The Deep South in the summer? I definitely can’t stand the humidity! So? We found a week in the Spring to squeeze in 7 southern states.
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My kids are on a quest to make it to all 50 states. Not just as a drive-thru. And, not only do we want to do something in each state, we want them to learn something or experience something new or unique to the locale. We want our kids to be actively engaged not passively entertained. However, we are generally limited to just summer vacations–and even those are becoming more limited as the older kids go to sleepaway camp.
Oh! And did I mention that I really can’t stand the humidity? So what about the Southern States? We found a solution a couple years ago. We decided to spend Passover in South Carolina! So we would be able to go in the Spring–early Spring that year in fact. But, we also had a few constraints to contend with. Some more easily planned for than others.
The first was that we had a 6-month old. This meant that, even if he wasn’t on a rigid schedule–child #5, you tell me–that there may be certain activities he couldn’t join. So, we had to either skip or have a plan for staying back with him. (And we had to make sure to have diapers, formula, and baby food, etc.)
Next, we had one week between the end of school and beginning of Passover. The nice part was that it was a “full week”. Meaning, we didn’t have to make arrangements for Shabbos in the middle and we had a full 6 days to explore. However, it was still only a week. And there was only one day after Passover before the kids had to be back in school. Both these ruled out driving our RV from California there and back. (Several other reasons why an RV was still the best option, but that’s for another time.) RVShare to the rescue! We found a great RV that accommodated our family. We were able to do a one-way rental (Atlanta to Charleston) and the owners even picked us up at the airport.
One advantage we have of setting out from home with our own RV is that it has our kosher kitchen (including pots, pans, etc.) and we can load it up with our kosher food. Although we can find some groceries almost anywhere we go, certainly not any dairy or meat products. And, we can’t just stop for fast food. So, we packed a frying pan and a sandwich maker and flew into a city with a kosher grocery store. That was our first stop.
Time constraints also limited how “off the beaten path” we could go. And how much time we could spend in any one place. So, I had a bunch of ideas of things that would have been great, but just wouldn’t work with our schedule.
Perhaps the greatest planning issue we faced was that this trip took place in March 2021 and it had to be planned ahead of that. Many destinations were either still closed completely or had limited access due to COVID. Many were only functioning on a reservation basis and space was limited. Some were open when we planned but then had to close due to an outbreak. Remember, this was also before vaccines were available to the general public.
Nonetheless, we still made it to 7 Southern States in 6 Days. Also, did I mention that there was a GINORMOUS storm that seemed to be following us? So that derailed and curtailed many of our plans–and our RV was struck by lightning. Twice!
Pro Tip: Most of what we needed for Passover, we did not need for the week before (remember: there wasn’t even a Shabbos). So, why bother paying for the luggage on the plane and shlepping it on a 1500+ mile road trip? (And paying extra for gas because of the extra weight too?) So, we used Luggage Forward to ship a couple suitcases to South Carolina. Totally worth it. Great service. I don’t do it often because I don’t usually pack far enough in advance. But, this was perfect since we had to be packed be fore we left home anyway.
True Confessions: Forgotten Luggage
In this post, I will go through some of what we did in each state as well as some things that we had thought about doing but didn’t due to some of the constraints listed above. Remember: I like to do things that we can’t necessarily do at home. So while there may be some nice beaches, amusement parks, aquariums, or zoos, they are not on the list–unless there is something particularly unique.
The Big Rocks of Route Planning
Also, it is important to note, that no tour of the Southern States would be complete without visiting at least one Civil War Battlefield and antebellum plantation. Both of which exist throughout the region. So, I am not going to enumerate those. But, I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND including both. Pick one that makes sense based on the route you are planning.
Georgia
Having taken an overnight flight after Shabbos into Atlanta, everyone was exhausted. But, we had plans.
As mentioned above, we were met at the airport by the owner of the RV we were renting through RVShare. We drove to an empty parking lot to go over all the details. Then it was off to the grocery store. The people at The Spicy Peach were very helpful even a week before Pesach. I had spoken to them ahead of time to see if I could just make an order for pick-up. They told me about their prepared food options and that if they were very busy (Sunday before Pesach 🤔), there was a Kroger’s nearby with a large kosher section.
