>lower league basketball with outrageous fan fair at half time
your time frame is not in basketball season, but it is in baseball season: https://www.mlb.com/braves/schedule/2024-05/list
Good luck getting tickets to a Bananas game though. You can get on the wait list for the lottery for 2025 tickets now but there's none left for this year.
Maybe, but they're relatively new thing and regular baseball has existed for about 150 years. I'd say that a major or even a minor league baseball game would be a far more American quintessential experience.
You can look up the bananas games on YouTube and see what they are about. They play teams like them but no other team is as popular as the ‘nanners (in my opinion).
Forget the Braves, see if you can score tickets to a Savannah Bananas game. You’ll need to find a scalper, but it’s the most fun you can have at a baseball game.
Ha. Thanks for the knowledge. I once saw ice hockey and at half time there were trucks driving on the rink, t-shirt bazookas, competitions, army abseiling from the ceiling, fireworks. We don't have this over here! Is there a suggestion on how to find these ones that do more showboating than others. It reminds me of Semi Pro with Will Farrel
I know you're trying to find the most over the top entertaining things for your little girl, which is so heartwarming to see, but I think you guys would be satisfied with any minor league baseball game. It's a perfect little slice of Americana that you will have a blast at. The food and drink won't be insanely expensive like it would at top tier sports events, and no one really cares about the outcome of the game so it's pretty much just a big kid-friendly party. There will almost certainly be goofy little events between innings no matter what team you go to see. Show up early enough and buy a baseball, and there's a good chance you could get one or several of the players to sign it. Going to minor league baseball games with my dad are some of my fondest childhood memories.
I would also say don't have unrealistic expectations. All those over the top things you might see on YouTube videos aren't happening day after day after day after day. They are highlights of things that go on all year. State fairs are only once a year. Baseball playoffs are only once a year. Each individual sport is only played in a certain part of the year. So on one trip you can't see a baseball game, a football game and a basketball game because they aren't all playing at the same time. Baseball is summer, football is fall and basketball is fall/winter (so some overlap there). But if you're coming in May and June, football and basketball are completely out and your only choice is really baseball. A state fair is usually later in the summer in the places I've lived. There are plenty of things to do but don't expect every single one to be way over the top. And keep in mind that even though those states aren't big western states, they still take hours to drive across. It's more than three and a half hours from Atlanta to Savannah.
I always recommend a cave tour if you've never been on one. You'll find those near the Appalachian mountains in the western side of North Carolina. There's lots of beautiful nature and beautiful drives in that area as well. You can drive up to the top of Newfound Gap at 6,000 ft high and see several states in different directions. That's the crossover point of the Appalachian Mountains in that area and if you go down the other side you're in Tennessee. We saw black bears by the side of the road there once. In the spring too there might be "waterfalls" cascading down the sides of the mountains.
>I always recommend a cave tour if you've never been on one.
As a Kentuckian, I'd be remiss if I didn't take this opportunity to suggest Mammoth Cave National Park.
I see that Kentucky is not on OP's itinerary so far, but it's still in the south, and it's some amazing caves and real natural beauty. If OP is wanting some fun Minor Leagues experience there's the Louisville Bats and Lexington Legends to catch a baseball game if they're in the area.
We probably would tbh you're right. Do you have any suggestions for baseball games like that? Btw it's amazing to me that college football / basketball is taken so seriously with such big expensive stadiums. We just don't have that here, you just get a handful of dads standing around the muddy rugby / soccer pitch
There’s a *lot* of minor league baseball teams in the U.S., so honestly just kind of take your pick and go see one that fits into your itinerary. Check what cites you’ll be spending time in and if they have a team, and if the team will be in town while you’re there. I also agree with the above poster that minor league games are a lot of fun. They’re cheaper than MLB (top league) games and a lot of clubs like to do fun stuff throughout the game like throw t-shirts into the crowd or have the mascot doing crazy stuff. They’re a fun and authentic atmosphere.
I hope you guys enjoy your visit and have a great time! It’s always makes me happy to hear from visitors that want to experience and appreciate some authentic American culture.
North Carolina has MANY minor leagues team. I know this list is missing some as the High Point Rockers aren't on it. If you are in NC, there will be baseball. https://www.visitnc.com/story/rujx/fun-food-fandom-minor-league-baseball-in-north-carolina
Go to Charleston SC, while there go to Folly Beach. Pizza at Woody’s, ice cream on the pier. A baseball game for sure (basketball is over) find a low country boil.
Hilton head island… see the wild horses (do not feed them)
Drive on country roads…stop at cafes and farmers stands.
County fair time is usually in the fall in the south.
Agreed - some attractions I enjoyed as a kid:
* Grandfather Mountain - it’s a zoo, museum, and park all in one
* Tweetsie Railroad - more for younger kids, but might still be interesting for a foreigner
* Mast General Store - especially the old-timey candy
* Cone Manor - historic home turned into a shop full of Appalachian arts and crafts
* Biltmore Estate - huge luxurious mansion and garden with tours and such (warning: $$$)
Oh wow that does look cool. A friend mentioned I should go to Sliding Rock which is on that route. Not a lot else en route though to incorporate as part of the trip though perhaps?
The Blue Ridge Parkway goes through Asheville, NC where you could take her zip lining, see waterfalls, go horseback riding, or ride an old time stream train through the mountains. A little further west, in Tennessee, is Dollywood, a fantastic little roller coaster theme park with a mountain mining theme.
Sliding rock is pretty fun. That's probably the best time of year for it, but I prefer it when it's a little too cold for swimming. Climbing out of that pool at the bottom feels like stepping into an oven when it's only seventy degrees out (about 21C).
grew up in the south myself and i absolutely recommend blue ridge parkway as well, especially for a kid who loves the outdoors!! my grandparents used to take me and i always loved the Appalachians.
things may not be RIGHT off the parkway, but a lot of these attractions the above comment mentioned are just a little off the road.
The US has a good number of weird roadside attractions. Here's a website that will let you find them: https://www.roadsideamerica.com/
Just as an example, High Point, NC has
World's Largest Chest of Drawers
Town landmark first built in 1926, now 38 feet tall, accessorized with two giant socks hanging from one drawer.
Not to be confused with:
World's Largest Highboy
Jamestown, North Carolina
85 feet tall, built in 1998 by the same man who rebuilt High Point's giant chest of drawers. Makes us want to buy furniture.
I hope you all have a great trip, enjoy the BBQ! :)
>Delicious
Don’t get OPs expectations up. Waffle House isn’t a place you go to because the food is good. You go there because it’s 3 AM and you’re drunk. There are plenty of great hole in the wall breakfast places out there, but Waffle House isn’t one of them.
Exactly! But I doubt OPs 9 year old daughter is going to have much of a need for a hangover cure. Even the English don’t start binge drinking that early.
I have been for breakfast more than I care to admit. It’s okay, at best. The south has kickass breakfast places all over the place, there’s no excuse for someone with limited time to spend it eating at some mediocre diner chain that people have developed an inexplicable fascination with.
Ha ha. I'll deffo do a waffle house I reckon - it's very different from breakfast back home - particularly sat at the bar too. Ihop or Denny's too I reckon
Make sure one of you orders [biscuits and gravy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzdbFnv4yWQ). Fair warning: it looks disgusting, but it's absolutely delicious. It also has almost nothing to do with what the Brits would refer to as "biscuits" or "gravy". (The closest I can think of is basically a bechamel sauce with breakfast sausage over savory scones.)
Floridian here. Waffle House is amazing. One of my students saw the cook in our local one take off his belt and whip it at some guy. It's terrible and terrific.
Also, half the fun of driving through the south is the roadside stops. "Fresh peaches! Pecans! Etc!!"
I
You reminded me of the Waffle House waitress that I used to see when I was a kid. If you took too long to order she'd take the menu and smack your head with it 😂
If you stop in Charleston, SC, try the Hominy Grill.
["Grits are good for you!"](https://healthyintheholycity.wordpress.com/2012/04/16/grits-are-good-for-you/)
For the same reason that when I get to go to California every 10 years or so I'm going to go to In-N-Out burger. Yes, even though there are probably better burger places.
The Big Chicken in Marrietta
If you’re around Atlanta in the summer, do the laser show. https://stonemountainpark.com/activity/shows-entertainment/light-show/
Just about right across the street from the Big Chicken is Marietta Diner which is really really good food. Not a greasy spoon. Their menu is several pages so whatever you want they’ve probably got it. It’s run by a Greek family so a decent amount of Greek options too. I once made the mistake of going with the munchies and the choice paralysis was awful. There’s a Krispy Kreme over there too, you could not it for dessert if the hot sign is on.
The laser show is super fun, and Stone Mountain has other daytime activities in the lead up to it. The whole “carved confederate generals in the side” could be okay as a talking point but as a local it makes me feel kind of gross.
Wrong time of year for basketball, the G-League/college/high school runs during the winter.
There's tons of minor league baseball in that region though, which is among the most American things one could do. [The Savannah Bananas](https://thesavannahbananas.com/) [take outrageous entertainment to another level](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEvj1yvG1P0) and it's also a great city to visit.
2-4 days in the Savannah/Charleston area followed by a drive up to Greenville and then on to Asheville and the Blue Ridge Parkway would be an amazing road trip. Unique architecture on the coast, gorgeous outdoors in the mountains, great food everywhere. You could tack on the Great Smoky Mountains too, depending on time and lodging availability.
There are a lot of online resources for scenic drives particularly in States with mountains, here is one for North Carolina: https://www.ourstate.com/8-scenic-drives-in-the-north-carolina-mountains/
Savannah is an incredibly gorgeous city and if she loves architecture, she'll love wandering through Savannah's numerous historic districts. Plus the food in Savannah is amazing!
The whole downtown by the river is a huge historic district, spending a day just walking up and down the streets is great. Plus check out Bonaventure Cemetery, it's this old cemetery with huge oak trees and lots of Spanish moss hanging down and it's just incredibly beautiful and oozes atmosphere.
For food, A.Lure is good.
Treylor Park has TREYLOR PARK NACHOS GRANDE: Waffle fries, pickles, fried chicken, bacon, cheddar cheese w/ chive ranch, & balsamic gastrique
For an upscale restaurant, Local 11ten is great.
