The nation's space exploration and research program had its start in Huntsville, when Dr. Wernher von Braun and a team of German scientists began working at the Redstone Arsenal at the close of World War II. Today, visitors can learn about their work at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.
When you've had enough of space technology, travel back to the 19th century with a visit to the Historic Huntsville Depot. The 1860s train station served as a prison during the Civil War. (Graffiti left by POWs is still visible.) Trolley tours of downtown Huntsville, which was the first English settlement in Alabama, begin at the depot. Don't miss Alabama Constitution Village, a historical re-creation of life and work at the meeting place of Alabama's first Constitutional Convention in 1819.
If it's at all possible, make the drive to the northeast corner of the state to see Russell Cave National Monument (near Bridgeport, 60 mi/100 km northeast), an archaeologically important—and fascinating—cave. It was occupied for 10,000 years (8000 BC to AD 1650), mainly as a shelter in the winter (phone 256-495-9220; http://www.nps.gov/ruca). You can also see a frozen waterfall at Cathedral Caverns in Grant, 30 mi/50 km southeast of Huntsville (phone 256-728-8193). Bird-watchers flock to Lake Guntersville State Park (near Guntersville, 30 mi/48 km southeast), where bald eagles have been known to winter. Huntsville is 80 mi/130 km north of Birmingham.
From the staterooms and suites to the lounges and dining rooms, the modern American Heritage features a serene color palette, luxurious textiles and linens, comfortable furniture, and sophisticated artwork and flourishes, celebrating the Mighty Mississippi River. Experience the breathtaking scenery from the privacy of your stateroom balcony.
Jul 10, 2027 - Huntsville, AL
The nation's space exploration and research program had its start in Huntsville, when Dr. Wernher von Braun and a team of German scientists began working at the Redstone Arsenal at the close of World War II. Today, visitors can learn about their work at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.
When you've had enough of space technology, travel back to the 19th century with a visit to the Historic Huntsville Depot. The 1860s train station served as a prison during the Civil War. (Graffiti left by POWs is still visible.) Trolley tours of downtown Huntsville, which was the first English settlement in Alabama, begin at the depot. Don't miss Alabama Constitution Village, a historical re-creation of life and work at the meeting place of Alabama's first Constitutional Convention in 1819.
If it's at all possible, make the drive to the northeast corner of the state to see Russell Cave National Monument (near Bridgeport, 60 mi/100 km northeast), an archaeologically important—and fascinating—cave. It was occupied for 10,000 years (8000 BC to AD 1650), mainly as a shelter in the winter (phone 256-495-9220; http://www.nps.gov/ruca). You can also see a frozen waterfall at Cathedral Caverns in Grant, 30 mi/50 km southeast of Huntsville (phone 256-728-8193). Bird-watchers flock to Lake Guntersville State Park (near Guntersville, 30 mi/48 km southeast), where bald eagles have been known to winter. Huntsville is 80 mi/130 km north of Birmingham.
Jul 11, 2027 - Cruising the Tennessee River
Jul 12, 2027 - Chattanooga
Enjoy citywide fun for everyone, outstanding accommodations, eclectic shops, unique dining and a variety of world class attractions. And when you’re ready to soak in some nature, you’ll be surrounded by breathtaking mountain vistas.
Jul 13, 2027 - Cruising the Tennessee River
Jul 14, 2027 - Fort Southwest Point
Jul 15, 2027 - Cruising the Tennessee River
Jul 16, 2027 - Knoxville
Located 165 mi/265 km east of Nashville, Knoxville, Tennessee, is the largest city in eastern Tennessee and the third-largest in the state. Knoxville features a skyline of steel and glass skyscrapers.
You may want to begin your visit to Knoxville at Volunteer Landing, a complex of restaurants and other attractions downtown on the Tennessee River. It includes the Gateway Regional Visitor Center, which provides information about Knoxville attractions. Also part of Volunteer Landing, the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame includes interactive exhibits and basketball memorabilia.
Jul 17, 2027 - Pigeon Forge
Just north of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, is one big strip of motels, fast-food and family-style restaurants, outlet malls and theaters. The most popular draw in the area is Dollywood, the theme park owned by entertainer Dolly Parton, who hails from Sevierville.