Stone Mountain
Touted as “The Mount Rushmore of the South” and “Georgia’s most visited attraction”. This was our first stop. Stone Mountain features Confederate President Jefferson Davis and Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson carved into the granite face of the mountain. It is the largest relief carving in the world!
Activities at Stone Mountain are not just enjoying nature–although at 3200 acres there is plenty. The Summit Skyride provides views of Atlanta and the Appalachian Mountains up to 60 miles away. There’s a ropes course and climbing wall as well as climbing bridges around a gushing geyser and a 5-mile scenic open-car train ride around the park. The park has a mini-golf course, an interactive dinosaur park, and an indoor play area with 65 interactive games, trampoline floors, climbing structures and more. There’s also a 4D theatre experience and a museum. The park also displays “the most extensive collection of period furniture and decorations in the south” housed in original 18th and 19th century buildings collected from throughout the state.
As you can see, you can spend days in Stone Mountain and not see everything. We bought our tickets and parking pas in advance and spend several hours there. The only reason we left was because we had time entry tickets for the next attraction.
The World of Coca-Cola
What is a trip to Atlanta without a trip to The World of Coca-Cola? You can visit the actual Vault that stores the Secret Formula! The Tasting Experience allows you to “try a variety of beverages from different countries around the world” and the Scent Discovery “will take you on a journey that puts your sense of smell to the test”. You can also “create flavor combinations the same way early pharmacists and inventors did”. Of course you can take a picture with the Coca-Cola Polar Bear, learn about the history of Coke, its place in pop culture and so much more.
Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site
My kids are always excited for the opportunity to earn a Junior Ranger Badge, the attractions throughout the Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site were closed due to COVID. I was able to download and print the booklets at home. I felt that even if we couldn’t go into any of the facilities, in the long run there would be a benefit for our kids to have been at the house MLK grew up in. If we are in Atlanta again, this is somewhere I would return to get a more comprehensive experience.
Junior Ranger Program-Best Free National Park Souvenir
*Other Ideas*
CNN Studio Tour
Atlanta is the headquarters of CNN. When we were in Atlanta, CNN has suspended their tours due to COVID. However, since then, they have now decided to permanently close the tour and relocate to a different facility.
Andersonville National Historic Site
I’ve always been fascinated by the Civil War. Although the Southern States don’t lack for Civil War sites, Andersonville was on my list of places to go. Maybe it’s because of the unique place it holds in American History. Maybe simply because I read a book and wrote a book report about it when I was younger. Whatever the reason, it’s a site I still hope to visit one day.
In addition to the the prison site itself, you can visit the National Prisoner of War Museum, Georgia’s World War II Heritage Trail, and the Andersonville National Cemetery which is still an active military cemetery. You can even research prisoners that were interred there.
In addition to the usual Junior Ranger Program, Andersonville has 3-mile self guided Historical Hike. If your child is part of a scouting program s/he can even earn a badge for completing the hike.
Forsyth Park Fountain
Although the 1858 fountain was ordered from a catalogue–and therefore not unique–it is one of the most photographed sites. Perhaps it’s the way the iconic Spanish Moss hanging from the oak trees frames the shots. Especially with the sun at just the right angle. Savannah may be out of the way from Atlanta, but it’s a beautiful coastal city with a rich Jewish Heritage. (Jews settled in Savannah in 1733 and played an instrumental role on the Revolutionary and Civil Wars; for reference the first shul in America, Shearith Israel, was founded in NY in 1700.)
Louisiana
I know that you have to go through Alabama and Mississippi to get to Louisiana from Georgia. And even if I didn’t, then my GPS and Roadtrippers app would inform me. However, since we were planning to loop around to Charleston, and with what we actually had planned, it made sense for us to head to New Orleans from Atlanta.
5 Essential Route Planning Apps
Airboat in the Bayou
To me, an airboat ride through the bayou amongst the alligators was classic Louisiana. There are so many different tour companies offering these tours. Pick one that works for you and your schedule. One thing I would recommend though, if you are going to be relying on Uber/Lyft, have the pick-up afterwards pre-ordered. Some of these tours have their docks so far out that’s there’s minimal cell reception and there are no cars in the vicinity. Check your options through Viator or Get Your Guide.