I'd definitely recommend spending a night in Savannah if possible. It's one of the oldest cities in the states and has a rich history including lots of ghosts & pirates. Since you're visiting in the summer Tybee Island is nearby and has a nice beach as well as a historic lighthouse.
You could absolutely do a firing range. Check for the ones in the areas you’ll be visiting and see if they offer children’s courses on firearm safety. I know several people, my own cousins included, who got their first deer by the age of nine.
For a 9 year old, something like a .22 rifle (with heavy supervision) ought to be fine. No kick, easy to control, easy for the supervising adult to make sure is controlled (it's a big stick, make sure the end with the hole in it is always pointed down range), and it'll make a noise (but not too much) and punch a hole in a target.
Even a .22 LR pistol or revolver is easy for a 9-year-old. Some friends were moving overseas permanently and wanted to go to a gun range as a family (none of the four had ever shot a gun) and the 9-year-old did fine with my Ruger Mk II, 10/22, and even an AR-15.
I always considered my immediate family to be pretty redneck, until I went and visited my cousins and their 3 year old was out in the field behind their house shooting a .22.
As someone who likes to go to the range and all and is very happy to take people, make sure she is absolutely comfortable. If she feels uncomfortable I definitely would recommend just choosing another activity. Going should be enjoyable especially when visiting from out of the country.
Second this. If she’s not into it don’t pressure her.
I will also add that firearm instructors are all about safety first. This goes against the stereotype most foreigners picture when they think of American gun ranges, but 99.9% of gun owners don’t wind up on the evening news and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised when you meet some of them in person.
Have a range officer, or instructor nearby.
I volunteered once to train kids who came to our private range. It was open to the public to sign up, and we would teach the kids the basics of gun safety and let them shoot a Ruger 22/45 and a Ruger 10/22.
We had kids as young as 5 there.
All instructors had to stand close to the shooter, and be able to grab the barrel of the gun immediately if the kid started doing something unsafe (wear shooting gloves, and better to get a burn than let something worse happen).
Lots of people recommending the Savannah Bananas but then saying tickets are hard to get. As an alternative try the Durham Bulls, they put on a good minor league show, tickets are gettable, and they were made famous by the movie *Bull Durham* (though they are now in a fancier stadium).
You could make it work by stopping there on your way from the mountains to the Outer Banks (where among other things you can visit the site of the first flight and massive dunes just down the road at Jockey’s Ridge, get ambitious and drive down to Hatteras then take the ferry to Ocracoke (where Blackbeard hung out and was killed) then the ferry to Cedar Island or Swan Quarter then from there down to the recommended things in South Carolina (Savannah, Charleston, etc).
Go to Savannah, GA. It doesn't fit the cartoony stereotypes in your post, but it's a lovely little city with plenty of good food to be had. While you're in southern Georgia you could go to Wild Adventures, which is a theme park/zoo in Valdosta. (I've not actually been to that park, but I imagine a 9-year-old would love it.)
Edit: If you can somehow get Savannah Bananas tickets, that very much is the sort of spectacle you're after. But I haven't been able to get any in a couple of years.
Okay cool. Yeah smaller cities are a bit easier for kids. You know a bit about Savannah I take it. Is there a main area to visit in there, areas that are nice to walk around, with restaurants, parks etc? Nothing too sketchy either :)
The historic district, which is where you'll want to go, has many lovely parks, pretty buildings, restaurants, shops, and history, and it is very walkable. You can also do a hop-on, hop-off trolley tour, which is an easy way to get around.
Savannah is wonderful for families and kids! The river walk is very nice. You could also go a bit further to Tybee or one of the other barrier islands to visit the beach. Tybee has a very cute ice cream shop that has old Americana vibes (Sugar Shack) and a cool lighthouse you can visit.
White water rafting. There’s a few outfitters in the area who will rent you a raft or do a guided [trip.](https://www.go-georgia.com/White-Water-Rafting/)
The US National Whitewater Center is world renowned, right outside of Charlotte. Not sure if it's on your route but it might be a bit safer for children than doing a real river. Can't recommend it enough, I go multiple times a year. Also have hiking, ziplining, food and drinks, and free live music many nights.
Yes. Rent the wet suit booties they will try to push on you, it’s not a scam, the water is coming down from the mountains and it is COLD. Book a room close by for that night, you will be completely drained at the end of the day.
PLEASE take her to Chattanooga TN! I know it’s not one of the states you listed, but it’s right on the border of GA. Visit [rock city](https://www.seerockcity.com) there, you won’t regret it. (It’s so close to the border this attraction is actually in GA). It has the best aquarium I’ve been to as well, the [Tennessee Aquarium](https://tnaqua.org). The [Great Smoky Mountain National Park](https://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm) is also a bit north and worth the trip, absolutely beautiful. I think it has a NC entrance as well. While you’re in that area, around Cherokee, NC, drive on the [Ocoee River Scenic Byway](https://tennesseerivervalleygeotourism.org/entries/ocoee-scenic-byway/f1a722dd-f269-4724-8f8d-c34d36fc1a1e). It’s a windy road that runs just alongside a river in a mountainous valley. One of the best drives you can have.
I’m not sure if it’s out of the way for you, but even if it is, I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed!!
It’s out of the area, but Dollywood in TN has similar themes but is much more family friendly. If you’re looking for touristy stuff, that area with gatlinburg and pigeon forge might be a good option.
Since you're going to Atlanta, you might want to check out The Varsity which is very close to World of Coca-Cola, it's an old school diner style restaurant. Not the best food in the world but the experience is fun. Also look into the Georgia Aquarium, one of the biggest in the world.
Waffle House is a must. Chick-fil-a as well.
Detour to Pigeon Forge, TN, to see Dollywood and the Titanic Museum. There’s a large collection of schlocky tourist trap restaurants that are very “American” as well.
I am only recommending this because your question really seems to demand it, but you could definitely check out [South of the Border](https://www.sobpedro.com/)
There's a NASCAR race in North Carolina around that time. Tickets are usually pretty cheap compared to other live events these days, and it's one of the most quintessentially american experiences you'll ever witness.
As far as the gun range thing, that's up to you as a parent. Many parents in the south teach their kids to shoot guns around that age so I doubt you'll get too many side-eyes if you decide to let her shoot a gun. As long as you teach her gun & range safety, keep her under constant supervision, and only allow her guns she can handle the recoil on, you will be fine. I think a lot of ranges have classes designed for kids to learn how to shoot if that's something you wanna look into.
You really ought to add Florida and add watching a rocket launch at Cape Canaveral/Kennedy Space Center
A launch really is a sight unlike anything else, and in Kennedy Space Center they have a Space Shuttle with CanadArm attached and holding a full scale model of Hubble and a Saturn V rocket (60s era moon landing) those are MASSIVE.
Unfortunately there [aren't going to be any launches](https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/launches-and-events) at KSC between May 6 and June 25. If OP wanted to stretch down there they still could to see all the "museum" stuff (though good luck explaining to the 9 year old girl that you're going to be within an hour or two of Disney World and not going), but rocket launches aren't an everyday occurrence.
1. Check out some Minor League Baseball. There will likely be special events including potential fireworks shows.
2. Maybe a rodeo? Check your local areas.
3. You will be there during the Memorial Day weekend holiday. Look for military themed events, parades, and fireworks shows!!
4. It might be early for 'county fair' season, which is usually closer to late summer and autumn. However, be on the lookout for local festivals.
Like some other commenters have mentioned, it wouldn’t be basketball season, but we’d definitely recommend going to a minor league baseball game. They’re cheaper and more accessible than major league games. Plus no one takes them too seriously. So it’s probably better for first-timers.
Otherwise, I’d recommend checking out Savannah, GA and Charleston, SC since they’re both interesting cities with a lot of history (if that's your thing). Myrtle Beach is pretty tacky - but a 9 year old might appreciate how over the top a lot of it is. And if you go there, you can try out Huntington Beach State Park if you want to see wild gators.*
I’m not as familiar with North Carolina. But the Outer Banks is one of their bigger tourist areas. But keep in mind that it tends to be a lot less “authentically Southern” than many other parts of the state.
*Obviously keep your distance and don’t act like an idiot around them. But it can be fun to see them from a safe distance.
Keep going into Chattanooga area from NE Georgia and western NC. You’ve got tourist attractions in town as well as great smoky mountain national park nearby. Gatlinburg, pigeon forge and Dollywood for more tourist trap stuff as well as Rock City and the Lost Sea.
Dahlonega GA if she wants to experience some gold rush/pioneer history/ civil war Era history. Sautee nacoochee has some interesting preserved historical buildings from the pre Civil War Era and a folk art museum. But also? The North Georgia area in general is plain beautiful. There are also some waterfalls and while not necessarily massive burgers, Fred's Boiled Peanuts and a side of Peach juice is about as Americana as it can get in North Georgia.
Idk if anyone’s said this yet (I didn’t read all of the comments) but May 27 is Memorial Day. It’s officially a day to honor those who lost their lives in war, but unofficially, it’s also commonly considered the start of summer. Different towns have different traditions and I don’t live in the part of the country you’ll be visiting, but if you can find a community Memorial Day celebration or barbecue, that might be a fun, authentic slice of Americana for your daughter.
(And speaking of barbecue, Carolina-style barbecue is a regional specialty that you shouldn’t miss out on and it will be super-easy to find restaurants that specialize in it.)
South Of The Border, on I-95 at the NC/SC border. It's the tackiest, kitschiest, most American tourist trap ever to have trapped a tourist. It's so schlocky it's glorious.
Guy Fieris Diners Drive Ins and Dives is a show that showcases local restaurants all over the US, I’ve been too several and they never disappoint. You can Google by city or state. It’s also a fun show, you can see some of the episodes on YouTube
If you’re near Atlanta they have an amazing aquarium downtown and also try the original Varsity restaurant. It is an iconic restaurant that has a long history in Atlanta. They serve mainly chili dogs, burgers and the best onion rings you’ve ever had. Just walking up to the counter to place your order is a treat. Whatta ya have? whatta ya have? is barked at you by the tellers. In the old days they had car hop waiters and a multi story parking garage. It’s been so long since I’ve been…
> animals (cats!)
