour and a half further up I-75 is the Air Force Museum with hundreds of exquisitely restored aircraft from days of Wright Brothers up to today's high tech machines. (Largest indoor collection of aircraft in the world! - and air conditioned.)

Vince and Charlette · 07-10-2017, 12:46 PM

If available, this old retired AF pilot will lead you on a guided tour of AF Museum.

As the saying goes, "There are old pilots and there are bold pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots!"

BandJCarm · 07-10-2017, 12:53 PM

National Corvette Museum

Mammoth Cave National Park

Wave if you go by Ft. Knox. "Fond" memories. Don't try to get into the Gold Depository. Don't stop on 31W and take pictures of the sewer plant, that looks.......or used to....like the Gold Depository building.

Smoky Mountains, Daniel Boone national forest, etc etc....

bend302 · 07-10-2017, 01:12 PM

Just North of the Horse Park at exit 129 on I75 is Whispering Hills, a full service campground. Of course the Horse Park is worth a visit. You can schedule a Horse Farm tour from there.

Another neat stop is the retired horse farm up near Georgetown Ky.

We always make sure our visitors get to Buffalo Trace and Woodford Reserve distilleries. And, for baseball fans, there Is the Louisville Slugger factory tour and bat museum in Louisville.

Bill

Grambo88 · 07-10-2017, 01:45 PM

Downtown Nashville has good food and good music, that is a good stop but i do not know the campgrounds in the area. Like others have said Horse Park is good the Bourbon trail and the horse farms are something to see. If you stay at the Horse Park they can give you info on were to go at the campground or at the visitors center. PS the Horse Park has 50Amp, water but no sewer and the sites are a good size.

Wattsworld · 07-10-2017, 02:46 PM

X2 on the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio. This place is so large that one day just isn't enough. Plan on two days if you have time. If time is cramped then a rush tour of one day is still a must see. I have been there 4 times over the years and each time we go back we still see things that are new. It is inside and air conditioned. There are exhibits from earliest flight to space flights. This is a well done museum. There are planes from the smallest to planes that are among the largest all under roof. The best part it is free to visit.
Just North of Indianapolis is Fishers, Indiana where Conner Prairie Settlement is. This Settlement is a recreation of what a Settlement would have been like in the early 1830's with a newer section of a Settlement of about the 1860's.
Conner Prairie Settlement is a interactive history park, or living history museum. Were people live there during the day doing their jobs and living just as they would have during the time each village represents. It is a great place to visit but the walking from one house to another is all outside. The people are friendly and will explain what it was like to live during that time in history.
Have a great time and vacation where every you go or do.

GL1800Rider · 07-10-2017, 02:58 PM

We are staying at Whispering Hills on the way up to Goshen. After the rally we will spend 3 nights and 2 days at the Dayton KOA and tour the Air Force Museum. Next stop will be three nights at Spring Hills RV Park in Cave City, Ky as we tour Mammoth Caves and finally at the KOA in Sweetwater, Tn for the Solar Eclipse rally.

Tiggerdad · 07-10-2017, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vince and Charlette

X2 on Ark Encounter in Williamstown, KY. An hour and a half further up I-75 is the Air Force Museum with hundreds of exquisitely restored aircraft from days of Wright Brothers up to today's high tech machines. (Largest indoor collection of aircraft in the world! - and air conditioned.)

X3 and the Creation Museum a little farther North before you enter Ohio

Jim or Cathy · 07-11-2017, 08:54 AM

You will not believe where you are, it's that different from anywhere you've been and what you expect in Ohio. Hike at least a ways into Hocking Hills State Park. If you need it, there's a paved trail for handicapped. All the trails lead into or above a stunning narrow canyon complete with waterfalls and scenic pools. Just beautiful. The campground is nice, but the canyon is the belle of the ball.

**Mr. Dan** · 07-11-2017, 08:04 PM

Thanks, folks. I appreciate the help. I've marked most of these things (close enough to our route) on DW's big paper maps. Now to make some decisions and lay it out.

**Mr. Dan** · 07-19-2017, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim or Cathy

You will not believe where you are, it's that different from anywhere you've been and what you expect in Ohio. Hike at least a ways into Hocking Hills State Park. If you need it, there's a paved trail for handicapped. All the trails lead into or above a stunning narrow canyon complete with waterfalls and scenic pools. Just beautiful. The campground is nice, but the canyon is the belle of the ball.

We're considering going to Hocking Hills State Park after we leave Goshen. We don't have that leg planned yet... but we like what we see online about that area.

THANKS to ALL.
We have some good travel ideas based on your inputs. We appreciate it!

rsdata · 07-19-2017, 05:46 PM

I have been to a couple spots in the Hocking Hills area 3 times in the past 8 years while visiting a friend that lives in the area. HHills area can be very crowded with almost impossible parking in the popular destination spots on the weekends in the summer. I would plan any visit during the week.

**Mr. Dan** · 07-19-2017, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsdata

I have been to a couple spots in the Hocking Hills area 3 times in the past 8 years while visiting a friend that lives in the area. HHills area can be very crowded with almost impossible parking in the popular destination spots on the weekends in the summer. I would plan any visit during the week.

Thanks for the tip. I'm having a little trouble determining "ease of access" at some of the places on this trip's bucket list. Not all Contact Us questions to these destinations have been answered, to say the least!

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