My kids, even my 4 year-old, got to hold baby alligators!
French Quarter
The French Quarter of New Orleans has some beautiful architecture and fascinating history. However, I made the mistake of taking my children there at night. It is a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT vibe by day regardless of the time of year! We left real quick!
Eat and Pray
We enjoyed a delicious dinner at Kosher Cajun and I was able to have my kids try some local cuisine (Jambalaya, Poboy, etc). One of my daughters was especially fond of Red Beans and Rice. Kosher Cajun also has Shabbos take-out and a grocery.
While we ate, my husband and son got a ride with another tourist to shul for mincha/maariv.
*Other Ideas*
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
Jean Lafitte NHP is a great place to learn about the area’s biodiversity as well as its cultural and historical heritage. From pirates to alligators and bayou to battlefield there’s something for everyone. And don’t forget to get the Junior Ranger booklet ahead of time!
Cafe Du Monde
Beignets at Cafe Du Monde are a New Orleans classic. There are even several locations that have certified kosher beignets (or you can buy a mix and make your own). Alas, they are not cholov yisroel, so we did not partake. However, they look scrumptious!
Woodcut Printmaking
This was perhaps something that I was most disappointed not to be able to do. I thought we’d have a great time learning how to make woodcuts and then do some printmaking. We could make our own t-shirts, poster, postcards, etc. However, Sean (of Sean Starwars) was out of town running workshops elsewhere that week.
Mississippi
We headed (back) to Mississippi, only now there was a major storm that hit us. Literally. The RV was struck by lightning–twice I think! The storm was so bad that we heard reports of people being killed in towns that we had just driven through. So, we didn’t do much in Mississippi because of the storm. Also, because we had to make a stop at Urgent Care. But that’s a story for another time.
HAND+made
HAND+made in Laurel provided the perfect indoor activity. It’s a home décor and crafts studio. We made a personalized family dough bowl that graces our table every Shabbos. It was a great activity to work on together for a couple of hours while getting to know some of the locals in this small town.
Right around the corner is the gallery of Mark Landis, one of the greatest counterfeit artists of all time. However, it was closed when we were there. But, we were able to duck under an awning and look into the windows.
*Other Ideas*
Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum
We have been to several different museums that are collections of historic local buildings. The different regions of the country lend themselves to very different styles and building materials as well as the types of buildings. In addition to the standard “small town Mississippi” exhibit, general store, heritage center, farmstead and antique farm equipment, this facility houses the National Agricultural Aviation Museum. There’s also a children’s barnyard with farm animals, a veterinary medicine exhibit, a medicinal herb garden, Mississippi Delta memorabilia and so much more.
I think this would have been worth the hour detour, but being that so much of it was outdoors, we skipped it due to the weather.
The Shack Up Inn
This would have been a great opportunity for my kids to stay in a sharecroppers’ shack. However, it was all booked up! I also wanted them to experience (or at least see) cotton picking, however, it wasn’t the right season.
Some of the information and connotations on the website seem somewhat inappropriate for my kids, though. So, I would research more before recommending or booking.
Alabama
Alabama has so many great things to do and explore. Unfortunately, many of them were too far out of the way and many of the ones that weren’t were closed due to COVID. We did do a couple of interesting things and managed to drive past another.
Helen Keller Birthplace
“Ivy Green” is the official name of the home in which Helen Keller grew up in Tuscumbia. We were able to explore the house and the grounds (self-guided in a socially distanced manner). It was so fascinating to see a video of a speech that Helen Keller gave as an adult and actually hear her speak. My son had written a book report on a Helen Keller biography so he was excited to see the famous water-pump where young Helen uttered her first “word”.
Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House
Florence is home one of the purest examples of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian style houses. No pun intended. My husband studied architecture in college and I had been to Taliesin West, so this was a great opportunity to expose our kids to arguably the best known American architect. Wright said the Rosenbaums had been his ideal clients since whenever they wanted to make a change or an addition they came back to him. This maintained the integrity of the Usonian style.
I had a funny exchange when I called to ask if the property was stroller accessible or if we needed to use a baby carrier. He said we had to be sure to use a forward facing baby carrier only. He said they’ve had people not notice that the doorways were narrow and walk through and bang the baby’s head on the doorframe. I guess this was such a common problem, because when I went into the office upon our arrival and mentioned that my husband was outside putting the baby in the carrier, the woman at the desk made sure to confirm that it was forward carrying!