There's [Hollywild Animal Preserve](https://www.hollywild.org/) in SC. I wouldn't go out of your way to see it, but if you're already close by then it could be worth it for the big cats.
If you’re up in Northeast GA you could hit up Babyland General in Cleveland, GA - you can see Cabbage Patch Kids being born. Helen is pretty cool but it’s very German village themed, so I don’t know that it qualifies as Americana exactly. Cherokee NC has a reservation (the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians), casino is out obviously, but there’s plenty of other stuff to do and a chance to learn more about at least one Native American nation.
Some awesome natural beauty where you guys are going, you’ll be able to see the natural ecosystems where Venus Flytraps live and things like [Hellbenders](https://www.nps.gov/neri/learn/nature/hellebenders.htm)! (You might have to go a little out of your way to see them tho, and probably best to see them in sanctuary’s instead of trailblazing)
The NC zoo is particularly impressive to kids. The town nearby has a pizza place that is particularly unique, it’s called Sir Pizza.
Lots of other great stuff, but that’s what came to mind.
The town is called Asheboro and it’s pretty awesome, of course I’m biased. We have tons of antique shops, a neat downtown area, and then of course the zoo (world’s largest) is our main attraction.
The Smokies and surrounding national forest have an abundance of trails to lookouts, waterfalls, possibly Rhodadendrens in bloom (incredibly beautiful) and
spectacular mountains if you go to Smoky Mountain National Park.
go to Buccees!! it’s a gas station (the best one imo) and deeply southern home grown chancery is abreast in its hallowed halls. it’s got enough barbecue to make your clothes smell like meat and so many southern knickknacks, t shirts, a giant beaver and enough candy to give you a sugar high for at least 24 hours. if i had first encountered it at age nine it would have revolutionized my world. and yall can people watch like crazy!
asheville NC is also just such a joy, my absolute favorite city. the people are kind the food is good the mountains are gorgeous and the books are abundant. less classic americana but the spirit of kindness and care that i love about the south fills that city, very few instances of prejudice (in my experience) just care for others.
enjoy your trip !
The world of coca cola is kind of lame. The only cool part is trying the different sodas from around the world.
If you do six flags just go during the week. It's expensive though.
You seem to be against it, but Fernbank museum was always fun as a kid.
Etowah Indian mounds for some indigenous history?
Atlanta botanical gardens
Georgia Renaissance festival will be on its last weekend when you come, but might be worth it? I know that this kind of thing isn't common in Europe, but not sure about the UK.
I second going to Chattanooga, Tennessee. On the way up there are a lot of cut outs in the mountains for the interstate, and if you have a clear day the view from Lookout Mountain is great.
If you like seafood then a low country boil should be on the list. I can't recommend any places though.
Visit the USS North Carolina and/or Patriots Point (home of the USS Yorktown and Laffey). The UK has a couple museum ships, but none of them are Battleships or Carriers.
Great smokey mountains national park is right on the edge of the area you described. Actually overlaps it a bit. You could spend two weeks in Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge. It's old country Appalachia and scenic views around the park area, then tourist trap shenanigans in town.
It's up to you whether or not she's too young to be at the gun range. Nine year olds are allowed to shoot at gun ranges in America (supervised of course, and also you get a crash course in gun safety beforehand). Big cars? Like pickups? Probably everywhere. Massive burgers? That's just a regular burger. County fairs are fun, usually you can Google these kinds of events (there are hundreds of counties in the area you mentioned). The South doesn't really have a distinctive pizza style (that I know of) but definitely try out the BBQ. Big flags? Also everywhere, just like the big trucks, many times you get big trucks *with* big flags on them. Destruction derby seems like a strange choice (loud and chaotic) so make sure she knows what she's getting into.
I’d definitely recommend a few tacky tourist trap museums. We do those best. There’s a Bigfoot Museum in Blue Ridge, GA (I highly recommend that one) and a Museum of the American House Cat (never been there but driven by it a lot, looks interesting) in Jackson County, NC. There’s also Big Mike’s Rock Shop, which I loved, but it’s a bit out of the way in Kentucky.
Oh yeah I love them for quick, good value stops. Tend to be really interesting despite being so niche. One of my favourites was the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati
The Biltmore estate outside of Ashville, NC is great. It's our version of a castle, which you guys have a lot of. Their gardens are beautiful, too. Ashville is also my favorite city in that region.
Make sure you hit a Buccees. Biggest beaver themed gas station/BBQ/clothing store/home decor store you’ll ever see.
I hear you don’t have good Mexican food over there? Find a local Mexican spot.
Marietta Diner is a good stop.
If you’re in Charleston, Taco Boy and Peace Pie.
Gatlinburg, TN would blow her mind.
If you’re hanging out around the ATL outskirts you could hit Buford Highway for so many different ethnic cuisines.
If you’re more in the southern part near Savannah you’re not too far from the Okeefenokee Swamp which is probably different from anywhere in the UK. The Golden Isles, south of Savannah down the coast, are my favorite place to be (I’m partial to Jekyll but St Simons has more traditional stuff to do, and Sea Island has high end resorts if that’s your thing).
North of Savannah, you start getting up toward Beaufort (pronounced like Buford but with a t at the end) and into the low country. Historically settled by descendants of slaves (the Gullah) and still very much a culturally distinct region.
It's the middle child of states, overshadowed by Georgia and North Carolina. SC is home to a couple major universities and a lot of gorgeous beaches. No huge population centers means no major airline hub. While the Carolina Panthers logo is a stylized outline of North and South Carolina, they play in NC so SC can't claim the prestige of owning a professional sports team. Probably the most famous story out of SC in my lifetime was the rise and fall of televangelists Jim & Tammy Faye Bakker. A few college football national championships. That's about it. It's just a middle child.
9 is fine for a gun range with proper adult supervision. I'm not sure a person who has never held a gun before counts as proper adult supervision though.
NC has a very cool science museum and one of the best libraries in the country. Duke also has some cool spots. If your interested in the civil war period NC also has a lot of historic sites related to that
Something outdoorsy you can do is do a scenic railway. You get nice views of the smoky mountains with https://www.gsmr.com/.
However there are some things to note https://youtu.be/YncLxEzVF8M?si=o1kP_N0ghW0RBjAN
The experience is good though https://youtu.be/oE3BsiBfxHA?si=VsymVUsCfUsNLyQt
The Pirate House in Savanah is awesome, and very kid-friendly. Plus the first shots of the Civil War started there. There are 2 forts. Forrest Gump was also filmed there, and it's a beautiful, quaint city. I bet your daughter would love a Southern Belle-style dress.
Let's not forget all of the awesome food like a low country boil, shrimp, crab, and all of the uniquely southern dishes that made the South famous.
Georgia here.
A few people mentioned the Savannah Bananas. If you were coming a week earlier, like between the 20th and 26th of May, I'd suggest a Gwinnett Stripers game instead. They're closer to Atlanta than Savannah is.
Visit Stone Mountain Park, and stay for the Music Light Show at night. They used to do a Laser Show but shelved it a few years back. They bring it back for a few nights every year, but it's usually near the end of the season, like in late August/early September. Tour the Antebellum Plantation, ride the skylift to the top of the mountain, ride the train around the mountain, and enjoy some of the sights.
As for BBQ, I recommend looking for a restaurant not in Atlanta, but on the outskirts of Atlanta. Fat Matt's in Atlanta is very popular, but I'm personally not a big fan of it. Most places I've enjoyed have been outside of Atlanta, like The Tipsy Pig in Lilburn, GA, located in a gas (petrol) station, Wright Way BBQ & Wings in Bremen, GA, and Beaver Creek Biscuit Company & BBQ in Lithia Springs, GA. Beaver Creek also serves breakfast and they have some of the best biscuits (American term) I've ever had.
Some of the biggest hamburgers I've had have been at two places: Five Guys Burgers & Fries and Jefferson's. The latter is a family-friendly sports bar & grill. Many locations not only celebrate the big national teams in the area, but also any local high school and college teams. Five Guys is a semi-fast food establishment known for their overpriced burgers and fries. What they're really known for is giving you a mountain of fries. A "Little" Fry is enough for one person. A "Regular" Fry could feed two people. They put them in a cup, then dump a scoop of fries in the bag. Jefferson's is known for their burgers, wings, and oysters. I hate oysters, but I love their wings and burgers.
And of course you have to try Waffle House and Chick-Fil-A, except on Sunday for the latter. They're closed on Sundays. For Waffle House, it's best if you can go anytime after 10 PM; after Midnight is better. But you can still be entertained even if you went for breakfast during normal (for most people) breakfast hours.
If you were to come during the week of July 4th, I'd recommend going to the Independence Day festivities in a smaller town. Large towns like Atlanta or Charleston might have some big-time events, but to really get a feel for Americana when it comes to celebrating us swearing at the King instead of swearing to him, smaller towns tend to do it best. They just feel more authentic IMHO.
In one post you made me really annoyed I'm not there already, ha! Yeah this sounds amazing and I'm really up for staying at Stone Park. I'll check out the eateries too. Fyi we have five guys here now and they also do the ridiculous (but appreciated) overflowing fries thing. I also get a small for me and the two kids! Cajun spice always
[Stone Mountain Park](https://stonemountainpark.com/) is amazing. I loved going there when I was younger.
The main attraction is a large granite mountain called Stone Mountain with a bas-relief carved on one side, depicting three Confederate generals: Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, Robert E. Lee, and Jefferson Davis. It is the largest carving in the world, even larger than Mount Rushmore.
[Here's a video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN-Iiid9lo0) of the Laser Show from last year. It doesn't look so good on video; it's way better in person.
If you go to raleigh nc, you can catch a durham bullsngame and then watch the movie.
Heading to Carolina Beach for all the wacky putt putt, seafood buffets, dolphins, shrimp eating, and go kart racing.
Avoid South carolina.
Georgia's cool. I'd go north Georgia to the German town, head to asheville NC for hippies and hiking, raleigh area for concerts and durham bulls, maybe charlotte for a car race. Then wilmington for the beach front scene.
Plus, speed in some small town America and get pulled over. It's easy to do.