Pigeon Forge is home to several other live-music theaters in addition to those at Dollywood. These venues are modeled on the theaters in Branson, Missouri, and play host to musical revues, variety shows and performances by headliners such as Louise Mandrell. Dixie Stampede, also owned by Parton, is an elaborate dinner show with rodeo acts, musical performers and trained animals.
Plenty of other family-oriented attractions can be found in town, including waterslides, bumper boats and go-kart tracks. An unusual attraction is Zorb, a giant ball (reminiscent of a hamster toy) into which people can climb and roll down a hilly course.
Special events take place throughout the year in Pigeon Forge, including a Storytelling Festival in February, the Festival of Nations at Dollywood in the spring, and the Celebrate Freedom Festival in August.
Should malls be more your idea of fun, you'll find more than 200 factory outlets in Pigeon Forge offering bargains on a variety of products. Some of the biggest malls to look for are the Belz Factory Outlet, Old Mill Village and Pigeon Forge Factory Outlet. Remember that some retailers manufacture clothing and goods especially for their outlets, so shop carefully. When purchasing fine luggage, handbags and accessories, be sure to check return policies.
Jul 18, 2027 - Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is in eastern Tennessee (near Gatlinburg, 160 mi/260 km east of Nashville) and is shared with North Carolina.
The Smoky Mountains get their name from the bluish haze that has always clung to them, and they're thought to be among the oldest mountains on Earth, having formed 500 million years ago. (The natural haze has been made thicker by man-made pollution—smog from far-off cities collects on the peaks.)
The Smokies can be a great area to drive through, as the scenery is both relaxing and striking. However, traffic gets heavy in the summer months and during the fall-color season. In fact, this is the most visited national park in the U.S. Crowds are thinner in the spring or early fall. Visitors can avoid congestion by staying away from main entrances to the park, where 75% of visitors congregate, and instead using some of the less popular access points; however, some of them do not have paved roads. The Greenbrier Entrance, 6 mi/10 km east of Gatlinburg, is one.
Because the area receives a lot of rain, a variety of trees and plants thrive in the Smokies. (The vapor emitted by all the greenery is the cause of the natural haze.) In late April and early May, wildflowers bloom along the roadside, and pink and purple rhododendrons decorate the area in June and July. However, the park is at its prettiest in autumn (mid-October), when the fall foliage turns colors. The park is also full of animals (bears, deer, wild turkeys and even moose), waterfalls and several historical sites, including the remains of a frontier settlement at Cades Cove.
There are plenty of hiking opportunities in the park, from brief strolls to multiday backpacking excursions. Backcountry permits are required for overnight hikes, and they can be hard to come by in peak season. Reservations should be made in advance.
One of the park's biggest draws is the hike up Mount LeConte. LeConte Lodge, near the summit, offers one of the park's only overnight accommodations other than camping.
Those who would rather drive to a lofty summit can take the road to Clingman's Dome, the highest point in the park and in Tennessee. An observation tower provides good views if the peak isn't wrapped in fog.
Other activities in the park include interpretive programs, picnicking, fishing and horseback riding. There are several campgrounds, though they fill up in the summer. Some of the campsites can be reserved.
Many towns near the park are perfect for a brief stint of antiques or crafts shopping. The Andrew Johnson National Historic Site in Greeneville includes a museum and the restored home and tailor shop of the president who succeeded Lincoln. Up the road from Greeneville is the Davy Crockett Birthplace State Historic Area, preserved in memory of the Tennessee frontiersman and politician (he served three terms in Congress) who died fighting the Mexican Army at the Alamo.
The park is open daily 24 hours, and admission is free. Phone 865-436-1200. https://www.nps.gov/grsm.
Jul 19, 2027 - Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is in eastern Tennessee (near Gatlinburg, 160 mi/260 km east of Nashville) and is shared with North Carolina.
The Smoky Mountains get their name from the bluish haze that has always clung to them, and they're thought to be among the oldest mountains on Earth, having formed 500 million years ago. (The natural haze has been made thicker by man-made pollution—smog from far-off cities collects on the peaks.)
The Smokies can be a great area to drive through, as the scenery is both relaxing and striking. However, traffic gets heavy in the summer months and during the fall-color season. In fact, this is the most visited national park in the U.S. Crowds are thinner in the spring or early fall. Visitors can avoid congestion by staying away from main entrances to the park, where 75% of visitors congregate, and instead using some of the less popular access points; however, some of them do not have paved roads. The Greenbrier Entrance, 6 mi/10 km east of Gatlinburg, is one.