*Other Ideas*
Mercedes-Benz Visitors Center
Mercedes has its US headquarters in Vance. The plant tours were suspended when we were in the area. Furthermore, since children have to be at least 10 years old (and capable of walking 2 miles during the hour and a half tour), I don’t think we would have done it anyway. It’s one thing to exclude a six month old and stay back while he naps. It’s another to exclude the 4 year-old as well and have to keep her entertained when she’s being left out.
However, I still think it would have been really interesting to see the plant at work and tour the assembly line.
Tuskegee
The town of Tuskegee is home to the Tuskegee Institute as well as the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Sites. The institute preserves the legacies of innovator Booker T. Washington and inventor George Washington Carver (crop rotation, amongst other things). The Tuskegee Airmen site preserves the history of breaking barriers. Both sites have Junior Ranger options.
Selma, Montgomery, and Birmingham
Although we visited the Birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr in Atlanta, Selma, Montgomery, and Birmingham have become synonymous with the Civil Rights Movement in America. Like Tuskegee, these cities were too far out of the way and most of the sites were closed due to COVID. Definitely worth visiting if in the area.
US Space and Rocket Center
Although it didn’t fit our schedule, the US Space and Rocket Center was one of those places that you could be in awe just from a drive by. They have many different simulator and training experiences available. Not your typical science center. It even has its own RV Park.
Unclaimed Baggage
Unclaimed Baggage is a 50,000 square-foot store in Scottsboro that sells exactly that–unclaimed baggage! With all the modern tracking technology, due diligence requirements and reimbursement costs to the airlines for lost luggage, it is very rare for baggage to truly go “unclaimed”. However, for the 0.03% that is happens to, then what? That suitcase will end up at the Unclaimed Baggage store. You may even get picked to sort through the contents of a fresh bag. This is a truly unique experience. FYI: they have personal shoppers and ship nationwide.
Tennessee
We actually had plans to spend a few days in Tennessee during the upcoming summer. But, being that The Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited national park, we didn’t want to contend with the summer crowds. But, having said that, I have not included “other ideas” for Tennessee, since we did other things over the summer. Including an amazing Shabbos in Memphis.
Ruby Falls
Ruby Falls is the tallest and deepest underground cave waterfall open to the public in the United States. The entrance is in Chattanooga Tennessee but the cave goes under Lookout Mountain which is mostly in Georgia. On the nearby Georgia side, you can actually go to Rock City and get a view of 7 southern states.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
As the saying goes, “Man plans and G-d laughs”. As mentioned, we wanted to beat the summer crowds. We even drove to the more out of the way end of the park so that we could drive through and see the whole park. But, it was POURING! (Remember the storm in Mississippi?) The rain was so bad that the park roads we closed and we has to go all the way around the park, instead of through it, to get to North Carolina. So, all we did was go into the visitors center so the kids could complete their Junior Ranger books. Even that required waiting in a line outside in the cold and rain because of social distancing. We ended up returning to the Great Smoky Mountains in the summer.
North Carolina
The plan had been to drive through the Smoky Mountains from Tennessee and come out on the other end in North Carolina. But, as mentioned above, that didn’t happen. So, we had to come up with Plan B.
Blue Ridge Parkway Folk Art Center
The Blue Ridge Parkway, known as “America’s favorite drive”, was a great Plan B. Although we could not take full advantage of being on a scenic drive due to the weather, we did have a great time. There was the Blue Ridge Parkway Junior Ranger to unexpectedly add to the collection. But we also stumbled upon the Blue Ridge Parkway Folk Art Center. In addition to art for sale and on display from the mountain counties of nine southern states, there were artists working on site. We were able to observe and interact with the craftsmen as they worked. And, it is the oldest craft shop in the US, having been founded in 1898.
Asheville Art District
The River Arts District in Ashville is comprised of a number of repurposed industrial buildings along the river. You can walk through and watch the artists work in their studios. Or, you can do what we did. We arranged a workshop with one of the artists and made our own enamel and silver necklaces. Jessica at Ignite Jewelry Studios was not only accommodating of our schedule, but she worked very well with our mixed age group. She explained the process clearly and we walked away with our own hand made necklaces (my teenage son made one for my mother and my husband helped our 4-year-old).