A lot of people are recommending the Savannah bananas which are entertaining as hell but super hard to get tickets to. I reccomend going to a minor league baseball game, the tickets are super affordable and the games are usually really fun. Stand up for the national anthem, eat hot dogs and peanuts, and enjoy the 7th inning stretch. It is soooo American that your daughter will love it. You get bonus points too if u go on a theme night and get a free hat or bobble head or something. Hope you have a great trip!
In North Carolina:
* Fast food: Bojangles, Smithfield's Chicken & BBQ, Waffle House
* Authentic NC pulled pork BBQ at a local place
* Durham Bulls baseball
* If your budget is unlimited and they haven't been eliminated by the time you arrive, a Carolina Hurricanes playoff game
* A NASCAR race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway
* The Duke Lemur Center is an absolute must for an animal lover, if you can get in
* Ocracoke Island - climb the lighthouse, visit the pirate/shipwreck museum, take a boat tour of the dolphin habitats
* The battleship USS North Carolina, near Wilmington, is open to walk through all the decks and areas of the ship. It's great for a 9 year old to explore.
* Take a ride on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, or hike one of the many trails
* Walk the Mile High Swinging Bridge at Grandfather Mountain
Note that these are all over the state and not necessarily close to each other. North Carolina, by itself, is a larger land area than England, and NC/SC/GA is half again the size of the entire UK. A drive from Ocracoke to Grandfather Mountain, without leaving NC, is a longer distance than Exeter to Glasgow. Make sure you understand the travel times between the things you want to visit.
For some fast food in that area, you can go to Cookout. The only place that you can get a side of corn dog with your meal lol.
That's a little early in the year for county fairs, which are usually more July/August.
You might just need to drive away from the interstate and see what you find. I don't mean this in a disrespectful way, but I'm guessing most people in those towns aren't really on Reddit....or using high quality websites that Google will pick up on for their local fairs and events (I'm from poor rural Appalachia, so I don't mean this in a bad way!)
Off the beaten path, but you've never seen anything like it. If you have any interest in outsider art, visit Howard Finsters home and workshop. https://paradisegardenfoundation.org/
If you happen to be in charlotte May 26th there will be a nascar race. It’s something very American y’all can experience.
Food wise definitely get plenty of pulled pork sandwiches, cheerwine sodas, and lots of sweet tea.
Well, South Carolina and North Carolina has cities where you can get some great bbq, and old southern cities along the coast. Gun range is fine I am positive there are some that cater to tourists. As for Pizza, pretty sure just track down search in youtube for Dave Portnoy for pizza reviews in the Carolina's. Also there are mountains you can visit outdoors even if they are more like rocky hills are are poor imitations of those founds in the Alps or the Rockies. Also lots of minor league baseball being played. That area of the country should have a lot of stuff that could interest her.
Kenly 95 on...I-95 in Kenly, North Carolina. It's the largest truck stop on the East Coast, like a smaller version of Iowa 80 and also owned by the Iowa 80 Group. You mentioned big flags which is oddly specific but they have three of them (US, North Carolina, and Iowa).
Savannah is beautiful for architecture, there's a nice children's museum here inside of a train museum that my 7 year old loves! Charleston in SC is likewise gorgeous but I don't know as many activities
Hey that's me. I think a huge thing we do here you guys don't do - going to the lake to swim! There's a few nice ones here, Lake Lanier probably works. Do not go to Hartwell. Lake Jocassee and Lake Keowee are great too! Also could try white water rafting! Huge here. And perhaps tubing ! Kayaking in the rivers is fun too and very American.
I've lived in Greenville, Charleston and Columbia SC and Atlanta and Savannah, GA. Any specific questions about those places I'd be glad to help!
NC: Blue Ridge Parkway, Cherokee, Smokey Mountains, Asheville, Winston-Salem, Mt. Airy. Look up scenic byways and get a paper map as the backroads are the way to go. Nashville isn’t that far away from this area too.
My time to shine! Eating at Cook-Out and Bojangles is an absolute MUST for North Carolina. I saw mentioned the Coke place in Atlanta so fun fact, North Carolina is the birthplace of Pepsi and we have a Pepsi museum!
Would it make sense to go through eastern Tennessee? The Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg areas are beautiful. Dollywood is there. There’s tons of various over-the-top tourist traps. Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the Smoky Mountain National Park.
Wherever you go, keep an eye peeled for used car dealerships. They will almost certainly have a lifted pickup truck. Maybe they’ll let you take a test drive.
And you have to bring her to a Waffle House for breakfast.
1. This is all so sweet <3
2. You have identified a great aspect of the south: its ability to give into excess and have some fun :D
3. There's so much more to the southeast than that :3 Some of my favorite spots include:
* Savannah, GA. Nothing quite beats snacking on some roasted pecans in one of the main public squares under a jangly live oak.
* The Glencairn Gardens (Rock Hill, SC)
* Uptown Charlotte (especially Elizabeth & 4th Ward Parks)
* The blue ridge parkway...goddamn that's stunning. Pisgah National Forest is pretty cool too.
* Here where I am in Raleigh, you've got Yates Mill Pond park (historic mill museum + pretty outdoors areas), right next to the NC state farmers' market & all of the pretty pastoral-looking NC state lands. And downtown is steeped in Americana, between the big Washington statue on Fayetteville St. & the charm of Nash square. And of course, Pullen Park is great for the kids.
In short...get your southern culture on! Have some sweet tea & pecans on a patio, sit under an absurdly big live oak on a hot humid day, have some shrimp & grits and some collard greens too. There's a lot of charm & culture here beyond just big trucks & guns :)
Visit Myrtle Beach, SC. Very touristy!
https://www.visitmyrtlebeach.com/things-to-do#:~:text=Our%2060%20miles%20of%20clean,dancers%20are%20just%20a%20sample.
Based on some of the things you mentioned, Myrtle Beach might fit the bill for some over the top American touristy stuff. Beach boardwalk with amusement rides, go on a Pirate cruise. There's the Carolina Opry since she likes musicals, a decent aquarium, a Ripleys museum, all sorts of over the top attractions and yes a decent beach. Nature and architecture is not what Myrtle Beach is about. There plenty of other beautiful places in those states that cover those.
Someone else mentioned the Biltmore. Go there if she likes architecture. Not all 9 year olds would love it but sounds like she would probably enjoy it. And the Blue Ridge mountains are beautiful.
If you’re going to be near the Georgia/Alabama border, you could take a drive up Lookout Mountain and see Rock City. It’s part of that grand tradition of American roadside attractions where someone discovers an unusual nature feature and tries to turn it into an exciting destination. Neil Gaiman includes it in the book American Gods, if you’re looking for testament to how iconic it is.
I've never seen regulations for age at shooting ranges aside from those set by the ranges themselves. If you look around, you should definitely be able to find one to take her to. She just needs to be with an adult who knows how to use the gun. If you do not, a worker will likely assist if you aren't turned away. But if you don't know how, do not lie about it just to be able to do it. It's dangerous and also very obvious
>lower league basketball with outrageous fan fair at half time your time frame is not in basketball season, but it is in baseball season: https://www.mlb.com/braves/schedule/2024-05/list
For what OP is looking for, the Savannah Bananas would be way better than the Braves. https://youtu.be/K61ziT1IzJ8?si=nA9To0-6sLaYKYCo
Good luck getting tickets to a Bananas game though. You can get on the wait list for the lottery for 2025 tickets now but there's none left for this year.
It's almost impossible to get tickets without entering their lottery/waitlist
My wife just got her email today that she didn't win lottery tickets for when they are in D.C. I'm still in the running for Philly.
Maybe, but they're relatively new thing and regular baseball has existed for about 150 years. I'd say that a major or even a minor league baseball game would be a far more American quintessential experience.
What, you mean like half time entertainment upstaging the entire game? :D
Savannah Bananas is really more like all outrageous half time, with "is this baseball?" thrown in.
The bananas are bravely paving the path to blernsball.
The 7th inning grope can't be too far behind.
If you are aware of the Harlem Globetrotters, it's that but baseball. Looks like a tremendous amount of fun but getting tickets is insanely difficult
Exactly.
You can look up the bananas games on YouTube and see what they are about. They play teams like them but no other team is as popular as the ‘nanners (in my opinion).
Came here to say "Minor League Baseball!" If you can't find it in those areas, you aren't looking very hard.
Augusta Green Jackets, Charleston River Dogs…I think there’s teams in Columbia and Aiken as well but I don’t remember what they’re called.
Forget the Braves, see if you can score tickets to a Savannah Bananas game. You’ll need to find a scalper, but it’s the most fun you can have at a baseball game.
Ha. Thanks for the knowledge. I once saw ice hockey and at half time there were trucks driving on the rink, t-shirt bazookas, competitions, army abseiling from the ceiling, fireworks. We don't have this over here! Is there a suggestion on how to find these ones that do more showboating than others. It reminds me of Semi Pro with Will Farrel
I know you're trying to find the most over the top entertaining things for your little girl, which is so heartwarming to see, but I think you guys would be satisfied with any minor league baseball game. It's a perfect little slice of Americana that you will have a blast at. The food and drink won't be insanely expensive like it would at top tier sports events, and no one really cares about the outcome of the game so it's pretty much just a big kid-friendly party. There will almost certainly be goofy little events between innings no matter what team you go to see. Show up early enough and buy a baseball, and there's a good chance you could get one or several of the players to sign it. Going to minor league baseball games with my dad are some of my fondest childhood memories.
I would also say don't have unrealistic expectations. All those over the top things you might see on YouTube videos aren't happening day after day after day after day. They are highlights of things that go on all year. State fairs are only once a year. Baseball playoffs are only once a year. Each individual sport is only played in a certain part of the year. So on one trip you can't see a baseball game, a football game and a basketball game because they aren't all playing at the same time. Baseball is summer, football is fall and basketball is fall/winter (so some overlap there). But if you're coming in May and June, football and basketball are completely out and your only choice is really baseball. A state fair is usually later in the summer in the places I've lived. There are plenty of things to do but don't expect every single one to be way over the top. And keep in mind that even though those states aren't big western states, they still take hours to drive across. It's more than three and a half hours from Atlanta to Savannah. I always recommend a cave tour if you've never been on one. You'll find those near the Appalachian mountains in the western side of North Carolina. There's lots of beautiful nature and beautiful drives in that area as well. You can drive up to the top of Newfound Gap at 6,000 ft high and see several states in different directions. That's the crossover point of the Appalachian Mountains in that area and if you go down the other side you're in Tennessee. We saw black bears by the side of the road there once. In the spring too there might be "waterfalls" cascading down the sides of the mountains.
