10 must-see Southeastern cities to turn your summer move into a rolling vacation
(BPT) - Summer’s here, and while other people are planning and taking summer vacations, you’re getting ready to move. People choose to move during the summer months for many reasons, some of which include that the kids are out of school and the weather is often more cooperative. In fact, Penske Truck Rental reports an increase in rentals every summer. Moving doesn’t mean you have to miss out on summer vacation, however – especially if you’re moving from state to state. If you’ll be moving from points north to somewhere in the southeast this summer, here are 10 great cities (in no particular order) to visit on the way – so you can turn your summer move into a rolling summer vacation!
Every American should visit the nation’s capital at least once. From iconic monuments like the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument to landmark museums like the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, Washington’s many sights are a celebration of America’s history and culture. Off-the-path must-see sight: The Thomas Jefferson Memorial gets fewer visitors than some of D.C.’s more famous monuments, but it’s a peaceful and moving tribute to the founding father who is largely credited with writing the Constitution.
Occupying the No. 1 spot on Penske’s annual Top Moving Destinations list, Atlanta is home to nearly half a million people and is Georgia’s most-populated city. It’s easy to see what draws people there. From Centennial Olympic Park where children frolic in the fountain of rings, to the World of Coca-Cola where you can sample varieties of the beloved beverage from around the world, Atlanta has a lot to offer by way of summer fun. Visit the Georgia Aquarium, catch a ballgame or tour the city in an open-air smart car. Off-the-path must-see sight: The Center for Puppetry Arts celebrates the art of puppetry, including one of its most famous practitioners – the late Jim Henson, creator and voice of Kermit the Frog.
Renowned for classic southern architecture, towering moss-draped trees and beautiful, shaded town squares, Savannah is a riverside city steeped in history and mystery. The state’s oldest city offers a charming historic district and outstanding shopping on River Street, which runs along the Savannah River. Take a riverboat cruise, stroll one of the historic town squares, or tour the city by trolley. Savannah is also a springboard for visits to the beaches of nearby Tybee Island and the world-class golf courses of Hilton Head. Must-see sight: The Bird Girl statute from the book and movie “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” is on public display the Jepson Center on York Street.
Some of the nation’s most beautiful landscape meets up with classic tourist kitsch in this fun little city nestled in the state’s Great Smoky Mountains. Whether you’re a nature lover who wants to hike, fish and whitewater raft, or you’re into amusement park rides and mirror museums, Gatlinburg has the best of both worlds. Families with kids will love the Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, challenging miniature golf courses and a cable car ride that offers spectacular views. Off-the-path must-see sight: The Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum houses 20,000 sets of salt and pepper shakers and 1,500 pepper mills from around the world.
If there’s a city that truly personifies the genteel south, it’s Charleston with its historic plantations, beautiful beaches and laid-back vibe. Families can find one-of-a-kind attractions like a pirate tour or a visit to Fort Sumter, which is where the Civil War began. Shopping to fishing, architectural tours to a ghost tour of the USS Yorktown, there’s something for every taste in Charleston. Off-the-path must-see sight: The Hunley, the world’s first submarine to be used in battle, is under restoration in a special facility in North Charleston.
From modern art museums and performing arts centers that host top headliners, to uniquely southern attractions like the Billy Graham Library and the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the city of Charlotte has something for everyone. Catch a sporting event in Uptown, shoot the rapids at the U.S. National Whitewater Center, or travel 20 minutes south of Uptown to the Carowinds amusement park, home of Fury 325, the world’s tallest and fastest giga-coaster. Off-the-path must-see sight: The Carolina Raptor Center in nearby Huntersville features an array of American raptors, including Bald Eagles, presented in interactive and educational displays along shady walking paths.
One look at the natural beauty of the area surrounding Asheville and you’ll understand why George Vanderbilt chose the spot for his famed estate, Biltmore. Nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains, Asheville offers a wealth of natural sights, from caverns to waterfalls, historic sites like Mast General Store (in operation since 1883) and majestic peaks like Grandfather Mountain. Take a ride on a railroad, cruise the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, visit a Native American village, go deep underground in Linville Caverns or sample North Carolina wines at the Biltmore Winery. Off-the-path must-see sight: The Thomas Wolfe Memorial preserves the boyhood home of one of America’s most influential and beloved authors.
Home of the legendary Kentucky Derby, Louisville is also host to a minor league baseball team, the Muhammad Ali Center, the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, and the Kentucky Science Center. Take a Segway tour of the shops and eateries of the Waterfront District, or take a ghost tour of some of the city’s legendary haunted spots. Off-the-path must-see sight: You can zipline through some of the more than 4 million square feet of manmade tunnels that comprise the Louisville Mega Cavern, the former home of a limestone quarry that is now being developed into a tourist attraction and commercial venture.
The 450-year-old coastal city is home to two outlet shopping centers, three colonial-era forts dating to the time when the Spanish held the region, the Fountain of Youth Archeological Park, and the oldest wooden school house in America. Stroll through the shops and attractions of Old City, marvel at the architecture of Flagler College, spend an afternoon at the beach or get up-close and personal with a wide variety of reptiles at the Alligator Farm. Must-see sight: The Old Jail is definitely a top tourist destination in St. Augustine, but it’s well worth the trip as visitors get a taste of what prison was like in the late 1800s.
While things haven’t always been easy for “The Big Easy,” New Orleans remains one of the most exciting, engaging and diverse cities the south has to offer. A melting pot of French, African and American cultures, New Orleans is the birthplace of American jazz and world-class musicians routinely play for tourists walking the streets of the city’s famed French Quarter. Sip coffee and snack on beignets at Café du Monde, explore the city’s cemeteries where all burials occur above ground in deference to the city’s high water table, or feast on creole cuisine in one of New Orleans’ many eateries. Off-the-path must-see sight: Mardi Gras World in the city’s Garden District is the largest float-designing and building facility in the world, and it produces more than 80 percent of all the floats that participate in New Orleans’ Carnival season.