Because the area receives a lot of rain, a variety of trees and plants thrive in the Smokies. (The vapor emitted by all the greenery is the cause of the natural haze.) In late April and early May, wildflowers bloom along the roadside, and pink and purple rhododendrons decorate the area in June and July. However, the park is at its prettiest in autumn (mid-October), when the fall foliage turns colors. The park is also full of animals (bears, deer, wild turkeys and even moose), waterfalls and several historical sites, including the remains of a frontier settlement at Cades Cove.
There are plenty of hiking opportunities in the park, from brief strolls to multiday backpacking excursions. Backcountry permits are required for overnight hikes, and they can be hard to come by in peak season. Reservations should be made in advance.
One of the park's biggest draws is the hike up Mount LeConte. LeConte Lodge, near the summit, offers one of the park's only overnight accommodations other than camping.
Those who would rather drive to a lofty summit can take the road to Clingman's Dome, the highest point in the park and in Tennessee. An observation tower provides good views if the peak isn't wrapped in fog.
Other activities in the park include interpretive programs, picnicking, fishing and horseback riding. There are several campgrounds, though they fill up in the summer. Some of the campsites can be reserved.
Many towns near the park are perfect for a brief stint of antiques or crafts shopping. The Andrew Johnson National Historic Site in Greeneville includes a museum and the restored home and tailor shop of the president who succeeded Lincoln. Up the road from Greeneville is the Davy Crockett Birthplace State Historic Area, preserved in memory of the Tennessee frontiersman and politician (he served three terms in Congress) who died fighting the Mexican Army at the Alamo.
The park is open daily 24 hours, and admission is free. Phone 865-436-1200. https://www.nps.gov/grsm.
Jul 19, 2027 - Gatlinburg
Sitting at the edge of the Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and its neighbors Pigeon Forge and Sevierville form the busiest tourism hub in eastern Tennessee. The area is popular with vacationing families, and its many wedding chapels also draw couples.
The towns owe their existence, in part, to the steady flow of visitors heading to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The park puts the focus on nature, but the gateway towns are much more about man-made attractions such as water parks, shrines to country-music performers, miniature-golf courses and music theaters.
They're the type of high-volume travel destinations people either love or hate. You'll need a high tolerance for commercialization to enjoy them, but the attractions can be fun and the setting is beautiful.
The highest-profile Gatlinburg attraction is the Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort and Amusement Park. It sits high on Mount Harrison, and the preferred way of getting there is aboard the aerial tram that runs from downtown Gatlinburg.
Winterfest is when Gatlinburg truly glitters, with 2 million lights illuminating the town. Spring's wildflower pilgrimage showcases the area's natural beauty. Other activities include skiing in winter, amusement-park rides and a bear habitat in the warmer months, and shopping year-round.
In town, there's a large collection of attractions owned by Ripley's, including a Believe It or Not! Museum, a "Moving Theater" and the Aquarium of the Smokies. Among the many other amusement attractions in town, consider a visit to Mysterious Mansion, a haunted house with moving floors, secret panels and the like.
Christ in the Smokies Museum and Gardens mixes sightseeing with religion, offering dioramas depicting biblical scenes. Downtown Gatlinburg is also the site of the prestigious Arrowmount School of Arts and Crafts, which offers classes in everything from woodworking and warm glass to paper and fiber arts and drawing, painting and sculpture. The galleries and gift shop are open year-round to visitors.
Golfers will be pleased with the scenic and challenging golf courses in the area. And there's plenty of opportunity to shop for arts-and-crafts items. They're especially prominent during the Craftsmen's Fairs in July and October.
Jul 20, 2027 - Knoxville
Located 165 mi/265 km east of Nashville, Knoxville, Tennessee, is the largest city in eastern Tennessee and the third-largest in the state. Knoxville features a skyline of steel and glass skyscrapers.
You may want to begin your visit to Knoxville at Volunteer Landing, a complex of restaurants and other attractions downtown on the Tennessee River. It includes the Gateway Regional Visitor Center, which provides information about Knoxville attractions. Also part of Volunteer Landing, the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame includes interactive exhibits and basketball memorabilia.