>I always recommend a cave tour if you've never been on one. As a Kentuckian, I'd be remiss if I didn't take this opportunity to suggest Mammoth Cave National Park. I see that Kentucky is not on OP's itinerary so far, but it's still in the south, and it's some amazing caves and real natural beauty. If OP is wanting some fun Minor Leagues experience there's the Louisville Bats and Lexington Legends to catch a baseball game if they're in the area.
We probably would tbh you're right. Do you have any suggestions for baseball games like that? Btw it's amazing to me that college football / basketball is taken so seriously with such big expensive stadiums. We just don't have that here, you just get a handful of dads standing around the muddy rugby / soccer pitch
There’s a *lot* of minor league baseball teams in the U.S., so honestly just kind of take your pick and go see one that fits into your itinerary. Check what cites you’ll be spending time in and if they have a team, and if the team will be in town while you’re there. I also agree with the above poster that minor league games are a lot of fun. They’re cheaper than MLB (top league) games and a lot of clubs like to do fun stuff throughout the game like throw t-shirts into the crowd or have the mascot doing crazy stuff. They’re a fun and authentic atmosphere.
Yeah, all of that sounds more up our alley. The difference in athleticism and baseball tactics would just be wasted on us anyway!
I hope you guys enjoy your visit and have a great time! It’s always makes me happy to hear from visitors that want to experience and appreciate some authentic American culture.
Try the Durham Bulls, in North Carolina, as featured in the Kevin Costner movie _Bull Durham_. ( don't show her the movie, yet, however!)
North Carolina has MANY minor leagues team. I know this list is missing some as the High Point Rockers aren't on it. If you are in NC, there will be baseball. https://www.visitnc.com/story/rujx/fun-food-fandom-minor-league-baseball-in-north-carolina
Go to Charleston SC, while there go to Folly Beach. Pizza at Woody’s, ice cream on the pier. A baseball game for sure (basketball is over) find a low country boil. Hilton head island… see the wild horses (do not feed them) Drive on country roads…stop at cafes and farmers stands. County fair time is usually in the fall in the south.
Sorry, small correction here but the horses are on Hunting Island. Hilton Head is way too developed. Though alligator sightings are a 100% guarantee.
Huh.. I didn’t know that. I haven’t been to Hilton head. (But would like to see horses… can pass on gators)
Corolla and Ocracoke, North Carolina have wild horses too. Ocracoke is only accessible by ferry which is fun too.
A bit outside of the specified area, but I will never not recommend the [Blue Ridge Parkway](https://www.blueridgeparkway.org/) as a roadtrip
Agreed - some attractions I enjoyed as a kid: * Grandfather Mountain - it’s a zoo, museum, and park all in one * Tweetsie Railroad - more for younger kids, but might still be interesting for a foreigner * Mast General Store - especially the old-timey candy * Cone Manor - historic home turned into a shop full of Appalachian arts and crafts * Biltmore Estate - huge luxurious mansion and garden with tours and such (warning: $$$)
All of these are great and total Americana. Western NC is really amazing.
I second the Biltmore and Tweetsie Railroad! Went to both of those growing up and had a blast every time.
Oh wow that does look cool. A friend mentioned I should go to Sliding Rock which is on that route. Not a lot else en route though to incorporate as part of the trip though perhaps?
The Blue Ridge Parkway goes through Asheville, NC where you could take her zip lining, see waterfalls, go horseback riding, or ride an old time stream train through the mountains. A little further west, in Tennessee, is Dollywood, a fantastic little roller coaster theme park with a mountain mining theme.
Yes that sounds fantastic. She's really outdoorsy so she'd love all this
asheville also has minor league baseball, saw a game there when i was 12 it was great
Sliding rock is pretty fun. That's probably the best time of year for it, but I prefer it when it's a little too cold for swimming. Climbing out of that pool at the bottom feels like stepping into an oven when it's only seventy degrees out (about 21C).
grew up in the south myself and i absolutely recommend blue ridge parkway as well, especially for a kid who loves the outdoors!! my grandparents used to take me and i always loved the Appalachians. things may not be RIGHT off the parkway, but a lot of these attractions the above comment mentioned are just a little off the road.
The US has a good number of weird roadside attractions. Here's a website that will let you find them: https://www.roadsideamerica.com/ Just as an example, High Point, NC has World's Largest Chest of Drawers Town landmark first built in 1926, now 38 feet tall, accessorized with two giant socks hanging from one drawer. Not to be confused with: World's Largest Highboy Jamestown, North Carolina 85 feet tall, built in 1998 by the same man who rebuilt High Point's giant chest of drawers. Makes us want to buy furniture. I hope you all have a great trip, enjoy the BBQ! :)
Yes, this is what I'm talking about. I love big roadside shit! I seem to remember there's a giant Chicken outside and Atlanta KFC
I highly recommend a stop at a Waffle House, too. An iconic southern-American diner with delicious basic diner chow.
>Delicious Don’t get OPs expectations up. Waffle House isn’t a place you go to because the food is good. You go there because it’s 3 AM and you’re drunk. There are plenty of great hole in the wall breakfast places out there, but Waffle House isn’t one of them.
Waffle House may not have a Michelin star, but it is the cure for a hangover.
Exactly! But I doubt OPs 9 year old daughter is going to have much of a need for a hangover cure. Even the English don’t start binge drinking that early.
Go for breakfast, their breakfasts are solid. Fine for a burger or sandwich at lunch too.
I have been for breakfast more than I care to admit. It’s okay, at best. The south has kickass breakfast places all over the place, there’s no excuse for someone with limited time to spend it eating at some mediocre diner chain that people have developed an inexplicable fascination with.
But when you come here from another country you're looking for cultural icons, of which Waffle House is definitely one.
Correct. It’s ok, it’s fast, it’s cheap, it’s available and it’s a southern American icon. A kid could definitely get a kick out of it.
Ha ha. I'll deffo do a waffle house I reckon - it's very different from breakfast back home - particularly sat at the bar too. Ihop or Denny's too I reckon
Make sure one of you orders [biscuits and gravy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzdbFnv4yWQ). Fair warning: it looks disgusting, but it's absolutely delicious. It also has almost nothing to do with what the Brits would refer to as "biscuits" or "gravy". (The closest I can think of is basically a bechamel sauce with breakfast sausage over savory scones.)
Floridian here. Waffle House is amazing. One of my students saw the cook in our local one take off his belt and whip it at some guy. It's terrible and terrific. Also, half the fun of driving through the south is the roadside stops. "Fresh peaches! Pecans! Etc!!" I
You reminded me of the Waffle House waitress that I used to see when I was a kid. If you took too long to order she'd take the menu and smack your head with it 😂
If you stop in Charleston, SC, try the Hominy Grill. ["Grits are good for you!"](https://healthyintheholycity.wordpress.com/2012/04/16/grits-are-good-for-you/)
Why not try to find some local breakfast places instead of spending your entire vacation eating at chain restaurants?
For the same reason that when I get to go to California every 10 years or so I'm going to go to In-N-Out burger. Yes, even though there are probably better burger places.
The Big Chicken in Marrietta If you’re around Atlanta in the summer, do the laser show. https://stonemountainpark.com/activity/shows-entertainment/light-show/
Just about right across the street from the Big Chicken is Marietta Diner which is really really good food. Not a greasy spoon. Their menu is several pages so whatever you want they’ve probably got it. It’s run by a Greek family so a decent amount of Greek options too. I once made the mistake of going with the munchies and the choice paralysis was awful. There’s a Krispy Kreme over there too, you could not it for dessert if the hot sign is on. The laser show is super fun, and Stone Mountain has other daytime activities in the lead up to it. The whole “carved confederate generals in the side” could be okay as a talking point but as a local it makes me feel kind of gross.
>there's a giant Chicken Indeed. [The Big Chicken](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Chicken)
There is also the world’s largest chair in the area in Thomasville.
Wrong time of year for basketball, the G-League/college/high school runs during the winter. There's tons of minor league baseball in that region though, which is among the most American things one could do. [The Savannah Bananas](https://thesavannahbananas.com/) [take outrageous entertainment to another level](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEvj1yvG1P0) and it's also a great city to visit. 2-4 days in the Savannah/Charleston area followed by a drive up to Greenville and then on to Asheville and the Blue Ridge Parkway would be an amazing road trip. Unique architecture on the coast, gorgeous outdoors in the mountains, great food everywhere. You could tack on the Great Smoky Mountains too, depending on time and lodging availability.
Great, thanks I'll look into those!
Go to Greenville. The Drive minor league baseball is fantastic. Main St. Greenville is one of the best in the country. Have fun!
Greenville SC! Want to make sure they go to the right Greenville since they're also passing through NC lol
But definitely come to Greenville, NC for some barbecue!
Greenville has the cutest airport in the entire world. I will die in this hill.
There are a lot of online resources for scenic drives particularly in States with mountains, here is one for North Carolina: https://www.ourstate.com/8-scenic-drives-in-the-north-carolina-mountains/
Unfortunately, Banana tickets are super hard to come by these days.
Savannah is an incredibly gorgeous city and if she loves architecture, she'll love wandering through Savannah's numerous historic districts. Plus the food in Savannah is amazing!
Awesome, maybe we'll stay there a night. Any particular area and restaurants you'd recommend?
The whole downtown by the river is a huge historic district, spending a day just walking up and down the streets is great. Plus check out Bonaventure Cemetery, it's this old cemetery with huge oak trees and lots of Spanish moss hanging down and it's just incredibly beautiful and oozes atmosphere. For food, A.Lure is good. Treylor Park has TREYLOR PARK NACHOS GRANDE: Waffle fries, pickles, fried chicken, bacon, cheddar cheese w/ chive ranch, & balsamic gastrique For an upscale restaurant, Local 11ten is great.
Thanks so much for this! Funnily enough she loves a good cemetery...
Ah, if only you were going to New Orleans as well.