We also walked around and looked into the other [closed] studios in the building while we were there.
*Other Ideas*
Biltmore
Built by James Vanderbilt, the Biltmore is “America’s largest home”. You can spend days exploring just the gardens, never mind the actual mansion. Although the 8,000 acre estate has activities for kids as well as adults and a wealth of history–again no pun intended–we decided not to go. We didn’t think the limited time we had would suffice. But, really we had just been to some of the Rhode Island mansions and the Rockefeller Carriage Roads over the summer. So, we didn’t think our kids would appreciate it at this point. But, a different time, we would look at the full list of varied activities offered.
Chimney Rock State Park
This is a nice hike with a great view. And, for the non-hikers, there’s an elevator with an exit to a bridge where you will find 75-mile views of Lake Lure and the Blue Ridge Foothills. Chimney Rock itself is just a relatively easy climb of 40 stairs if you take the elevator.
Wright Brothers National Memorial
See where the first flight took place and learn about early aviation history and the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kitty Hawk. And of course, get your Junior Ranger badge.
South Carolina
Since South Carolina was our ultimate destination for Passover, we did spend the most time there. However, many of the days were holiday days during which we didn’t tour. Also, we were a bit more leisurely at this juncture in the trip. There were also a few things we did that I’m not including because they were kind of like the filler stuff. And everyone is going to have their own “filler”. Oh, and it was still raining for much of the time.
Congaree National Park
We are often asked what our favorite national parks are. I don’t think anyone in my family agrees with me, but Congaree National Park is one of my favorites. The truth is, I don’t even know why. We walked along the boardwalk and met a few people sitting on benches. It actually wasn’t raining and the mosquitos weren’t out. I think I liked it because I found it so unique. We actually slept in the RV in the visitors center parking lot the night before so we could be there first thing in the morning.
Charleston Horse Drawn Carriage Tour
A horse-drawn carriage tour around historic downtown Charleston is a classic experience. One advantage of COVID was that we had the carriage all to ourselves. Ordinarily, we would have splurged to have the “private tour experience”, but now we didn’t have to. One reason I prefer it this way is because this allows the guide to tailor the content to my kids level of interest and knowledge. It also allows my kids to feel more comfortable asking questions and interacting without feeling either embarrassed or monopolizing (depending on the kid). This guide even drove us past the oldest shul in town.
Pro Tip: depending on the size of your family, a private tour may actually be less expensive than paying for each person individually. Just be sure to tip well (and make a kiddush Hashem).
Charleston City Market
Spanning four city blocks and dating to the early colonial period, the Charleston City Market is one of the country’s oldest public markets. You can see the local Gullah making Lowcountry sweetgrass baskets and explore all sorts of other souvenirs that are now sold at this historic venue. We also did a basket-making workshop of our own while in South Carolina.
Fort Sumter National Historic Site
I know I said I wasn’t going to enumerate Civil War battlegrounds, but Fort Sumter is different. This is where it all began on April 12, 1861. So we took the boat to the fort, explored, became Junior Rangers, and made the return journey.
The Tavern at Rainbow Row
Founded in 1686, The Tavern is the oldest liquor store in the country. During prohibition, it functioned as a barber shop out front and had tunnels running underneath to all the speakeasies in the city to its backroom. The way the roots of the trees out front are above-ground are seen as evidence of the tunnels.
*Other Ideas*
Old Slave Mart Museum
Although slavery is an uncomfortable piece of history, it is nonetheless a part of history. By ignoring it, we are just ignoring the lessons to be learned as well as having those who suffered do so in vain. The Old Slave Mart Museum has operated sporadically since 1938. The staff is often comprised of those who trace their lineage back to individuals who came through the Charleston slave mart, which is not surprising since at certain points 35-40% of enslaved people entered the US through Charleston.
The Southern States have a lot to offer. There is diversity in activities, people, culture, and environment. I would definitely plan another trip to the region to see some of what we missed. But I would even revisit some of the places we made it to.
What would you add to the list?
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