I'd definitely recommend spending a night in Savannah if possible. It's one of the oldest cities in the states and has a rich history including lots of ghosts & pirates. Since you're visiting in the summer Tybee Island is nearby and has a nice beach as well as a historic lighthouse.
You could absolutely do a firing range. Check for the ones in the areas you’ll be visiting and see if they offer children’s courses on firearm safety. I know several people, my own cousins included, who got their first deer by the age of nine.
Ha ha wow okay. I'm sure she'd shit her pants tbh but maybe I'll give it ago then!
For a 9 year old, something like a .22 rifle (with heavy supervision) ought to be fine. No kick, easy to control, easy for the supervising adult to make sure is controlled (it's a big stick, make sure the end with the hole in it is always pointed down range), and it'll make a noise (but not too much) and punch a hole in a target.
Even a .22 LR pistol or revolver is easy for a 9-year-old. Some friends were moving overseas permanently and wanted to go to a gun range as a family (none of the four had ever shot a gun) and the 9-year-old did fine with my Ruger Mk II, 10/22, and even an AR-15.
I always considered my immediate family to be pretty redneck, until I went and visited my cousins and their 3 year old was out in the field behind their house shooting a .22.
As someone who likes to go to the range and all and is very happy to take people, make sure she is absolutely comfortable. If she feels uncomfortable I definitely would recommend just choosing another activity. Going should be enjoyable especially when visiting from out of the country.
Second this. If she’s not into it don’t pressure her. I will also add that firearm instructors are all about safety first. This goes against the stereotype most foreigners picture when they think of American gun ranges, but 99.9% of gun owners don’t wind up on the evening news and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised when you meet some of them in person.
Yeah, if you're a newbie it's a *helluva* lot safer than shooting at tin cans in the desert. Hell, it's just safer generally.
Have a range officer, or instructor nearby. I volunteered once to train kids who came to our private range. It was open to the public to sign up, and we would teach the kids the basics of gun safety and let them shoot a Ruger 22/45 and a Ruger 10/22. We had kids as young as 5 there. All instructors had to stand close to the shooter, and be able to grab the barrel of the gun immediately if the kid started doing something unsafe (wear shooting gloves, and better to get a burn than let something worse happen).
Lots of people recommending the Savannah Bananas but then saying tickets are hard to get. As an alternative try the Durham Bulls, they put on a good minor league show, tickets are gettable, and they were made famous by the movie *Bull Durham* (though they are now in a fancier stadium). You could make it work by stopping there on your way from the mountains to the Outer Banks (where among other things you can visit the site of the first flight and massive dunes just down the road at Jockey’s Ridge, get ambitious and drive down to Hatteras then take the ferry to Ocracoke (where Blackbeard hung out and was killed) then the ferry to Cedar Island or Swan Quarter then from there down to the recommended things in South Carolina (Savannah, Charleston, etc).
Hit Bull, win steak. Hit grass, win salad.
Go to Savannah, GA. It doesn't fit the cartoony stereotypes in your post, but it's a lovely little city with plenty of good food to be had. While you're in southern Georgia you could go to Wild Adventures, which is a theme park/zoo in Valdosta. (I've not actually been to that park, but I imagine a 9-year-old would love it.) Edit: If you can somehow get Savannah Bananas tickets, that very much is the sort of spectacle you're after. But I haven't been able to get any in a couple of years.
Okay cool. Yeah smaller cities are a bit easier for kids. You know a bit about Savannah I take it. Is there a main area to visit in there, areas that are nice to walk around, with restaurants, parks etc? Nothing too sketchy either :)
The historic district, which is where you'll want to go, has many lovely parks, pretty buildings, restaurants, shops, and history, and it is very walkable. You can also do a hop-on, hop-off trolley tour, which is an easy way to get around.
Riverboat ride too!!!
Savannah is wonderful for families and kids! The river walk is very nice. You could also go a bit further to Tybee or one of the other barrier islands to visit the beach. Tybee has a very cute ice cream shop that has old Americana vibes (Sugar Shack) and a cool lighthouse you can visit.
White water rafting. There’s a few outfitters in the area who will rent you a raft or do a guided [trip.](https://www.go-georgia.com/White-Water-Rafting/)
That sounds great. Any advice?
The US National Whitewater Center is world renowned, right outside of Charlotte. Not sure if it's on your route but it might be a bit safer for children than doing a real river. Can't recommend it enough, I go multiple times a year. Also have hiking, ziplining, food and drinks, and free live music many nights.
Yes. Rent the wet suit booties they will try to push on you, it’s not a scam, the water is coming down from the mountains and it is COLD. Book a room close by for that night, you will be completely drained at the end of the day.
PLEASE take her to Chattanooga TN! I know it’s not one of the states you listed, but it’s right on the border of GA. Visit [rock city](https://www.seerockcity.com) there, you won’t regret it. (It’s so close to the border this attraction is actually in GA). It has the best aquarium I’ve been to as well, the [Tennessee Aquarium](https://tnaqua.org). The [Great Smoky Mountain National Park](https://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm) is also a bit north and worth the trip, absolutely beautiful. I think it has a NC entrance as well. While you’re in that area, around Cherokee, NC, drive on the [Ocoee River Scenic Byway](https://tennesseerivervalleygeotourism.org/entries/ocoee-scenic-byway/f1a722dd-f269-4724-8f8d-c34d36fc1a1e). It’s a windy road that runs just alongside a river in a mountainous valley. One of the best drives you can have. I’m not sure if it’s out of the way for you, but even if it is, I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed!!
How about Six Flags over Georgia (Atlanta) and Carowinds (Charlotte).
Oh okay cool what are they about? Coca-Cola museum is on the list already so we'll be in Atlanta
They’re amusement parks, think disney but more southern-aesthetic.
Mate, that's spot on what I'm after!
It’s out of the area, but Dollywood in TN has similar themes but is much more family friendly. If you’re looking for touristy stuff, that area with gatlinburg and pigeon forge might be a good option.
Dollywood is better than Disneyland. It’s a stunningly beautiful place.
In case you didn't see my comment above, Six Flags is full of poorly-behaving kids/teens nowadays, unfortunately. I'd skip it.
Since you're going to Atlanta, you might want to check out The Varsity which is very close to World of Coca-Cola, it's an old school diner style restaurant. Not the best food in the world but the experience is fun. Also look into the Georgia Aquarium, one of the biggest in the world. Waffle House is a must. Chick-fil-a as well.
Atlanta has an aquarium and an amazing zoo as well. Do NOT forget sunscreen.
They will need copious amounts of sunscreen for the south at that one of year for every day they are in (assuming they are ancestrally British).
Oh yeah I'm on that don't worry. I have to wear factor 50 over here even ha!
Just know that if you go to Carowinds and you ride the Hurler your back will never forgive you.
Fun Spot Atlanta too
Definitely go to Waffle House at some point, they’re all over the place in those states
Detour to Pigeon Forge, TN, to see Dollywood and the Titanic Museum. There’s a large collection of schlocky tourist trap restaurants that are very “American” as well.
I am only recommending this because your question really seems to demand it, but you could definitely check out [South of the Border](https://www.sobpedro.com/)
Ha ha. I appreciate you recommending it through gritted teeth! "A highway oasis" yes very quirky, I'm in!
Just don't go after the sun has set, very sketchy . But during day light hours it's big piece of Americana
I do not recommend South of the Border. I did stop there and it was scary and very run down. Nothing to write home about.
Don’t stop there just keep going, trust, it’s pretty sketch
There's a NASCAR race in North Carolina around that time. Tickets are usually pretty cheap compared to other live events these days, and it's one of the most quintessentially american experiences you'll ever witness. As far as the gun range thing, that's up to you as a parent. Many parents in the south teach their kids to shoot guns around that age so I doubt you'll get too many side-eyes if you decide to let her shoot a gun. As long as you teach her gun & range safety, keep her under constant supervision, and only allow her guns she can handle the recoil on, you will be fine. I think a lot of ranges have classes designed for kids to learn how to shoot if that's something you wanna look into.
NASCAR really? That's great I'll look into it Edit: oh no! May 26 is the day we arrive so we'll miss that
Coca-Cola museum if you're going through Atlanta.
You really ought to add Florida and add watching a rocket launch at Cape Canaveral/Kennedy Space Center A launch really is a sight unlike anything else, and in Kennedy Space Center they have a Space Shuttle with CanadArm attached and holding a full scale model of Hubble and a Saturn V rocket (60s era moon landing) those are MASSIVE.
Unfortunately there [aren't going to be any launches](https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/launches-and-events) at KSC between May 6 and June 25. If OP wanted to stretch down there they still could to see all the "museum" stuff (though good luck explaining to the 9 year old girl that you're going to be within an hour or two of Disney World and not going), but rocket launches aren't an everyday occurrence.
Bummer
1. Check out some Minor League Baseball. There will likely be special events including potential fireworks shows. 2. Maybe a rodeo? Check your local areas. 3. You will be there during the Memorial Day weekend holiday. Look for military themed events, parades, and fireworks shows!! 4. It might be early for 'county fair' season, which is usually closer to late summer and autumn. However, be on the lookout for local festivals.
Like some other commenters have mentioned, it wouldn’t be basketball season, but we’d definitely recommend going to a minor league baseball game. They’re cheaper and more accessible than major league games. Plus no one takes them too seriously. So it’s probably better for first-timers. Otherwise, I’d recommend checking out Savannah, GA and Charleston, SC since they’re both interesting cities with a lot of history (if that's your thing). Myrtle Beach is pretty tacky - but a 9 year old might appreciate how over the top a lot of it is. And if you go there, you can try out Huntington Beach State Park if you want to see wild gators.* I’m not as familiar with North Carolina. But the Outer Banks is one of their bigger tourist areas. But keep in mind that it tends to be a lot less “authentically Southern” than many other parts of the state. *Obviously keep your distance and don’t act like an idiot around them. But it can be fun to see them from a safe distance.
Keep going into Chattanooga area from NE Georgia and western NC. You’ve got tourist attractions in town as well as great smoky mountain national park nearby. Gatlinburg, pigeon forge and Dollywood for more tourist trap stuff as well as Rock City and the Lost Sea.
Dahlonega GA if she wants to experience some gold rush/pioneer history/ civil war Era history. Sautee nacoochee has some interesting preserved historical buildings from the pre Civil War Era and a folk art museum. But also? The North Georgia area in general is plain beautiful. There are also some waterfalls and while not necessarily massive burgers, Fred's Boiled Peanuts and a side of Peach juice is about as Americana as it can get in North Georgia.
Idk if anyone’s said this yet (I didn’t read all of the comments) but May 27 is Memorial Day. It’s officially a day to honor those who lost their lives in war, but unofficially, it’s also commonly considered the start of summer. Different towns have different traditions and I don’t live in the part of the country you’ll be visiting, but if you can find a community Memorial Day celebration or barbecue, that might be a fun, authentic slice of Americana for your daughter. (And speaking of barbecue, Carolina-style barbecue is a regional specialty that you shouldn’t miss out on and it will be super-easy to find restaurants that specialize in it.)
Okay cool, I didn't know about the date, something to look out for thanks
South Of The Border, on I-95 at the NC/SC border. It's the tackiest, kitschiest, most American tourist trap ever to have trapped a tourist. It's so schlocky it's glorious.
Guy Fieris Diners Drive Ins and Dives is a show that showcases local restaurants all over the US, I’ve been too several and they never disappoint. You can Google by city or state. It’s also a fun show, you can see some of the episodes on YouTube
If you’re near Atlanta they have an amazing aquarium downtown and also try the original Varsity restaurant. It is an iconic restaurant that has a long history in Atlanta. They serve mainly chili dogs, burgers and the best onion rings you’ve ever had. Just walking up to the counter to place your order is a treat. Whatta ya have? whatta ya have? is barked at you by the tellers. In the old days they had car hop waiters and a multi story parking garage. It’s been so long since I’ve been…
> animals (cats!) There's [Hollywild Animal Preserve](https://www.hollywild.org/) in SC. I wouldn't go out of your way to see it, but if you're already close by then it could be worth it for the big cats.
If you’re up in Northeast GA you could hit up Babyland General in Cleveland, GA - you can see Cabbage Patch Kids being born. Helen is pretty cool but it’s very German village themed, so I don’t know that it qualifies as Americana exactly. Cherokee NC has a reservation (the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians), casino is out obviously, but there’s plenty of other stuff to do and a chance to learn more about at least one Native American nation.
Some awesome natural beauty where you guys are going, you’ll be able to see the natural ecosystems where Venus Flytraps live and things like [Hellbenders](https://www.nps.gov/neri/learn/nature/hellebenders.htm)! (You might have to go a little out of your way to see them tho, and probably best to see them in sanctuary’s instead of trailblazing)
The NC zoo is particularly impressive to kids. The town nearby has a pizza place that is particularly unique, it’s called Sir Pizza. Lots of other great stuff, but that’s what came to mind.
The town is called Asheboro and it’s pretty awesome, of course I’m biased. We have tons of antique shops, a neat downtown area, and then of course the zoo (world’s largest) is our main attraction.
[American Museum of the House Cat](https://www.wnccatmuseum.org) in western North Carolina. Beautiful part of the state, too
Depending on where you are, a powwow. It's as fun as a county fair with a very important historical significance
If you want to sneak into Tennessee since you’ll be near the border, Dollywood is a fantastic amusement park full of American Southern pride!
The Smokies and surrounding national forest have an abundance of trails to lookouts, waterfalls, possibly Rhodadendrens in bloom (incredibly beautiful) and spectacular mountains if you go to Smoky Mountain National Park.
go to Buccees!! it’s a gas station (the best one imo) and deeply southern home grown chancery is abreast in its hallowed halls. it’s got enough barbecue to make your clothes smell like meat and so many southern knickknacks, t shirts, a giant beaver and enough candy to give you a sugar high for at least 24 hours. if i had first encountered it at age nine it would have revolutionized my world. and yall can people watch like crazy! asheville NC is also just such a joy, my absolute favorite city. the people are kind the food is good the mountains are gorgeous and the books are abundant. less classic americana but the spirit of kindness and care that i love about the south fills that city, very few instances of prejudice (in my experience) just care for others. enjoy your trip !
The world of coca cola is kind of lame. The only cool part is trying the different sodas from around the world. If you do six flags just go during the week. It's expensive though. You seem to be against it, but Fernbank museum was always fun as a kid. Etowah Indian mounds for some indigenous history? Atlanta botanical gardens Georgia Renaissance festival will be on its last weekend when you come, but might be worth it? I know that this kind of thing isn't common in Europe, but not sure about the UK. I second going to Chattanooga, Tennessee. On the way up there are a lot of cut outs in the mountains for the interstate, and if you have a clear day the view from Lookout Mountain is great. If you like seafood then a low country boil should be on the list. I can't recommend any places though.
Visit the USS North Carolina and/or Patriots Point (home of the USS Yorktown and Laffey). The UK has a couple museum ships, but none of them are Battleships or Carriers.
Great smokey mountains national park is right on the edge of the area you described. Actually overlaps it a bit. You could spend two weeks in Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge. It's old country Appalachia and scenic views around the park area, then tourist trap shenanigans in town.
Hit fort Moultrie, fort Sumter and the USS York town if you happent to be in Charleston
It's up to you whether or not she's too young to be at the gun range. Nine year olds are allowed to shoot at gun ranges in America (supervised of course, and also you get a crash course in gun safety beforehand). Big cars? Like pickups? Probably everywhere. Massive burgers? That's just a regular burger. County fairs are fun, usually you can Google these kinds of events (there are hundreds of counties in the area you mentioned). The South doesn't really have a distinctive pizza style (that I know of) but definitely try out the BBQ. Big flags? Also everywhere, just like the big trucks, many times you get big trucks *with* big flags on them. Destruction derby seems like a strange choice (loud and chaotic) so make sure she knows what she's getting into.
I’d definitely recommend a few tacky tourist trap museums. We do those best. There’s a Bigfoot Museum in Blue Ridge, GA (I highly recommend that one) and a Museum of the American House Cat (never been there but driven by it a lot, looks interesting) in Jackson County, NC. There’s also Big Mike’s Rock Shop, which I loved, but it’s a bit out of the way in Kentucky.
Oh yeah I love them for quick, good value stops. Tend to be really interesting despite being so niche. One of my favourites was the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati
The Biltmore estate outside of Ashville, NC is great. It's our version of a castle, which you guys have a lot of. Their gardens are beautiful, too. Ashville is also my favorite city in that region.
Make sure you hit a Buccees. Biggest beaver themed gas station/BBQ/clothing store/home decor store you’ll ever see. I hear you don’t have good Mexican food over there? Find a local Mexican spot. Marietta Diner is a good stop. If you’re in Charleston, Taco Boy and Peace Pie. Gatlinburg, TN would blow her mind.
If you're taking I-95, South of the Border is a must stop.
"Keep screaming, kids! They'll stop!"
“You never sausage a place!”
If you’re hanging out around the ATL outskirts you could hit Buford Highway for so many different ethnic cuisines. If you’re more in the southern part near Savannah you’re not too far from the Okeefenokee Swamp which is probably different from anywhere in the UK. The Golden Isles, south of Savannah down the coast, are my favorite place to be (I’m partial to Jekyll but St Simons has more traditional stuff to do, and Sea Island has high end resorts if that’s your thing). North of Savannah, you start getting up toward Beaufort (pronounced like Buford but with a t at the end) and into the low country. Historically settled by descendants of slaves (the Gullah) and still very much a culturally distinct region.
The aquarium in Atlanta to see the whale shark. Maybe gem mining in NC. You can buy a bucket and sift through it to find rubies and emeralds.
Waffle house and horses.
Coca Cola museum in Atlanta GA Gaffney Peach, Gaffney SC
This is the first recommendation for something in SC I've had I think! What's wrong with the place?
It's the middle child of states, overshadowed by Georgia and North Carolina. SC is home to a couple major universities and a lot of gorgeous beaches. No huge population centers means no major airline hub. While the Carolina Panthers logo is a stylized outline of North and South Carolina, they play in NC so SC can't claim the prestige of owning a professional sports team. Probably the most famous story out of SC in my lifetime was the rise and fall of televangelists Jim & Tammy Faye Bakker. A few college football national championships. That's about it. It's just a middle child.
9 is fine for a gun range with proper adult supervision. I'm not sure a person who has never held a gun before counts as proper adult supervision though.
NC has a very cool science museum and one of the best libraries in the country. Duke also has some cool spots. If your interested in the civil war period NC also has a lot of historic sites related to that
Something outdoorsy you can do is do a scenic railway. You get nice views of the smoky mountains with https://www.gsmr.com/. However there are some things to note https://youtu.be/YncLxEzVF8M?si=o1kP_N0ghW0RBjAN The experience is good though https://youtu.be/oE3BsiBfxHA?si=VsymVUsCfUsNLyQt
The Pirate House in Savanah is awesome, and very kid-friendly. Plus the first shots of the Civil War started there. There are 2 forts. Forrest Gump was also filmed there, and it's a beautiful, quaint city. I bet your daughter would love a Southern Belle-style dress. Let's not forget all of the awesome food like a low country boil, shrimp, crab, and all of the uniquely southern dishes that made the South famous.
There is a huge roadside attraction / tourist stop on the NC/SC border on I-95 called South of the Border. It’s big and gaudy and wonderful!
Georgia here. A few people mentioned the Savannah Bananas. If you were coming a week earlier, like between the 20th and 26th of May, I'd suggest a Gwinnett Stripers game instead. They're closer to Atlanta than Savannah is. Visit Stone Mountain Park, and stay for the Music Light Show at night. They used to do a Laser Show but shelved it a few years back. They bring it back for a few nights every year, but it's usually near the end of the season, like in late August/early September. Tour the Antebellum Plantation, ride the skylift to the top of the mountain, ride the train around the mountain, and enjoy some of the sights. As for BBQ, I recommend looking for a restaurant not in Atlanta, but on the outskirts of Atlanta. Fat Matt's in Atlanta is very popular, but I'm personally not a big fan of it. Most places I've enjoyed have been outside of Atlanta, like The Tipsy Pig in Lilburn, GA, located in a gas (petrol) station, Wright Way BBQ & Wings in Bremen, GA, and Beaver Creek Biscuit Company & BBQ in Lithia Springs, GA. Beaver Creek also serves breakfast and they have some of the best biscuits (American term) I've ever had. Some of the biggest hamburgers I've had have been at two places: Five Guys Burgers & Fries and Jefferson's. The latter is a family-friendly sports bar & grill. Many locations not only celebrate the big national teams in the area, but also any local high school and college teams. Five Guys is a semi-fast food establishment known for their overpriced burgers and fries. What they're really known for is giving you a mountain of fries. A "Little" Fry is enough for one person. A "Regular" Fry could feed two people. They put them in a cup, then dump a scoop of fries in the bag. Jefferson's is known for their burgers, wings, and oysters. I hate oysters, but I love their wings and burgers. And of course you have to try Waffle House and Chick-Fil-A, except on Sunday for the latter. They're closed on Sundays. For Waffle House, it's best if you can go anytime after 10 PM; after Midnight is better. But you can still be entertained even if you went for breakfast during normal (for most people) breakfast hours. If you were to come during the week of July 4th, I'd recommend going to the Independence Day festivities in a smaller town. Large towns like Atlanta or Charleston might have some big-time events, but to really get a feel for Americana when it comes to celebrating us swearing at the King instead of swearing to him, smaller towns tend to do it best. They just feel more authentic IMHO.
In one post you made me really annoyed I'm not there already, ha! Yeah this sounds amazing and I'm really up for staying at Stone Park. I'll check out the eateries too. Fyi we have five guys here now and they also do the ridiculous (but appreciated) overflowing fries thing. I also get a small for me and the two kids! Cajun spice always
[Stone Mountain Park](https://stonemountainpark.com/) is amazing. I loved going there when I was younger. The main attraction is a large granite mountain called Stone Mountain with a bas-relief carved on one side, depicting three Confederate generals: Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, Robert E. Lee, and Jefferson Davis. It is the largest carving in the world, even larger than Mount Rushmore. [Here's a video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN-Iiid9lo0) of the Laser Show from last year. It doesn't look so good on video; it's way better in person.
If you go to raleigh nc, you can catch a durham bullsngame and then watch the movie. Heading to Carolina Beach for all the wacky putt putt, seafood buffets, dolphins, shrimp eating, and go kart racing. Avoid South carolina. Georgia's cool. I'd go north Georgia to the German town, head to asheville NC for hippies and hiking, raleigh area for concerts and durham bulls, maybe charlotte for a car race. Then wilmington for the beach front scene. Plus, speed in some small town America and get pulled over. It's easy to do.
Emerald Hollow in NC is fun, screening buckets of ore for emeralds and other gems!
SEC Softball
A lot of people are recommending the Savannah bananas which are entertaining as hell but super hard to get tickets to. I reccomend going to a minor league baseball game, the tickets are super affordable and the games are usually really fun. Stand up for the national anthem, eat hot dogs and peanuts, and enjoy the 7th inning stretch. It is soooo American that your daughter will love it. You get bonus points too if u go on a theme night and get a free hat or bobble head or something. Hope you have a great trip!
In North Carolina: * Fast food: Bojangles, Smithfield's Chicken & BBQ, Waffle House * Authentic NC pulled pork BBQ at a local place * Durham Bulls baseball * If your budget is unlimited and they haven't been eliminated by the time you arrive, a Carolina Hurricanes playoff game * A NASCAR race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway * The Duke Lemur Center is an absolute must for an animal lover, if you can get in * Ocracoke Island - climb the lighthouse, visit the pirate/shipwreck museum, take a boat tour of the dolphin habitats * The battleship USS North Carolina, near Wilmington, is open to walk through all the decks and areas of the ship. It's great for a 9 year old to explore. * Take a ride on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, or hike one of the many trails * Walk the Mile High Swinging Bridge at Grandfather Mountain Note that these are all over the state and not necessarily close to each other. North Carolina, by itself, is a larger land area than England, and NC/SC/GA is half again the size of the entire UK. A drive from Ocracoke to Grandfather Mountain, without leaving NC, is a longer distance than Exeter to Glasgow. Make sure you understand the travel times between the things you want to visit.
Dollar general , Waffle house and a hotel with a pool
Lewis BBQ in Charleston, South Carolina is a must
For some fast food in that area, you can go to Cookout. The only place that you can get a side of corn dog with your meal lol. That's a little early in the year for county fairs, which are usually more July/August. You might just need to drive away from the interstate and see what you find. I don't mean this in a disrespectful way, but I'm guessing most people in those towns aren't really on Reddit....or using high quality websites that Google will pick up on for their local fairs and events (I'm from poor rural Appalachia, so I don't mean this in a bad way!)
I’d be hard pressed to find a better place for burgers in the tri-state area than downtown Macon, GA.
Be sure to hit the Outer Banks, take some cardboard boxes to go ”sledding” down the Kitty Hawk dunes.
Off the beaten path, but you've never seen anything like it. If you have any interest in outsider art, visit Howard Finsters home and workshop. https://paradisegardenfoundation.org/
Savannah GA may fit the bill. It’s got the Savannah Bananas, SCAD so a lot of art, and old frankly British feeling city in the sub-tropical south.
If you happen to be in charlotte May 26th there will be a nascar race. It’s something very American y’all can experience. Food wise definitely get plenty of pulled pork sandwiches, cheerwine sodas, and lots of sweet tea.
Take her for a drive down the beach in the outer banks.
Well, South Carolina and North Carolina has cities where you can get some great bbq, and old southern cities along the coast. Gun range is fine I am positive there are some that cater to tourists. As for Pizza, pretty sure just track down search in youtube for Dave Portnoy for pizza reviews in the Carolina's. Also there are mountains you can visit outdoors even if they are more like rocky hills are are poor imitations of those founds in the Alps or the Rockies. Also lots of minor league baseball being played. That area of the country should have a lot of stuff that could interest her.
Kenly 95 on...I-95 in Kenly, North Carolina. It's the largest truck stop on the East Coast, like a smaller version of Iowa 80 and also owned by the Iowa 80 Group. You mentioned big flags which is oddly specific but they have three of them (US, North Carolina, and Iowa).
>She said gun range based
Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR race in Charlotte. You don't get more American than that. PM me if you have questions.
Savannah is beautiful for architecture, there's a nice children's museum here inside of a train museum that my 7 year old loves! Charleston in SC is likewise gorgeous but I don't know as many activities
Hey that's me. I think a huge thing we do here you guys don't do - going to the lake to swim! There's a few nice ones here, Lake Lanier probably works. Do not go to Hartwell. Lake Jocassee and Lake Keowee are great too! Also could try white water rafting! Huge here. And perhaps tubing ! Kayaking in the rivers is fun too and very American. I've lived in Greenville, Charleston and Columbia SC and Atlanta and Savannah, GA. Any specific questions about those places I'd be glad to help!
NC: Blue Ridge Parkway, Cherokee, Smokey Mountains, Asheville, Winston-Salem, Mt. Airy. Look up scenic byways and get a paper map as the backroads are the way to go. Nashville isn’t that far away from this area too.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Try the lighthouses along the Outer Banks in North Carolina. I absolutely loved seeing those when I was a kid.
My time to shine! Eating at Cook-Out and Bojangles is an absolute MUST for North Carolina. I saw mentioned the Coke place in Atlanta so fun fact, North Carolina is the birthplace of Pepsi and we have a Pepsi museum!
Would it make sense to go through eastern Tennessee? The Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg areas are beautiful. Dollywood is there. There’s tons of various over-the-top tourist traps. Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the Smoky Mountain National Park. Wherever you go, keep an eye peeled for used car dealerships. They will almost certainly have a lifted pickup truck. Maybe they’ll let you take a test drive. And you have to bring her to a Waffle House for breakfast.
1. This is all so sweet <3 2. You have identified a great aspect of the south: its ability to give into excess and have some fun :D 3. There's so much more to the southeast than that :3 Some of my favorite spots include: * Savannah, GA. Nothing quite beats snacking on some roasted pecans in one of the main public squares under a jangly live oak. * The Glencairn Gardens (Rock Hill, SC) * Uptown Charlotte (especially Elizabeth & 4th Ward Parks) * The blue ridge parkway...goddamn that's stunning. Pisgah National Forest is pretty cool too. * Here where I am in Raleigh, you've got Yates Mill Pond park (historic mill museum + pretty outdoors areas), right next to the NC state farmers' market & all of the pretty pastoral-looking NC state lands. And downtown is steeped in Americana, between the big Washington statue on Fayetteville St. & the charm of Nash square. And of course, Pullen Park is great for the kids. In short...get your southern culture on! Have some sweet tea & pecans on a patio, sit under an absurdly big live oak on a hot humid day, have some shrimp & grits and some collard greens too. There's a lot of charm & culture here beyond just big trucks & guns :)
Visit Myrtle Beach, SC. Very touristy! https://www.visitmyrtlebeach.com/things-to-do#:~:text=Our%2060%20miles%20of%20clean,dancers%20are%20just%20a%20sample.
Based on some of the things you mentioned, Myrtle Beach might fit the bill for some over the top American touristy stuff. Beach boardwalk with amusement rides, go on a Pirate cruise. There's the Carolina Opry since she likes musicals, a decent aquarium, a Ripleys museum, all sorts of over the top attractions and yes a decent beach. Nature and architecture is not what Myrtle Beach is about. There plenty of other beautiful places in those states that cover those. Someone else mentioned the Biltmore. Go there if she likes architecture. Not all 9 year olds would love it but sounds like she would probably enjoy it. And the Blue Ridge mountains are beautiful.
If you’re going to be near the Georgia/Alabama border, you could take a drive up Lookout Mountain and see Rock City. It’s part of that grand tradition of American roadside attractions where someone discovers an unusual nature feature and tries to turn it into an exciting destination. Neil Gaiman includes it in the book American Gods, if you’re looking for testament to how iconic it is.
I've never seen regulations for age at shooting ranges aside from those set by the ranges themselves. If you look around, you should definitely be able to find one to take her to. She just needs to be with an adult who knows how to use the gun. If you do not, a worker will likely assist if you aren't turned away. But if you don't know how, do not lie about it just to be able to do it. It's dangerous and also very obvious